Method and apparatus for improved information storage and retrieval system

• US 5,893,087 A
• Filed: 04/10/1996
• Issued: 04/06/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 03/28/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: LJM Software, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Dex Information Systems, Inc.
• Inventors: Gordon, Robert, Wannier, Louise J., Gordon, Clay, Wlaschin, Scott
• Primary Examiner(s): Black, Thomas G.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Coby, Frantz
• Application Number:
  US08/633,842
• Time in Patent Office: 1,091 Days
• Field of Search: 707/1, 707/3, 707/4, 707/102
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/221 Column-oriented storage; Management thereof
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/917 Text
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/954 Relational
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99931 Database or file accessing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99933 Query processing, i.e. searching
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99934 Query formulation, input preparation, or translation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99943 Generating database or data structure, e.g. via user interface

Abstract

The information management and database system of the present invention comprises a flexible, self-referential table that stores data. The table of the present invention may store any type of data, both structured and unstructured, and provides an interface to other application programs. The table of the present invention comprises a plurality of rows and columns. Each row has an object identification number (OID) and each column also has an OID. A row corresponds to a record and a column corresponds to a field such that the intersection of a row and a column comprises a cell that may contain data for a particular record related to a particular field, a cell may also point to another record. To enhance searching and to provide for synchronization between columns, columns are entered as rows in the table and the record corresponding to a column contains various information about the column. The table includes an index structure for extended queries.

Claims

1. A method for operating a computer system including a memory configured according to a logical table, a central processing unit and a display, said method including the steps of:

configuring an extensible logical table to include;

a plurality of rows, each said row including an object identification number (OID) to identify each said row, each said row corresponding to a record of information;

a plurality of columns intersecting said plurality of rows to define a plurality of cells, a cell being basic unit of storage, each said column including an OID to identify each said column; and

wherein

at least one row includes a fields cell having references to a plurality of labeled columns.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said fields cell further includes information related to each of said labeled columns.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of performing an operation on data within said labeled columns according to said at least one row.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein said operation comprises at least one of the following:

an editing operation, a printing operation, a searching operation or an exporting operation.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein said at least one row comprises a template for a structured e-mail message.

9. The method of claim 5 wherein said particular row comprises a folder type row.

6. A method for storing and retrieving data in a computer system including a memory, a central processing unit and a display, said method including the steps of:

configuring said memory according to an extensible logical table, said extensible logical table including;

a plurality of rows, each said row including an object identification number (OID) to identify each said row, each said row corresponding to a record of information;

a plurality of columns intersecting said plurality of rows to define a plurality of cells, a cell being basic unit of storage, each said column including an OID to identify each said column, at least one cell in a particular row including a definition, said definition including a reference to at least one column;

automatically adding to said one cell a reference to a first row according to said definition.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein said definition includes a reference to every row that includes a valid value in a certain column.

8. The method of claim 6 wherein said definition includes a query that results in references to a plurality of rows that satisfy the query.

10. A method for storing and retrieving data in a computer system including a memory, a central processing unit and a display, said method including the steps of:

configuring said memory according to an extensible logical table, said extensible logical table including;

a plurality of rows, each said row including an object identification number (OID) to identify each said row, each said row corresponding to a record of information;

a plurality of columns intersecting said plurality of rows to define a plurality of cells, a cell being basic unit of storage, each said column including an OID to identify each said column, at least one of said columns including information to indicate an indexing method corresponding to said column; and

indexing said at least one column according to said indexing method.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein:

at least one of said cells includes a pointer to an index record; and

said indexing method includes the steps of;

searching said table for at least two key words; and

creating index records for at least two key words, said index records including one or more pointers to cells in said table that contain said key words.

12. The method of claim 11 further including the step of querying said table, said step querying said table further including the steps of:

locating one of said index records according to the query of a user;

retrieving at least one cell in said table pointed to by said located index record.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein said step of locating one of said index records further includes the steps of locating at least one of said index records pointed to by said at least one retrieved cell.

14. The method of claim 13 further including the step of weighting key words and retrieved cells according to pre-defined search criteria.

15. The method of claim 13 further including the step of filtering key words and retrieved cells according to pre-defined search criteria.

