File or database manager systems based on a fractal hierarchical index structure

• US 6,792,418 B1
• Filed: 03/29/2000
• Issued: 09/14/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 03/29/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Klenk, Juergen, Binnig, Gerd K., Bloechl, Peter
• Primary Examiner(s): Rones, Charles
• Application Number:
  US09/537,780
• Time in Patent Office: 1,630 Days
• Field of Search: 707/2, 707/3, 707/100, 707/200, 707/252, 707/526, 706/20, 706/15, 704/1
• US Class Current: 707/696
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/3344 using natural language analysis
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/917 Text
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/956 Hierarchical
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/959 Network
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99932 Access augmentation or optimizing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99933 Query processing, i.e. searching

Abstract

Database system (10) which comprises a fractal hierarchical index database (13), and a processing unit (19). The processing unit (19) is employed to evaluate an input string (12) describing an element (E1) that is to be added to the database system (10) in order to obtain an input network (18) comprising a semantical unit (SU1) representing the element (E1). Then the processing unit (19) updates the index database (13). Finally, either an existing access pointer (22) is maintained, or a new access pointer (22) is created between the element (E1) and the semantical unit (SU1) representing the element (E1) thereby rendering the element (E1) in the database system (10) accessible or retrievable.

Claims

1. A method for adding an element to a database system having an index database, said method comprising:

evaluating an input string describing said element to obtain an input network that includes a semantical unit representing said element;

updating said index database, wherein said index database has a fractal hierarchical structure; and

maintaining an existing access pointer or creating a new access pointer between said element and said semantical unit, thereby rendering said element in said database system accessible or retrievable.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said updating of said index database comprises relating said semantical unit to a semantical unit of said index database.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said updating of said index database comprises adding said semantical unit or said input network to said index database.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said input network has a fractal hierarchical structure.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said access pointer describes a physical or logical location where said element is stored in said database system.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein said element is added logically to said database system by updating said index database with said semantical unit.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein said element is a file and said database system is a file repository or file directory, or wherein said element is a database element and said database system is a database with multiple database elements, or wherein said element is a database and said database system is a database of databases.

8. The method of claim 4, wherein said semantical unit of said input network and said semantical unit of said index database are similar across hierarchies.

9. The method of claim 4, wherein said input string is automatically derived from a content of said element.

10. The method of claim 4, wherein said database system further comprises a knowledge database that has a fractal hierarchical structure and that is consulted in obtaining said input network.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein said input network comprises a semantical unit provided in said knowledge database or in said index database that is deemed to be related to said element.

12. A method for acting upon an element kept in a database system having an index database, said method comprising:

receiving an input string describing said element;

evaluating said input string to obtain an input network defining a local network within said index database to which said input string is deemed to be related such that said local network includes a semantical unit representing said element, wherein said index database has a fractal hierarchical structure;

displaying said semantical unit to a user; and

acting upon said element by using an access pointer that is associated with said semantical unit.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein said element is accessed, retrieved, opened, displayed, or read back by acting upon said element.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein said element is acted upon using a computer mouse, a key on a computer keyboard, or a combination of keys on a computer keyboard.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein said database system also includes a knowledge database that has a fractal hierarchical structure and that is consulted in obtaining said input network.

16. The method of claim 12, wherein said input string includes keywords.

17. The method of claim 12, wherein said input string is textual information.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein said database system also includes a knowledge database that has a fractal hierarchical structure, and wherein said textual information is evaluated by consulting said knowledge database.

19. The method of claim 12, wherein said local network is defined within said index database by taking into account said input network.

20. The method of claim 12, wherein said local network within said index database is defined so as to comprise semantical units representing elements that are in a logical neighborhood.

21. The method of claim 12, wherein said local network within said index database is defined such that associated semantical units are included.

