GB2577458A - Improved method and system for searching - Google Patents
Improved method and system for searching Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- GB2577458A GB2577458A GB1919436.4A GB201919436A GB2577458A GB 2577458 A GB2577458 A GB 2577458A GB 201919436 A GB201919436 A GB 201919436A GB 2577458 A GB2577458 A GB 2577458A
- Authority
- GB
- United Kingdom
- Prior art keywords
- real
- natural
- indefinite
- dependence
- search string
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Withdrawn
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Classifications
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G06—COMPUTING OR CALCULATING; COUNTING
- G06F—ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING
- G06F16/00—Information retrieval; Database structures therefor; File system structures therefor
- G06F16/20—Information retrieval; Database structures therefor; File system structures therefor of structured data, e.g. relational data
- G06F16/24—Querying
- G06F16/242—Query formulation
- G06F16/243—Natural language query formulation
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G06—COMPUTING OR CALCULATING; COUNTING
- G06F—ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING
- G06F16/00—Information retrieval; Database structures therefor; File system structures therefor
- G06F16/20—Information retrieval; Database structures therefor; File system structures therefor of structured data, e.g. relational data
- G06F16/24—Querying
- G06F16/245—Query processing
- G06F16/2452—Query translation
- G06F16/24522—Translation of natural language queries to structured queries
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- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- Theoretical Computer Science (AREA)
- Artificial Intelligence (AREA)
- Mathematical Physics (AREA)
- Computational Linguistics (AREA)
- Data Mining & Analysis (AREA)
- Databases & Information Systems (AREA)
- General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- Management, Administration, Business Operations System, And Electronic Commerce (AREA)
- Information Retrieval, Db Structures And Fs Structures Therefor (AREA)
Abstract
Aspects of the present invention relate to a method and system for searching a real-estate property database, the database comprising a plurality of database entries, each entry being associated with a different real-estate property. The method comprises the steps of: receiving a natural-language search string from a remotely located terminal, the natural-language search string specifying, in natural-language, a query for a real-estate property having a desired property characteristic associated with a real-estate property feature; analysing the received natural-language search string and identifying within the string a geographical identifier, and the desired property characteristic; determining if an indefinite descriptor is associated with the desired property characteristic; identifying two or more database entries relating to real-estate properties each comprising the real-estate property feature, in dependence on the geographical identifier; calculating a numerical reference threshold associated with the real-estate property feature, in dependence on a value of the property feature associated with each one of the two or more identified database entries; representing the indefinite descriptor in terms of a mathematical relationship, the mathematical relationship being expressed with respect to the calculated numerical reference threshold; amending the received natural-language search string by replacing the indefinite descriptor with the mathematical relationship; and searching the real-estate property database using the amended search string.
Claims (33)
1. A method of searching a real-estate property database, the database comprising a plurality of database entries, each entry being associated with a different real-estate property, and the method comprising the steps of: receiving a natural-language search string from a remotely located terminal, the natural- language search string specifying, in natural-language, a query for a real-estate property having a desired property characteristic associated with a real-estate property feature; analysing the received natural-language search string and identifying within the string a geographical identifier, and the desired property characteristic; determining if an indefinite descriptor is associated with the desired property characteristic; identifying two or more database entries relating to real-estate properties each comprising the real-estate property feature, in dependence on the geographical identifier; calculating a numerical reference threshold associated with the real-estate property feature, in dependence on a value of the property feature associated with each one of the two or more identified database entries; representing the indefinite descriptor in terms of a mathematical relationship, the mathematical relationship being expressed with respect to the calculated numerical reference threshold; amending the received natural-language search string by replacing the indefinite descriptor with the mathematical relationship; and searching the real-estate property database using the amended search string.
2. The method of Claim 1 , wherein the step of analysing comprises: identifying a property type specified in the natural-language search string; and the identifying step comprises: identifying the two or more database entries relating to real-estate properties each comprising the real-estate property feature, in dependence on the specified property type.
3. The method of Claim 2, wherein the property type comprises any one or more words indicative of any one of: a house, an apartment, a flat, a condominium, a terraced house, a bungalow, a row-house, a mid-terrace house, a corner plot, and an end of terrace house.
4. The method of any preceding claim, wherein the step of analysing comprises: analysing the syntax of the natural-language search string to identify one or more words comprised in the natural-language search string indicative of the geographical identifier, and the desired property characteristic; and wherein the determining step comprises: determining if the indefinite descriptor is associated with the desired property characteristic in dependence on the syntactical analysis.
5. The method of Claim 4, wherein analysing the syntax of the natural-language search string comprises: identifying the indefinite descriptor within the received natural-language search string; and the determining step comprises: determining the real-estate property feature that is associated with the indefinite descriptor.
6. The method of Claim 5, wherein the indefinite descriptor comprises an indefinite adjective, and analysing the syntax of the natural-language search string comprises: identifying the indefinite adjective within the received natural-language search string; and determining the real-estate property feature that is associated with the indefinite descriptor comprises determining the argument of the indefinite adjective.
