Database arrangement

• US 20060184509A1
• Filed: 01/20/2004
• Published: 08/17/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 02/06/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: BAE Systems Plc, Rolls-Royce PLC (Rolls-Royce Holdings Plc)
• Original Assignee: BAE Systems Plc, Rolls-Royce PLC (Rolls-Royce Holdings Plc)
• Inventors: Ahmed, Saeema
• Application Number:
  US10/544,538
• Publication Number:
  US 20060184509A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/2428 Query predicate definition using graphical user interfaces, including menus and forms G06F16/2423 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/30 of unstructured textual data document management systems G06F16/93

Abstract

A database contains data items with which various index terms 40 are associated. The database arrangement maintains information about relationships between the index terms, there being a relationship between any two index terms which are both associated with a data item in common. This allows a user to be provided with a graphical representation (see drawing) of the relationship between index terms. When index terms are used to interrogate the database, the user is provided with a graphical display of that part 50 of the network relationships which includes the requested index term (e.g. Product 1) and all other index terms with which that terms has a relationship. This assists a user in refining a search strategy and thus improves the quality of information retrieval from the database.

Claims

1. A database arrangement for use with data items having one or more index terms associated therewith, comprising:

relationship storage means operable to store relationship information relating to the index terms associated with the data items in the database;

identifying means operable to identify the or each index term contained in a user request for interrogating the database;

consulting means operable to consult the relationship information to identify other index terms which are associated with data items with which the index terms or terms of the request are associated; and

information means operable to provide information relating to the index term or terms of the request and the other index terms, for presentation to a user.

7. An arrangement according to claim 1 wherein the arrangement is operable to receive requests from a user at a remote location.

8. An arrangement according to claim 7, wherein the arrangement is in communication with the user by means of a communication network.

9. An arrangement according to claim 8, wherein the communication network is a public or private network.

10. An arrangement according to claim 1 wherein the arrangement also comprises index means operable to identify the or each index term associated with a data item contained in or to be added to the database, and modifying means operable to modify the relationship information in accordance with the identified index terms.

11. An arrangement according to claim 10, wherein the modifying means are operable to modify the relationship information to record combinations of index terms which are associated with data items in common.

12. An arrangement according to claim 10, wherein the modifying means are operable to cause the relationship information to contain weighting information relating to at least some combinations, weightings being chosen according to a frequency of occurrence.

13. An arrangement according to claim 12, wherein the frequency is the frequency of occurrence of data items in the database.

14. An arrangement according to claim 12, wherein the frequency is the frequency of occurrence in new data items to be added to the database.

15. An arrangement according to claim 1 wherein the database arrangement is in communication with a database holding the data items, by means of a communication network.

16. An arrangement according to claim 15, wherein the communication network is a public or private network.

17. A signal propagating on a transmission medium, the signal representing information provided by information means of the database arrangement as set in claim 1, the information relating to the index term or terms of a request, and the other index terms, for presentation to a user.

35. Computer software which, when installed on a computer system, is operable to provide a database arrangement defined in claim 1.

36. A carrier medium carrying computer software as defined in claim 35.

2. An arrangement according to claim 2, wherein the information means provides information for presentation to a user in graphical form.

3. An arrangement according to claim 2, wherein the information is provided as a diagram of index terms, the diagram showing a link between combinations of index terms which are associated with data items in common.

4. An arrangement according to claim 3, wherein the links are provided to display weighting information representing the frequency of occurrence of at least some combinations.

5. An arrangement according to claim 4, wherein the frequency is the frequency of data items occurring in the database.

6. An arrangement according to claim 4, wherein the frequency is the frequency of new data items being added to the database.

18. A database arrangement for use with data items having one or more index terms associated therewith, comprising:

relationship storage means operable to store relationship information relating to the index terms associated with the data items in the database; and

index means operable to identify the or each index term associated with a data item contained in or to be added to the database,

the arrangement further comprising modifying means operable to modify the relationship information in accordance with the identified index terms.

19. An arrangement according to claim 18, wherein the modifying means are operable to modify the relationship information to record combinations of index terms which are associated with data items in common.

20. An arrangement according to claim 19, wherein the modifying means are operable to cause the relationship information to contain weighting information relating to at least some combinations, weighting being chosen according to a frequency of occurrence.

21. An arrangement according to claim 20, wherein the frequency is the frequency of occurrence in data items in the database.

22. An arrangement according to claim 20, wherein the frequency is the frequency of occurrence in new data items to be added to the database.

23. An arrangement according to claim 18, wherein the database arrangement is in communication with a database holding the data items, by means of a communication network.

24. An arrangement according to claim 23, wherein the communication network is a public or private network.

25. An arrangement according to claim 18, wherein the information means is operable to provide information for presentation to a user in graphical form.