22. A method for the generation of an index database when adding a first element to a database system, said method comprising:

evaluating an input string describing said first element to obtain an input network that includes a semantical unit representing said first element;

creating said index database by identifying it with said input network, wherein said index database has a fractal hierarchical structure; and

maintaining an existing access pointer or creating a new access pointer between said first element and said semantical unit, thereby rendering said first element in said database system accessible or retrievable.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein said input network has a fractal hierarchical structure.

24. The method of claim 22, wherein said access pointer describes a physical or logical location where said first element is stored in said database system.

25. The method of claim 22, wherein said first element is a file and said database system is a file repository or file directory, or wherein said first element is a database element and said database system is a database with multiple database elements, or wherein said first element is a database, and said database system is a database of databases.

26. A method for updating an index database for use in connection with a database system , said method comprising:

comparing a plurality of semantical units of said index database to (a) a plurality of semantical units in a knowledge database and (b) a plurality of neighborhoods in said knowledge database, wherein said index database and said knowledge database have a fractal hierarchical structure, wherein said plurality of semantical units in said knowledge data base are counterparts of said plurality of semantical units in said index database, and wherein said plurality of neighborhoods are neighborhoods of said counterparts;

updating said index database by adding a semantical unit from said knowledge database, or

updating said index database by deleting a member of said plurality of said semantical units of said index database that does not refer to an element in said database system.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein said semantical unit from said knowledge database to be added to said index database appears in said neighborhood, but is not yet present in said index database.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein said neighborhood is determined by using a threshold and semantical distance function.

29. The method of claim 26, wherein said member of said plurality of semantical units to be deleted from said index database does not appear in said neighborhood, but is present in said index database.

30. A computer program product comprising:

a computer readable medium having computer program code thereon to make a database system that includes an index database that has a fractal hierarchical structure, and to execute a procedure to;

evaluate an input string describing an element that is to be added to said database system to obtain an input network that includes a semantical unit representing said element;

update said index database; and

Ad maintain an existing access pointer or create a new access pointer between said element and said semantical unit, thereby rendering said element in said database system accessible or retrievable.

31. A computer program element comprising:

computer program code to make a database system that includes an index database that has a fractal hierarchical structure, and to execute a procedure to;

evaluate an input string describing an element that is to be added to said database system to obtain an input network that includes a semantical unit representing said element;

update said index database; and

maintain an existing access pointer or create a new access pointer between said element and said semantical unit, thereby rendering said element in said database system accessible or retrievable.

32. The computer program element of claim 31, wherein said index database includes a plurality of semantical units, and wherein said updating of said index database is done by relating said semantical unit of said input network to a member of said plurality of semantical units of said index database.

33. The computer program element of claim 31, wherein said updating of said index database is done by adding said semantical unit or said input network to said index database.

34. The computer program element of claim 31, wherein said access pointer describes a physical or logical location where said element is stored in said database system.

35. The computer program element of claim 31, wherein said input string is automatically derived from a content of said element.

36. The computer program element of claim 31, wherein said database system further includes a knowledge database that has a fractal hierarchical structure and that is consulted in obtaining said input network.

37. A computer program product comprising:

a computer readable medium having computer program code thereon to make a database system that includes an index database that has a fractal hierarchical structure, and to execute a procedure to;

receive an input string describing an element of said database system that is to be acted upon;

evaluate said input string to obtain an input network defining a local network within said index database to which said input string is deemed to be related such that said local network includes a semantical unit representing said element;

display said semantical unit to a user; and

act upon said element by using an access pointer that is associated with said semantical unit.

38. A computer program element comprising:

computer program code to make a database system that includes an index database that has a fractal hierarchical structure, and to execute a procedure to;

receive an input string describing an element of said database system that is to be acted upon;

evaluate said input string to obtain an input network defining a local network within said index database to which said input string is deemed to be related such that said local network includes a semantical unit representing said element;

display said semantical unit to a user; and

act upon said element by using an access pointer that is associated with said semantical unit.

39. The computer program element of claim 38, wherein said element is accessed, retrieved, opened, displayed, or read back by acting upon said element.

