Query by indefinite expressions
First Claim
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1. A database retrieval system, comprising:
- means for storing a plurality of entities;
means for storing information about each stored entity;
means for receiving criteria in the form of at least one indefinite expression from a user for selecting entities from the stored entities;
means for translating received criteria into terms used in the stored information; and
means for selecting a sequence of entities based on the translated criteria.
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Abstract
A method and apparatus for retrieving data from a database is disclosed. A plurality of entities are stored in a first memory and information about each stored entity is stored in a second memory. Criteria in the form of at least one indefinite expression is received from a user for selecting entites from the stored entities. The received criteria are translated into terms used in the stored information. A sequence of entites based on the translated criteria are then selected.
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Citations
19 Claims
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1. A database retrieval system, comprising:
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means for storing a plurality of entities;
means for storing information about each stored entity;
means for receiving criteria in the form of at least one indefinite expression from a user for selecting entities from the stored entities;
means for translating received criteria into terms used in the stored information; and
means for selecting a sequence of entities based on the translated criteria. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method for retrieving data from a database, comprising the steps of:
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storing a plurality of entities;
storing information about each stored entity;
receiving criteria in the form of at least one indefinite expression from a user for selecting entities from the stored entities;
translating received criteria into terms used in the stored information; and
selecting a sequence of entities based on the translated criteria. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A program storage device readable by a machine, tangibly embodying a program of instructions executable by the machine to perform method steps for receiving data from a database wherein a plurality of entities and information about each entity is stored in the database, said method steps comprising:
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receiving criteria in the form of at least one indefinite expression from a user for selecting entities from the stored entities;
translating received criteria into terms used in the stored information; and
selecting a sequence of entities based on the translated criteria.
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Specification