Search engine using indexing method for storing and retrieving data

A method of indexing a collection of data objects, wherein a tree index structure is used in combination with a predetermined second indexing structure, comprising the steps of:

• creating a first level index array;
• expanding the levels of said tree index structure to a plurality of additional layers of index arrays and wherein said first level index array and each of said index arrays in said plurality of additional layers of index arrays have a plurality of locations corresponding to at least one character of a predetermined list of characters;
• indexing a first predetermined portion of a data object in said first level index array and in each of said plurality of additional layers of index arrays;
• pointing to said predetermined second indexing structure;
• indexing a second portion of said data object in said second indexing structures;
• and
• wherein said second indexing structure is a B-tree indexing structure.

A hybrid indexing structure for indexing a plurality of data objects comprising:

• a plurality of index segments, said plurality of index segments having locations associated with a character or group of characters, and wherein said locations of said index segments are adapted to store either a pointer to another index segment or a second data element;
• a second database structure pointed to by at least one location of one index segment;
• wherein a first portion of each of said plurality of data objects are indexed by said plurality of index segments and a second portion of each of said plurality of data objects are indexed by said second database structure;
• and
• wherein said second database structure is a B-tree structure.

A hybrid indexing structure for indexing a plurality of data objects comprising:

• a first database structure;
• a plurality of layers of index segments, each of said index segments having locations wherein each of said locations are associated with a character, and wherein said locations of said index segments are adapted to store either a pointer to another index segment or a second data element, wherein said first database structure points to said at least one of said index segments from said plurality of layers of index segments;
• wherein a first portion of each of said plurality of data objects are indexed by said first database structure and wherein a second portion of each of said plurality of data objects are indexed by said plurality of layers of index segments;
• and
• wherein said first database structure is a B-tree structure.

An indexing process for use in Internet search engines, comprising the steps of:

• retrieving a collection of data items from the Internet, said collection of data items associated with an address;
• indexing said data items, said indexing further comprising the steps of:
• a. creating a plurality of index arrays, each of said index arrays having locations wherein each of said locations is associated with a character or group of characters;
• b. indexing a first predetermined portion of each of said plurality of data items in said plurality of index arrays;
• c. configuring at least one of said index arrays with a reference for each unique data item, said reference used to locate an address associated with each of said indexed data items;
• and
• d. wherein said reference is stored in a terminating character position of one of said index arrays.

An indexing process for use in Internet search engines, comprising the steps of:

• retrieving a Web page from said Internet, including a URL associated with said retrieved Web page;
• indexing data items from said Web page, said indexing further comprised of the steps of:
• a. creating an index structure by creating a plurality of index arrays, each of said index arrays having locations wherein each of said locations is associated with a character or group of characters, wherein said locations of said plurality of index arrays are adapted to store either a pointer to another index array or a second data element;
• b. associating a unique reference for each unique data item in said index structure;
• associating each of said unique references to Web pages containing said unique data items;
• and
• wherein said unique reference for each unique data item is stored in a terminating character position of said index structure.

A method for indexing Internet pages for subsequent searching and retrieval, said method comprising:

• providing a first index structure, said index structure having a plurality of index arrays, wherein each of said index arrays has a predetermined number of locations and wherein each of said locations is associated with a character and, wherein one of said locations of each of said index arrays corresponds to a terminating character reference;
• obtaining a first data item from a first Internet page;
• determining a first character of said first data item;
• placing a pointer to a second level index array in a location of a first level index array corresponding to said first character;
• indexing the remaining characters of said first data item in said index structure;
• placing a pointer to a last index array in an index array and index location corresponding to a last character of said first data item;
• and placing a reference value in a terminating character location of said last index array, wherein said reference value is used to retrieve the location of the Internet page.

An index structure for indexing data items retrieved from an Internet web page, said index structure comprised of:

• a plurality of index arrays, said index arrays having a predetermined number of locations and wherein each of said locations is associated with at least one character;
• wherein said locations of said index arrays are adapted to hold a pointer to another index array or another data element;
• wherein said data element is a reference value used to retrieve locations of Internet pages;
• wherein said reference value is a unique numerical value assigned to a unique data item indexed in said index structure;
• and
• wherein said unique numerical value for each unique data item is stored in a terminating character location of an index array.

An index structure for indexing a data item, comprising:

• a first index array, said first index array further comprised of:
• a. a first portion having a predetermined number of locations, each of said locations corresponding to a predetermined character or group of characters;
• b. a first pointer location for storing a pointer to another index array or a reference value, wherein said reference value is used to locate web pages containing the data item;
• and
• c. wherein said first pointer and said first pointer location are located in non-continuous locations in memory.

An index structure for indexing a data item, comprising:

• a first index array, said first index array further comprised of:
• a. a first portion having a predetermined number of locations, each of said locations corresponding to a predetermined character or group of characters;
• b. a first pointer location for storing a pointer to another index array or a reference value, wherein said reference value is used to locate web pages containing the data item;
• and
• c. wherein one of said locations in said first portion relates to an unknown character.

An index structure for indexing a data item, comprising:

• a first index array, said first index array further comprised of:
• a. a first portion having a predetermined number of locations, each of said locations corresponding to a predetermined character or group of characters;
• b. a first pointer location for storing a pointer to another index array or a reference value, wherein said reference value is used to locate web pages containing the data item;
• and
• c. wherein said reference value is a unique numerical value assigned to a particular data string.

An index structure for indexing a data item, comprising:

• a first index array, said first index array further comprised of:
• a. a first portion having a predetermined number of locations, each of said locations corresponding to a predetermined character or group of characters;
• b. a first pointer location for storing a pointer to another index array or a reference value, wherein said reference value is used to locate web pages containing the data item;
• and
• c. wherein said first portion is a bitmap portion.