Method and apparatus for applying a parametric search methodology to a directory tree database format

• US 20010025304A1
• Filed: 03/06/2001
• Published: 09/27/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 03/09/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Byteweavr, LLC (Ascend Innovation Management, LLC)
• Original Assignee: Web Access Incorporated
• Inventors: Keith, Robert Olan Jr.
• Granted Patent: US 7,305,399 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/217
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/2246 Trees, e.g. B+trees
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/951 Indexing; Web crawling techniques
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/917 Text
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/92 Navigation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/955 Object-oriented
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/956 Hierarchical
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/959 Network
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/966 Distributed
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/971 Federated
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99931 Database or file accessing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99933 Query processing, i.e. searching
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99942 Manipulating data structure, e.g. compression, compaction, compilation

Abstract

A method of and apparatus for applying a parametric search methodology to a searchable database formatted in a directory tree structure. The directory tree structure includes nodes comprising a collection of related data and branches comprising links between the nodes. Each specific node provides a corresponding set of parameters by which each related item of data corresponding to the specific node is defined by initializing the value of each parameter for each related data. The method accesses a particular node within the directory tree structure and performs a parametric search using one or more set search parameters corresponding to the specific node to generate one or more matching discrete data items, wherein each matching item corresponds to related data of the particular node. The parameters can be customizable and specific to the specific node. The method can also include accessing a particular node utilizing a selective one or more search methodologies including keyword search, hierarchical search, and dichotomous key search.

Claims

1. A method of accessing information within a directory tree structure comprising the steps of:

a. formatting a searchable database into the directory tree structure, wherein the directory tree structure includes nodes comprising a collection of related data and branches comprising links between the nodes, further wherein each specific node provides a corresponding set of parameters by which each related item of data corresponding to the specific node is defined by initializing a value of each parameter for each related item of data;

b. accessing a particular node within the directory tree structure;

c. setting one or more search parameters corresponding to the set of parameters of the particular node; and

d. performing a parametric search using the one or more set search parameters corresponding to the specific node to generate one or more matching discrete data items, wherein each matching item corresponds to related items of data of the particular node.

2. The method as claimed in

claim 1

wherein the parameters are customizable and specific to the particular node.

3. The method as claimed in

claim 2

wherein the step of accessing a particular node is performed utilizing a selective one or more search methodologies including keyword search, hierarchical search, and dichotomous key search.

4. The method as claimed in

claim 3

wherein when the utilized search methodology is the keyword search, the search criteria is one or more keywords input by a user.

5. The method as claimed in

claim 3

wherein when the utilized search methodology is the hierarchical search, the search criteria is a selected one of a list of one or more directory items.

6. The method as claimed in

claim 3

wherein when the utilized search methodology is the dichotomous key search, the search criteria is a selected one of two binary items.

7. The method as claimed in

claim 1

wherein the searchable database is distributed into more than one physical location.

8. The method as claimed in

claim 1

wherein the steps of accessing a particular node, setting the search parameters, performing a parametric search are performed by a server.

9. The method as claimed in

claim 8

further comprising the step of establishing an internet connection with the server to perform one or more searches and utilize the parametric search.

10. The method as claimed in

claim 1

further comprising the step of maintaining the node by appropriately adding and deleting data to and from the node.

11. The method as claimed in

claim 10

wherein the step of maintaining the node is performed by a node owner who maintains the corresponding node and all nodes that are linked beneath the corresponding node within the directory tree structure.

12. A research system for accessing information within a directory tree structure comprising:

a. means for formatting a searchable database into the directory tree structure, wherein the directory tree structure includes nodes comprising a collection of related data and branches comprising links between the nodes, further wherein each specific node provides a corresponding set of parameters by which each related item of data corresponding to the specific node is defined by initializing a value of each parameter for each related item of data;

b. means for accessing a particular node within the directory tree structure;

c. means for setting one or more search parameters corresponding to the set of parameters of the particular node; and

d. means for performing a parametric search using the one or more set search parameters corresponding to the specific node to generate one or more matching discrete data items, wherein each matching item corresponds to related items of data of the particular node.

13. The research system as claimed in

claim 12

wherein the parameters are customizable and specific to the particular node.

14. The research system as claimed in

claim 13

wherein the means for accessing a particular node is performed utilizing a selective one or more search methodologies including keyword search, hierarchical search, and dichotomous key search.

15. The research system as claimed in

claim 14

wherein when the utilized search methodology is the keyword search, the search criteria is one or more keywords input by a user.

16. The research system as claimed in

claim 14

wherein when the utilized search methodology is the hierarchical search, the search criteria is a selected one of a list of one or more directory items.

17. The research system as claimed in

claim 14

wherein when the utilized search methodology is the dichotomous key search, the search criteria is a selected one of two binary items.

