Method and apparatus for conducting data queries using consolidation strings and inter-node consolidation

A method for optimizing data queries for related records in a reliable fashion, to be used with a system having a first computing device communicatively coupled with a second and a third computing device, and communicatively coupled to a first database that stores real-world entity data, having said second computing device communicatively coupled with said first and said third computing device, and communicatively coupled to a second database that stores real-world entity data, having said third computing device communicatively coupled with said first and said second computing device, and communicatively coupled to a third database that stores real-world entity data, comprising the steps of:

• creating a hierarchical system of Consolidation Strings for said first database,
• wherein each Consolidation String in said hierarchical system represents one or more key pieces of information relating to a real-world entity stored in said database,
• wherein the information represented in each Consolidation String is represented in a character format, and
• wherein the hierarchical ranking of Consolidation String priorities are used to optimize database queries to find matching records for at least one entity of interest with substantial certainty;
• creating a hierarchical system of Consolidation Strings for said second database,
• wherein each Consolidation String in said hierarchical system represents one or more key pieces of information relating to a real-world entity stored in said database,
• wherein the information represented in each Consolidation String is represented in a character format, and
• wherein the hierarchical ranking of Consolidation String priorities are used to optimize database queries to find matching records for at least one entity of interest with substantial certainty;
• creating a hierarchical system of Consolidation Strings for said third database,
• wherein each Consolidation String in said hierarchical system represents one or more key pieces of information relating to a real-world entity stored in said database,
• wherein the information represented in each Consolidation String is represented in a character format, and
• wherein the hierarchical ranking of Consolidation String priorities are used to optimize database queries to find matching records for at least one entity of interest with substantial certainty;
• providing the capability of said first computing device to query said first database and cause said first database to also query said second and third databases,
• wherein an entity-record match between said first and second databases will be found and said matching entity records are consolidated from an end-user's point of view, if a pair of entity records have Consolidation Strings on the same priority level that are character-wise identical, and
• wherein an entity-record match between said first and third databases will be found and said matching entity records are consolidated from an end-user's point of view, if a pair of entity records have Consolidation Strings on the same priority level that are character-wise identical;
• providing the capability of said second computing device to query said second database and cause said second database to also query said first and third databases,
• wherein an entity-record match between said second and first databases will be found and said matching entity records are consolidated from an end-user's point of view, if a pair of entity records have Consolidation Strings on the same priority level that are character-wise identical, and
• wherein an entity-record match between said second and third databases will be found and said matching entity records are consolidated from an end-user's point of view, if a pair of entity records have Consolidation Strings on the same priority level that are character-wise identical;
• and
• providing the capability of said third computing device to query said third database and cause said third database to also query said first and second databases,
• wherein an entity-record match between said third and first databases will be found and said matching entity records are consolidated from an end-user's point of view, if a pair of entity records have Consolidation Strings on the same priority level that are character-wise identical, and
• wherein an entity-record match between said third and second databases will be found and said matching entity records are consolidated from an end-user's point of view, if a pair of entity records have Consolidation Strings on the same priority level that are character-wise identical.

A system for optimizing data queries for related records in a reliable fashion, having a first computing device communicatively coupled with a second and a third computing device, and communicatively coupled to a first database that stores real-world entity data, having said second computing device communicatively coupled with said first and said third computing device, and communicatively coupled to a second database that stores real-world entity data, having said third computing device communicatively coupled with said first and said second computing device, and communicatively coupled to a third database that stores real-world entity data, a first end-user interface communicatively coupled to said first database, a second end-user interface communicatively coupled to said second database, and a third end-user interface communicatively coupled to said third database, comprising:

