System and method to implement an integrated search center supporting a full-text search and query on a database

• US 6,728,702 B1
• Filed: 06/18/2001
• Issued: 04/27/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 06/18/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Oracle America, Inc. (Oracle Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Siebel Systems Inc. (Oracle Corporation)
• Inventors: Subramaniam, Pavitra, Ying, Jian-Jung, Zoss, Jason, Caltabiano, Marc, Malden, Matthew S.
• Primary Examiner(s): LE, UYEN T
• Application Number:
  US09/883,765
• Time in Patent Office: 1,044 Days
• Field of Search: 707/1-5, 707/10, 707/104.1, 707/9, 345/700, 345/810, 345/843
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/34 Browsing; Visualisation therefor
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99933 Query processing, i.e. searching
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99939 Privileged access

Abstract

According to one aspect of the present invention, a method includes displaying a search tool bar including a search icon. The method also includes displaying a search center pane after a user selects the search icon, wherein the search center pane includes a search frame. The method further includes selecting a search category from a dropdown list of search categories in the search frame. In addition, the method includes entering a search keyword. Furthermore, the method includes searching a database for data records matching the search category and the search keyword.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

displaying a search tool bar including a search icon;

displaying a search center pane after a user selects the search icon, the search center pane including a search frame;

selecting a search category from a plurality of search categories based on user input provided via the search frame;

receiving a search keyword specified by the user;

selecting a search index specifying one or more documents for which the search index was created;

applying access control visibility rules to the search index; and

performing, using the search index, a full-text search on the one or more documents for data records matching the search category and the search keyword.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

selecting a search index specifying a database; and

searching the database for data records from the search index that matches the search category and the search keyword.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

providing a results frame in the search center pane; and

displaying a list of data records from the search index that matches the search category and the search keyword.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising:

providing a content area frame in the search center pane for viewing content of a data record selected from the list of data records displayed in the results frame.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

providing a results frame in the search center pane; and

displaying a list of data records from the one or more documents that matches the search category and the search keyword.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising:

providing a content area frame in the search center pane for viewing content of a data record selected from the list of data records displayed in the results frame.

7. A method, comprising:

displaying a search tool bar including a search icon;

displaying a search center pane after a user selects the search icon, the search center pane including a search frame and a results frame;

selecting a search category from a plurality of search categories based on user input provided via the search frame;

receiving a search keyword specified by the user,

selecting a search index specifying one or more documents for which the search index was created;

applying access control visibility rules to the search index;

performing, using the search index, a full-text search on one or more documents data records matching the search category and the search keyword; and

displaying in the results frame a list of data records from the one or more documents that matches the search category and the search keyword.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

providing a content area in the search frame;

selecting a data record from the list of data records displayed in the results frame; and

displaying content of the data record selected from the list of data records displayed in the results frame.

9. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

selecting a search index specifying a database; and

searching the database for data records from the search index that matches the search category and the search keyword.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

displaying a list of data records from the search index that matches the search category and the search keyword.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

providing a content area in the search frame;

selecting a data record from the list of data records displayed in the results frame; and

displaying content of the data record selected from the list of data records displayed in the results frame.

12. A machine-readable medium comprising instructions which, when executed by a machine, cause the machine to perform operations comprising:

displaying a search tool bar including a search icon;

displaying a search center pane after a user selects the search icon, the search center pane including a search frame;

selecting a search category from a plurality of search categories based on user input provided via the search frame;

receiving a search keyword specified by the user;

selecting a search index specifying one or more documents for which the search index was created;

applying access control visibility rules to the search index; and

performing using the search index, a full-text search on the one or more documents for data records matching the search category and the search keyword.

13. The machine-readable medium of claim 12, wherein the instructions further cause the machine to perform operations comprising:

selecting a search index specifying a database; and

searching the database for data records from the search index that matches the search category and the search keyword.

14. The machine-readable medium of claim 13, wherein the instructions further cause the machine to perform operations comprising:

providing a results frame in the search center pane; and

displaying a list of data records from the search index that matches the search category and the search keyword.

15. The machine-readable medium of claim 14, wherein the instructions further cause the machine to perform operations comprising:

providing a content area frame in the search center pane for viewing content of a data record selected from the list of data records displayed in the results frame.

16. The machine-readable medium of claim 12, wherein the instructions further cause the machine to perform operations comprising:

providing a results frame in the search center pane; and

displaying a list of data records in the one or more documents that matches the search category and the search keyword.

17. The machine-readable medium of claim 16, wherein the instructions further cause the machine to perform operations comprising:

providing a content area frame in the search center pane for viewing content of a data record selected from the list of data records displayed in the results frame.

18. A system comprising:

means for displaying a search tool bar including a search icon;

means for displaying a search center pane after a user selects the search icon, the search center pane including a search frame;

means for selecting a search category from a plurality of search categories based on user input provided via the search frame;

means for receiving a search keyword specified by the user;

means for selecting a search index specifying one or more documents for which the search index was created;

means for applying access control visibility rules to the search index; and

means for performing, using the search index, a full-text search on the one or more documents for data records matching the search category and the search keyword.