Using an inverted index to produce an answer to a query
AssigneeHewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
InventorD. Blair ELZINGA
Life of this patent
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Abstract
In response to a query having a search term, an inverted index that is defined on a set of attributes of a database structure is accessed, where the inverted index associates values of the set of attributes with corresponding references to rows of the database structure. It is determined whether any of the attributes in the set is in the search term. In response to determining that any of the attributes in the set is in the search term, the inverted index is used to produce an answer to the query.
Claims18
A method of a system having a processor, comprising:
- in response to a query having a search term, accessing an inverted index that is defined on a set of attributes of a database structure, wherein the inverted index associates values of the set of attributes with corresponding references to rows of the database structure;
- determining whether any of the attributes in the set is in the search term;
- and
- in response to determining that any of the attributes in the set is in the search term, using the inverted index to produce an answer to the query.
A system comprising:
- at least one processor to:
- in response to a query containing a search term that specifies search values of at least one attribute, access an inverted index that is defined on a set of attributes of a database structure, where the inverted index associates values of the set of attributes with corresponding references to rows of the database structure;
- determine whether any of the attributes in the set is in the search term;
- and
- in response to determining that any of the attributes in the set is in the search term, comparing the search values of the at least one attribute in the search term with values in the inverted index to produce an answer to the query.
An article comprising at least one machine-readable storage medium storing instructions that upon execution cause a system to:
- in response to a query having a search term, access an inverted index that is defined on a set of attributes of a database structure, wherein the inverted index associates values of the set of attributes with corresponding references to rows of the database structure;
- determine whether any of the attributes in the set is in the search term;
- and
- in response to determining that any of the attributes in the set is in the search term, use the inverted index to produce an answer to the query.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.