Kenneth R Hunter

US Patent:

60187352, Jan 25, 2000

Filed:

Aug 22, 1997

Appl. No.:

8/918503

Inventors:

Kenneth M. Hunter - San Francisco CA

Assignee:

Canon Kabushiki Kaisha - Tokyo

International Classification:

G06F 1730

US Classification:

707 5

Abstract:

Method and system for selectively retrieving information contained in a stored document set using a metric-based or "fuzzy" finite-state non-deterministic automation. The system receives a generalized regular search expression from a user. The system then performs prematching during which it estimates a dissimilarity metric for each target string in the stored document set with respect to the search expression. The strings are then sorted by dissimilarity metric, with the best matches, i. e. , the strings having the lowest dissimilarity metrics, first. The search expression is broken down into one or more segments. A linear fizzy finite-state non-deterministic automation is constructed (501) by matching each segment of the search expression with a corresponding set of states and transitions. The automation is initialized and then processes target strings read (502) from the sorted list, thereby generating a dissimilarity value for each target string. A dissimilarity value for each string is determined based upon penalties associated with one-to-one fuzzy character substitution, exchanged adjacent characters, one-to-many, many-to-one, and many-to-many character substitution, and other differences between the search expression and a target string read from storage.

US Patent:

56008350, Feb 4, 1997

Filed:

Nov 20, 1995

Appl. No.:

8/561204

Inventors:

Harry T. Garland - Los Gatos CA
Kenneth M. Hunter - San Francisco CA
Michael G. Roberts - Mountain View CA
Hadar I. Avi-Itzhak - Mountain View CA

Assignee:

Canon Inc. - Tokyo

International Classification:

G06F 1730
G06F 1728

US Classification:

395605

Abstract:

Method and system for selectively retrieving information contained in a stored document set using a non-literal, or "fuzzy", search strategy. A text string query is transmitted (200) to a computer processor, and a dissimilarity value D. sub. i is assigned (208) to selected ones of stored text strings representative of information contained in a stored document set, based upon a first set of rules (106). A set of retrieved text strings representative of stored information and related to the text string query is generated (212), based upon a second set of rules (107). Each of the retrieved text strings has an associated dissimilarity value D. sub. i, which is a function of at least one rule R. sub. n from the first set of rules (106) used to retrieve the text string and a weight value w. sub. n associated with that rule R. sub. n.

US Patent:

56066902, Feb 25, 1997

Filed:

Oct 28, 1994

Appl. No.:

8/330968

Inventors:

Kenneth M. Hunter - San Francisco CA
Michael G. Roberts - Mountain View CA
Harry T. Garland - Los Altos CA

Assignee:

Canon Inc. - Tokyo

International Classification:

G06F 1730
G06F 704

US Classification:

395605

Abstract:

Method and system for selectively retrieving information contained in a stored document set using a metric-based or "fuzzy" finite-state non-deterministic automaton. An automaton is constructed (501) corresponding to a text string query, text strings are read (502) from storage and corresponding dissimilarity values are generated (505). Those strings resulting in values less than a given threshold are recorded (508) and listed for the user. Dissimilarity values are determined based on penalties associated with missing characters, extra characters, incorrect characters, and other differences between the text string query and a text string read from storage.