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Method and system for network information access

  • US 5,995,959 A
  • Filed: 01/23/1998
  • Issued: 11/30/1999
  • Est. Priority Date: 01/24/1997
  • Status: Expired due to Term
First Claim
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1. A method to retrieve information from one or more information sources in order to satisfy a user information query, said method comprising the steps of:

  • a. generating an ordered sequence of one or more operators, (i) wherein each said operator represents a type of query for retrieving information from one of said information sources, (ii) wherein each said operator has a representation comprising a head with zero or more bound arguments and with one or more free arguments, said bound and free arguments representing, respectively, input information required by, and output information returned from, said represented query type, (iii) and further wherein said user information query has a representation comprising a head with zero or more bound arguments and with one of more free arguments;

    b. Instantiating each said ordered sequence of operators to form one or more ordered sequences of operator instances by replacing said bound and free arguments in each said operator and in said user information query with variables such that the binding pattern of said ordered sequence of operators is satisfied;

    c. testing whether each said ordered sequence of operator instances satisfies said user information query, wherein said ordered sequence of operator instances satisfies said user information query if it returns information in its variables satisfying the free arguments of said head of said user information query; and

    d. repeating steps (a), (b), and (c) either until no additional said ordered sequences of operators can be generated or until a resource bound is exceeded.

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