16. A method for storing and retrieving data in a computer system including a memory, a central processing unit and a display, said method including the steps of:

configuring said memory according to an extensible logical table, said extensible logical table including;

a plurality of rows, each said row including an object identification number (OID) to identify each said row, each said row corresponding to a record of information;

a plurality of columns intersecting said plurality of rows to define a plurality of cells, a cell being the basic unit of storage, each said column including an OID to identify each said column, at least one cell in a particular row including an annotation such that said annotation cell is fully integrated into said logical table; and

performing an operation on said cell including said annotation.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein said operation comprises indexing.

18. The method of claim 16 wherein said annotation cell includes hypertext.

19. A method for storing and retrieving data in a computer system including a memory, a central processing unit and a display, said method including the steps of:

configuring said memory according to a logical table, said logical table including;

a plurality of rows, each said row including an object identification number (OID) to identify each said row, each said row corresponding to a record of information;

a plurality of columns intersecting said plurality of rows to define a plurality of cells, each said column including an OID to identify each said column, at least one of said columns including information to indicate an indexing method corresponding to said column, at least one of said cells includes a pointer to an index record;

indexing said at least one column according to said indexing method, said indexing method includes the steps of;

searching said table for at least two key words;

creating index records for at least two key words, said index records including one or more pointers to cells in said table that contain said key words;

querying said table, said step querying said table further including the steps of;

locating one of said index records according to the query of a user;

retrieving at least one cell in said table pointed to by said located index record, said step of locating one of said index records further includes locating at least one of said index records pointed to by said at-least one retrieved cell; and

weighting key words and retrieved cells according to pre-defined search criteria.

20. A method for storing and retrieving data in a computer system including a memory, a central processing unit and a display, said method including the steps of:

configuring said memory according to a logical table, said logical table including;

a plurality of rows, each said row including an object identification number (OID) to identify each said row, each said row corresponding to a record of information;

a plurality of columns intersecting said plurality of rows to define a plurality of cells, each said column including an OID to identify each said column, at least one of said columns including information to indicate an indexing method corresponding to said column, at least one of said cells includes a pointer to an index record;

indexing said at least one column according to said indexing method, said indexing method includes the steps of;

searching said table for at least two key words;

creating index records for at least two key words, said index records including one or more pointers to cells in said table that contain said key words;

querying said table, said step querying said table further including the steps of;

locating one of said index records according to the query of a user;

retrieving at least one cell in said table pointed to by said located index record, said step of locating one of said index records further includes locating at least one of said index records pointed to by said at least one retrieved cell; and

filtering key words and retrieved cells according to pre-defined search criteria.

21. A method for storing and retrieving data in a computer system including a memory, a central processing unit and a display, said method including the steps of:

configuring said memory according to a logical table, said logical table including;

a plurality of rows, each said row including an object identification number (OID) to identify each said row, each said row corresponding to a record of information;

a plurality of columns intersecting said plurality of rows to define a plurality of cells, each said column including an OID to identify each said column, at least one cell in a particular row including an annotation such that said annotation cell is fully integrated into said logical table; and

performing an operation on said cell including said annotation wherein said annotation cell includes hypertext.

22. A method for storing and retrieving data in a computer system memory comprising the steps of:

configuring said memory according to an extensible logical table having a plurality of intersecting rows and columns defining a plurality of cells, at least one of said cells includes a pointer to an index record;

indexing at least one column by;

creating index records for said at least two key words, said index records including one or more pointers to cells in said extensible logical table that contain said at least two key words;

locating one of said index records according to the query of a user;

retrieving at least one cell in said extensible logical table pointed to by said located index record;

locating at least one of said index records pointed to by said at least one retrieved cell; and

weighting key words and retrieved cells according to pre-defined search criteria.

23. A method for storing and retrieving data in a computer system memory comprising the steps of:

configuring said memory according to an extensible logical table having a plurality of intersecting rows and columns defining a plurality of cells;

creating index records for at least two key words, said index records including one or more pointers to cells in said extensible logical table that contain said key words, at least one of said cells includes a pointer to an index record;

indexing at least one column according to an indexing method;

locating one of said index records according to the query of a user;

retrieving at least one cell in said table pointed to by said located index record;

locating at least one of said index records pointed to by said at least one retrieved cell; and

filtering key words and retrieved cells according to pre-defined search criteria.

