Information management, retrieval and display system and associated method

• US 6,484,166 B1
• Filed: 09/27/2000
• Issued: 11/19/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 05/20/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Evresearch Limited
• Original Assignee: Evresearch Limited
• Inventors: Maynard, George
• Primary Examiner(s): CHOULES, JACK M
• Application Number:
  US09/733,378
• Time in Patent Office: 783 Days
• Field of Search: 707/1, 707/2, 707/3, 707/4, 707/5, 704/9, 706/47
• US Class Current: 707/694
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/954 Navigation, e.g. using categorised browsing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/956 Hierarchical
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99935 Query augmenting and refining, e.g. inexact access

Abstract

An information management, retrieval and display system searches through an informational resource, such as a document (e.g., a treaty), a number of individual documents (e.g., Web pages resident on the Internet), or a stream of information (e.g., DNA code, source code, satellite data transmissions, etc.) and displays the results of the search in an collapsible/expandable format based upon a user-selected display criteria or hierarchy. Such a display hierarchy will allow the end-user to effectively and quickly obtain items of interest from the search results. Generally, the system performs a method for retrieving information from an informational resource that includes the steps of: (a) dividing the informational resource into a plurality of finite elements; (b) assigning a categorical tag to each of the plurality of finite elements, where the categorical tag includes data pertaining to a content of the finite element; (c) generating a searchable database record for each of the plurality of finite elements, where each searchable database record includes at least one string contained within the finite element, where the string can be a word, a phrase, a symbol, a group of symbols, a data segment or the like; (d) supplying a search string; (e) searching the searchable database for searchable database records containing the search string; (f) arranging the results of the searching step in a hierarchal structure according, at least in part, to the data in the categorical tags assigned to the finite elements found in the searching step; and (g) displaying the results of the searching step in the hierarchal structure.

Claims

1. A data storage device comprising:

an informational resource divided into a plurality of finite elements, each of the finite elements including a categorical tag and a database record assigned thereto, the categorical tag including at least one information item taken from a group consisting of content data pertaining to the content of the finite element, location data pertaining to a location of the finite element with respect to the informational resource, organization data pertaining to the placement of the finite element within an organizational framework of the informational resource, author data, owner data, and timing data; and

software instructions programmed to direct retrieval and display of at least a portion of the informational resource, the software instructions being configured to perform the steps of;

supplying a search query,

searching through the database records for relevant database records matching the search query;

arranging the results of the searching step in a hierarchal structure according, at least in part, to the information in the categorical tags assigned to the finite elements corresponding to the relevant database records; and

displaying identifying phrases for the finite elements corresponding to the relevant database records in the hierarchal structure.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said hierarchical structure is a collapsible/expandable hierarchal structure which can be collapsed/expanded as desired by an end user.

3. A method for retrieving information from an informational resource comprising the steps of:

breaking apart the informational resource into a plurality of discrete finite elements;

creating a categorical tag for each of the plurality of discrete finite elements, the categorical tag including a categorical designation pertaining to informational content contained in the discrete finite element;

generating a searchable database including a searchable database record for each of the discrete finite elements;

searching the searchable database for relevant database records;

associating the relevant database records with their respective discrete finite elements;

selecting a multi-tiered hierarchy for displaying identifying phrases pertaining to the respective discrete finite elements of the relevant database records;

ordering the respective discrete finite elements of the relevant database records in at least one tier of the multi-tiered hierarchy according, at least in part, to the categorical designation in the categorical tag created for each of the discrete finite elements;

displaying the identifying phrases pertaining to the respective discrete finite elements of the relevant database records according to the results of the ordering step.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein the categorical designation is based upon a categorical reference system analogous to the Dewey decimal system.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein:

each searchable database record includes string frequency data pertaining to a frequency of certain strings contained in the corresponding finite element; and

the method further includes the step of ordering the respective discrete finite elements of the relevant database records in at least another tier of the multi-tiered hierarchy according, at least in part, to the string frequency data for the relevant, discrete finite elements.

6. The method of claim 3 wherein the categorical tag further includes at least one information item taken from a group consisting of location data pertaining to a location of the discrete finite element with respect to the informational resource, organization data pertaining to the placement of the discrete finite element within an organizational framework of the informational resource, author data, owner data, and timing data.

7. The method of claim 3 wherein said breaking apart step includes breaking said informational resource into a plurality of discrete finite elements while tracking the position of each finite elements relative to other finite elements of said informational resource.

8. The method of claim 3 wherein said multi-tiered hierarchy of said selecting step is a collapsible/expandable hierarchal structure which can be collapsed/expanded as desired by an end user.

9. The data storage device of claim 3 wherein the software instructions are configured to supply a hierarchal selection along with said search query.

