Automatic query and transformative process

• US 6,438,540 B2
• Filed: 06/19/2001
• Issued: 08/20/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 08/14/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Ip Ot Sub Ulc
• Original Assignee: Vignette Corporation (Open Text Corporation)
• Inventors: Nasr, Roger I., Webber, Neil
• Primary Examiner(s): Mizrahi, Diane D.
• Application Number:
  US09/884,230
• Publication Number:
  US 20010044794A1
• Time in Patent Office: 427 Days
• Field of Search: 707/23, 707/6, 707/7, 707/103, 707/10, 707/102, 707/4, 707/5, 707/104.1, 717/5, 706/11
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/258 Data format conversion from or to a database
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/956 Hierarchical
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99933 Query processing, i.e. searching
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99935 Query augmenting and refining, e.g. inexact access
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99943 Generating database or data structure, e.g. via user interface
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99945 Object-oriented database structure processing

Abstract

A computer-implemented method of retrieving information in a first markup language through a query engine and presenting the information in any required markup language. A user inputs a query and may invoke a number of transformative sequences. These sequences contain a markup language pattern and an action, which may include transforming the tags in the first markup language to tags in a different markup language. The appropriate transformative sequence is selected and the pattern from the transformative sequence is compiled. The compiled pattern is used to perform rapid and efficient searches of documents in the database. A predicate check using the binary coding of the node as well as ancestor information confirms the node. The leaf information associated with a confirmed node is then stored. If necessary, the action from the transformative sequence is applied to change the markup language of the leaf information to that of the user.

Claims

1. A method of processing a query for a textual document in a tagged-based language comprising:

providing an abstract machine for searching a tree representation of the document, wherein;

the abstract machine has an instruction set having an ability to produce at least a portion of results;

the tree representation has levels; and

all nodes at a same level have a same code;

compiling a query in a language into instructions for the abstract engine;

running the instructions on the abstract machine, wherein running is performed on the tree representation; and

receiving the at least a portion of results from the instructions that have been run.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein running the instructions is performed on a first portion of an item selected from a group consisting of a memory and a database.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising running the instructions on a second portion of the item, wherein this act is performed after receiving the at least a portion of results.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the tree structure includes child nodes, wherein each child node is a descendant from only one parent node.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

obtaining a code for a particular node, wherein the code has been assigned by;

determining a subtree depth for the particular node within the tree representation;

determining a parent-child relationship for the particular node and for each node, if any, within the tree representation that lies between the particular node and a root node; and

determining a code for the particular node, wherein;

if the subtree depth of the particular node is less than two, the code for the particular node is a code for its closest parent node having a subtree depth of at least two; and

if the subtree depth of the particular node is at least two, the code for the particular node is selected such that when bitwise binary ANDed with a code of a parent node yields the code of the parent node,

wherein the codes for the particular node and the parent node are different from each other; and

using the code as part of the query.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the subtree depth of the particular node is less than two.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein the subtree depth of the particular node is least two.

8. A computer program product for performing a method of processing a query for a textual document in a tagged-based language, the method comprising:

providing an abstract machine for searching a tree representation of the document, wherein;

the abstract machine has an instruction set having an ability to produce at least a portion of results;

the tree representation has levels; and

all nodes at a same level have a same code;

compiling a query in a language into instructions for the abstract engine;

running the instructions on the abstract machine, wherein running is performed on the tree representation; and

receiving the at least a portion of results from the instructions that have been run.

9. The computer program product of claim 8, wherein running the instructions is performed on a first portion of an item selected from a group consisting of a memory and a database.

10. The computer program product of claim 9, wherein the method further comprises running the instructions on a second portion of the item, wherein this act is performed after receiving the at least a portion of results.

11. The computer program product of claim 8, wherein the tree structure includes child nodes, wherein each child node is a descendant from only one parent node.

12. The computer program product of claim 8, wherein the method further comprises:

obtaining a code for a particular node, wherein the code has been assigned by;

determining a subtree depth for the particular node within the tree representation;

determining parent-child relationships for the particular node and for each node, if any, within the tree representation that lies between the particular node and a root node; and

using a code for the particular node;

wherein

if the subtree depth of the particular node is less than two, the code for the particular node is a code for its closest parent node having a subtree depth of at least two; and

if the subtree depth of the particular node is at least two, the code for the particular node is selected such that when bitwise binary ANDed with a code of a parent node yields the code of the parent node, wherein the codes for the particular node and the parent node are different from each other; and

using the code as part of the query.

13. The computer program product of claim 12, wherein the subtree of the particular node is less than two.

14. The computer program product of claim 12, wherein the subtree of the particular node is at least two.