An efficient algorithm for full text retrieval for multiple keywords

Text retrieval methods have attracted much interest recently. There are numerous applications involving storage and retrieval of textural data: electronic office filing, computerized libraries, automated law, and so on. A well-known and simple approach of searching texts is full text retrieval using signature files, but the method cannot apply multiple keywords. This paper presents a fast retrieval algorithm for multiple keywords by using the characteristics of multiple signatures. The objective of this approach is to decrease the number of comparisons between multiple signatures. From the simulation result for OR and AND-OR operations and for less than 40 keywords, it is shown that the presented algorithm is from two to six times faster than the traditional algorithm. (C) Elsevier Science Inc. 1998.