Method and means using digital data processing means for locating

Abstract

The method uses digital data processing means and stored representations of a table of textual block identifiers for locating in a stored textual data base those textual blocks having the best match with a query. Textual block identifiers each provide an indication of a textual block in a stored data base which contains the corresponding word. The method comprises the following steps: A query word is received having representations of a plurality of words to be located in textual blocks in the stored data base. For each of a plurality of the query words, determine a corresponding set of equivalent words which are contained in the stored data base. Each set of equivalent words is equivalent to the corresponding query word. Each equivalent word has a corresponding group of textual block identifiers represented in the stored table. Process the representations of the textual block identifiers in those groups which correspond to the determined equivalent words to thereby form a score for at least one textual block. The score provides an indication of the total number of the sets which have at least one equivalent word in the at least one textual block. The score is utilized to provide output data pertaining to selected textual blocks in the stored textual data base.