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Fast and efficient search method for graphical data

  • US 5,159,647 A
  • Filed: 03/04/1991
  • Issued: 10/27/1992
  • Est. Priority Date: 03/04/1991
  • Status: Expired due to Term
First Claim
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1. In a guided search method employing low-to-high resolution techniques for locating any of one or more various types of relevant objects that may be represented in relatively high-resolution graphical data that occupies a given data domain Hn, where n≧

  • 1;

    wherein each type of relevant objects exhibits a different combination of one or more of multiple predetermined attributes;

    the improvement comprising the step of employing high-to-low resolution techniques to prepare a search guide comprising a hierarchy of data arrays;

    wherein;

    a certain level of said hierarchy of data arrays comprises respective nodes that individually correspond to each of a plurality of data domains Hk-1 into which said given data domain Hn has been divided, each data domain Hk-1 being smaller than a data domain Hk, where 1≦

    k≦

    n and 0≦

    (k-1)<

    n;

    another one of said data-tree node levels comprises at least one node that individually corresponds to a data domain Hk which is comprised a group of Hk-1 data domains;

    a first attribute vector is stored in the node corresponding to each Hk-1 data domain, which first attribute vector abstracts all attribute information defined by the graphical data contained in that Hk-1 data domain; and

    a second attribute vector, which pools the multiple attribute information stored by said first attribute vectors in all those nodes corresponding to the group of Hk-1 data domains that comprise each Hk data domain, stores information abstracted from that group of Hk-1 data domains in the node corresponding to that Hk data domain;

    whereby a low-to-high resolution guided search may be made by employing the pooled abstracted multiple attribute information stored by the second attribute vector in a node corresponding to an Hk data domain to select the attribute information stored by the first attribute vector of at least one of the nodes corresponding to the Hk-1 data domains of the group that comprises that Hk data domain.

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