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Method and apparatus for searching a hierarchical database and an unstructured database with a single search query

  • US 20090119257A1
  • Filed: 11/02/2007
  • Published: 05/07/2009
  • Est. Priority Date: 11/02/2007
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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1. A method of searching a hierarchical database and an inverted index, comprising:

  • receiving a single search query that has syntax identifying an unstructured search string within a structured search query to automatically cause a search of the inverted index and use of the result to automatically search the hierarchical database;

    extracting the unstructured search string from the single search query;

    searching the inverted index according to the unstructured search string, wherein the inverted index includes virtual documents created from data stored in the hierarchical database, wherein each virtual document includes a unique identifier from the hierarchical database used to designate the data in the hierarchical database from which that virtual document was created, wherein a result of the inverted index search includes the unique identifiers of the virtual documents that meet the search; and

    for each of the unique identifiers in the result,generating a separate search query from the single search query by replacing the unstructured search string in the structured search query with that unique identifier, andsearching the hierarchical database according to the separate search query

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