Progressive relaxation of search criteria
First Claim
1. A method for managing an information search, the method comprising the computer-implemented steps of:
- receiving a query that includes a sequence of sub-queries and specification of a progression in which to execute the sub-queries; and
executing one or more of the sub-queries in an order specified by the progression.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An efficient information search mechanism provides control over the relaxation of a search query to users that are requesting searches. Through such a mechanism, a user can specify a sequence of sub-queries that is associated with variations of the main search criteria, and specify a progression in which to execute the sub-queries. Hence, users can impart their priorities with respect to search term variations used in relaxing the main search criteria, which further allows the users to impart their notion of the relevance of results that may be returned by particular sub-queries. A query that includes a sequence of sub-queries is received and the sub-queries are executed, if at all, by a database server in an order based on the progression specified by the user. Response time and network loading are improved through reduction of unnecessary work by the database server and through reduction of computationally costly communications between client and server and associated processing.
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Citations
40 Claims
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1. A method for managing an information search, the method comprising the computer-implemented steps of:
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receiving a query that includes a sequence of sub-queries and specification of a progression in which to execute the sub-queries; and
executing one or more of the sub-queries in an order specified by the progression. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38)
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23. A method for managing a search for information, the method comprising the computer-implemented steps of:
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specifying search criteria related to the information being searched for;
specifying an order in which to execute sub-queries associated with the search criteria; and
transmitting the search criteria and the order, for execution of one or more of the sub-queries by a database server in the order specified. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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39. A computer apparatus for managing an information search, the apparatus comprising:
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means for receiving a query that includes a sequence of sub-queries and specification of a progression in which to execute the sub-queries; and
means for executing one or more of the sub-queries in an order specified by the progression.
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40. A computer apparatus for managing a search for information, the apparatus comprising:
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means for specifying search criteria related to the information being searched for;
means for specifying an order in which to execute sub-queries associated with the search criteria; and
means for transmitting the search criteria and the order, for execution of one or more of the sub-queries by a database server in the order specified.
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Specification