Apparatus and method for data search using selected or representative data sample
First Claim
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1. A data search apparatus for locating a data item within a sequence of data the apparatus comprising:
- dividing means for dividing the sequence of data at a plurality of dividing positions within the sequence of data;
extracting means for extracting a plurality of representative samples of data from said sequence of data, each one of the representative samples being located at a respective one of the plurality of dividing positions;
display means for displaying said plurality of representative samples of data extracted by the means for extracting;
selecting means for selecting two of the representative samples displayed by the display means, the two selected samples surrounding the data item to be located; and
determining means for determining a new subsequence of data to be searched, the new subsequence of data having start and end positions which are specified by said two selected representative samples;
whereby finding the data item is facilitated because the new subsequence of data is smaller than the sequence of data.
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Abstract
The invention relates to searching for a desired data item within a group of data. Representative samples among a group of data to be searched are displayed, and two representative samples in display are selected to specify a new area of data to be searched. Thus, the portion of the data is bracketed and narrowed down, and the desired data item is found quickly and efficiently.
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Citations
11 Claims
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1. A data search apparatus for locating a data item within a sequence of data the apparatus comprising:
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dividing means for dividing the sequence of data at a plurality of dividing positions within the sequence of data; extracting means for extracting a plurality of representative samples of data from said sequence of data, each one of the representative samples being located at a respective one of the plurality of dividing positions; display means for displaying said plurality of representative samples of data extracted by the means for extracting; selecting means for selecting two of the representative samples displayed by the display means, the two selected samples surrounding the data item to be located; and determining means for determining a new subsequence of data to be searched, the new subsequence of data having start and end positions which are specified by said two selected representative samples; whereby finding the data item is facilitated because the new subsequence of data is smaller than the sequence of data. - View Dependent Claims (2, 10)
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3. A data search method for locating a data item within a sequence of data, the method comprising the steps of:
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dividing the sequence of data at a plurality of dividing positions located within the sequence of data; extracting a plurality of respective samples of data from said sequence of data, each one of the representative samples being located at a respective one of the plurality of dividing positions; displaying said plurality of representative samples of data extracted in the step of extracting; selecting two of the representative samples displayed in the step of displaying, the two selected samples surrounding the data item to be located; and determining a new subsequence of data to be searched, the new subsequence of data having start and end positions which are specified by said two selected representative samples; whereby finding the data item is facilitated because the new sequence of data is smaller than the sequence of data. - View Dependent Claims (4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 11)
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Specification