10. A method for retrieving information from an informational resource comprising the steps of:

breaking apart the informational resource into a plurality of discrete finite elements;

creating a categorical tag for each of the plurality of discrete finite elements, the categorical tag including a categorical designation pertaining to informational content contained in the discrete finite element;

generating a searchable database including a searchable database record for each of the discrete finite elements;

searching the searchable database for relevant database records;

associating the relevant database records with their respective discrete finite elements;

selecting a multi-tiered hierarchy for displaying identifying phrases pertaining to the respective discrete finite elements of the relevant database records;

ordering the respective discrete finite elements of the relevant database records in at least one tier of the multi-tiered hierarchy according, at least in part, to the categorical designation in the categorical tag created for each of the discrete finite elements;

displaying the identifying phrases pertaining to the respective discrete finite elements of the relevant database records according to the results of the ordering step;

selecting one of the displayed identifying phrases;

accessing the respective discrete finite element corresponding to the selected identifying phrase; and

reconstructing a contiguous portion of the informational resource around the accessed discrete finite element by combining other discrete finite elements with the accessed discrete finite element.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the reconstructing step includes the steps of:

reviewing the categorical tag assigned to the accessed discrete finite element for data corresponding to the location of the accessed discrete finite element with respect to the informational resource;

based upon the data corresponding to the location of the accessed discrete finite element, determining the contiguous portion of the information resource to reconstruct; and

retrieving other discrete finite elements belonging in the contiguous portion of the informational resource.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the retrieving step involves the step of reviewing the categorical tags assigned to the other discrete finite elements to determine if the other discrete finite elements belong in the contiguous portion of the informational resource.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the reconstructing step further includes the step of assembling the accessed discrete finite element and the retrieved discrete finite elements together based upon ordering and locational data contained in each categorical tag of the accessed and retrieved discrete finite elements.

14. A computerized system for retrieving information from an informational resource, comprising:

a break module, adapted to break the informational resource into a plurality of finite elements and to create a categorical tag for each of the finite elements;

an index module, adapted to create a searchable database having a plurality of database records, each database record corresponding to a respective one of the finite elements and including at least a portion of data contained in the finite element; and

a search module, adapted to compare a search query with each of the database records and determine which, if any, of the database records are relevant database records;

wherein the search module is further adapted to display search results in a multi-tiered, collapsible/expandable structure according to information in the categorical tags created for each of the relevant database records.

15. The computerized system of claim 14, wherein:

the break module includes an expert system operating upon a first set of expert rules; and

the index module includes an expert system operating upon a second set of expert rules.

16. The system of claim 14 wherein said break module is adapted to break the informational resource into a plurality of finite elements while tracking the position of each finite elements relative to other finite elements of said informational resource.

17. A computerized system for retrieving information from an informational resource, comprising:

a break module, adapted to break the informational resource into a plurality of finite elements and to create a categorical tag for each of the finite elements;

an index module, adapted to create a searchable database having a plurality of database records, each database record corresponding to a respective one of the finite elements and including at least a portion of data contained in the finite element; and

a search module, adapted to compare a search query with each of the database records and determine which, if any, of the database records are relevant database records;

wherein the search module is further adapted to display search results in a multi-tiered, collapsible/expandable structure according to information in the categorical tags created for each of the relevant database records, wherein at least one of the first and second rule sets is recursively tuned by an expert having expert knowledge regarding content and structure of the informational resource.

18. A method for retrieving information from a dynamic data stream comprising the steps of:

(a) receiving the dynamic data stream;

(b) dividing the dynamic data stream into a plurality of finite elements, continuously, as the dynamic data stream is received;

(c) assigning a categorical tag to each of the plurality of finite elements, the categorical tag including data pertaining to a content of the finite element;

(d) generating a searchable database record for each of the plurality of finite elements, each searchable database record including at least one string contained within the finite element;

(e) supplying a search query;

(f) searching the searchable database for searchable database records matching the search query so as to provide search results;

(g) arranging the results of the searching step in a hierarchal structure according to the information in the categorical tags assigned to the finite elements corresponding to the searchable database records found in the searching step; and

(h) displaying the results of the searching step in the hierarchal structure.

19. The method of claim 18 wherein said dividing step includes tracking the position of each finite element relative to other finite elements of said data stream.

20. The method of claim 18 wherein said hierarchal structure of said arranging step is a collapsible/expandable hierarchal structure which can be collapsed/expanded as desired by an end user.

21. A method for retrieving a Web page from a plurality of Web pages present on the Internet and for viewing the Web page comprising the steps of:

(a) assigning a categorical tag to each of the plurality of Web pages, the categorical tag including data pertaining to a content of the Web page;

(b) generating a searchable database record for each of the plurality of Web pages, each searchable database record including at least one word or phrase contained within the Web page and including the categorical tag assigned to the Web page;

(c) supplying a search word or phrase;

(d) searching the searchable database for searchable database records containing the search word or phrase;

(e) arranging the results of the searching step in a hierarchal structure according, at least in part, to the information in the categorical tags included in the searchable database records found in the searching step; and

(f) displaying the results of the searching step in the hierarchal structure.

