intelligent database search suggestions

[Anon]

I have a fairly simple keyword search tool for my customer's database. They are now asking that the search tool be able to match records intelligently rather than just finding similar records. For example they want to be able to enter keyword "3 tiered approaches" and find "three-tiered approach"
"3 tier approaches", etc. Any reccommendations on how to go about setting up something like this?

[quicknik]

mhmm ...
you need a heuristical maschine to meet the demands.

may be it will be enougth to set up some kind of associative word to synonym table.
This will at least solve the nummer to words problem.

But it will probably fail on more complex cases. 😐

bye,
niko