Method and system for document search in structured document repositories

• US 10,713,305 B1
• Filed: 09/29/2016
• Issued: 07/14/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 09/29/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Emc IP Holding Company LLC (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Emc IP Holding Company LLC (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Inventors: Dai, Hongtao, Zhang, Lei, Chen, Chao, Huang, Kunwu, Liu, Jingjing, Teng, Ying
• Primary Examiner(s): Raab, Christopher J
• Application Number:
  US15/279,892
• Time in Patent Office: 1,384 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/13 File access structures, e.g. distributed indices arrangements of input from, or output to, record carriers G06F3/06
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/22 Indexing; Data structures therefor; Storage structures
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/93 Document management systems

Abstract

A method for document search in a structured document repository. The method includes obtaining a document search query from a client, obtaining location constraints for documents to be identified in a structured document repository based on the document search query, identifying, in a document search index associated with the structured document repository, a document that matches the search query and the location constraints, and providing information associated with the identified document to the client.

Claims

1. A method for document search in a structured document repository, comprising:

obtaining, from a client, a request, wherein the request comprises;

a document search query that specifies document content; and

a location constraint;

selecting, in a document search index associated with the structured document repository, a first index entry;

making a first determination that the document content matches a first index term of the first index entry; and

making a second determination, based on the first determination, that a first document location of the first index entry does not satisfy the location constraint;

selecting, based on the second determination, a second index entry in the document search index;

making a third determination that the document content matches a second index term of the second index entry;

making a fourth determination, based on the third determination, that a second document location of the second index entry satisfies the location constraint; and

providing, based on the fourth determination, information associated with the second index entry to the client.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising, prior to selecting the first index entry:

adding a document to the structured document repository at the second document location;

obtaining a plurality of index terms for the document;

storing the plurality of index terms in the second index entry; and

storing the second document location in the second index entry.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein providing the information associated with the second index entry to the client comprises reporting the document to the client.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the plurality of index terms comprises the second index term.

5. The method of claim 2, wherein the information associated with the second index entry is a document identifier associated with the document.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the location constraint specifies one selected from the group consisting of a folder in a file system and a location in a database.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the second document location of the second index entry specifies a folder in a hierarchical file system of the structured document repository.

8. A non-transitory computer readable medium comprising instructions which, when executed by a computer processor, enables the computer processor to perform a method for document search in a structured document repository, the method comprising:

obtaining, from a client, a request, wherein the request comprises;

a document search query that specifies document content; and

a location constraint;

selecting, in a document search index associated with the structured document repository, a first index entry;

making a first determination that the document content matches a first index term of the first index entry; and

making a second determination, based on the first determination, that a first document location of the first index entry does not satisfy the location constraint;

selecting, based on the second determination, a second index entry in the document search index;

making a third determination that the document content matches a second index term of the second index entry;

making a fourth determination, based on the third determination, that a second document location of the second index entry satisfies the location constraint; and

providing, based on the fourth determination, information associated with the second index entry to the client.

9. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 8, wherein prior to selecting the first index entry, the method further comprises:

adding a document to the structured document repository at the second document location;

obtaining a plurality of index terms for the document;

storing the plurality of index terms in the second index entry; and

storing the second document location in the second index entry.

10. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 9, wherein providing the information associated with the second index entry document to the client comprises reporting the document to the client.

11. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 9, wherein the plurality of index terms comprises the second index term.

12. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 9, wherein the information associated with the second index entry is a document identifier associated with the document.

13. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 8, wherein the location constraint specifies one selected from the group consisting of a folder in a file system and a location in a database.

14. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 8, wherein the second document location of the second index entry specifies a folder in a hierarchical file system of the structured document repository.

15. A system, comprising:

a storage device, comprising;

a structured document repository; and

a document search index; and

a processor programmed to perform a method comprising;

obtaining, from a client, a request, wherein the request comprises;

a document search query that specifies document content; and

a location constraint;

selecting, in the document search index associated with the structured document repository, a first index entry;

making a first determination that the document content matches a first index term of the first index entry; and

making a second determination, based on the first determination, that a first document location of the first index entry does not satisfy the location constraint;

selecting, based on the second determination, a second index entry in the document search index;

making a third determination that the document content matches a second index term of the second index entry;

making a fourth determination, based on the third determination, that a second document location of the second index entry satisfies the location constraint; and

providing, based on the fourth determination, information associated with the second index entry to the client.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the method further comprises:

prior to selecting the first index entry;

adding a document to the structured document repository at the second document location;

obtaining a plurality of index terms for the document;

storing the plurality of index terms in the second index entry; and

storing the second document location in the second index entry.

17. The system of claim 15, wherein the location constraint specifies one selected from the group consisting of a folder in a file system and a location in a database.

18. The system of claim 16, wherein providing the information associated with the second index entry to the client comprises reporting the document to the client.

19. The system of claim 15, wherein the second document location of the second index entry specifies a folder in a hierarchical file system of the structured document repository.

20. The system of claim 16, wherein the plurality of index terms comprises the second index term.