Document search methods and systems

• US 7,324,998 B2
• Filed: 03/18/2004
• Issued: 01/29/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 03/18/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: First American Financial Corporation
• Original Assignee: ZD Acquisition LLC
• Inventors: Hayes, Bradford L., Diesch, Michael W., Beres, Timothy E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee; Wilson
• Assistant Examiner(s): Le; Michael
• Application Number:
  US10/804,468
• Publication Number:
  US 20050210007A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,412 Days
• Field of Search: 707 1- 3, 707/5, 707/10
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/24 Querying
• 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

Abstract

Methods and systems are disclosed for retrieving records. In one embodiment, the method comprises obtaining a starting record from a data set, obtaining a value associated with a first attribute of the starting record and executing at least one search for additional records in the data set associated with the value. The additional records are added to a result set. One of the records in the result set is selected and a value associated with a second attribute of the record is obtained. A second search for second additional records in the data set associated with the second value is executed. The second additional records are added to the result set. The records in the result set are outputted.

Claims

1. A method of conducting a search of recorded property records, comprising:

from a user input that identifies a parcel, selecting a starting record from among a plurality of recorded property records comprised by a data set, each recorded property record having one or more attributes associated therewith, and wherein each attribute has a value;

using a location attribute value from the starting record to search the data set to identify first additional records from the data set, each first additional record having the location attribute value;

adding the first additional records to a result set of records;

using a name attribute value of each record of the result set, searching the data set to identify second additional records, each second additional record having the name attribute value;

adding the second additional records to the result set;

thereafter, using at least one additional attribute value of each record of the result set, searching the data set to identify third additional records, each third additional record having the additional attribute value;

adding the third additional records to the result set;

removing a specific record from the result set if an address value of the specific record differs from an address value of the starting record; and

outputting at least a portion of the result set.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein using a location attribute value from the starting record to search the data set to identify first additional records comprises executing a fuzzy logic search for the location attribute value.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising marking the starting record with an indication that the starting document has been processed.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein using a location attribute value from the starting record to search the data set to identify first additional records comprises executing a search for an exact match of the location attribute value.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein values of location category attributes comprise subdivision values, lots values, block values, or tract values.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising, before using a name attribute value of each record of the result set to search the data set to identify second additional records having the name attribute value, determining that the name attribute value does not at least approximately match a name contained in an excluded name list.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein location attribute values comprise sections, townships, and ranges, and wherein using a location attribute value from the starting record to search the data set to identify first additional records from the data set comprises executing a search for additional records in the data set having a specific section value, a specific township value, or a specific range value.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising, removing a specific record from the result set if a parcel identification value of the record differs from a parcel identification value of the starting record.

9. A property record search system, comprising:

a data set comprising a plurality of recorded property records, each recorded property record having one or more attributes associated therewith, wherein the attributes are selected from a group of attribute categories consisting of names, locations, referenced documents, parcel identification, and address, and wherein each attribute has a value;

a processor comprising instructions to;

from a user input that identifies a parcel, selecting a starting record comprised by the data set;

use a location first attribute value from the starting record to search the data set to identify first additional records from the data set, each first additional record having the location attribute value;

add the first additional records to a result set of records;

use a name attribute value of each record of the result set to search the data set to identify second additional records, each second additional record having the name attribute value; and

add the second additional records to the result sets;

thereafter, use at least one additional attribute value of each record of the result set to search the data set to identify third additional records, each third additional record having the additional attribute value;

add the third additional records to the result set; and

remove a specific record from the result set if an address value of the specific record differs from an address value of the starting record.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the instructions to use a location attribute value from the starting record to search the data set to identify first additional records comprise instructions to execute a fuzzy logic search for the location attribute value.

11. The system of claim 9, wherein the processor further comprises instructions to mark the starting record with an indication that the starting document has been processed.

12. The system of claim 9, wherein the instructions to use a location attribute value from the starting record to search the data set to identify first additional records comprise instructions to execute a search for an exact match of the location attribute value.

13. The system of claim 9, wherein the processor further comprises instructions to, before using a name attribute value of each record of the result set to search the data set to identify second additional records having the name attribute value, determine that the name attribute value does not at least approximately match a name contained in an excluded name list.

14. The system of claim 9, wherein the processor further comprises instructions to remove a specific record from the result set if a parcel identification value of the record differs from a parcel identification value of the starting record.

15. The system of claim 9, further comprising an input configured to receive the user-indication of a starting record.

16. The system of claim 9, further comprising means for outputting at least a portion of the result set to a user.

17. A method of conducting a search of recorded property records, comprising:

identifying a starting record from among a plurality of recorded property records comprised by a data set, each recorded property record having one or more attributes associated therewith, wherein the attributes are selected from a group of attribute categories consisting of names, locations, referenced documents, parcel identification, and address, and wherein each attribute has a value;

using a first attribute value from the starting record to search the data set to identify first additional records from the data set that relate to the first attribute value;

adding the first additional records to a result set of records;

thereafter, using each attribute value of each record of the result set, searching the data set to identify subsequent additional records;

adding the subsequent additional records to the result set;

removing records from the result set if an address value of the record differs from an address value of the starting record; and

outputting at least a portion of the result set.