A METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR SEARCHING LARGE DATABASES VIA LIMITED QUERY SYMBOL SETS
First Claim
1. A method of searching a database having a plurality of records, each record including one or more tokens, wherein the one or more tokens include one or more letters, numbers, or symbols, the method comprising:
- generating at least one of a query symbol or a string of query symbols using two or more input keys, wherein each input key is associated with a query symbol and the number of input keys is less than the number of distinct letters, characters, and symbols;
comparing the generated query symbol or string of query symbols to the stored records; and
if based on the comparison the query symbol or string of query symbols match token or tokens of a record, outputting the record or records having the matching tokens on a display associated with the input keys.
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Abstract
Methods and systems for searching a database that includes a plurality of records. Each record includes one or more tokens. The one or more tokens include one or more letters, numbers, or symbols. The system includes a user interface that when activated by a user generates at least one of a query symbol or a string of query symbols. A processing device compares the generated query symbol or string of query symbols to the stored records. An output device presents the record or records having tokens that match the generated query symbol or a string of query symbols based on the comparison. The user interface includes two or more input keys. Each input key is associated with a query symbol and the number of input keys is less than the number of distinct letters, characters, and symbols.
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Citations
22 Claims
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1. A method of searching a database having a plurality of records, each record including one or more tokens, wherein the one or more tokens include one or more letters, numbers, or symbols, the method comprising:
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generating at least one of a query symbol or a string of query symbols using two or more input keys, wherein each input key is associated with a query symbol and the number of input keys is less than the number of distinct letters, characters, and symbols;
comparing the generated query symbol or string of query symbols to the stored records; and
if based on the comparison the query symbol or string of query symbols match token or tokens of a record, outputting the record or records having the matching tokens on a display associated with the input keys. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 20)
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11. A system for searching a database that includes a plurality of records, each record includes one or more tokens, the one or more tokens include one or more letters, numbers, or symbols, the system comprising:
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a user interface for generating at least one of a query symbol or a string of query symbols;
a processing device for comparing the generated query symbol or string of query symbols to the stored records; and
an output device for presenting the record or records having tokens that match the generated query symbol or a string of query symbols based on the comparison, wherein the user interface includes two or more input keys, wherein each input key is associated with a query symbol and the number of input keys is less than the number of distinct letters, characters, and symbols. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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21. A method of searching a database, the method comprising:
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storing a plurality of records, each record includes one or more tokens, wherein the one or more tokens include one or more letters, numbers, or symbols;
generating at least one of a query symbol or a string of query symbols using two or more input keys, wherein each input key is associated with a query symbol and the number of input keys is less than the number of distinct letters, characters, and symbols;
comparing the generated query symbol or string of query symbols to the stored records; and
if based on the comparison the query symbol or string of query symbols match the token or tokens of a record, outputting the record or records having the matching tokens on a display associated with the input keys.
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22. A system for searching a database, the system comprising:
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a means for storing a plurality of records, each record includes one or more tokens, wherein the one or more tokens include one or more letters, numbers, or symbols;
a means for generating at least one of a query symbol or a string of query symbols, the means for generating includes two or more input keys, wherein each input key is associated with a query symbol and the number of input keys is less than the number of distinct letters, characters, and symbols;
a means for comparing the generated query symbol or string of query symbols to the stored records; and
a means for outputting on a display the record or records having tokens that match the generated query symbol or string of query symbols based on the comparison.
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Specification