22. The method of claim 21, further comprising the step of:

reviewing each of the Web pages for an embedded categorical tag contained within the Web page; and

responsive to finding an embedded categorical tag in the Web page, inserting a copy of the categorical tag within the database record generated for the Web page.

23. The method of claim 22, further comprising the step of, responsive to finding an embedded categorical tag in the Web page, reviewing the content of the Web page and comparing content data contained in the categorical tag against the content of the Web page.

24. The method of claim 23, further comprising the step of, responsive to a determination that content data contained in the categorical tag does not match the content of the Web page, generating a new categorical tag for the Web page and inserting the new categorical tag within the database record generated for the Web page.

25. The method of claim 21 wherein said hierarchal structure of said arranging step is a collapsible/expandable hierarchal structure which can be collapsed/expanded as desired by an end user.

26. A method for retrieving a Web page from a plurality of Web pages present on the Internet and for viewing the Web page comprising the steps of:

(a) assigning a categorical tag to each of the plurality of Web pages, the categorical tag including data pertaining to a content of the Web page;

(b) generating a searchable database record for each of the plurality of Web pages, each searchable database record including at least one word or phrase contained within the Web page and including the categorical tag assigned to the Web page;

(c) supplying a search word or phrase;

(d) searching the searchable database for searchable database records containing the search word or phrase;

(e) arranging the results of the searching step in a hierarchal structure according, at least in part, to the information in the categorical tags included in the searchable database records found in the searching step;

(f) displaying the results of the searching step in the hierarchal structure, wherein the assigning step is performed by an expert system according to a rule set; and

the method further comprises the steps of;

(g) modifying the rule set, responsive to viewing, by an expert having expert knowledge regarding structure of the Web page, unsatisfactory results in the displaying step (f); and

(h) repeating steps (a) through (g) until the expert views satisfactory results in the displaying step (f).

27. A data storage device comprising:

an informational resource divided into a plurality of finite elements, each of the finite elements including a categorical tag and a database record assigned thereto, the categorical tag including at least one information item taken from a group consisting of content data pertaining to the content of the finite element, location data pertaining to a location of the finite element with respect to the informational resource, organization data pertaining to the placement of the finite element within an organizational framework of the informational resource, author data, owner data, and timing data; and

software instructions programmed to direct retrieval and display of at least a portion of the informational resource, the software instructions being configured to perform the steps of;

supplying a search query,

searching through the database records for relevant database records matching the search query;

arranging the results of the searching step in a hierarchal structure according, at least in part, to the information in the categorical tags assigned to the finite elements corresponding to the relevant database records; and

displaying identifying phrases for the finite elements corresponding to the relevant database records in the hierarchal structure

wherein each categorical tag is generated by an expert system having a rule set that has been recursively tuned by an expert having expert knowledge regarding content and structure of the informational resource.

28. A method for retrieving and displaying information from at least one informational resource comprising the steps of:

breaking apart the at least one informational resource into a plurality of discrete finite elements;

creating a categorical tag for each of the plurality of discrete finite elements, the categorical tag including a categorical designation pertaining to informational content contained in the discrete finite element;

generating a searchable database including a searchable database record for each of the discrete finite elements;

receiving a search query;

searching the searchable database for relevant database records that correspond to the search query;

associating the relevant database records with their respective discrete finite elements;

displaying identifying phrases pertaining to the respective discrete finite elements of the relevant database records produced during the associating step;

receiving an input selecting one of the displayed identifying phrases;

reconstructing a contiguous portion of the informational resource around the selected discrete finite element by combining other discrete finite elements with the selected discrete finite element; and

displaying said reconstructed contiguous portion.

29. The method of claim 28 wherein said second displaying step includes displaying a reconstructed contiguous portion of a first informational resource while simultaneously displaying a reconstructed contiguous portion of a second informational resource.

30. A method for retrieving information from an informational resource comprising the steps of:

breaking apart the informational resource into a plurality of discrete finite elements;

creating a categorical tag for each discrete finite element, the categorical tag including information pertaining to the location of the discrete finite element relative to other discrete finite elements of the informational resource;

generating a searchable database including a searchable database record for each of the discrete finite elements;

receiving a search query;

searching the searchable database for relevant database records that correspond to the search query; and

displaying identifying phrases pertaining to the respective discrete finite elements of the relevant database records produced during said searching step.

31. The method of claim 30 further comprising the steps of receiving an input selecting one of the displayed identifying phrases, and displaying the contents of the finite element that correspond to the selected displayed identifying phrase.

32. The method of claim 30 wherein said second displaying step includes displaying the contents of a finite element of a first informational resource while simultaneously displaying the contents of a finite element of a second informational resource.