In a search processing system, a concept network is generated from a set
of queries by parsing the queries into units and defining various
relationships between the units based in part on patterns of units that
appear together in queries. Units in the concept network that have some
similar characteristic(s) are grouped into superunits. For each
superunit, there is a corresponding signature that defines the similar
characteristic of the group. A query is processed by identifying
constituent units, determining the superunit membership of some or all of
the constituent units, and using that information to formulate a response
to the query.