7. The method of Claim 6, wherein the argument of the indefinite adjective is determined in dependence on a relative position of the indefinite adjective within the natural-language search string with respect to the real-estate property feature.
8. The method of any one of Claims 4 to 7, wherein identifying the one or more words comprised in the natural-language search string, indicative of the geographical identifier and the desired property characteristic, comprises: matching one or more keywords present in a keyword database with one or more words comprised in the natural-language search string, and identifying the geographical identifier, the real-estate property feature associated with the desired property characteristic, and the indefinite descriptor in dependence on the matching.
9. The method of any preceding claim, wherein the numerical reference threshold comprises a value range, and the calculating step comprises: calculating the value range associated with the real-estate property feature in dependence on the value of the property feature associated with each one of the two or more identified database entries; and wherein the representing step comprises: representing the indefinite descriptor as a mathematical relationship expressed with respect to the value range.
10. The method of Claim 9, wherein calculating the value range comprises: calculating a mean value associated with the real-estate property feature in dependence on the value of the property feature associated with each one of the two or more identified database entries; calculating an upper boundary value by multiplying the calculated mean value by an arbitrary factor; calculating a lower boundary value by dividing the calculated mean value by the arbitrary factor; and defining the value range in dependence on the calculated upper and lower boundary values.
11. The method of Claim 10, wherein a value of the arbitrary factor is selected in dependence on a user's search history.
12. The method of Claim 10, wherein a value of the arbitrary factor is selected in dependence on the geographic identifier.
13. The method of Claim 10, wherein a value of the arbitrary factor is selected in dependence on a geographical location of the remotely located terminal.
14. The method of any preceding claim, comprising: selecting a geographical location associated with the geographical identifier; defining a geographical area encompassing the geographical location by outwardly extending the geographical location by a predefined radial distance; and wherein the identifying step comprises: identifying the two or more database entries in dependence on a geographical location associated with each database entry being located within the defined geographical area.
15. The method of any preceding claim, wherein the geographical identifier comprises any one or more words indicative of any one of: a street, a council, a town, a city, a region, a county, a state, and a country.
16. The method of any preceding claim, wherein the desired property characteristic comprises an indication of a desired state of natural lighting associated with a real-estate property, and the step of calculating the numerical reference threshold comprises: determining an illuminance value indicative of a state of natural lighting associated with each one of the two or more identified database entries, by simulating the natural lighting associated with each one of the two or more identified database entries, in dependence on a structural building plan associated with a real-estate property associated with each database entry.
17. A system for searching a real-estate property database, the database comprising a plurality of database entries, each entry being associated with a different real-estate property, and the system comprising: an input configured in use to: receive a natural-language search string from a remotely located terminal, the natural-language search string specifying, in natural-language, a query for a real-estate property having a desired property characteristic associated with a real- estate property feature; a processor configured in use to: analyse the received natural-language search string and identify within the string a geographical identifier, and the desired property characteristic; determine if an indefinite descriptor is associated with the desired property characteristic; identify two or more database entries relating to real-estate properties each comprising the real-estate property feature, in dependence on the geographical identifier; calculate a numerical reference threshold associated with the real-estate property feature, in dependence on the values of the property feature associated with the two or more identified database entries; represent the indefinite descriptor in terms of a mathematical relationship, the mathematical relationship being expressed with respect to the calculated numerical reference threshold; amend the received natural-language search string by replacing the indefinite descriptor with the mathematical relationship; and an output configured in use to: output the amended search string enabling the real-estate property database to be searched using the amended search string.
18. The system of Claim 17, wherein the processor is configured in use to: identify a property type specified in the natural-language search string; and identify the two or more database entries relating to real-estate properties each comprising the real-estate property feature, in dependence on the specific property type.
19. The system of Claim 17 or 18, wherein the processor is configured in use to: analyse the syntax of the natural-language search string to identify e one or more words comprised in the natural-language search string indicative of the geographical identifier, and the desired property characteristic; and determine if the indefinite descriptor is associated with the desired property characteristic in dependence on the syntactical analysis.
20. The system of Claim 19, wherein the processor is configured in use to: identify the indefinite descriptor within the received natural-language search string; and determine the real-estate property feature that is associated with the indefinite descriptor.
21. The system of Claim 20, wherein the indefinite descriptor comprises an indefinite adjective, and the processor is configured in use to: identify the indefinite adjective within the received natural-language search string; and determine the argument of the indefinite adjective.
22. The system of Claim 21 , wherein the processor is configured in use to: determine the argument of the indefinite adjective within the natural-language search string in dependence on a relative position of the indefinite adjective with respect to the real-estate property feature.
23. The system of any one of Claims 19 to 22, wherein the processor is configured in use to: match one or more keywords present in a keyword database with one or more words comprised in the natural-language search string; and identify the geographical identifier, the real-estate property feature associated with the desired property characteristic, and the indefinite descriptor in dependence on the keyword matching.
