ServiceNow, Inc.
Enhanced phrase scoring for textual search

Abstract:

Embodiments are provided for calculating improved search scores for records that exhibit supra-threshold slop distances. These embodiments include receiving a search string that includes two or more words and determining, based on the search string, search scores for a plurality of text-based records. Determining a search score for a particular text-based record includes: determining a slop distance for the search string within the particular text-based record; determining that the slop distance is greater than a threshold distance; responsive to determining that the slop distance is greater than the threshold distance, determining an augmented slop distance for the particular text-based record; and determining the search score based on the augmented slop distance. Determining the augmented slop distance includes: identifying two or more groups of words within the search string; determining, for each of the groups of words, group slop distances that are products of intra-group slop distances and missing word penalties.