Methods of evaluating semantic differences, methods of identifying related sets of items in semantic spaces, and systems and computer program products for implementing the same

Abstract

One aspect of the invention provides a method of evaluating semantic differences between a first item in a first semantic space and a second item in a second semantic space. Thee method includes: calculating a first ordered list of N nearest neighbors of the first item within the first semantic space; calculating a second ordered list of N nearest neighbors of the second item within the second semantic space; and computing a plurality of similarity measures between the first n nearest neighbors of the first item and the first n nearest neighbors of the second item, wherein n and N are positive integers and 1≦n≦N.

1 . A method of evaluating semantic differences between a first item in a first semantic space and a second item in a second semantic space, the method comprising:
 calculating a first ordered list of N nearest neighbors of the first item within the first semantic space;   calculating a second ordered list of N nearest neighbors of the second item within the second semantic space; and   computing a plurality of similarity measures between the first n nearest neighbors of the first item and the first n nearest neighbors of the second item, wherein n and N are positive integers and 1≦n≦N.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of similarity measures include one or more selected from the group consisting of: combinatorial similarity, permutational similarity, and quantitative similarity. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of similarity measures are each selected from a uniform type of similarity measure. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of similarity measures are selected from different types of similarity measures. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of similarity measures is equal to N. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein a similarity measure is computed for each iteration of n for 1≦n≦N. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first item is selected from the group consisting of:
 words, phrases, and sentences.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the second item is selected from the group consisting of: words, phrases, and sentences. 
     
     
         9 . A system for performing a method of evaluating semantic differences between a first item in a first semantic space and a second item in a second semantic space, the system comprising:
 a processor configured to:   calculate a first ordered list of N nearest neighbors of the first item within the first semantic space;   calculate a second ordered list of N nearest neighbors of the second item within the second semantic space; and   compute a plurality of similarity measures between the first n nearest neighbors of the first item and the first n nearest neighbors of the second item, wherein n and N are positive integers and 1≦n≦N.   
     
     
         10 . The computer program product of  claim 9 , wherein the plurality of similarity measures is equal to N. 
     
     
         11 . The computer program product of  claim 10 , wherein a similarity measure is computed for each iteration of n for 1≦n≦N. 
     
     
         12 - 13 . (canceled)