26. An arrangement according to claim 25, wherein the information is provided as a diagram of index terms, the diagram showing a link between combinations of index terms which are associated with data items in common.

27. An arrangement according to claim 26, wherein the links are provided to display weighting information representing the frequency of occurrence of at least some combinations.

28. An arrangement according to claim 27, wherein the frequency is the frequency of data items occurring in the database.

29. An arrangement according to claim 27, wherein the frequency is the frequency of new data items being added to the database.

30. An arrangement according to claim 18, wherein the arrangement is operable to receive requests from a user at a remote location.

31. An arrangement according to claim 30, wherein the arrangement is in communication with the user by means of a communication network.

32. An arrangement according to claim 31, wherein the communication network is a public or private network.

33. A database arrangement for use with data items having one or more index terms associated therewith, comprising:

relationship storage means operable to store relationship information relating to the index terms associated with the data items in the database;

index means operable to identify the or each index term associated with a data item contained in or to be added to the database;

modifying means operable to modify the relationship information in accordance with the identified index terms;

identifying means operable to identify the or each index term contained in a user request for interrogating the database;

consulting means operable to consult the relationship information to identify other index terms which are associated with data items with which the index term or terms of the request are associated; and

information means operable to provide information relating to the index term or terms of the request and the other index terms, for presentation to a user.

34. An arrangement according to claim 33 further including a database containing the data items.

37. A method of providing a database for data items having one or more index terms associated therewith, in which:

relationship information is stored, relating to the index terms associated with the data items in the database;

the or each index term contained in a user request for interrogating the database is identified;

the relationship information is consulted to identify other index terms which are associated with data items with which the index terms of the request are associated; and

information relating to the index term or terms of the request and the other index terms is provided for presentation to a user.

38. A method according to claim 37, wherein the information is provided for presentation to a user in graphical form.

39. A method according to claim 38, wherein the information is provided as a diagram of index terms, the diagram showing a link between combinations of index terms which are associated with common data items.

40. A method according to claim 39, wherein the links are provided to display weighting information representing the frequency of occurrence of at least some combinations.

41. A method according to claim 40, wherein the frequency is the frequency of data items occurring in the database.

42. A method as claimed in claim 41, wherein the frequency is the frequency of new data items being added to the database.

43. A method according to claim 37, wherein requests from a user are received at a remote location.

44. A method according to claim 43, wherein communication with the user is by means of a communication network.

45. A method according to claim 44 wherein the communication network is a public or private network.

46. A method according to claim 37, wherein the or each index term associated with a data item contained in or to be added to the database is identified, and the relationship information is modified in accordance with the identified index terms.

47. A method according to claim 46, wherein combinations of index terms which are associated with data items in common are recorded.

48. A method according to claim 46 wherein the relationship information contains weighting information relating to at least some combinations, weightings being chosen according to a frequency or occurrence.

49. A method according to claim 48, wherein the frequency is the frequency of occurrence of data items in the database.

50. A method as claimed in claim 48, wherein the frequency is the frequency of occurrence in new data items to be added to the database.

51. A method of providing a database for data items having one or more index terms associated therewith, in which:

relationship information relating to the index terms associated with the data items is stored in the database;

the or each index term associated with a data item contained in or to be added to the database is identified; and

the relationship information is modified in accordance with the identified index terms.

52. A method according to claim 51, wherein the relationship is modified to record combinations of index terms which are associated with data items in common.

53. A method according to claim 52 wherein the relationship information contains weighting information relating to at least some combinations, weightings being chosen according to a frequency of occurrence, such as the frequency of occurrence in data items in the database, or the frequency of occurrence in new data items to be added to the database.

54. A method according to claim 52, wherein information is provided for presentation to a user in graphical form.

55. A method according to claim 54 wherein the information is provided as a diagram of index terms, the diagram showing a link between combinations of index terms which are associated with data items in common.

56. A method according to claim 55, wherein the links are provided to display weighting information representing the frequency of occurrence of at least some combinations.

57. A method according to claim 56, wherein the frequency is the frequency of data items occurring in the database.

58. A method according to claim 56, wherein the frequency is the frequency of new data items being added to the database.

59. A method according to claim 52, wherein requests from a user are received at a remote location.

60. A method according to claim 59, wherein communication with the user is by means of a communication network.

61. A method as claimed in claim 60, wherein communication is by a public or private network.

62. A method of providing a database for data items having one or more index terms associated therewith, in which:

relationship information relating to the index terms associated with the data items in the database is stored;

the or each index term associated with a data item contained in or to be added to the database is identified;

The relationship information is modified in accordance with the identified index terms;

the or each index term contained in a user request for interrogating the database is identified;

the relationship information is consulted to identify other index terms which are associated with data items with which the index term or terms of the request are associated; and

information relating to the index term or terms of the request and the other index terms is provided, for presentation to a user.

63-64. -64. (canceled)