Configurable search graphical user interface and engine

• US 20070185826A1
• Filed: 05/08/2003
• Published: 08/09/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 05/08/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Oracle International Corporation (Oracle Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Oracle International Corporation (Oracle Corporation)
• Inventors: Kennedy, Sargent, Brice, John, Phelps, James
• Granted Patent: US 7,567,964 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/217 Database tuning G06F16/2282 takes precedence; database performance monitoring G06F11/3409
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/2423 Interactive query statement specification based on a database schema
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/2471 Distributed queries
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/6227 where protection concerns the structure of data, e.g. records, types, queries
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99933 Query processing, i.e. searching
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99939 Privileged access

Abstract

A configurable search engine is provided in which, in an embodiment, by running the search engine an administrator can configure the search options available to a user by selecting from a choice of options without writing code. The user may be able to further configure the search options. In an embodiment, the search engine combines searches of multiple tables in a manner that appears seamless to the user.

Claims

1-10. -10. (canceled)

11. A system comprising:

a computer including and configured to run a search engine, the search engine including at least a configuration portion accessible by an administrator having a first level of access, the configuration portion being capable of;

displaying a set of search options, and

allowing the administrator to specify which of the set of search options will be available to a searcher using the search engine, the searcher having a second level of access; and

wherein the search engine is operable, based on the search options specified by the administrator, to automatically alter which of the set of search options in the search engine are visibly available to the searcher.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the search engine includes a window for displaying a Sequenced Query Language (SQL) search query formed in response to the searcher inputting a search query in a location other than the window.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein the search engine is structured such that in response to a search query being entered into the search engine in a first form, the search engine converts the search query into a second form that is used for conducting a search.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the second form is a programming language.

15. The system of claim 11, wherein:

the search engine further includes a searcher portion that is configurable using the configuration portion, the searcher portion providing facilities to the searcher to conduct a search.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the configuration portion comprises:

a search options section for configuring search options of the searcher portion; and

a search fields section for configuring search fields used in the searcher portion.

17. The system of claim 15, wherein the searcher portion comprises:

a personalization portion for personalizing the searcher portion; and

a search portion for conducting a search.

18. The system of claim 11, wherein the search engine includes at least a search portion that is capable of being personalized by the searcher.

19. The system of claim 11, wherein the computer is an application server, the system further comprising a database that is accessible by the computer for storing and retrieving data.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein the database stores configuration data for configuring the search engine.

21. The system of claim 20, wherein the database stores personalization data for personalizing the search engine within parameters allowed by the configuration data.

22. The system of claim 19, wherein the database stores tables containing component information.

23. The system of claim 19 further comprising a web server for handling communications between a network and the computer.

24. The system of claim 11, wherein the computer is an application server, the system further comprising:

a database that is accessible by the computer for storing and retrieving data;

a network;

a web server for handling communications between the network and the computer; and

an appliance that is capable of communicating via the network and the web server with the computer and running the search engine.

25-29. -29. (canceled)

30. A method comprising:

providing an administrator with a set of search options for a search engine, the administrator having a first level of access;

allowing the administrator to specify which of the set of search options will be available to a searcher using the search engine, the searcher having a second level of access; and

automatically altering which of the set of search options of the search engine will be visibly available to the searcher, based on the search options specified by the administrator.

31. The method of claim 30, wherein the set of search options includes operators that are available to the searcher for searching a designated search field.

32. The method of claim 30, wherein the set of search options includes search fields.

33. The method of claim 30, wherein the allowing step includes allowing the administrator to select a search field from a predetermined list of search fields.

34. The method of claim 33, further comprising automatically adding new fields to the list of search fields.

35. The method of claim 33, further comprising associating two search fields.

36. The method of claim 30, further comprising, in response to a searcher entering a search definition:

searching for information about a component by using a category identification for searching a first category of information stored in a first table;

extracting a component identification from the information about the component; and

using the component identification for finding information from a second category of information stored in a second table.

37. The method of claim 36, wherein the component identification is a synchronization identifier.