The modelling and retrieval of documents using index expressions

Abstract

In this paper we introduce Index Expressions as a means for modelling document content. From an index expression the the Power Index Expression can be derived, which is a powerful instrument for information retrieval. We describe the characterization of documents in the style of formal logic. The content of a document is then modelled by a set of axioms, of which the document is a model. Relating a document to a query is done by proving the query from the axioms of that document. We introduce three rules of inference. If such a proof is not possible, the relevance of the document for the query is derived by plausible deduction. We introduce two inference rules for plausible deduction.