Searching for services in natural language

Abstract

A method for answering search queries about services is disclosed. The method includes searching a plurality of storage media on a network for a natural language service metastatement. The natural language service metastatement is typically generated by a service provider and describes the services provided by the service provider in detail. The method also includes locating the natural language service metastatement in the storage media and extracting the natural language metastatement from the storage media. The method also includes indexing the natural language metastatement in a service description index. Thus, when a search query for a service is received, the service description index is searched for a natural language service metastatement corresponding to the search query, and the search result is provided in the form of a natural language answer.

1 - 11 . (canceled) 
   
   
       12 . A method for answering search queries about services comprising:
 receiving a search query for a service;   searching a service description index for a natural language service metastatement corresponding to the search query; and   providing a search result to the search query using the natural language service metastatement corresponding to the search query.   
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising identifying the search query as a query for a service. 
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein identifying the search query as a query for a service comprises tagging the search query for a service in the form of a natural language question as a search query for a service. 
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein identifying the search query as a query for a service comprises allowing a user to identify that the search query is for a service in the form of a natural language question. 
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the allowing the user to identify that the search query is for a service in the form of a natural language question by allowing the user to select an identifier for a search query for a service. 
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising converting the search query into a natural language service search statement. 
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein search query is in the form of a natural language question. 
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the search result is in the form of a natural language answer. 
   
   
       20 . (canceled)