Providing numerical answers to queries

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016110360-A1
Application number	US-201313759968-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Feb 5, 2013
Priority date	Jun 1, 2012
Publication date	Apr 21, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on computer storage media, for providing numerical answers to queries. One of the methods includes identifying one or more text portions each corresponding to a numerical sentence or sentence fragment in text associated with search results that are responsive to a query. A text score is determined for each text portion based on one or more criteria. Text portions are grouped by a number included in each text portion. A group score is determined for each group based on respective scores of text portions in the group. A particular text portion is selected based on group scores of each group. A response is provided in response to the query that includes a number from the particular text portion.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A computer-implemented method comprising:
receiving a query; obtaining search results that are responsive to the query; identifying one or more text portions each corresponding to a numerical sentence in text associated with the search results; determining a text score for each text portion based on one or more criteria, comprising determining whether each text portion includes one or more terms that are synonyms of terms of the query; grouping the one or more text portions by a number included in each text portion; determining a group score for each group based on respective scores of text portions in the group; selecting a particular text portion based on group scores of each group; and providing a response to the query that includes a number from the particular text portion.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein selecting a particular text portion based on scores of each group comprises selecting a particular text portion having a highest text score from a particular group having a highest group score.

3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein identifying one or more text portions each corresponding to a numerical sentence or sentence fragment comprises determining a sentence confidence score for a text portion; and
comparing the sentence confidence score to a threshold.

4 . The method of claim 3 , wherein determining a sentence confidence score for a text portion includes determining whether the text portion includes a subject, a verb, and an object.

5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein identifying one or more text portions each corresponding to a numerical sentence or sentence fragment comprises identifying text portions that include numerical characters or alphabetically spelled numbers.

6 . (canceled)

7 . (canceled)

8 . The method of claim 1 , wherein determining a text score for each text portion based on one or more criteria includes determining a lower text score for text portions that include alphabetic numbers than text portions that include numerals.

9 . The method of claim 1 , wherein determining a text score for each text portion based on one or more criteria includes determining the text score based on a rank of a search result that includes the text portion.

10 . The method of claim 1 , wherein determining a text score for each text portion based on one or more criteria includes determining a lower text score for text portions that end with question marks than text portions that do not end in question marks.

11 . The method of claim 1 , wherein determining a text score for each text portion based on one or more criteria includes determining a lower text score for text portions that are sentence fragments than text portions that are full sentences.

12 . A system comprising:
one or more computers and one or more storage devices storing instructions that are operable, when executed by the one or more computers, to cause the one or more computers to perform operations comprising receiving a query; obtaining search results that are responsive to the query; identifying one or more text portions each corresponding to a numerical sentence in text associated with the search results; determining a text score for each text portion based on one or more criteria, comprising determining whether each text portion includes one or more terms that are synonyms of terms of the query; grouping the one or more text portions by a number included in each text portion; determining a group score for each group based on respective scores of text portions in the group; selecting a particular text portion based on group scores of each group; and providing a response to the query that includes a number from the particular text portion.

13 . The system of claim 12 , wherein selecting a particular text portion based on scores of each group comprises selecting a particular text portion having a highest text score from a particular group having a highest group score.

14 . The system of claim 12 , wherein identifying one or more text portions each corresponding to a numerical sentence or sentence fragment comprises determining a sentence confidence score for a text portion; and
comparing the sentence confidence score to a threshold.

15 . The system of claim 14 , wherein determining a sentence confidence score for a text portion includes determining whether the text portion includes a subject, a verb, and an object.

16 . The system of claim 12 , wherein identifying one or more text portions each corresponding to a numerical sentence or sentence fragment comprises identifying text portions that include numerical characters or alphabetically spelled numbers.

17 . (canceled)

18 . (canceled)

19 . The system of claim 12 , wherein determining a text score for each text portion based on one or more criteria includes determining a lower text score for text portions that include alphabetic numbers than text portions that include numerals.

20 . The system of claim 12 , wherein determining a text score for each text portion based on one or more criteria includes determining the text score based on a rank of a search result that includes the text portion.

21 . The system of claim 12 , wherein determining a text score for each text portion based on one or more criteria includes determining a lower text score for text portions that end with question marks than text portions that do not end in question marks.

22 . The system of claim 12 , wherein determining a text score for each text portion based on one or more criteria includes determining a lower text score for text portions that are sentence fragments than text portions that are full sentences.

23 . A computer program product, encoded on one or more non-transitory computer storage media, comprising instructions that when executed by one or more computers cause the one or more computers to perform operations comprising:
receiving a query; obtaining search results that are responsive to the query; identifying one or more text portions each corresponding to a numerical in text associated with the search results; determining a text score for each text portion based on one or more criteria, comprising determining whether each text portion includes one or more terms that match or are synonyms of terms of the query; grouping the one or more text portions by a number included in each text portion; determining a group score for each group based on respective scores of text portions in the group; selecting a particular text portion based on group scores of each group; and providing a response to the query that includes a number from the particular text portion.

Assignees

• Lee John J
• Google Inc

Inventors

• Lee John J

Classifications

• G06F17/3053 Primary

  Physics · mapped topic

• G06F16/338 Primary

  Presentation of query results · CPC title