24. A method for storing and retrieving data in a computer system memory comprising the steps of:

configuring said memory according to an extensible logical table having a plurality of intersecting rows and columns defining a plurality of cells, at least one of said columns including information to indicate an indexing method corresponding to said column, at least one cell includes an annotation such that said annotation cell is fully integrated into said extensible logical table; and

performing an operation on said cell including said annotation wherein said annotation cell includes hypertext.

25. In a method for storing and retrieving information in a computer memory by configuring said memory according to a logical table having a plurality of rows, each said row corresponding to a record of information, and a plurality of columns intersecting said plurality of rows to define a plurality of cells, the improvement comprising:

including references to a plurality of labeled columns in a fields cell in at least one row.

26. The method of claim 25 wherein said fields cell further comprises information related to each of said columns.

27. The method of claim 25 further comprising the step of performing an operation on data within said columns according to said at least one row.

28. The method of claim 27 wherein said operation comprises at least one of the following:

an editing operation, a printing operation, a searching operation or an exporting operation.

29. The method of claim 25 wherein said at least one row comprises a template for a structured e-mail message.

30. In a method for storing and retrieving information in a computer memory by configuring said memory according to a logical table having a plurality of rows, each said row corresponding to a record of information, and a plurality of columns intersecting said plurality of rows to define a plurality of cells, the improvement comprising:

including a definition in at least one cell in a first row, said definition including a reference to at least one column;

automatically adding to said one cell a reference to a second row according to said definition.

31. The method of claim 30 wherein said definition includes a reference to every row that includes a valid value in a first column.

32. The method of claim 30 wherein said definition includes a query that results in references to a plurality of rows that satisfy the query.

33. The method of claim 30 wherein said first row comprises a folder type row.

34. In a method for storing and retrieving information in a computer memory by configuring said memory according to a logical table having a plurality of rows, each said row corresponding to a record of information, and a plurality of columns intersecting said plurality of rows to define a plurality of cells, the improvement comprising:

including information in at least one of said columns to indicate an indexing method corresponding to said column; and

indexing said at least one column according to said indexing method.

35. The method of claim 34 wherein:

at least one of said cells includes a pointer to an index record; and

said indexing method includes the steps of;

searching said table for at least two key words; and

creating index records for at least two key words, said index records including one or more pointers to cells in said table that contain said key words.

36. The method of claim 35 further including the step of querying said table, said step querying said table further including the steps of:

locating one of said index records according to the query of a user;

retrieving at least one cell in said table pointed to by said located index record.

37. The method of claim 36 wherein said step of locating one of said index records further includes the steps of locating at least one of said index records pointed to by said at least one retrieved cell.

38. The method of claim 37 further including the step of weighting key words and retrieved cells according to pre-defined search criteria.

39. The method of claim 37 further including the step of filtering key words and retrieved cells according to pre-defined search criteria.

40. In a method for storing and retrieving information in a computer memory by configuring said memory according to a logical table having a plurality of rows, each said row corresponding to a record of information, and a plurality of columns intersecting said plurality of rows to define a plurality of cells, the improvement comprising:

including an annotation in at least one cell in a first row, said annotation cell being fully integrated into said logical table; and

performing an operation on said at least one cell including said annotation.

41. The method of claim 40 wherein said operation comprises indexing.

42. The method of claim 40 wherein said annotation cell includes hypertext.

43. A device for storing and retrieving data in a computer system memory comprising:

an extensible logical table having a plurality of intersecting rows and columns defining a plurality of cells;

at least one row includes a fields cell having references to a plurality of labeled columns

an index record for at least two key words, said index record including one or more pointers to cells in said extensible logical table that contain said at least two key words;

means for locating one of said index records according to the query of a user;

means for retrieving at least one cell in said extensible logical table pointed to by said located index record;

means for locating at least one of said index records pointed to by said at least one retrieved cell; and

means for weighting key words and retrieved cells according to pre-defined search criteria.

