Returning databases as search results

• US 7,389,307 B2
• Filed: 08/09/2001
• Issued: 06/17/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 08/09/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: RPX Corporation
• Original Assignee: Lycos Incorporated (Brightcom Group Ltd.)
• Inventors: Golding, Andrew R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Fleurantin, Jean Bolte
• Assistant Examiner(s): Ly, Anh
• Application Number:
  US09/927,015
• Publication Number:
  US 20030033324A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,504 Days
• Field of Search: 707 1- 10, 707100-1041, 707200-201, 715/500.1, 715/513
• US Class Current: 707/694
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/3322 using system suggestions G06F16/3325 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/951 Indexing; Web crawling techniques
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/917 Text
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99933 Query processing, i.e. searching
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99934 Query formulation, input preparation, or translation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99935 Query augmenting and refining, e.g. inexact access
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99952 Coherency, e.g. same view to multiple users

Abstract

A method including enumerating plausible queries of a target database using query generation rules, and generating associated teasers for each of the enumerated queries using query matching rules.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method comprising:

obtaining instances of a query for a database using one or more query generation rules, the database comprising elements, the elements comprising fields, the one or more query generation rules obtaining the instances of the query by annotating the query with at least one of the elements and corresponding fields of the database;

generating a teaser that corresponds to the query, the teaser comprising text that is based on the instances of the query;

wherein generating the teaser comprises;

obtaining a common feature among the instances of the query by matching the instances of the query to one or more fields of the database;

using the common feature to generate the teaser; and

executing a conflict resolution rule that identifies the teaser as a most popular one of plural teasers; and

outputting the teaser;

wherein the teaser is generated using one or more query matching rules, the one or more query matching rules being domain specific, the domain corresponding to a subject matter of the database.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising storing the query and the teaser in a lookup table, the query and the teaser so stored comprising a stored query and a stored teaser, respectively.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 2, further comprising;

receiving an input query for the database;

determining whether the input query matches the stored query; and

displaying the stored teaser if the input query matches the stored query.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the one or more query generation rules are domain specific, the domain corresponding to a subject matter of the database.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the database resides on a server connected to the Internet.

6. Machine-readable memory that contains instructions that are executable to cause at least one processing device to:

obtain instances of a query for a database using one or more query generation rules, the database comprising elements, the elements comprising fields, the one or more query generation rules obtaining the instances of the query by annotating the query with at least one of the elements and corresponding fields of the database;

generate a teaser that corresponds to the query, the teaser comprising text that is based on the instances of the query;

wherein generating the teaser comprises;

obtaining a common feature among the instances of the query by matching the instances of the query to one or more fields of the database;

using the common feature to generate the teaser; and

executing a conflict resolution rule that identifies the teaser as a most popular one of plural teasers; and

output the teaser;

wherein the teaser is generated using one or more query matching rules, the one or more query matching rules being domain specific, the domain corresponding to a subject matter of the database.

7. The machine-readable memory of claim 6, further comprising instructions to store the query and the teaser in a lookup table, the query and the teaser so stored comprising a stored query and a stored teaser, respectively.

8. The machine-readable memory of claim 7, further comprising instructions to:

receive an input query for the database;

determine whether the input query matches the stored query; and

display the stored teaser if the input query matches the stored query.

9. The machine-readable memory of claim 6, wherein the one or more query generation rules are domain specific, the domain corresponding to a subject matter of the database.

10. The machine-readable memory of claim 6, wherein the database resides on a server connected to the Internet.

11. An apparatus comprising:

memory that stores instructions that are executable; and

at least one processing device configured to execute the instructions to;

obtain instances of a query for a database using one or more query generation rules, the database comprising elements, the elements comprising fields, the one or more query generation rules obtaining the instances of the query by annotating the query with at least one of the elements and corresponding fields of the database;

generate a teaser that corresponds to the query, the teaser comprising text that is based on the instances of the query;

wherein generating the teaser comprises;

obtaining a common feature among the instances of the query by matching the instances of the query to one or more fields of the database;

executing a conflict resolution rule that identifies the teaser as a most popular one of plural teasers;

using the common feature to generate the teaser; and

output the teaser;

wherein the teaser is generated using one or more query matching rules, the one or more query matching rules being domain specific, the domain corresponding to a subject matter of the database.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the at least one processing device is configured to execute instructions to store the query and the teaser in a lookup table, the query and the teaser so stored comprising a stored query and a stored teaser, respectively.

13. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the at least one processing device is configured to execute instructions to:

receive an input query for the database;

determine whether the input query matches the stored query; and

display the stored teaser if the input query matches the stored query.

14. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the one or more query generation rules are domain specific, the domain corresponding to a subject matter of the database.

15. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the database resides on a server connected to the Internet.