Predefined semantic queries

Abstract

An information retrieval system and method are presented. A template is retrieved from a template repository. The template repository stores a plurality of templates. Each of the plurality of templates includes a concept and a relationship from a knowledge model. The knowledge model defines a plurality of entities and interrelationships between one or more of the plurality of entities. The plurality of entities include concepts and instances. The template is transmitted to a client computer, and a statement is received from the client computer. The statement includes an instantiation of the template. A knowledge base is queried using the statement to generate a result listing identifying an item in the knowledge base. The knowledge base identifies a plurality of items. Each of the plurality of items is associated with at least one annotation identifying at one of the entities in the knowledge model.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system, comprising a server, comprising a computing device coupled to a network and comprising at least one processor executing instructions within a memory which, when executed, cause the system to:
 receive, from a client device coupled to the network:
 a first selection, from a first graphical user interface (GUI) control within a GUI generated by the server, of a concept within a knowledge model stored in a database coupled to the network; and 
 a second selection, from a second GUI control, of a relationship within the knowledge model; 
   select, from the database, at least one query template including the concept and the relationship;   update the GUI to display a third GUI control automatically populated with the at least one query template;   receive a third selection of a query template from the at least one query template;   select, from the database, at least one parameter of the query template selected;   update the GUI to display a fourth GUI control, automatically populated with the at least one parameter of the query template;   receive a modification to the at the least one parameter of the query template;   store the query template and the modification in the database;   identify, within the database, a content including a combination of the concept, the relationship, or an instance of the concept;   generate, for display within the GUI, a fifth GUI control comprising a list including a name of at least one data or at least one file associated with the content.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the knowledge model comprises a subject matter domain comprising a plurality of concepts, instances, and relationships defining a knowledge model ontology organized as a plurality of triple statements. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the knowledge model includes a hierarchy of super groups or sub groups among and between the plurality of concepts, instances, and relationships, and wherein the highest concept is all possible concepts, the highest instance is all possible instances, and the highest relationship is all possible relationships. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the modification includes replacing a specific combination of characters, indicating that the at least one parameter may be replaced, with at least one concept, at least one instance, or at least one relationship. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the modification includes:
 receiving a user input comprising the modification and a unique identifier comprising a template name; and   storing the query template and the modification as a predefined semantic query in association with the unique identifier in a semantic search query catalog.   
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein the unique identifier identifies a semantic query including inheritance from at least one additional template. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the modification includes at least one constraint input by a system administrator restricting an input or selection of the parameter received by a subsequent user. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the modification includes a selection of an operator
 concatenating a first triple statement to second triple statement; or   grouping the first triple statement with the second triple statement.   
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the parameter comprises embedding a semantic query within the query template, the semantic query including the relationship between at least one concept and at least one instance. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the instructions further cause the system to store the modification as a new query template, wherein subsequent users are able to modify the at least one parameter. 
     
     
         11 . A method, comprising:
 receiving, by a server, comprising a hardware computing device coupled to a network and including at least one processor executing instructions within a memory, from a client device coupled to the network:
 a first selection, from a first GUI control within a GUI generated by the server, of a concept within a knowledge model stored in a database coupled to the network; and 
 a second selection, from a second GUI control, of a relationship within the knowledge model; 
   selecting, by the server from the database, at least one query template including the concept and the relationship;   updating the GUI to display a third GUI control automatically populated with the at least one query template;   receiving, by the server, a third selection of a query template from the at least one query template;   selecting, by the server from the database, at least one parameter of the query template selected;   updating the GUI to display a fourth GUI control, automatically populated with the at least one parameter of the query template;   receiving, by the server, a modification to the at the least one parameter of the query template;   storing, by the server, the query template and the modification in the database;   identifying, by the server, within the database, a content including a combination of the concept, the relationship, or an instance of the concept;   generating, by the server, for display within the GUI, a fifth GUI control comprising a list including a name of at least one data or at least one file associated with the content.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the knowledge model comprises a subject matter domain comprising a plurality of concepts, instances, and relationships defining a knowledge model ontology organized as a plurality of triple statements. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the knowledge model includes a hierarchy of super groups or sub groups among and between the plurality of concepts, instances, and relationships, and wherein the highest concept is all possible concepts, the highest instance is all possible instances, and the highest relationship is all possible relationships. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the modification includes replacing a specific combination of characters, indicating that the at least one parameter may be replaced, with at least one concept, at least one instance, or at least one relationship. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the modification includes:
 receiving a user input comprising the modification and a unique identifier comprising a template name; and   storing the query template and the modification as a predefined semantic query in association with the unique identifier in a semantic search query catalog.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the unique identifier identifies a semantic query including inheritance from at least one additional template. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the modification includes at least one constraint input by a system administrator restricting an input or selection of the parameter received by a subsequent user. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the modification includes a selection of an operator
 concatenating a first triple statement to second triple statement; or   grouping the first triple statement with the second triple statement.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the parameter comprises embedding a semantic query within the query template, the semantic query including the relationship between the at least one concept and the at least one instance. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising the step of storing, by the server, the modification as a new query template, wherein subsequent users are able to modify the at least one parameter.