Importance

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Abstract

A computer-implemented system and method for allowing users to interactively develop search queries is provided. The system performs query development utilizing a hierarchical concept tree stored in memory, wherein the nodes of the concept tree are concepts that describe various search topics. Parent/child relationships are created between the concepts, with children concepts describing sub-categories of a parent concept, and so on. Any concept at any level in the tree structure may be related to one or more character strings descriptive of the related concept. Query development is performed by traversing the various relationships in the hierarchical tree structure to selectively add related character strings to a potential query. According to one embodiment, the user is allowed to control the manner and extent of the traversal, and is further allowed to de-select any located concepts and character strings for further use in query development. According to another embodiment, traversal of the tree is completed according to user specification, with only limited user intervention required to select or de-select the various located character strings for inclusion in a query string. Yet another embodiment allows all query string development to be fully automated based on parameters specifying the extent of the concept tree traversal. After traversal of the tree structure is completed, the located character strings that remain selected based on user specifications are added to a query string. The query string may further be modified to include logical operations. The string may be used to manually or programmatically invoke a wide variety of tools for use in performing searches of text documents, file systems, or a collection of web pages. The system allows the contents and structure of the hierarchical concept tree to be modified by the user. Both the concepts and character strings included in the hierarchical tree may be edited by the user to include search terms tailored to specific search requirements. Additionally, relationships existing between two concepts, or between a concept and a character string, may be added, deleted, or modified to thereby allow the user to control the manner in which query development proceeds.

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First Claim