US 5,966,703 A · Technique for indexing information stored as a plurality of records

Abstract

In a computer implemented method, a plurality of records are stored in a database at unique record addresses. The information of each record is parsed into a set of individual words where each word represents a portion of the information of a particular record. A unique sequential location is assigned to each word so that the location of a first word of a next record sequentially follows the location of a last word of a previous record. Pairs are formed from the words and their assigned location. For attributes common to a particular record, generate a record metaword, and assign the location of the last word of the record to the metaword. For attributes common to subsets of words, generate a first and second field metaword, and assign the location of the first and last word of the subset to the first and second field metaword to form pairs. The pairs are sorted in a memory, first according to the words and metawords, and second according to their locations so that each unique word and metaword is immediately followed by a sequential list of locations where the unique word and metaword occurs in the database.

Claims18

Dependent claims

A method for indexing information stored as a plurality of records, each of the plurality of records including a set of words, each word included in the set of words having an associated location representation, the method comprising the steps of:

identifying an attribute common to at least one subset of the set of words included in a first of the plurality of records, the at least one subset having a first word and a last word;
generating a metaword representing the identified attribute;
and
associating the location representation associated with the last word of the at least one subset with the generated metaword.

1 more element

An article of manufacture for indexing information stored as a plurality of records, each of the plurality of records including a set of words, each word included in the set of words having an associated location representation, the article of manufacture comprising:

at least one processor readable carrier;
and
instructions contained on the carrier;
wherein the instructions are configured to be readable from the at least one carrier by one or more processors and thereby cause the one or more processors to operate so as to:
identify an attribute common to at least one subset of the set of words included in a first of the plurality of records, the at least one subset having a first word and a last word;
generate a metaword representing the identified attribute;
and
associate the location representation associated with the last word of the at least one subset with the generated metaword.

5 more elements

A system for indexing information stored as a plurality of records, each of the plurality of records including a set of words, each word included in the set of words having an associated location representation, the system comprising:

a processor configured to:
identify an attribute common to at least one subset of the set of words included in a first of the plurality of records, the at least one subset having a first word and a last word;
generate a metaword representing the identified attribute;
and
associate the location representation associated with the last word of the at least one subset with the generated metaword;
and
a memory configured to store the generated metaword.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Technique for indexing information stored as a plurality of records

Life of this patent

Technique for indexing information stored as a plurality of records

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims18