Efficiently storing indented threads in a threaded discussion application
AssigneePlumtree Software, Inc.
InventorsKurt Frieden, Prasanna Srikhanta
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A hierarchical set of records has multiple hierarchical levels and depths. Each of the records has a tag that is unique within the hierarchical set of records. A method for retrieving a record includes identifying one of the records in the hierarchical set and modifying the tag, thereby producing a key. The hierarchical set of records is indexed only once. A record is selected and retrieved based on the indexing which applies the key to the hierarchical set of the records.
Claims36
A computer implemented method for retrieving a record in a hierarchical set of records having a plurality of hierarchical levels and a plurality of hierarchical depths, each of the records having a tag that is unique within the hierarchical set of the records, the method comprising:
- identifying one of the records in the hierarchical set of records;
- selecting a second record by indicating a relational characteristic of the identified record that comprises a depth relationship or a level relationship or both;
- modifying the tag based on the relational characteristic and a predetermined numeric mapping of related records, thereby producing a key corresponding to the second record that is related to the identified record by the relational characteristic;
- indexing the hierarchical set of the records only once, thereby selecting the second record within the hierarchical set of records, wherein indexing the hierarchical set of records only once comprises applying the key to the hierarchical set of records;
- and
- retrieving the selected records, and
- wherein the key comprises a second tag uniquely identifying the second record,
- wherein applying comprises selecting those of the records in the hierarchical set of the records having a tag that matches the key, and
- wherein:
- each tag is a number having a plurality of digits;
- the position of each of the digits represents one of the hierarchical depths;
- the value of each of the digits represents one of the hierarchical levels;
- and
- modifying the tag comprises;
- selecting at least one of the digits according to the command from the user;
- and
- changing the value of the selected digits according to the command from the user.
A computer implemented method for selecting a record in a hierarchical set of records having a plurality of hierarchical levels and a plurality of hierarchical depths, each of the records having a tag that is unique within the hierarchical set of records, the method comprising:
- identifying one of the records in the hierarchical set of records;
- selecting a second record by indicating a relational characteristic of the identified record that comprises a depth relationship or a level relationship or both;
- modifying the tag based on the relational characteristic and a predetermined numeric mapping of related records;
- indexing the hierarchical set of records only once, thereby selecting the second record within the hierarchical set of records, wherein indexing the hierarchical set of records only once comprises applying the modified tag to the hierarchical set of;
- and
- retrieving the selected records, and
- wherein the key comprises a second tag uniguely identifying the second record.
At least one computer programmed to execute a process for retrieving records in a hierarchical set of the records having a plurality of hierarchical levels and a plurality of hierarchical depths, each of the records having a tag that is unique within the hierarchical set of the records, the process comprising:
- identifying one of the records in the hierarchical set of records;
- selecting a second record by indicating a relational characteristic of the identified record that comprises a depth relationship or a level relationship or both;
- modifying the tag based on the relational characteristic and a predetermined numeric mapping of related records, thereby producing a key corresponding to the second record that is related to the identified record by the relational characteristic;
- indexing the hierarchical set of the records only once, thereby selecting the second record within the hierarchical set of records, wherein indexing the hierarchical set of records only once comprises applying the key to the hierarchical set of records;
- and
- retrieving the selected records, and
- wherein the key comprises a second tag uniquely identifying the second record
- wherein applying comprises selecting those of the records in the hierarchical set of the records having a tag that matches the key, and
- wherein:
- each tag is a number having a plurality of digits;
- the position of each of the digits represents one of the hierarchical depths;
- the value of each of the digits represents one of the hierarchical levels;
- and
- modifying the tag comprises:
- selecting at least one of the digits according to the command from the user;
- and
- changing the value of the selected digits according to the command from the user.
At least one computer programmed to execute a process for selecting records in a hierarchical set of the records having a plurality of hierarchical levels and a plurality of hierarchical depths, each of the records having a tag that is unique within the hierarchical set of the records, the process comprising:
- identifying one of the records in the hierarchical set of records;
- selecting a second record by indicating a relational characteristic of the identified record that comprises a depth relationship or a level relationship or both;
- modifying the tag based on the relational characteristic and a predetermined numeric mapping of related records;
- indexing the hierarchical set of records only once, thereby selecting the second record within the hierarchical set of records, wherein indexing the hierarchical set of records only once comprises applying the modified tag to the hierarchical set of records;
- and
- retrieving the selected records, and
- wherein the key comprises a second tap uniquely identifying the second record.
An apparatus for retrieving records in a hierarchical set of the records having a plurality of hierarchical levels and a plurality of hierarchical depths, each of the records having a tag that is unique within the hierarchical set of the records, the apparatus comprising:
- means for identifying one of the records in the hierarchical set of records;
- means for selecting a second record by indicating a relational characteristic of the identified record, wherein the relational characteristic comprises a depth relationship or a level relationship or both;
- means for modifying the tag based on the relational characteristic and a predetermined numeric mapping of related records, thereby producing a key corresponding to the second record that is related to the identified record by the relational characteristic;
- means for indexing the hierarchical set of the records only once, thereby selecting the second record within the hierarchical set of records, wherein means for indexing the hierarchical set of the records only once comprises means for applying the key to the hierarchical set of records;
- and
- means for retrieving the selected records, and
- wherein the key comprises a second tag uniquely identifying the second record
- wherein means for applying comprises means for selecting those of the records in the hierarchical set of the records having a tag that matches the key, and
- wherein:
- each tag is a number having a plurality of digits;
- the position of each of the digits represents one of the hierarchical depths;
- the value of each of the digits represents one of the hierarchical levels;
- and
- means for modifying the tag comprises:
- means for selecting at least one of the digits according to the command from the user;
- and
- means for changing the value of the selected digits according to the command from the user.
An apparatus for selecting records in a hierarchical set of the records having a plurality of hierarchical levels and a plurality of hierarchical depths, each of the records having a tag that is unique within the hierarchical set of the records, the apparatus comprising:
- means for identifying one of the records in the hierarchical set of the records;
- means for selecting a second record by indicating a relational characteristic of the identified record, wherein the relational characteristic comprises a depth relationship or a level relationship or both;
- means for modifying the tag based on the relational characteristic and a predetermined numeric mapping of related records;
- means for indexing the hierarchical set of the records only once, thereby selecting the records within the hierarchical set of the records, wherein indexing the hierarchical set of the records only once comprises applying the modified tag to the hierarchical set of the record;
- and
- means for retrieving the selected records, and
- wherein the key comprises a second tag uniquely identifying the second record.
Computer-readable storage media embodying instructions executable by a computer to perform a method for retrieving records in a hierarchical set of the records having a plurality of hierarchical levels and a plurality of hierarchical depths, each of the records having a tag that is unique within the hierarchical set of the records, the method comprising:
- identifying one of the records in the hierarchical set of the records;
- selecting a second record by indicating a relational characteristic of the identified record that comprises a depth relationship or a level relationship or both;
- modifying the tag based on the relational characteristic and a predetermined numeric mapping of related records, thereby producing a key corresponding to the second record that is related to the identified record by the relational characteristic;
- indexing the hierarchical set of the records only once, thereby selecting the second record within the hierarchical set of records, wherein indexing the hierarchical set of records only once comprises applying the key to the hierarchical set of records;
- and
- retrieving the selected records, and
- wherein the key comprises a second tag uniquely identifying the second record
- wherein applying comprises selecting those of the records in the hierarchical set of the records having a tag that matches the key, and
- wherein:
- each tag is a number having a plurality of digits;
- the position of each of the digits represents one of the hierarchical depths;
- the value of each of the digits represents one of the hierarchical levels;
- and
- modifying the tag comprises;
- selecting at least one of the digits according to the command from the user;
- and
- changing the value of the selected digits according to the command from the user.
Computer-readable storage media embodying instructions executable by a computer to perform a method for selecting records in a hierarchical set of the records having a plurality of hierarchical levels and a plurality of hierarchical depths, each of the records having a tag that is unique within the hierarchical set of the records, the method comprising:
- identifying one of the records in the hierarchical set of records;
- selecting a second record by indicating a relational characteristic of the identified record that comprises a depth relationship or a level relationship or both;
- modifying the tag based on the relational characteristic and a predetermined numeric mapping of related records;
- indexing the hierarchical set of records only once, thereby selecting the second record within the hierarchical set of records, wherein indexing the hierarchical set of records only once comprises applying the modified tag to the hierarchical set of records;
- and
- retrieving the selected records, and
- wherein the key comprises a second tag uniquely identifying the second record.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.