System and method for persistent query information retrieval

• US 7,467,136 B2
• Filed: 10/13/2005
• Issued: 12/16/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 10/13/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba (Toshiba Corporation), Toshiba Tec Corporation (Toshiba Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba (Toshiba Corporation), Toshiba Tec Corporation (Toshiba Corporation)
• Inventors: Savov, Andrey, Mathur, Alok, Wilson, Silvy
• Primary Examiner(s): Ali; Mohammad
• Assistant Examiner(s): Kearney; Jerrod L
• Application Number:
  US11/249,986
• Publication Number:
  US 20070088685A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,160 Days
• Field of Search: 707/4, 707/3, 707/1, 707/10, 707/100, 707/103, 707/5, 700/121, 700/132, 705/1, 705/3, 705/26, 705/27
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/242 Query formulation
• 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

Abstract

The subject invention is directed to a system and method for submitting a series of complementary queries to a selected database in order to retrieve data associated with such queries. The method begins by receiving parameter data representing at least one parameter, which defines a plurality of entries in an associated database. Query data is then generated from the parameter data. The query data is comprised of a series of complementary queries structured to aggregate so as to correspond to all possible entries associated with the parameter data. The query data is then communicated to an associated search engine coupled to query the associated database. Result data is then received from the associated search engine. The result data is comprised of a series of responses corresponding to each of the series of complementary queries. The result data is then communicated to an associated user.

Claims

1. A persistent query information retrieval system comprising:

means for receiving parameter data representative of string-based search query, inclusive of a trailing wildcard character, the search parameter defining a subset of a plurality of entries in an associated database and wherein the string includes characters from an associated character set;

testing means for testing a set of returned entries associated with each search parameter relative to an existence of remaining entries;

means or generating a plurality of nested search parameters corresponding to each search parameter defined by the testing means to have remaining entries by automatically and sequentially applying each of a set of text characters from the character set in a position of the trailing wildcard character while shifting the wildcard character one position to the right in the string-based search query;

means for generating, from the parameter data, query data comprised of a series of complementary queries structured to aggregate so as to correspond to all possible entries associated with the parameter data;

means for communicating the query data to an associated search engine coupled to query the associated database;

means for receiving, from the associated search engine, result data comprised of a series of responses corresponding to each of the series of complementary queries; and

means for communicating the result data to an associated user in accordance with received result data.

2. The persistent query information retrieval system of claim 1 wherein the parameter data includes at least one of a wild card character applicable to a plurality of characters in a search.

3. The persistent query information retrieval system of claim 2 wherein the parameter data further includes at least one character string applicable to a plurality of characters strings in a search.

4. The persistent query information retrieval system of claim 3 wherein the parameter data further includes at least one truncation string applicable to a latter portion of plurality of ending characters strings in a search.

5. The persistent query information retrieval system of claim 1 wherein the search engine is comprised of an LDAP search engine.

6. The persistent query information retrieval system of claim 1 wherein query data is communicated to the associated search engine a number of times equal to a number in the series of complementary queries.

7. A method for persistent query information retrieval comprising the steps of:

receiving parameter data representative of string-based search query, inclusive of a trailing wildcard character, the search parameter defining a subset of a plurality of entries in an associated database and wherein the string includes characters from an associated character set;

testing a set of returned entries associated with each search parameter relative to an existence of remaining entries;

generating a plurality of alternative search parameters corresponding to each search parameter determined by the testing step to have remaining entries by automatically and sequentially applying each of a set of text characters from the character set in a position of the trailing wildcard character while shifting the wildcard character one position to the right in the string-based search query;

generating, from the parameter data, query data comprised of a series of complementary queries structured to aggregate so as to correspond to all possible entries associated with the parameter data;

communicating the query data to an associated search engine coupled to query the associated database;

receiving, from the associated search engine, result data comprised of a series of responses corresponding to each of the series of complementary queries; and

communicating the result data to an associated user in accordance with received result data.

8. The method for persistent query information retrieval of claim 7 wherein the parameter data includes at least one of a wild card character applicable to a plurality of characters in a search.

9. The method for persistent query information retrieval of claim 8 wherein the parameter data further includes at least one character string applicable to a plurality of characters strings in a search.

10. The method for persistent query information retrieval system of claim 9 wherein the parameter data further includes at least one truncation string applicable to a latter portion of plurality of ending characters strings in a search.

11. The method for persistent query information retrieval system of claim 7 wherein the search engine is comprised of an LDAP search engine.

12. The method for persistent query information retrieval system of claim 7 wherein query data is communicated to the associated search engine a number of times equal to a number in the series of complementary queries.

13. A computer-implemented method for persistent query information retrieval comprising the steps of:

receiving parameter data representative of a string-based search query, inclusive of a trailing wildcard character, the search parameter defining a subset of a plurality of entries in an associated database and wherein the string characters include characters from an associated character set;

testing a set of returned entries associated with each search parameter relative to an existence of remaining entries;

generating a plurality of alternative search parameters corresponding to each search parameter determined by the testing step to have remaining entries by automatically and sequentially applying each of a set of text characters from the character set in a position of the trailing wildcard character while shifting the wildcard character one position to the right in the string-based search query;

generating, from the parameter data, query data comprised of a series of complementary queries structured to aggregate so as to correspond to all possible entries associated with the parameter data;

communicating the query data to an associated search engine coupled to query the associated database;

receiving, from the associated search engine, result data comprised of a series of responses corresponding to each of the series of complementary queries; and

communicating the result data to an associated user in accordance with received result data.

14. The computer-implemented method for persistent query information retrieval of claim 13 wherein the parameter data includes at least one of a wild card character applicable to a plurality of characters in a search.

15. The computer-implemented method for persistent query information retrieval of claim 14 wherein the parameter data further includes at least one character string applicable to a plurality of characters strings in a search.

16. The computer-implemented method for persistent query information retrieval system of claim 15 wherein the parameter data further includes at least one truncation string applicable to a latter portion of plurality of ending characters strings in a search.