Search interface for finding data items of interest from a database system

A system for enabling a user to search for data items of interest in a database system, wherein said database system stores a plurality of data items according to a plurality of relationships, said plurality of data items representing a plurality of entity instances, each of said plurality of entity instances being one of a plurality of entity types, each relationship specifying an entity type as a primary entity and another entity type as a secondary entity, said system comprising:

• a processor;
• a random access memory;
• a display unit;
• and
• a machine readable medium storing one or more sequences of instructions, wherein execution of said one or more sequences of instructions by said processor causes said system to perform the actions of:
• displaying a first set of entity types on said display unit, wherein said first set of entity types is contained in said plurality of entity types;
• receiving a first selection from said user, said first selection indicating a first entity type contained in said first set of entity types;
• identifying, in response to said receiving of said first entity type as said first selection, a second set of entity types contained in said plurality of entity types, wherein each of said second set of entity types is related as a respective secondary entity to said first entity type according to said plurality of relationships;
• and
• enabling said user to request a search on a combination of said first entity type and at least one of said second set of entity types to determine a set of entity instances of interest contained in said plurality of entity instances, wherein said user is enabled to request said search after said identifying.

A machine readable medium storing one or more sequences of instructions for causing a system to enable a user to search for data items of interest in a database system, wherein execution of said one or more sequences of instructions by one or more processors contained in said system causes said system to perform the actions of:

• storing a plurality of data items in said database system according to a plurality of relationships, said plurality of data items representing a plurality of entity instances, each of said plurality of entity instances being one of a plurality of entity types, each relationship specifying an entity type as a primary entity and another entity type as a secondary entity;
• displaying a first set of entity types on a display unit, wherein said first set of entity types is contained in said plurality of entity types are searched more often than the remaining ones of said plurality of entity types, wherein said first set of entity types are primary entities;
• receiving a first selection from said user, said first selection indicating a first entity type contained in said first set of entity types;
• identifying, in response to said receiving of said first entity type as said first selection, a second set of entity types contained in said plurality of entity types, wherein each of said second set of entity types is related as a respective secondary entity to said first entity type according to said plurality of relationships;
• and
• enabling said user to request a search on a combination of said first entity type and at least one of said second set of entity types to determine a set of entity instances of interest contained in said plurality of entity instances, wherein said user is enabled to request said search after said identifying.