Methods for intelligent universal database search engines
Patent 6298343 Issued on October 2, 2001. Estimated Expiration Date: 
December 29, 2017. Estimated Expiration Date is calculated based on simple USPTO term provisions. It does not account for terminal disclaimers, term adjustments, failure to pay maintenance fees, or other factors which might affect the term of a patent.
December 29, 2017. Estimated Expiration Date is calculated based on simple USPTO term provisions. It does not account for terminal disclaimers, term adjustments, failure to pay maintenance fees, or other factors which might affect the term of a patent.Patent ReferencesInventorsAssigneeApplicationNo. 08/998955 filed on 12/29/1997US Classes:707/5, Query augmenting and refining (e.g., inexact access)707/4Query formulation, input preparation, or translationExaminersPrimary: Black, Thomas G.Assistant: Mills, John G. Attorney, Agent or FirmInternational ClassesG06F 17/30 (20060101)G06F 009/00 () AbstractA method and apparatus for processing user-submitted search information to permit a database to be searched regardless of the format and language of the user-submitted information. The user-submitted information is first categorized into one or more categories, where each category is a type of information such as a date, a proper name or a place. For each category pertaining to the user-submitted information, the search is refined by comparing the user-submitted information to a feature table containing specific data types corresponding to each category. From the results of any affirmative comparison with the feature table, a starting location within a corresponding search table is retrieved. The search is further refined by comparing the user-submitted information to the entries of the search table beginning at the starting location. From the results of any affirmative comparison with the search table entries a database address is obtained which is used to obtain a database entry sought after by the user.Field of SearchDATABASE OR FILE ACCESSINGAccess augmentation or optimizing Query processing (i.e., searching) Query formulation, input preparation, or translation Query augmenting and refining (e.g., inexact access) Pattern matching access Sorting Concurrency (e.g., lock management in shared database) Privileged access Distributed or remote access DATABASE SCHEMA OR DATA STRUCTURE Manipulating data structure (e.g., compression, compaction, compilation) Generating database or data structure (e.g., via user interface) FILE OR DATABASE MAINTENANCE Coherency (e.g., same view to multiple users) Recoverability Version management Archiving or backup | |