• a hierarchical system of Consolidation Strings for said first database,
• wherein each Consolidation String in said hierarchical system represents one or more key pieces of information relating to a real-world entity stored in said first database,
• wherein the information represented in each Consolidation String is in a character format,
• wherein the hierarchical ranking of Consolidation String priorities are used to optimize database queries to find matching records for at least one entity of interest with substantial certainty, and
• wherein Inter-Node Consolidation is set up for said first database, acting as a first data-source node in the overall system, by periodically communicating its Consolidation Strings to external data-source nodes;
• a hierarchical system of Consolidation Strings for said second database,
• wherein each Consolidation String in said hierarchical system represents one or more key pieces of information relating to a real-world entity stored in said second database,
• wherein the information represented in each Consolidation String is in a character format,
• wherein the hierarchical ranking of Consolidation String priorities are used to optimize database queries to find matching records for at least one entity of interest with substantial certainty, and
• wherein Inter-Node Consolidation is set up for said second database, acting as a second data-source node in the overall system, by periodically communicating its Consolidation Strings to external data-source nodes;
• a hierarchical system of Consolidation Strings for said third database,
• wherein each Consolidation String in said hierarchical system represents one or more key pieces of information relating to a real-world entity stored in said third database,
• wherein the information represented in each Consolidation String is in a character format,
• wherein the hierarchical ranking of Consolidation String priorities are used to optimize database queries to find matching records for at least one entity of interest with substantial certainty, and
• wherein Inter-Node Consolidation is set up for said third database, acting as a third data-source node in the overall system, by periodically communicating its Consolidation Strings to external data-source nodes;
• the capability of said first end-user interface to allow a first end-user to query said first data-source node, which in turn queries any associated Consolidated Strings associated with the query for the entity to identify related records contained in said second and third data-source nodes,
• wherein said first data-source node communicates consolidation information to said second and third external data-source nodes,
• wherein said consolidation information is applied against a consolidation algorithm in each said second and third data-source nodes, and
• wherein said consolidation algorithm looks for a pair of entity records with Consolidation Strings on the same priority level that are character-wise identical, and when such an entity match is found, said matching entity records are consolidated from an end-user's point of view;
• the capability of said second end-user interface to allow a second end-user to query said second data-source node, which in turn queries any associated Consolidated Strings associated with the query for the entity to identify related records contained in said first and third data-source nodes,
• wherein said second data-source node communicates consolidation information to said first and third data-source nodes,
• wherein said consolidation information is applied against a consolidation algorithm in each said first and third data-source nodes, and
• wherein said consolidation algorithm looks for a pair of entity records with Consolidation Strings on the same priority level that are character-wise identical, and when such an entity match is found, said matching entity records are consolidated from an end-user's point of view;
• and
• the capability of said third end-user interface to allow a third end-user to query said third data-source node, which in turn queries any associated Consolidated Strings associated with the query for the entity to identify related records contained in said first and second data-source nodes,
• wherein said third data-source node communicates consolidation information to said first and second data-source nodes,
• wherein said consolidation information is applied against a consolidation algorithm in each said first and second data-source nodes, and
• wherein said consolidation algorithm looks for a pair of entity records with Consolidation Strings on the same priority level that are character-wise identical, and when such an entity match is found, said matching entity records are consolidated from an end-user's point of view.

A method for optimizing data queries for related records in a reliable fashion, to be used with a system having a first computing device communicatively coupled with a second and a third computing device, and communicatively coupled to a first database that stores real-world entity data, having said second computing device communicatively coupled with said first and said third computing device, and communicatively coupled to a second database that stores real-world entity data, having said third computing device communicatively coupled with said first and said second computing device, and communicatively coupled to a third database that stores real-world entity data, a first end-user interface communicatively coupled to said first database, a second end-user interface communicatively coupled to said second database, and a third end-user interface communicatively coupled to said third database, comprising:

• providing a hierarchical system of Consolidation Strings for said first database,
• wherein each Consolidation String in said hierarchical system represents one or more key pieces of information relating to a real-world entity stored in said first database,
• wherein the information represented in each Consolidation String is in a character format,
• wherein the hierarchical ranking of Consolidation String priorities are used to optimize database queries to find matching records for at least one entity of interest with substantial certainty, and
• wherein Inter-Node Consolidation is set up for said first database, acting as a first data-source node in the overall system, by periodically communicating its Consolidation Strings to other data-source nodes;
• providing a hierarchical system of Consolidation Strings for said second database,
• wherein each Consolidation String in said hierarchical system represents one or more key pieces of information relating to a real-world entity stored in said second database,
• wherein the information represented in each Consolidation String is in a character format,
• wherein the hierarchical ranking of Consolidation String priorities are used to optimize database queries to find matching records for at least one entity of interest with substantial certainty, and
• wherein Inter-Node Consolidation is set up for said second database, acting as a second data-source node in the overall system, by periodically communicating its Consolidation Strings to other data-source nodes;
• providing a hierarchical system of Consolidation Strings for said third database,
• wherein each Consolidation String in said hierarchical system represents one or more key pieces of information relating to a real-world entity stored in said third database,
• wherein the information represented in each Consolidation String is in a character format,
• wherein the hierarchical ranking of Consolidation String priorities are used to optimize database queries to find matching records for at least one entity of interest with substantial certainty, and
• wherein Inter-Node Consolidation is set up for said third database, acting as a third data-source node in the overall system, by periodically communicating its Consolidation Strings to other data-source nodes;
• providing the capability of said first end-user interface to allow a first end-user to query said first data-source node, which in turn queries any associated Consolidated Strings associated with the query for the entity to identify related records contained in said second and third data-source nodes,
• wherein said first data-source node communicates consolidation information to said second and third data-source nodes,
• wherein said consolidation information is applied against a consolidation algorithm in each said second and third data-source nodes, and
• wherein said consolidation algorithm looks for a pair of entity records with Consolidation Strings on the same priority level that are character-wise identical, and when such an entity match is found, said matching entity records are consolidated from an end-user's point of view;
• providing the capability of said second end-user interface to allow a second end-user to query said second data-source node, which in turn queries any associated Consolidated Strings associated with the query for the entity to identify related records contained in said first and third data-source nodes,
• wherein said second data-source node communicates consolidation information to said first and third data-source nodes,
• wherein said consolidation information is applied against a consolidation algorithm in each said first and third data-source nodes, and
• wherein said consolidation algorithm looks for a pair of entity records with Consolidation Strings on the same priority level that are character-wise identical, and when such an entity match is found, said matching entity records are consolidated from an end-user's point of view;
• and
• providing the capability of said third end-user interface to allow a third end-user to query said third data-source node, which in turn queries any associated Consolidated Strings associated with the query for the entity to identify related records contained in said first and second data-source nodes,
• wherein said third data-source node communicates consolidation information to said first and second data-source nodes,
• wherein said consolidation information is applied against a consolidation algorithm in each said first and second data-source nodes,
• wherein said consolidation algorithm looks for a pair of entity records with Consolidation Strings on the same priority level that are character-wise identical, and when such an entity match is found, said matching entity records are consolidated from an end-user's point of view.

