GENERALIZED INFORMATION PROCESSING
First Claim
1. A method of information retrieval by computer having a direct access memory to answer any query that can be satisfied from data as it appears in natural form which comprises:
- a. storing in a first sEction of said memory as a record file the successive strings of variable content natural language textual data to be retrieved, b. storing in a second section of said memory as a dictionary file a set of label word codes, one for each predetermined identifiable variable portion of said data, c. immediately accessing any existing identifiable portion of each string which satisfies any search criteria presented to said computer in terms which include at least one said word label, and d. registering the results thereof.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Strings of variable content natural language alphanumeric data are stored in computer memory at addressable locations along with an internal format code and a relative address. The data is serially compared with stored variables which produce truth responses through the internal format code. The number of responses per variable is stored. The addresses of data for each said truth response satisfying a predetermined logical combination of said variables are stored. Thereafter, data at the stored addresses are serially compared through the internal format code with at least one additional variable. The truth responses of said additional variable render accessible in storage the addresses of the corresponding data for each such truth response.
3 Citations
11 Claims
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1. A method of information retrieval by computer having a direct access memory to answer any query that can be satisfied from data as it appears in natural form which comprises:
- a. storing in a first sEction of said memory as a record file the successive strings of variable content natural language textual data to be retrieved, b. storing in a second section of said memory as a dictionary file a set of label word codes, one for each predetermined identifiable variable portion of said data, c. immediately accessing any existing identifiable portion of each string which satisfies any search criteria presented to said computer in terms which include at least one said word label, and d. registering the results thereof.
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2. The method of claim 1 wherein said search criteria includes a plurality of said labels and a logic statement of at least one of and, or and not.
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3. A method of information retrieval by computer having a direct access memory to answer any query that can be satisfied from data as it appears in natural form which comprises:
- a. storing in a first section of said memory as a record file the successive strings of variable content natural language textual data to be retrieved and a set of internal format codes for each string to permit location in each said string of predetermined identifiable variable portions, b. storing in a second section of said memory a dictionary file of mnemonic label words and an internal format code for each said identifiable variable portion, c. in response to designating a label in said dictionary file, immediately accessing any existing identifiable portion of each string which satisfies search criteria represented at least in part by said label, and d. storing in a third section of said memory a selected record file of the address of each record in said record file which satisfies said search criteria.
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4. The method set forth in claim 2 wherein:
- a. the results of the said retrieval are indicated, b. a second label word internal format code is accessed from said second location, and c. said second label word internal format code is utilized to access any existing identifiable portion of those strings whose addresses are stored in said selected record file.
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5. The method of claim 4 wherein said search criteria includes a plurality of said labels and a logic statement of at least one of and, or, and not.
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6. A method of information retrieval by computer having a direct access memory to answer any query that can be satisfied from data as it appears in natural form which comprises:
- a. storing in a first section of said memory as a record file the successive strings of variable content natural language textual information to be retrieved with each string accompanied by a set of internal format codes for each member of said set to permit location in each said string of predetermined identifiable variable portions of each string, b. storing in a second section of said memory a dictionary file of mnemonic label words and an internal format code for each said identifiable variable portion, c. accessing a query label word internal format code from said second location, d. utilizing said internal format code for accessing any existing identifiable portion of each string which satisfies search criteria represented at least in part by said query label word, and e. storing in a third section of said memory a selected record file of the address of each record in said record file which satisfies the search criteria.
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7. A method of information retrieval by computer where a direct access memory is provided which comprises:
- a. storing in a first section of said memory as a record file the successive strings of variable content natural language textual information to be retrieved with each string accompanied by a set of internal format codes for each member of said set to permit location in each said string of predetermined identifiable variable portions of each string, b. storing in a second section of said memory a dictionary file of mnemonic label words and an internal format code for each said identifiable variable portion, c. manually iniTiating immediate access to identifiable portions of said record file by entering an interrogation of said record file by way of said dictionary file, d. indicating the results of said search, e. manually entering a second interrogation of the portion of said record file satisfying said first interrogation by way of said dictionary file, and f. indicating the results of said second interrogation.
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8. In automatic data processing where a direct access memory stores records in the form of alphanumeric data at addressable memory locations, the method which comprises:
- a. responsive to an input search profile, storing in said memory an internal format code representative of classes of portions of said data to be searched along with a search argument for each said code, b. responsive to said code and argument, serially comparing each said argument with the portion of said stored data designated by said code, c. in response to said comparison, storing in said memory the address of each record having a record portion which corresponds with each of said variable signals, d. responsive to a second input search profile, storing in said memory a new internal format code representative of additional classes of portions of said data to be searched along with new search argument for each said code, e. responsive to said new internal format code and argument, serially comparing said new search arguments with the portions of said data stored at the stored addresses, and f. registering an indicia representative of the addresses satisfying said new internal format code and its arguments.
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9. The method of retrieval of information from a multirecord data base stored in direct access memory of an automatic data processing machine which comprises:
- a. storing a code representative of a search profile in a designated portion of the memory of said machine, the search profile comprising i. a label for designating the portion of each record to be searched, ii. an operation symbol, and iii. a search argument, and one logic code interrelating the search arguments of all said labels and symbols, b. accessing the portions of each of said records designated by said label for existence or nonexistence of the search argument, c. generating truth values in response to comparison of the results of said search based upon said logic code, and d. storing in memory the address of each record which satisfies said search profile and the number of such records for production, upon call from memory, of an output indication thereof.
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10. The method of claim 9 wherein said truth values for each record satisfying the search profile are employed to reduce said logic code to a single truth value.
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11. The method of claim 9 wherein the number of stored addresses is signaled to a user and wherein a different search profile is applied to said computer by said user.
Specification