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Search method and system and system using the same

  • US 7,461,051 B2
  • Filed: 11/10/2003
  • Issued: 12/02/2008
  • Est. Priority Date: 11/11/2002
  • Status: Expired due to Fees
First Claim
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1. A method for searching a content database stored in computer storage, the content database including a plurality of records each containing multiple fields of information, the method comprising the steps of:

  • maintaining a structure database in computer storage in which each record is parsed into one or more record categories, each record category having zero or more sub-categories and one or more fields of information, the structure database containing, for each record category, information defining a data structure of the record category;

    receiving a search query comprising one or more query categories, each query category comprising zero or more sub-categories and one or more selections from a user;

    determining for each query category, a data structure of the query category based on the data structure of a corresponding record category;

    for each of one or more records, performing a correlation between the data structure of each query category and the data structure of the corresponding record category to produce a relevance value for the record, wherein performing the correlation comprises;

    for each data structure of a query category, generating a selection tree comprising a node representing the query category, sub-nodes representing the sub-categories and selections, and weights for each node and sub-node assigned based on the selections from the user, andfor each data structure of the corresponding record category, generating a data tree comprising a node representing the record category, sub-nodes representing the sub-categories and fields of information, and weights for each node and sub-node assigned based on the level of the node or sub-node in the data tree or based on the selections from the user, and using a correlation algorithm to correlate the weights of the data tree with the weights of the selection tree to produce a relevance value for the corresponding record category; and

    as a response to the search query, selecting records in the content database based upon the relevance values for the one or more records.

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