44. A device for storing and retrieving data in a computer system memory comprising:

an extensible logical table having a plurality of intersecting rows and columns defining a plurality of cells;

at least one row includes a fields cell having references to a plurality of labeled columns

an index record for at least two key words, said index record including one or more pointers to cells in said extensible logical table that contain said at least two key words;

means for locating one of said index records according to the query of a user;

means for retrieving at least one cell in said extensible logical table pointed to by said located index record;

means for locating at least one of said index records pointed to by said at least one retrieved cell; and

means for filtering key words and retrieved cells according to pre-defined search criteria.

45. A device for storing and retrieving data in a computer system memory comprising:

an extensible logical table having a plurality of intersecting rows and columns defining a plurality of cells;

at least one row includes a fields cell having references to a plurality of labeled columns

at least one cell includes an annotation such that said annotation cell is fully integrated into said extensible logical table; and

performing an operation on said cell including said annotation wherein said annotation cell includes hypertext.

46. A method for operating a computer system memory comprising the steps of:

configuring an extensible logical table to include;

a plurality of rows, each row corresponding to a record of information;

a plurality of columns intersecting said plurality of rows to define a plurality of cells; and

at least one row includes a fields cell having references to a plurality of columns.

47. The method of claim 46 wherein said fields cell further includes information related to each of said referenced columns.

48. The method of claim 46 further comprising the step of:

performing an operation on data within said referenced columns according to said at least one row.

49. The method of claim 48 wherein said operation comprises at least one of the following:

an editing operation, a printing operation, a searching operation or an exporting operation.

50. The method of claim 46 wherein said at least one row comprises a template for a structured e-mail message.

51. A method for storing and retrieving data in a computer system memory comprising the steps of:

configuring an extensible logical table in a computer system memory to include;

a plurality of rows, each row corresponding to a record of information;

a plurality of columns intersecting said plurality of rows to define a plurality of cells;

at least one cell in a first row including a definition, said definition including a reference to at least one column; and

automatically adding to said at least one cell a reference to a second row according to said definition.

52. The method of claim 51 wherein said definition includes a reference to every row that includes a valid value in a first column.

53. The method of claim 51 wherein said definition includes a query that results in references to a plurality of rows that satisfy the query.

54. The method of claim 51 wherein said first row comprises a folder type row.

55. A method for storing and retrieving data in a computer system memory comprising the steps of:

configuring an extensible logical table in a computer system memory to include;

a plurality of rows, each row corresponding to a record of information;

a plurality of columns intersecting said plurality of rows to define a plurality of cells; and

at least one of said columns including information to indicate an indexing method corresponding to said column; and

indexing said at least one column according to said indexing method.

56. The method of claim 55 wherein:

at least one of said cells includes a pointer to an index record; and

said indexing method comprises the steps of;

searching said extensible table for at least two key words; and

creating index records for at least two key words, said index records including one or more pointers to cells in said extensible table that contain said key words.

57. The method of claim 56 further comprising the steps of:

locating one of said index records according to the query of a user;

retrieving at least one cell in said table pointed to by said located index record.

58. The method of claim 57 wherein said step of locating one of said index records further comprises the step of locating at least one of said index records pointed to by said at least one retrieved cell.

59. The method of claim 58 further comprising the step of weighting key words and retrieved cells according to pre-defined search criteria.

60. The method of claim 58 further comprising the step of filtering key words and retrieved cells according to pre-defined search criteria.

61. A method for storing and retrieving data in a computer system memory comprising the steps of:

configuring an extensible logical table in a computer system memory to include;

a plurality of rows, each row corresponding to a record of information;

a plurality of columns intersecting said plurality of rows to define a plurality of cells; and

at least one cell in a first row including an annotation such that said annotation cell is fully integrated into said extensible logical table; and

performing an operation on said cell including said annotation.