18. The research system as claimed in

claim 12

wherein the searchable database is distributed into more than one physical location.

19. The research system as claimed in

claim 12

wherein the means for accessing a particular node, setting the search parameters, and performing a parametric search are performed by a server.

20. The research system as claimed in

claim 19

further comprising means for establishing an internet connection with the server to perform one or more searches and utilize the parametric search.

21. The research system as claimed in

claim 12

further comprising means for maintaining the node by appropriately adding and deleting data to and from the node.

22. The research system as claimed in

claim 21

wherein the means for maintaining the node is performed by a node owner who maintains the corresponding node and all nodes that are linked beneath the corresponding node within the directory tree structure.

23. A research system for accessing information within a directory tree structure comprising a research server configured to format a searchable database into the directory tree structure, wherein the directory tree structure includes nodes comprising a collection of related data and branches comprising links between the nodes, further wherein each specific node provides a corresponding set of parameters by which each related item of data corresponding to the specific node is defined by initializing a value of each parameter for each related item of data, to access a particular node within the directory tree structure, to set one or more search parameters corresponding to the set of parameters of the particular node, and to perform a parametric search using the one or more set search parameters corresponding to the specific node to generate one or more matching discrete data items, wherein each matching item corresponds to related items of data of the particular node.

24. The research system as claimed in

claim 23

wherein the parameters are customizable and specific to the particular node.

25. The research system as claimed in

claim 24

wherein the research server accesses the particular node by utilizing a selective one or more search methodologies including keyword search, hierarchical search, and dichotomous key search.

26. The research system as claimed in

claim 25

wherein when the utilized search methodology is the keyword search, the search criteria is one or more keywords input by a user.

27. The research system as claimed in

claim 25

wherein when the utilized search methodology is the hierarchical search, the search criteria is a selected one of a list of one or more directory items.

28. The research system as claimed in

claim 25

wherein when the utilized search methodology is the dichotomous key search, the search criteria is a selected one of two binary items.

29. The research system as claimed in

claim 23

wherein the searchable database is distributed into more than one physical location.

30. The research system as claimed in

claim 23

further comprising an interface circuit coupled to the research server to establish a connection with a computer system.

31. The research system as claimed in

claim 30

wherein the connection is established with the computer system at a remote location from the interface circuit.

32. The research system as claimed in

claim 31

wherein the connection is established with the remote computer system and the interface circuit over the internet to allow users to access the research system, to access the particular node, to set the search parameters, and to perform the parametric search.

33. The research system as claimed in

claim 23

further comprising a node owner for maintaining the node by appropriately adding and deleting related data to and from the node.

34. The research system as claimed in

claim 33

wherein the node owner maintains the corresponding node and all nodes that are linked beneath the corresponding node within the directory tree structure.

35. A network of devices for accessing information within a directory tree structure comprising:

a. one or more computer systems configured to establish a connection with other systems; and

b. a research server coupled to the one or more computer systems to format a searchable database into the directory tree structure, wherein the directory tree structure includes nodes comprising a collection of related data and branches comprising links between the nodes, further wherein each specific node provides a corresponding set of parameters by which each related item of data corresponding to the specific node is defined by initializing a value of each parameter for each related item of data, to access a particular node within the directory tree structure, to set one or more search parameters corresponding to the set of parameters of the particular node, and to perform a parametric search using the one or more set search parameters corresponding to the specific node to generate one or more matching discrete data items, wherein each matching item corresponds to related items of data of the particular node.

36. The network of devices as claimed in

claim 35

wherein the parameters are customizable and specific to the particular node.

37. The network of devices as claimed in

claim 36

wherein the research server accesses the particular node by utilizing a selective one or more search methodologies including keyword search, hierarchical search, and dichotomous key search.

38. The network of devices as claimed in

claim 37

wherein when the utilized search methodology is the keyword search, the search criteria is one or more keywords input by a user.

39. The network of devices as claimed in

claim 37

wherein when the utilized search methodology is the hierarchical search, the search criteria is a selected one of a list of one or more directory items.

40. The network of devices as claimed in

claim 37

wherein when the utilized search methodology is the dichotomous key search, the search criteria is a selected one of two binary items.

41. The network of devices as claimed in

claim 35

wherein the searchable database is distributed into more than one physical location.

42. The network of devices as claimed in

claim 35

wherein the one or more computer systems and the research server are coupled together over the internet to allow users to access the research system, to access the particular node, to set the search parameters, and to perform the parametric search.

43. The network of devices as claimed in

claim 35

further comprising a node owner for maintaining the node by appropriately adding and deleting related data to and from the node.

44. The network of devices as claimed in

claim 43

wherein the node owner maintains the corresponding node and all nodes that are linked beneath the corresponding node within the directory tree structure.