A system for optimizing data queries for related records in a reliable fashion, having a first computing device communicatively coupled with a second computing device, and communicatively coupled to a first database that stores real-world entity data, having said second computing device communicatively coupled with said first computing device, and communicatively coupled to a second database that stores real-world entity data, comprising:

• a hierarchical system of Consolidation Strings for said first database,
• wherein each Consolidation String in said hierarchical system represents one or more key pieces of information relating to a real-world entity stored in said first database,
• wherein the information represented in each Consolidation String is in a character format, and
• wherein the hierarchical ranking of Consolidation String priorities are used to optimize database queries to find matching records for at least one entity of interest with substantial certainty;
• a hierarchical system of Consolidation Strings for said second database,
• wherein each Consolidation String in said hierarchical system represents one or more key pieces of information relating to a real-world entity stored in said second database,
• wherein the information represented in each Consolidation String is in a character format, and
• wherein the hierarchical ranking of Consolidation String priorities are used to optimize database queries to find matching records for at least one entity of interest with substantial certainty;
• the capability of said first computing device to query said first database and cause said first database to also query said second database,
• wherein an entity-record match between said first and second databases will be found and said matching entity records are consolidated from an end-user's point of view, if a pair of entity records have Consolidation Strings on the same priority level that are character-wise identical;
• and
• the capability of said second computing device to query said second database and cause said second database to also query said first database,
• wherein an entity-record match between said second and first databases will be found and said matching entity records are consolidated from an end-user's point of view, if a pair of entity records have Consolidation Strings on the same priority level that are character-wise identical.

A method for optimizing data queries for related records in a reliable fashion, to be used with a system having a first computing device communicatively coupled with a second computing device, and communicatively coupled to a first database that stores real-world entity data, having said second computing device communicatively coupled with said first computing device, and communicatively coupled to a second database that stores real-world entity data, comprising the steps of:

• creating a hierarchical system of Consolidation Strings for said first database,
• wherein each Consolidation String in said hierarchical system represents one or more key pieces of information relating to a real-world entity stored in said database,
• wherein the information represented in each Consolidation String is represented in a character format, and
• wherein the hierarchical ranking of Consolidation String priorities are used to optimize database queries to find matching records for at least one entity of interest with substantial certainty;
• creating a hierarchical system of Consolidation Strings for said second database,
• wherein each Consolidation String in said hierarchical system represents one or more key pieces of information relating to a real-world entity stored in said database,
• wherein the information represented in each Consolidation String is represented in a character format, and
• wherein the hierarchical ranking of Consolidation String priorities are used to optimize database queries to find matching records for at least one entity of interest with substantial certainty;
• providing the capability of said first computing device to query said first database and cause said first database to also query said second database,
• wherein an entity-record match between said first and second databases will be found and said matching entity records are consolidated from an end-user's point of view, if a pair of entity records have Consolidation Strings on the same priority level that are character-wise identical;
• and
• providing the capability of said second computing device to query said second database and cause said second database to also query said first database,
• wherein an entity-record match between said second and first databases will be found and said matching entity records are consolidated from an end-user's point of view, if a pair of entity records have Consolidation Strings on the same priority level that are character-wise identical.

