QUERY METHOD INVOLVING MORE THAN ONE CORPUS OF DOCUMENTS

• US 20080228754A1
• Filed: 10/30/2007
• Published: 09/18/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 02/22/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nokia Technologies Oy (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Metacarta, Inc.
• Inventors: Frank, John R., Rauch, Erik M.
• Granted Patent: US 7,908,280 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 707/5
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/29 Geographical information databases
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/338 Presentation of query results
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9537 Spatial or temporal dependent retrieval, e.g. spatiotemporal queries
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/954 Navigation, e.g. using categorised browsing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99932 Access augmentation or optimizing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99933 Query processing, i.e. searching
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99937 Sorting
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99938 Concurrency, e.g. lock management in shared database
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99939 Privileged 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 707/99944 Object-oriented database structure
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99945 Object-oriented database structure processing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99948 Application of database or data structure, e.g. distributed, multimedia, or image

Abstract

A method of querying a first corpus of documents and a second corpus of documents, the method involving: accepting search criteria from a user, the search criteria including a free text entry query and a domain identifier identifying a domain; requesting a search of the first corpus of documents to identify a first set of documents, wherein each document of the first set of documents: (1) contains anywhere within the document location-related information that identifies a location within the domain; and (2) contains anywhere within the document information that is responsive to the free text entry query, wherein said identified documents are identified by a plurality of document identifiers; receiving a first result set for the first corpus of documents, the first result set identifying the first set of documents in order of relevance; requesting a search of the second corpus of documents to identify a second set of documents, wherein each document of the second set of documents: (1) contains anywhere within the document location-related information that identifies a location within the domain; and (2) contains anywhere within the document information that is responsive to the free text entry query, wherein said identified documents are identified by a plurality of document identifiers; receiving a second result set for the second corpus of documents, the second result set identifying the second set of documents in order of relevance; and merge sorting the first and second result sets to produce a new result set that is ordered in relevance.

Claims

1. A method of querying a first corpus of documents and a second corpus of documents, said method comprising:

accepting search criteria from a user, said search criteria including a free text entry query and a domain identifier identifying a domain;

requesting a search of the first corpus of documents to identify a first set of documents, wherein each document of the first set of documents;

(1) contains anywhere within the document location-related information that identifies a location within the domain; and

(2) contains anywhere within the document information that is responsive to the free text entry query, wherein said identified documents are identified by a plurality of document identifiers;

receiving a first result set for the first corpus of documents, the first result set identifying the first set of documents in order of relevance;

requesting a search of the second corpus of documents to identify a second set of documents, wherein each document of the second set of documents;

(1) contains anywhere within the document location-related information that identifies a location within the domain; and

(2) contains anywhere within the document information that is responsive to the free text entry query, wherein said identified documents are identified by a plurality of document identifiers;

receiving a second result set for the second corpus of documents, the second result set identifying the second set of documents in order of relevance; and

merge sorting the first and second result sets to produce a new result set that is ordered in relevance.