Identifier vocabulary data access method and system

• US 20070260594A1
• Filed: 06/25/2007
• Published: 11/08/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 01/14/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SpeedTrack, Inc.
• Original Assignee: SpeedTrack, Inc.
• Inventors: Lewak, Jerzy, Yano, Miles
• Granted Patent: US 8,352,487 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/242 Query formulation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/2425 Iterative querying; Query formulation based on the results of a preceding query
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9032 Query formulation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99934 Query formulation, input preparation, or translation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99935 Query augmenting and refining, e.g. inexact access
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99942 Manipulating data structure, e.g. compression, compaction, compilation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99943 Generating database or data structure, e.g. via user interface
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 715/968 interface for database querying and retrieval

Abstract

A method of organizing, managing, and providing interactive access to data in a database is disclosed, along with a program and a system for implementing the method. Associations between each data Item and at least one ItemSelector are established and stored. A predefined (but modifiable) Vocabulary of ItemSelectors sufficient to describe each Item of the database is created. Presently selected Items are described by a combination of associations defined by an appropriate Boolean combination of each ItemSelector in a presently selected set of ItemSelectors. A user controls the presently selected set by adding an ItemSelector from a presented group, or by removing a previously selected ItemSelector. The system ideally makes available to the user all relevant ItemSelectors—those which, if added to the presently selected set, would result in a set that describes at least one extant data Item. The system ideally makes all presently selected Items available to the user.

Claims

1. A method of creating a Boolean expression for identifying data Items in a database, comprising:

a) initiating formation of a query using a controlled vocabulary of ItemSelectors by presenting a plurality of such ItemSelectors to a user, each ItemSelector

i) having a Boolean property associated therewith, and

ii) having been determined to describe at least one data Item in the database;

b) incorporating an ItemSelector selected by the user from among those presented as part of currently selected ItemSelectors;

c) changing the ItemSelectors presented to the user as necessary after each user selection such that each ItemSelector presented, when combined according to the corresponding Boolean properties with all other currently selected ItemSelectors, is determined to describe at least one data Item in the database;

d) repeating steps (b) and (c) until a plurality of ItemSelectors are currently selected, including

i) at least a first ItemSelector having a first Boolean property associated therewith, and

ii) at least a second ItemSelector having a different second Boolean property associated therewith; and

e) deriving from the accepted ItemSelectors a Boolean expression encompassing the first and second ItemSelectors and reflecting the corresponding associated Boolean properties of each ItemSelector.