Full Text Query and Search Systems and Method of Use

A method for searching a database, comprising the steps of:

• initiating a first search on the database in response to a first query, the first search generating a plurality of hits;
• ranking the hits in dependence upon an information measure of itoms shared by both the hit and the first query;
• and
• taking automatic action with respect to at least one of the hits selected in accordance with the ranking.

A method for searching a database, comprising the steps of:

• selecting a proper subset of itoms in a first query in dependence upon a relative information measure of the itoms in said first query;
• initiating the first search on the database in response to the first query, in a manner that considers itoms in the subset and ignores the itoms not in the subset, the first search generating a plurality of hits;
• and
• identifying to a user at least one of the hits selected in accordance with the ranking.

A method for preparing a first database for searching, comprising the steps of:

• developing a list of itoms present in the first database, at least one of the itoms containing more than one token, and at least one of the itoms constituting less than a full cell in the first database;
• associating with each of the itoms in the list an information measure of the respective itom;
• and
• associating with each of the itoms in the list an indication of the location of each occurrence of the respective itom in the first database.

A computer readable medium for use in searching a first database, the medium carrying:

• a list of itoms present in the first database, at least one of the itoms containing more than one token, and at least one of the itoms constituting less than a full cell in the first database;
• for each of the itoms in the list, an information measure of the respective itom;
• and
• for each of the itoms in the list, an indication of the location of each occurrence of the respective itom in the first database.

A method for searching a database, comprising the steps of:

• developing a synonym list for a first itom in a first query, each synonym in the synonym list having an associated similarity score;
• initiating a search on the database in response to the first query, allowing for substitutions of synonyms from the synonym list for the first itom in the first query, the first search generating a plurality of hits;
• ranking the hits in dependence upon the similarity score of any synonym substituted for the first itom in the step of initiating a search;
• and
• identifying to a user at least one of the hits selected in accordance with the ranking.

A method for searching a database, comprising the steps of:

• initiating a first search on the database in response to a first query, for hits in which at least one itom is shared by both the hit and the first query;
• and
• identifying to a user at least one of the hits,
• wherein at least a first one of the itoms shared by both the first query and a first one of the hits contains more than one token,
• and wherein a second one of the itoms shared by both the first hit and the first query overlaps with the first itom, either in the hit or in the first query or both.

A method for searching a database, comprising the steps of:

• developing a plurality of preliminary queries in dependence upon a provided first query, at least two of the preliminary queries differing from each other;
• forwarding the preliminary queries to a set of at least one external search engine, each combination of a preliminary search query and an external search engine yielding a respective set of preliminary hits;
• and
• identifying to a user at least one of the hits returned from at least one of the preliminary queries.