62. The method of claim 61 wherein said operation comprises indexing.

63. The method of claim 61 wherein said annotation cell includes hypertext.

64. A data storage and retrieval system for a computer having a memory, a central processing unit and a display, comprising:

means for configuring said memory according to an extensible logical table, said extensible logical table including;

a plurality of cells, each said cell having a first address segment and a second address segment;

a plurality of attribute sets, each said attribute set including a series of cells having the same second address segment, each said attribute set including an object identification number (OID) to identify each said attribute set; and

a plurality of records, each said record including a series of cells having the same first address segment, each said record including an OID to identify each said record, wherein at least one of said records has an OID equal to the OID of a corresponding one of said attribute sets, and at least one of said records includes a fields cell having references to a plurality of attribute sets.

65. The system of claim 64 wherein said fields cell further comprises information related to each of said referenced attribute sets.

66. The system of claim 64 further comprising:

means for performing an operation on data within said referenced attribute sets according to said at least one record.

67. The system of claim 66 wherein said operation comprises at least one of the following:

an editing operation, a printing operation, a searching operation or an exporting operation.

68. The system of claim 64 wherein said at least one record comprises a template for a structured e-mail message.

69. A data storage and retrieval system for a computer having a memory, a central processing unit and a display, comprising:

means for configuring said memory according to an extensible logical table, said extensible logical table including;

a plurality of cells, each said cell having a first address segment and a second address segment;

a plurality of attribute sets, each said attribute set including a series of cells having the same second address segment, each said attribute set including an object identification number (OID) to identify each said attribute set;

a plurality of records, each said record including a series of cells having the same first address segment, each said record including an OID to identify each said record, wherein at least one of said records has an OID equal to the OID of a corresponding one of said attribute sets;

at least one cell in a first record including a definition, said definition including a reference to at least one attribute set; and

means for automatically adding to said at least one cell a reference to a second record according to said definition.

70. The system of claim 69 wherein said definition comprises a reference to every record that includes a valid value in a first attribute set.

71. The system of claim 69 wherein said definition comprises a query that results in references to a plurality of rows that satisfy the query.

72. The method of claim 69 wherein said first record comprises a folder type record.

73. A data storage and retrieval system for a computer having a memory, a central processing unit and a display, comprising:

means for configuring said memory according to an extensible logical table, said extensible logical table including;

a plurality of cells, each said cell having a first address segment and a second address segment;

a plurality of attribute sets, each said attribute set including a series of cells having the same second address segment, each said attribute set including an object identification number (OID) to identify each said attribute set, at least one of said attribute sets including information to indicate an indexing method corresponding to said attribute set;

a plurality of records, each said record including a series of cells having the same first address segment, each said record including an OID to identify each said record, wherein at least one of said records has an OID equal to the OID of a corresponding one of said attribute sets; and

means for indexing said at least one attribute set according to said indexing method.

74. The system of claim 73 wherein:

at least one of said cells includes a pointer to an index record; and

said means for indexing further comprises;

means for searching said extensible table for at least two key words; and

means for creating index records for at least two key words, said index records including one or more pointers to cells in said extensible table that contain said key words.

75. The system of claim 74 further comprising:

means for locating one of said index records according to the query of a user;

means for retrieving at least one cell in said extensible table pointed to by said located index record.

76. The system of claim 75 wherein said means for locating one of said index records further comprises means for locating at least one of said index records pointed to by said at least one retrieved cell.

77. The system of claim 76 further comprising means for weighting key words and retrieved cells according to pre-defined search criteria.

78. The system of claim 77 further comprising the step of filtering key words and retrieved cells according to pre-defined search criteria.

79. A data storage and retrieval system for a computer having a memory, a central processing unit and a display, comprising:

means for configuring said memory according to an extensible logical table, said extensible logical table including;

a plurality of cells, each said cell having a first address segment and a second address segment;

a plurality of attribute sets, each said attribute set including a series of cells having the same second address segment, each said attribute set including an object identification number (OID) to identify each said attribute set;

a plurality of records, each said record including a series of cells having the same first address segment, each said record including an OID to identify each said record, wherein at least one of said records has an OID equal to the OID of a corresponding one of said attribute sets, at least one cell in a first record including an annotation such that said annotation cell is fully integrated into said extensible logical table; and

means for performing an operation on said cell including said annotation.

80. The system of claim 79 wherein said operation comprises indexing.

81. The system of claim 79 wherein said annotation cell includes hypertext.