CONFIGURABLE SEARCH GRAPHICAL USER INTERFACE AND ENGINE

• US 20090132502A1
• Filed: 01/21/2009
• Published: 05/21/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 05/08/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Oracle International Corporation (Oracle Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Oracle International Corporation (Oracle Corporation)
• Inventors: Brice, John, Phelps, James N., Kennedy, Sargent L.
• Granted Patent: US 8,510,330 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

1-29. -29. (canceled)

30. A data retrieval system including a configurable search engine, said system comprising:

a processor; and

a memory coupled to the processor, the memory configured to store instructions that when executed by the processor, cause the processor to;

enable a searcher to personalize the search engine based on a set of configuration settings, the set of configuration settings comprising;

selecting from a plurality of search engine related options, a set of search engine related options for the searcher to personalize the search engine, and specifying an extent to which the searcher can personalize the set of search engine related options; and

enable the searcher to perform searches using the search engine as personalized by the searcher.

31. The system of claim 30 wherein, the set of search engine related options selected for the searcher comprises, allowing the searcher to personalize a set of search fields available for searching.

32. The system of claim 31 wherein, the set of search engine related options selected for the searcher further comprises at least one of:

allowing the searcher to personalize initialization of a results grid, and allowing the searcher to personalize layout of a search section of the search engine.

33. The system of claim 30 enabling a user to select the set of configuration settings, the set of configuration settings further comprising at least one of:

specifying options related to the appearance of and the functions available to the searcher when performing searches, setting security rules for the searcher, and specifying a set of search fields and behavior of the set of search fields available to the searcher for the searches.

34. The system of claim 30, wherein the search engine includes a window for displaying a Structured Query Language (SQL) search query formed in response to the searcher inputting a search query in a location other than the window.

35. The system of claim 30, 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 the search.

36. The system of claim 35, wherein the second form is a programming language.

37. The system of claim 30 further comprising, a database that is accessible for storing and retrieving data.

38. The system of claim 37 wherein, the database stores configuration data corresponding to the configuration setting for the search engine.

39. The system of claim 38 wherein, the database stores personalization data corresponding to the personalization of the search engine by the searcher.

40. A method for providing a configurable a search engine, said method comprising:

allowing a user to select a set of configuration settings, the set of configuration settings comprising;

selecting from a plurality of search engine related options, a set of search engine related options for a searcher to personalize the search engine, and specifying an extent to which the searcher can personalize the set of search engine related options;

allowing the searcher to personalize the search engine based on the set of search engine related options to the extent specified by the configuration settings; and

providing the searcher with an interface to perform searches using the search engine as personalized by the searcher.

41. The method of claim 40 wherein, the user has a first level of access and the searcher has a second level of access.

42. The method of claim 40 wherein, the set of search engine related options selected for the searcher includes an option to specify a set of search fields available to the searcher for performing searches.

43. The method of claim 40 wherein, the interface is a search page including at least a search dialog box for entering a search query, and a personalize search link that allows the searcher to personalize the set of search engine related options to the extent specified by the configuration settings.

44. The method of claim 40, further comprising, in response to a searcher entering a search query using the interface:

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.

45. The method of claim 44, wherein the component identification is a synchronization identifier.