Method and apparatus for applying a parametric search methodology to a directory tree database format

• US 7,305,399 B2
• Filed: 03/06/2001
• Issued: 12/04/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 03/09/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Byteweavr, LLC (Ascend Innovation Management, LLC)
• Original Assignee: Web Access Incorporated
• Inventors: Keith, Jr., Robert Olan
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, CAM LINH T
• Application Number:
  US09/800,607
• Publication Number:
  US 20010025304A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,464 Days
• Field of Search: 707 1- 6, 707100-102
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/2246 Trees, e.g. B+trees
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/951 Indexing; Web crawling techniques
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/917 Text
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/92 Navigation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/955 Object-oriented
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/956 Hierarchical
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/959 Network
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/966 Distributed
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/971 Federated
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99931 Database or file accessing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99933 Query processing, i.e. searching
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99942 Manipulating data structure, e.g. compression, compaction, compilation

Abstract

A method of and apparatus for applying a parametric search methodology to a searchable database formatted in a directory tree structure. The directory tree structure includes nodes comprising a collection of related data and branches comprising links between the nodes. Each specific node provides a corresponding set of parameters by which each related item of data corresponding to the specific node is defined by initializing the value of each parameter for each related data. The method accesses a particular node within the directory tree structure and performs a parametric search using one or more set search parameters corresponding to the specific node to generate one or more matching discrete data items, wherein each matching item corresponds to related data of the particular node. The parameters can be customizable and specific to the specific node. The method can also include accessing a particular node utilizing a selective one or more search methodologies including keyword search, hierarchical search, and dichotomous key search.

Claims

1. A method of accessing information within a directory tree structure comprising the steps of:

a. formatting a searchable database into the directory tree structure, wherein the directory tree structure includes nodes comprising a collection of related data and branches comprising links between the nodes, further wherein each specific node provides a corresponding set of parameters by which each related item of data corresponding to the specific node is defined by setting each parameter with a corresponding value associated with the data item, thereby forming a set parameter;

b. accessing a particular node within the directory tree structure utilizing a research module including keyword search, hierarchical search, and dichotomous key search, wherein when accessing each of the nodes within the directory tree structure utilizing the research module, each of the keyword search, hierarchical search, and dichotomous key search, are available at any location, including at any displayed page, within the searchable database, wherein the keyword search, the hierarchical search and the dichotomous key search are available at any displayed page within the searchable database without requiring user input;

c. setting one or more search parameters corresponding to the set of parameters of the particular node; and

d. performing a parametric search from any node within the directory tree structure using the one or more set search parameters corresponding to the particular node to match the one or more search parameters to the set parameters for each item of data corresponding to the particular node, thereby generating one or more matching discrete data items.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the parameters are customizable and specific to the particular node.

3. The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein when the keyword search is utilized, the search criteria is one or more keywords input by a user.

4. The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein when the hierarchical search is utilized, the search criteria is a selected one of a list of one or more directory items.

5. The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein when the dichotomous key search is utilized, the search criteria is a selected one of two binary items.

6. The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the searchable database is distributed into more than one physical location.

7. The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the steps of accessing a particular node, setting the search parameters, performing a parametric search are performed by a server.

8. The method as claimed in claim 7 further comprising the step of establishing an internet connection with the server to perform one or more searches and utilize the parametric search.

9. The method as claimed in claim 1 further comprising the step of maintaining the node by appropriately adding and deleting data to and from the node.

10. The method as claimed in claim 9 wherein the step of maintaining the node is performed by a node owner who maintains the corresponding node and all nodes that are linked beneath the corresponding node within the directory tree structure.

11. A research system for accessing information within a directory tree structure comprising:

a. means for formatting a searchable database into the directory tree structure, wherein the directory tree structure includes nodes comprising a collection of related data and branches comprising links between the nodes, further wherein each specific node provides a corresponding set of parameters by which each related item of data corresponding to the specific node is defined by setting each parameter with a corresponding value associated with the data item, thereby forming a set parameter;

b. means for accessing a particular node within the directory tree structure utilizing a research module including keyword search, hierarchical search, and dichotomous key search, wherein when accessing each of the nodes within the directory tree structure utilizing the research module, each of the keyword search, hierarchical search, and dichotomous key search, are available at any location, including at any displayed page, within the searchable database, wherein the keyword search, the hierarchical search and the dichotomous key search are available at any displayed page within the searchable database without requiring user input;

c. means for setting one or more search parameters corresponding to the set of parameters of the particular node; and

d. means for performing a parametric search from any node within the directory tree structure using the one or more set search parameters corresponding to the particular node to match the one or more search parameters to the set parameters for each item of data corresponding to the particular node, thereby generating one or more matching discrete data items.

12. The research system as claimed in claim 11 wherein the parameters are customizable and specific to the particular node.

13. The research system as claimed in claim 11 wherein when the keyword search is utilized, the search criteria is one or more keywords input by a user.

14. The research system as claimed in claim 11 wherein when the hierarchical search is utilized, the search criteria is a selected one of a list of one or more directory items.

15. The research system as claimed in claim 11 wherein when the dichotomous key search is utilized, the search criteria is a selected one of two binary items.

16. The research system as claimed in claim 11 wherein the searchable database is distributed into more than one physical location.

17. The research system as claimed in claim 11 wherein the means for accessing a particular node, setting the search parameters, and performing a parametric search are performed by a server.

18. The research system as claimed in claim 17 further comprising means for establishing an internet connection with the server to perform one or more searches and utilize the parametric search.

19. The research system as claimed in claim 11 further comprising means for maintaining the node by appropriately adding and deleting data to and from the node.

20. The research system as claimed in claim 19 wherein the means for maintaining the node is performed by a node owner who maintains the corresponding node and all nodes that are linked beneath the corresponding node within the directory tree structure.

