Method for re-ranking documents retrieved from a document database

Abstract

A computer-implemented method for processing documents in a document database includes generating an initial ranking of retrieved documents using an information retrieval system and based upon a user search query, and processing vocabulary words based upon occurrences thereof in at least some of the retrieved documents. Respective relevancies of the vocabulary words based on the occurrences thereof and the user search query are generated. A re-ranking of the retrieved documents is generated based on the relevancies of the vocabulary words.

1 - 61 . (canceled) 
     
     
         62 . A computer-implemented method for processing documents in a document database using a computer-implemented system comprising a processor and a display operatively coupled thereto, the method comprising:
 operating the processor to perform at least the following
 generating an initial ranking of retrieved documents using an information retrieval system and based upon a user search query, 
 permitting user selection of a plurality of vocabulary words based upon occurrences thereof in at least some of the retrieved documents, 
 generating respective relevancies of the user-selected vocabulary words in the retrieved documents, 
 generating a re-ranking of the retrieved documents based on the generated respective relevancies of the vocabulary words, and 
 simultaneously displaying on the display the re-ranking of the retrieved documents along with the initial ranking of the retrieved documents. 
   
     
     
         63 . The computer-implemented method according to  claim 62  wherein operating the processor comprises generating the plurality of vocabulary words based upon occurrences thereof in at least some of the retrieved documents before generating the initial ranking of retrieved documents. 
     
     
         64 . The computer-implemented method according to  claim 62  wherein operating the processor comprises selecting a vocabulary comprising the plurality of vocabulary words before permitting user selection of the plurality of vocabulary. 
     
     
         65 . The computer-implemented method according to  claim 64  wherein the plurality of vocabulary words are based upon words in at least one predetermined document. 
     
     
         66 . The computer-implemented method according to  claim 65  wherein the at least one predetermined document is not part of the retrieved documents. 
     
     
         67 . The computer-implemented method according to  claim 64  wherein operating the processor comprises adding vocabulary words to the vocabulary based upon occurrences of words in at least some of the retrieved documents. 
     
     
         68 . The computer-implemented method according to  claim 67  wherein operating the processor comprises determining a quality of the vocabulary based upon how many vocabulary words are added thereto. 
     
     
         69 . The computer-implemented method according to  claim 62  wherein operating the processor comprises determining which documents from at least some of the retrieved documents are irrelevant to the user search query; and wherein generating the re-ranking of the retrieved documents is also based on the irrelevant documents. 
     
     
         70 . The computer-implemented method according to  claim 62  wherein operating the processor comprises comprises determining which documents from at least some of the retrieved documents are relevant to the user search query; and wherein generating the re-ranking of the retrieved documents is also based on the relevant documents. 
     
     
         71 . The computer-implemented method according to  claim 70  wherein operating the processor comprises determining if the respective vocabulary words are relevant to the user search query; and wherein determining the relevant documents is based upon the relevant vocabulary words. 
     
     
         72 . The computer-implemented method according to  claim 62  wherein operating the processor comprises determining a respective source of at least some of the retrieved documents, and assigning priority to documents provided by preferred sources; and wherein generating the re-ranking of the retrieved documents is also based on documents with preferred sources. 
     
     
         73 . The computer-implemented method according to  claim 62  wherein operating the processor comprises generating a second re-ranking of the retrieved documents based upon a combination of the initial ranking and the re-ranking of the retrieved documents. 
     
     
         74 . A non-transitory computer readable medium with an executable program stored thereon to instruct a processor and a display operatively coupled thereto to perform steps comprising:
 generating an initial ranking of retrieved documents using an information retrieval system and based upon a user search query;   permitting user selection of a plurality of vocabulary words based upon occurrences thereof in at least some of the retrieved documents;   generating respective relevancies of the user-selected vocabulary words in the retrieved documents;   generating a re-ranking of the retrieved documents based on the generated respective relevancies of the vocabulary words; and   simultaneously displaying on the display the re-ranking of the retrieved documents along with the initial ranking of the retrieved documents.   
     
     
         75 . The non-transitory computer readable medium according to  claim 62  further comprising generating the plurality of vocabulary words based upon occurrences thereof in at least some of the retrieved documents before generating the initial ranking of retrieved documents. 
     
     
         76 . The non-transitory computer readable medium according to  claim 62  further comprising selecting a vocabulary comprising the plurality of vocabulary words before permitting user selection of the plurality of vocabulary. 
     
     
         77 . The non-transitory computer readable medium according to  claim 62  further comprising determining which documents from at least some of the retrieved documents are irrelevant to the user search query; and wherein generating the re-ranking of the retrieved documents is also based on the irrelevant documents. 
     
     
         78 . The non-transitory computer readable medium according to  claim 62  further comprising determining which documents from at least some of the retrieved documents are relevant to the user search query; and wherein generating the re-ranking of the retrieved documents is also based on the relevant documents. 
     
     
         79 . The non-transitory computer readable medium according to  claim 62  further comprising determining a respective source of at least some of the retrieved documents, and assigning priority to documents provided by preferred sources; and wherein generating the re-ranking of the retrieved documents is also based on documents with preferred sources. 
     
     
         80 . The non-transitory computer readable medium according to  claim 62  further comprising generating a second re-ranking of the retrieved documents based upon a combination of the initial ranking and the re-ranking of the retrieved documents. 
     
     
         81 . An information processing system comprising:
 a display; and   a processor coupled to said display and configured to at least
 generate an initial ranking of retrieved documents using an information retrieval system and based upon a user search query, 
 permit user selection of a plurality of vocabulary words based upon occurrences thereof in at least some of the retrieved documents, 
 generate respective relevancies of the user-selected vocabulary words in the retrieved documents, 
 generate a re-ranking of the retrieved documents based on the generated respective relevancies of the vocabulary words, and 
 simultaneously display on the display the re-ranking of the retrieved documents along with the initial ranking of the retrieved documents. 
   
     
     
         82 . The information processing system according to  claim 81  wherein said processor is configured to generate the plurality of vocabulary words based upon occurrences thereof in at least some of the retrieved documents before generating the initial ranking of retrieved documents. 
     
     
         83 . The information processing system according to  claim 81  wherein said processor is configured to select a vocabulary comprising the plurality of vocabulary words before permitting user selection of the plurality of vocabulary. 
     
     
         84 . The information processing system according to  claim 81  wherein said processor is configured to determine which documents from at least some of the retrieved documents are irrelevant to the user search query; and wherein generating the re-ranking of the retrieved documents is also based on the irrelevant documents. 
     
     
         85 . The information processing system according to  claim 81  wherein said processor is configured to determine which documents from at least some of the retrieved documents are relevant to the user search query; and wherein generating the re-ranking of the retrieved documents is also based on the relevant documents. 
     
     
         86 . The information processing system according to  claim 81  wherein said processor is configured to determine a respective source of at least some of the retrieved documents, and assigning priority to documents provided by preferred sources; and wherein generating the re-ranking of the retrieved documents is also based on documents with preferred sources. 
     
     
         87 . The information processing system according to  claim 81  wherein said processor is configured to generate a second re-ranking of the retrieved documents based upon a combination of the initial ranking and the re-ranking of the retrieved documents.