Techniques for improving index searches in a client-server environment

• US 6,334,124 B1
• Filed: 10/01/1998
• Issued: 12/25/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 10/06/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Ventro Corp. (NexPrise, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Ventro Corp. (NexPrise, Inc.)
• Inventors: Kunaparaju, Varma S., Bouchard, Eugene E., Sriram, Venkat R., Stanelle, Scott E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Coulter, Kenneth R.
• Application Number:
  US09/164,946
• Time in Patent Office: 1,181 Days
• Field of Search: 707/3, 707/10, 707/102, 707/1, 709/203, 709/218
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/029 Firewall traversal, e.g. tunnelling or, creating pinholes
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99933 Query processing, i.e. searching

Abstract

A computer implemented system and method for facilitating index searching by a client computer through records of a datastore. The datastore is accessible by a server computer of the client-server computer network. The method includes creating client indices of the records. The client indices are in a format accessible by the client computer. The method also includes transmitting the indices to the client computer and storing the client indices locally at the client computer. The method further includes employing the client indices for the index searching by the client computer to produce a list of records that satisfies a search query associated with the index searching. Furthermore, creating the client indices includes transmitting a command from the client computer to the server computer to instruct the server computer to create the client indices. Such transmission includes encapsulating the command that instructs the server computer to create the client indices in a payload of a data packet chosen to have a protocol that can traverse to a security firewall between the client computer and the server computer so that the data packet can be transmitted unimpeded from the client computer to the server computer through the security firewall.

Claims

1. In a client-server computer network, a computer-implemented method for facilitating index searching by a client computer through records of a datastore, said datastore being accessible by a server computer of said client-server computer network, comprising:

creating client indices of said records, said client indices being in a format accessible by said client computer, wherein said creating said client indices includes transmitting a command from said client computer to said server computer to instruct said server computer to create said client indices, said transmitting said command includes

encapsulating said command that instructs said server computer to create said client indices in a payload of at least one data packet, said at least one data packet being chosen to have a protocol that can traverse to a security firewall between said client computer and said server computer; and

transmitting said at least one data packet from said client computer to said server computer through said security firewall;

transmitting said indices to said client computer;

storing said client indices locally at said client computer; and

employing said client indices for said index searching by said client computer to produce a list of records that satisfies a search query associated with said index searching.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the encapsulation of said command encapsulates the command using HTTP protocol.

3. In a client-server computer network, a computer-implemented method for facilitating index searching by a client computer through records of a datastore, said datastore being accessible by a server computer of said client-server computer network, comprising:

creating client indices of said records, said client indices being in a format accessible by said client computer;

transmitting said indices to said client computer;

storing said client indices locally at said client computer;

employing said client indices for said index searching by said client computer to produce a list of records that satisfies a search query associated with said index searching;

selecting one record of the list of records that satisfies the search query;

transmitting the selected one record from the server to the client;

creating second client indices of said records, said second client indices being in a format accessible by a second client computer, wherein the second client indices are less than the client indices; and

determining records most likely to be searched on the second client computer so that the second client indices are created according to the determined records most likely to be searched on the second client computer.

4. In a client-server computer network, a computer implemented method for facilitating index searching by a client computer through records of a datastore, said datastore being accessible by a server computer of said client-server computer network, comprising:

creating client indices of said records, said client indices being in a format accessible by said client computer;

transmitting said indices to said client computer;

storing said client indices locally at said client computer; and

employing said client indices for said index searching by said client computer to produce a list of records that satisfies a search query associated with said index searching;

selecting one record of the list of records that satisfies the search query;

transmitting the selected one record from the server to the client;

creating second client indices of said records, said second client indices being in a format accessible by a second client computer, wherein the second client indices are less than the client indices;

performing a search on the second client computer that is beyond the second client indices; and

submitting the search to the server.

5. In a client-server computer network, a computer-implemented method for facilitating index searching by a client computer through records of a datastore, said datastore being accessible by a server computer of said client-server computer network, comprising:

creating client indices of said records, said client indices being in a format accessible by said client computer;

transmitting said indices to said client computer;

storing said client indices locally at said client computer;

employing said client indices for said index searching by said client computer to produce a list of records that satisfies a search query associated with said index searching;

selecting one record of the list of records that satisfies the search query;

transmitting the selected one record from the server to the client;

creating server indices, wherein the client indices are a subset of the server indices; and

removing parts of the server indices according to a security level of the client in the creating of the client indices.

6. A computer-implemented arrangement for searching a plurality of records, comprising:

a server, wherein the server comprises;

a database of the plurality of records; and

server indices of the database of the plurality of records;

a client, wherein the client comprises;

client indices of the database of the plurality of records; and

a search tool for using the client indices; and

a network which connects the server and the client together in a client-server network, wherein the network comprises a firewall between the client and the server, and wherein the client comprises a command encapsulator, which encapsulates commands from the client to the server regarding the creating of client indices.

7. The computer-implemented arrangement, as recited in claim 6, wherein the command encapsulator encapsulates the commands with an HTTP protocol.

8. A computer-implemented arrangement for searching a plurality of records, comprising:

a server, wherein the server comprises;

a database of the plurality of records; and

server indices of the database of the plurality of records;

a client, wherein the client comprises;

client indices of the database of the plurality of records; and

a search tool for using the client indices;

a network which connects the server and the client together in a client-server network; and

a second client connected to the network, wherein the second client comprises;

second client indices which are smaller than the client indices; and

a search tool for using the second client indices, wherein the second client indices are a subset of the server indices and are dependent on records most likely to be searched on the second client.