System and method for retrieving information from a database using an index of XML tags and metafiles

A method for searching a database of records using an index including a plurality of tags, comprising the steps of:

• receiving a request for information;
• identifying a first tag that is associated with the request;
• determining whether a first metafile comprising a second tag corresponds to the first tag;
• if the first metafile corresponds to the first tag, then determining whether the second tag is relevant to the request;
• if the second tag is relevant to the request, then combining the first tag and the second tag to create a key;
• and
• using the key to search the database to locate at least one record that includes the first tag and the second tag.

A computer-readable medium having stored thereon computer-executable instructions for searching a database of records using an index including a plurality of tags, comprising the steps of:

• receiving a request for information;
• identifying a first tag that is associated with the request;
• identifying a second tag that is associated with the request by determining that the second tag is included in a metafile associated with the first tag;
• combining the first tag and the second tag to create a key;
• and
• using the key to search the database to locate records including the first tag and the second tag.

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

• receiving a request for information from a client, the request having a first term;
• identifying a first XML tag that is associated with the first term;
• determining whether a first metafile corresponds to the first XML tag;
• if the first metafile corresponds to the first XML tag, then transmitting the first XML tag, the first metafile and query code to the client;
• once the client conducts a query by executing the query code using the first XML tag and the first metafile, then receiving query results including a first set of XML tags from the client;
• combining the first set of XML tags into a key;
• using the key to search the database to locate records including the first set of XML tags;
• and
• delivering the records including the first set of XML tags to the client.

A method for identifying a record from a database of records that satisfies a request for information, comprising the steps of:

• receiving the request for information;
• sending the request to a server;
• receiving a first XML tag and a first metafile that are associated with the request and query code from the server;
• executing the query code to determine a first set of XML tags that are associated with the request;
• sending the first set of XML tags to the server;
• receiving the record from the server;
• and
• delivering the record.

A method for creating a metafile that can be used to locate records in a database that are related to a trade name, comprising the steps of:

• selecting an XML tag that is associated with the trade name;
• and
• creating a metafile that is associated with the first domain tag by:
• selecting a first XML tag that is associated with an authorized dealer of a product associated with the trade name;
• selecting a second XML tag that is associated with an authorized service provider for the product;
• selecting a third XML tag that is associated with an authorized parts provider for the product,
• so that the metafile can be used to locate records in the database that are related to the trade name.

A method for locating records related to a trade name, comprising the steps of:

• receiving a request for information that includes the trade name;
• identifying a first tag that is associated with the trade name;
• identifying a metafile that is associated with the trade name;
• determining whether the metafile identifies additional tags that are associated with the trade name;
• if the metafile identifies additional tags that are associated with the trade name, then conducting a query to determine which of the additional tags are relevant to the request;
• if the query determines that a second tag is relevant to the request, then combining the first tag and the second tag to create a key;
• using the key to search a database to locate records that include the first tag and the second tag.