21. A research system for accessing information within a directory tree structure comprising a research server configured to format a searchable database into the directory tree structure, wherein the directory tree structure includes nodes comprising a collection of related data and branches comprising links between the nodes, further wherein each specific node provides a corresponding set of parameters by which each related item of data corresponding to the specific node is defined by setting each parameter with a corresponding value associated with the data item, thereby forming a set parameter, to access a particular node within the directory tree structure utilizing a research module including keyword search, hierarchical search, and dichotomous key search, wherein when accessing each of the nodes within the directory tree structure utilizing the research module, each of the keyword search, hierarchical search, and dichotomous key search, are available at any location, including at any displayed page, within the searchable database, wherein the keyword search, the hierarchical search and the dichotomous key search are available at any displayed page within the searchable database without requiring user input, to set one or more search parameters corresponding to the set of parameters of the particular node, and to perform a parametric search from any node within the directory tree structure using the one or more set search parameters corresponding to the particular node to match the one or more search parameters to the set parameters for each item of data corresponding to the particular node, thereby generating one or more matching discrete data items.

22. The research system as claimed in claim 21 wherein the parameters are customizable and specific to the particular node.

23. The research system as claimed in claim 21 wherein when the keyword search is utilized, the search criteria is one or more keywords input by a user.

24. The research system as claimed in claim 21 wherein when the hierarchical search is utilized, the search criteria is a selected one of a list of one or more directory items.

25. The research system as claimed in claim 21 wherein when the dichotomous key search is utilized, the search criteria is a selected one of two binary items.

26. The research system as claimed in claim 21 wherein the searchable database is distributed into more than one physical location.

27. The research system as claimed in claim 21 further comprising an interface circuit coupled to the research server to establish a connection with a computer system.

28. The research system as claimed in claim 27 wherein the connection is established with the computer system at a remote location from the interface circuit.

29. The research system as claimed in claim 28 wherein the connection is established with the remote computer system and the interface circuit over the internet to allow users to access the research system, to access the particular node, to set the search parameters, and to perform the parametric search.

30. The research system as claimed in claim 21 further comprising a node owner for maintaining the node by appropriately adding and deleting related data to and from the node.

31. The research system as claimed in claim 30 wherein the node owner maintains the corresponding node and all nodes that are linked beneath the corresponding node within the directory tree structure.

32. A network of devices for accessing information within a directory tree structure comprising:

a. one or more computer systems configured to establish a connection with other systems; and

b. a research server coupled to the one or more computer systems to format a searchable database into the directory tree structure, wherein the directory tree structure includes nodes comprising a collection of related data and branches comprising links between the nodes, further wherein each specific node provides a corresponding set of parameters by which each related item of data corresponding to the specific node is defined by setting each parameter with a corresponding value associated with the data item, thereby forming a set parameter, to access a particular node within the directory tree structure utilizing a research module including keyword search, hierarchical search, and dichotomous key search, wherein when accessing each of the nodes within the directory tree structure utilizing the research module, each of the keyword search, hierarchical search, and dichotomous key search, are available at any location, including at any displayed page, within the searchable database, wherein the keyword search, the hierarchical search and the dichotomous key search are available at any displayed page within the searchable database without requiring user input, to set one or more search parameters corresponding to the set of parameters of the particular node, and to perform a parametric search from any node within the directory tree structure using the one or more set search parameters corresponding to the particular node to match the one or more search parameters to the set parameters for each item of data corresponding to the particular node, thereby generating one or more matching discrete data items.

33. The network of devices as claimed in claim 32 wherein the parameters are customizable and specific to the particular node.

34. The network of devices as claimed in claim 33 wherein when the keyword search is utilized, the search criteria is one or more keywords input by a user.

35. The network of devices as claimed in claim 33 wherein when the hierarchical search is utilized, the search criteria is a selected one of a list of one or more directory items.

36. The network of devices as claimed in claim 33 wherein when the dichotomous key search is utilized, the search criteria is a selected one of two binary items.

37. The network of devices as claimed in claim 32 wherein the searchable database is distributed into more than one physical location.

38. The network of devices as claimed in claim 32 wherein the one or more computer systems and the research server are coupled together over the internet to allow users to access the research system, to access the particular node, to set the search parameters, and to perform the parametric search.

39. The network of devices as claimed in claim 32 further comprising a node owner for maintaining the node by appropriately adding and deleting related data to and from the node.

40. The network of devices as claimed in claim 39 wherein the node owner maintains the corresponding node and all nodes that are linked beneath the corresponding node within the directory tree structure.

41. A method of accessing information within a directory tree structure comprising the steps of:

a. formatting a searchable database into the directory tree structure, wherein the directory tree structure includes nodes comprising a collection of related data and branches comprising links between the nodes, further wherein each specific node provides a corresponding set of parameters by which each related item of data corresponding to the specific node is defined by setting each parameter with a corresponding value associated with the data item, thereby forming a set parameter;

b. accessing a particular node within the directory tree structure utilizing a research module, the research module includes a keyword search, a hierarchical search, a dichotomous key search, and a parametric search, wherein each utilization of the research module includes availability of the keyword search, the hierarchical search, the dichotomous key search, and the parametric search at any location, including at any displayed page, within the searchable database, wherein the keyword search, the hierarchical search, the dichotomous key search, and the parametric search are available at any displayed page within the searchable database without requiring user input;

c. setting one or more search parameters corresponding to the set of parameters of the particular node; and

d. performing a parametric search from any node within the directory tree structure using the one or more set search parameters corresponding to the particular node to match the one or more search parameters to the set parameters for each item of data corresponding to the particular node, thereby generating one or more matching discrete data items.