Extended boolean retrieval: a heuristic approach?

ABSTRACT

We show that the similarity measures for p-norm retrieval, as defined by Salton, Fox and Wu have some undesirable mathematical properties. We propose a new function that remedies some of these drawbacks. Still, even for this new similarity measure the extended Boolean model has some properties which can only be described as 'heuristic'.

INDEX TERMS

Primary Classification:
  H. Information Systems
  H.3 INFORMATION STORAGE AND RETRIEVAL
      H.3.3 Information Search and Retrieval
          Subjects: Retrieval models

Additional Classification:
  G. Mathematics of Computing
  G.3 PROBABILITY AND STATISTICS
      Subjects: Probabilistic algorithms (including Monte Carlo)

  H. Information Systems
  H.2 DATABASE MANAGEMENT
      H.2.4 Systems
          Subjects: Query processing

General Terms:
Theory