40. A computer program product for generation of an index database when a first element is to be added, for use in connection with a database system, said computer program product comprising:

a computer readable medium, having computer program code thereon to make said database system, and to execute a procedure to;

evaluate an input string describing said first element to obtain an input network that includes a semantical unit representing said first element;

create a fractal hierarchical index database by identifying said first element with said input network; and

maintain an existing access pointer or create a new access pointer between said first element and said semantical unit, thereby rendering said first element in said database system accessible or retrievable.

41. A computer program element for generation of an index database when a first element is to be added, for use in connection with a database system, said computer program element comprising:

computer program code to make said database system and to execute a procedure to;

evaluate an input string describing said first element to obtain an input network that includes a semantical unit representing said first element;

create said index database by identifying said first element with said input network, wherein said index database has a fractal hierarchical structure; and

maintain an existing access pointer or create a new access pointer between said first element and said semantical unit, thereby rendering said first element in said database system accessible or retrievable.

42. A computer program product for updating an index database for use in connection with a database system, said computer program product comprising:

a computer readable medium, having computer program code thereon to make said database system, and to execute a procedure to;

compare a plurality of semantical units of said index database to (a) a plurality of semantical units in a knowledge database and (b) a plurality of neighborhoods in said knowledge database, wherein said index database and said knowledge database have a fractal hierarchical structure, wherein said plurality of semantical units in said knowledge data base are counterparts of said plurality of semantical units in said index database, and wherein said plurality of neighborhoods are neighborhoods of said counterparts;

update said index database by adding a member of said plurality of semantical units from said knowledge database, or

update said index database by deleting a member of said plurality of said semantical units of said index database that does not refer to an element in said database system.

43. A computer program element for updating an index database for use in connection with a database system, said computer program element comprising:

computer program code to make said database system and to execute a procedure to;

compare a plurality of semantical units of said index database to (a) a plurality of semantical units in a knowledge database and (b) a plurality of neighborhoods in said knowledge database, wherein said index database and said knowledge database have a fractal hierarchical structure, wherein said plurality of semantical units in said knowledge data base are counterparts of said plurality of semantical units in said index database, and wherein said plurality of neighborhoods are neighborhoods of said counterparts;

update said index database by adding a member of said plurality semantical units from said knowledge database, or

update said index database by deleting a member of said plurality of said semantical units of said index database that does not refer to an element in said database system.

44. A database system comprising:

a fractal hierarchical index database, and

a processing unit for;

evaluating an input string describing an element that is to be added to said database system to obtain an input network that includes a semantical unit representing said element;

updating said index database; and

maintaining an existing access pointer or creating a new access pointer between said element and said semantical unit representing said element, thereby rendering said element in said database system accessible or retrievable.

45. A database system comprising:

a fractal hierarchical index database, and

a processing unit for;

receiving an input string describing an element in said database system that is to be acted upon;

evaluating said input string to obtain an input network defining a local network within said index database to which said input string is deemed to be related such that said local network includes a semantical unit representing said element;

displaying said semantical unit to a user; and

acting upon said element by using an access pointer that is associated with said semantical unit.

46. A database system comprising:

a processing unit for;

evaluating an input string describing a first element that is to be added to said database system to obtain an input network that includes a semantical unit representing said first element;

creating a fractal hierarchical index database by identifying said first element with said input network; and

maintaining an existing access pointer or creating a new access pointer between said first element and said semantical unit, thereby rendering said first element in said database system accessible or retrievable.

47. A database system comprising:

a fractal hierarchical knowledge database;

a fractal hierarchical index database, wherein said index database includes a plurality of semantical units, and wherein said knowledge database includes a plurality of semantical units that are counterparts of said semantical units in said index database and a plurality of neighborhoods of said counterpart semantical units; and

a processing unit for;

comparing said semantical units of said index database to said counterpart semantical units and said counterpart neighborhoods in said knowledge database;

updating said index database by adding a semantical unit from said knowledge database, or

updating said index database by deleting a member of said plurality of semantical units of said index database that does not refer to an element in said database system.