Pattern Searching Methods and Apparatuses

Abstract

A computer-based method for identifying patterns in computer text using structures defining types of patterns which are to be identified, wherein a structure comprises one or more definition items, the method comprising assigning a weighting to each structure and each definition item; searching the computer text for a pattern to be identified on the basis of a particular structure, a pattern being provisionally identified if it matches the definition given by said particular structure; in a provisionally identified pattern, determining those of the definition items making up said particular structure that have been identified in the provisionally identified pattern; combining the weightings of the determined definition items and optionally, the weighting of the particular structure, to a single quantity; assessing whether the single quantity fulfils a given condition; depending on the result of said assessment, rejecting or confirming the provisionally identified pattern.

1 . A machine-implemented method for identifying patterns in text using structures defining types of patterns which are to be identified, wherein a structure comprises one or more definition items, the method comprising:
 searching a text data for a pattern to be identified on the basis of a particular structure, a pattern being provisionally identified if it matches the definition given by said particular structure, wherein said structures are automatically extended on the basis of information available from a data source;   assigning a weighting to each definition item in the provisionally identified pattern;   rejecting or confirming the provisionally identified pattern based upon a calculation which combines the weightings of the definition items in the provisionally identified pattern.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the calculation creates a single quantity which is compared to a given threshold. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the calculation is obtained by combining the weightings using one or more arithmetic operations. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the arithmetic operation is a summation over all weightings, the single quantity being the sum of all the weightings. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , each weighting being defined as a number. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , each weighting taking the form of either a bonus in the form of a positive integer, or a malus in the form of a negative integer. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein a structure or definition item is assigned a bonus if it is well-defined, and a malus if it is ambiguous. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 5 , each weighting being an integer multiple of the same integer. 
     
     
         9 . A machine-readable non-transitory storage medium storing a program for causing a data processing system to perform a method for identifying patterns in text using structures defining types of patterns which are to be identified, wherein a structure comprises one or more definition items, the method comprising:
 searching a text data for a pattern to be identified on the basis of a particular structure, a pattern being provisionally identified if it matches the definition given by said particular structure, wherein said structures are automatically extended on the basis of information available from a data source;   assigning a weighting to each definition item in the provisionally identified pattern;   rejecting or confirming the provisionally identified pattern based upon a calculation which combines the weightings of the definition items in the provisionally identified pattern.   
     
     
         10 . The medium of  claim 9 , wherein the calculation creates a single quantity which is compared to a given threshold. 
     
     
         11 . The medium of  claim 10 , wherein the calculation is obtained by combining the weightings using one or more arithmetic operations. 
     
     
         12 . The medium of  claim 11 , wherein the arithmetic operation is a summation over all weightings, the single quantity being the sum of all the weightings. 
     
     
         13 . The medium of  claim 9 , each weighting being defined as a number. 
     
     
         14 . The medium of  claim 13 , each weighting taking the form of either a bonus in the form of a positive integer, or a malus in the form of a negative integer. 
     
     
         15 . The medium of  claim 14 , wherein a structure or definition item is assigned a bonus if it is well-defined, and a malus if it is ambiguous. 
     
     
         16 . The medium of  claim 13 , each weighting being an integer multiple of the same integer. 
     
     
         17 . The medium of  claim 12 , wherein the method further comprises indexing the text data for searching. 
     
     
         18 . A data processing system which performs a method for identifying patterns in text using structures defining types of patterns which are to be identified, wherein a structure comprises one or more definition items, the data processing system comprising:
 means for searching a text data for a pattern to be identified on the basis of a particular structure, a pattern being provisionally identified if it matches the definition given by said particular structure, wherein said structures are automatically extended on the basis of information available from a data source;   means for assigning a weighting to each definition item in the provisionally identified pattern;   means for rejecting or confirming the provisionally identified pattern based upon a calculation which combines the weightings of the definition items in the provisionally identified pattern.   
     
     
         19 . The data processing system of  claim 18 , wherein the calculation creates a single quantity which is compared to a given threshold. 
     
     
         20 . The data processing system of  claim 19 , wherein the calculation is obtained by combining the weightings using one or more arithmetic operations and wherein the arithmetic operation is a summation over all weightings, the single quantity being the sum of all the weightings.