A system for optimizing data queries for related records in a reliable fashion, having a first computing device communicatively coupled with a second computing device, and communicatively coupled to a first database that stores real-world entity data, having said second computing device communicatively coupled with said first computing device, and communicatively coupled to a second database that stores real-world entity data, a first end-user interface communicatively coupled to said first database, and a second end-user interface communicatively coupled to said second database, comprising:

• a hierarchical system of Consolidation Strings for said first database,
• wherein each Consolidation String in said hierarchical system represents one or more key pieces of information relating to a real-world entity stored in said first database,
• wherein the information represented in each Consolidation String is in a character format,
• wherein the hierarchical ranking of Consolidation String priorities are used to optimize database queries to find matching records for at least one entity of interest with substantial certainty, and
• wherein Inter-Node Consolidation is set up for said first database, acting as a first data-source node in the overall system, by periodically communicating its Consolidation Strings to a second data-source node;
• a hierarchical system of Consolidation Strings for said second database,
• wherein each Consolidation String in said hierarchical system represents one or more key pieces of information relating to a real-world entity stored in said second database,
• wherein the information represented in each Consolidation String is in a character format,
• wherein the hierarchical ranking of Consolidation String priorities are used to optimize database queries to find matching records for at least one entity of interest with substantial certainty, and
• wherein Inter-Node Consolidation is set up for said second database, acting as a second data-source node in the overall system, by periodically communicating its Consolidation Strings to said first data-source node;
• the capability of said first end-user interface to allow a first end-user to query said first data-source node, which in turn queries any associated Consolidated Strings associated with the query for the entity to identify related records contained in said second data-source node,
• wherein said first data-source node communicates consolidation information to said second data-source node,
• wherein said consolidation information is applied against a consolidation algorithm in said second data-source node, and
• wherein said consolidation algorithm looks for a pair of entity records with Consolidation Strings on the same priority level that are character-wise identical, and when such an entity match is found, said matching entity records are consolidated from an end-user's point of view;
• and
• the capability of said second end-user interface to allow a second end-user to query said second data-source node, which in turn queries any associated Consolidated Strings associated with the query for the entity to identify related records contained in said first data-source node,
• wherein said second data-source node communicates consolidation information to said first data-source node,
• wherein said consolidation information is applied against a consolidation algorithm in said first data-source node, and
• wherein said consolidation algorithm looks for a pair of entity records with Consolidation Strings on the same priority level that are character-wise identical, and when such an entity match is found, said matching entity records are consolidated from an end-user's point of view.

A method for optimizing data queries for related records in a reliable fashion, to be used with a system having a first computing device communicatively coupled with a second computing device, and communicatively coupled to a first database that stores real-world entity data, having said second computing device communicatively coupled with said first computing device, and communicatively coupled to a second database that stores real-world entity data, a first end-user interface communicatively coupled to said first database, and a second end-user interface communicatively coupled to said second database, comprising:

• providing a hierarchical system of Consolidation Strings for said first database,
• wherein each Consolidation String in said hierarchical system represents one or more key pieces of information relating to a real-world entity stored in said first database,
• wherein the information represented in each Consolidation String is in a character format,
• wherein the hierarchical ranking of Consolidation String priorities are used to optimize database queries to find matching records for at least one entity of interest with substantial certainty, and
• wherein Inter-Node Consolidation is set up for said first database, acting as a first data-source node in the overall system, by periodically communicating its Consolidation Strings to a second data-source node;
• providing a hierarchical system of Consolidation Strings for said second database,
• wherein each Consolidation String in said hierarchical system represents one or more key pieces of information relating to a real-world entity stored in said second database,
• wherein the information represented in each Consolidation String is in a character format,
• wherein the hierarchical ranking of Consolidation String priorities are used to optimize database queries to find matching records for at least one entity of interest with substantial certainty, and
• wherein Inter-Node Consolidation is set up for said second database, acting as a second data-source node in the overall system, by periodically communicating its Consolidation Strings to said first data-source node;
• providing the capability of said first end-user interface to allow a first end-user to query said first data-source node, which in turn queries any associated Consolidated Strings associated with the query for the entity to identify related records contained in said second data-source node,
• wherein said first data-source node communicates consolidation information to said second data-source node,
• wherein said consolidation information is applied against a consolidation algorithm in said second data-source node, and
• wherein said consolidation algorithm looks for a pair of entity records with Consolidation Strings on the same priority level that are character-wise identical, and when such an entity match is found, said matching entity records are consolidated from an end-user's point of view;
• and
• providing the capability of said second end-user interface to allow a second end-user to query said second data-source node, which in turn queries any associated Consolidated Strings associated with the query for the entity to identify related records contained in said first data-source node,
• wherein said second data-source node communicates consolidation information to said first data-source node,
• wherein said consolidation information is applied against a consolidation algorithm in said first data-source node, and
• wherein said consolidation algorithm looks for a pair of entity records with Consolidation Strings on the same priority level that are character-wise identical, and when such an entity match is found, said matching entity records are consolidated from an end-user's point of view.