24. The system of any one of Claim 17 to 23, wherein the reference threshold comprises a value range, and the processor is configured in use to: calculate the value range associated with the real-estate property feature in dependence on the value of the property feature associated with each one of the two or more identified database entries; and represent the indefinite descriptor as a mathematical relationship expressed with respect to the value range.
25. The system of Claim 24, wherein the processor is configured in use to: calculate a mean value associated with the real-estate property feature in dependence on the value of the property feature associated with each one of the two or more identified database entries; calculate an upper boundary value by multiplying the calculated mean value by an arbitrary factor; calculate a lower boundary value by dividing the calculated mean value by the arbitrary factor; and define the value range in dependence on the calculated upper and lower boundary values.
26. The system of Claim 25, wherein the processor is configured in use to: select the value of the arbitrary factor in dependence on a user's search history.
27. The system of Claim 25, wherein the processor is configured in use to: select the value of the arbitrary factor in dependence on the geographic identifier.
28. The system of Claim 25, wherein the processor is configured in use to: select the value of the arbitrary factor in dependence on a geographical location of the remotely located terminal.
29. The system of any one of Claims 17 to 28, wherein the processor is configured in use to: select a geographical location associated with the geographical identifier; define a geographical area encompassing the geographical location by outwardly extending the geographical location by a predefined radial distance; and identify the two or more database entries in dependence on a geographical location associated with each database entry being located within the defined geographical area.
30. The system of any one of Claims 17 to 29, wherein the processor is configured in use to: identify the geographical identifier by identifying any one or more words indicative of any one of: a street, a council, a town, a city, a region, a county, a state, and a country.
31. The system of any one of Claims 17 to 30, wherein the desired property characteristic comprises an indication of a desired state of natural lighting associated with the real-estate property, and the processor is configured in use to: determine an illuminance value indicative of a state of natural lighting associated with each one of the two or more identified database entries, by simulating the natural lighting associated with each one of the two or more identified database entries, in dependence on a structural building plan associated with a real-estate property associated with each database entry.
32. A computer program product comprising instructions arranged to configure a computing device to carry out the method of any one of Claims 1 to 16.
33. A non-transitory computer readable data carrier having stored thereon instructions for carrying out the method of any one of Claims 1 to 16.
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| GBGB1708771.9A GB201708771D0 (en) | 2017-06-01 | 2017-06-01 | Improved search engine |
| PCT/GB2018/051496 WO2018220387A1 (en) | 2017-06-01 | 2018-05-31 | Improved method and system for searching |
Publications (2)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| GB201919436D0 GB201919436D0 (en) | 2020-02-12 |
| GB2577458A true GB2577458A (en) | 2020-03-25 |
Family
ID=59350002
Family Applications (2)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| GBGB1708771.9A Ceased GB201708771D0 (en) | 2017-06-01 | 2017-06-01 | Improved search engine |
| GB1919436.4A Withdrawn GB2577458A (en) | 2017-06-01 | 2018-05-31 | Improved method and system for searching |
Family Applications Before (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| GBGB1708771.9A Ceased GB201708771D0 (en) | 2017-06-01 | 2017-06-01 | Improved search engine |
Country Status (2)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| GB (2) | GB201708771D0 (en) |
| WO (1) | WO2018220387A1 (en) |
Families Citing this family (2)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| WO2024028862A1 (en) * | 2022-08-03 | 2024-02-08 | Rosetal System Information Ltd | System and method for generating enriched property listings |
| US12405991B2 (en) * | 2024-01-25 | 2025-09-02 | MFTB Holdco, Inc. | Automated tool for determining and providing information about dwellings within geographical regions that are determined specific to indicated locations |
Citations (2)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EP1832987A1 (en) * | 2004-11-04 | 2007-09-12 | Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. | Content data searcher |
| EP2479687A2 (en) * | 2011-01-11 | 2012-07-25 | Sony Corporation | Search apparatus, search method and program |
-
2017
- 2017-06-01 GB GBGB1708771.9A patent/GB201708771D0/en not_active Ceased
-
2018
- 2018-05-31 GB GB1919436.4A patent/GB2577458A/en not_active Withdrawn
- 2018-05-31 WO PCT/GB2018/051496 patent/WO2018220387A1/en not_active Ceased
Patent Citations (2)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EP1832987A1 (en) * | 2004-11-04 | 2007-09-12 | Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. | Content data searcher |
| EP2479687A2 (en) * | 2011-01-11 | 2012-07-25 | Sony Corporation | Search apparatus, search method and program |
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| GB201919436D0 (en) | 2020-02-12 |
| GB201708771D0 (en) | 2017-07-19 |
| WO2018220387A1 (en) | 2018-12-06 |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| WAP | Application withdrawn, taken to be withdrawn or refused ** after publication under section 16(1) |