The Design of Text Signatures for Text Retrieval Systems The Design of Text Signatures for Text Retrieval Systems

Signature files are one technique for indexing documents for full-text retrieval systems. This paper discusses two methods for generating text signatures – the word fragmentation and the pseudo-random generation techniques. The paper evaluates the effectiveness and efficiency of generating text signatures using these techniques. It also determines the optimal set of characteristics that define a text signature that is to be used for superimposed signature file indexes. The optimal set of characteristics can be used to create text signatures that minimise the number of false drops retrieved from the information system.