Method and apparatus to define the scope of a search for information from a tabular data source
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A computer-implemented method comprising:
- receiving user input identifying tabular source data, the tabular source data representing data that has a tabular structure;
receiving user input specifying parameters for a search of a plurality of documents, the search intended to find, in any of the plurality of documents, information from at least one random row within the tabular source data, each of the plurality of documents including freeform text, the search parameters identifying a plurality of columns within the tabular source data;
defining, based on the search parameters, a scope of the search to find, in any of the plurality of documents, a sub-set of data fragments that matches the information from at least one random row within the tabular source data, the matched sub-set of data including a sub-set of tokens matching the information from any single row within the tabular source data and containing a token corresponding to one of the plurality of columns, the token having a specified value when the specified value is contained in the search parameters; and
searching each of the plurality of documents for the information from at least one random row within the tabular data source using the defined scope.
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Abstract
A method and apparatus for defining the scope of a search is described. In one embodiment, user input is received, and the scope is defined, based on the user input, for a search of free-form text for information from any random rows within a tabular structure of source data. In one embodiment, the search is intended for finding, in the free-form text, a sub-set of data fragments that matches information from any single row within the tabular structure of the source data.
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Citations
24 Claims
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1. A computer-implemented method comprising:
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receiving user input identifying tabular source data, the tabular source data representing data that has a tabular structure; receiving user input specifying parameters for a search of a plurality of documents, the search intended to find, in any of the plurality of documents, information from at least one random row within the tabular source data, each of the plurality of documents including freeform text, the search parameters identifying a plurality of columns within the tabular source data; defining, based on the search parameters, a scope of the search to find, in any of the plurality of documents, a sub-set of data fragments that matches the information from at least one random row within the tabular source data, the matched sub-set of data including a sub-set of tokens matching the information from any single row within the tabular source data and containing a token corresponding to one of the plurality of columns, the token having a specified value when the specified value is contained in the search parameters; and searching each of the plurality of documents for the information from at least one random row within the tabular data source using the defined scope. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A computer-implemented system comprising:
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a computer processor and a main memory; a user interface to receive user input identifying tabular source data, the tabular source data representing data that has a tabular structure, and to receive user input specifying parameters for a search of a plurality of documents, the search parameters identifying a plurality of columns within the tabular source data, the search intended to find, in any of the plurality of documents, information from at least one random row within the tabular source data, each of the plurality of documents including free-form text; a search scope specifier to define, based on the search parameters, a scope of the search to find, in any of the plurality of documents, a sub-set of data fragments that matches the information from at least one random row within the tabular source data, the matched sub-set of data including a sub-set of tokens matching the information from any single row within the tabular source data and containing a token corresponding to one of the plurality of columns, the token having a specified value when the specified value is contained in the search parameters; and a search engine to search each of the plurality of documents for the information from at least one random row within the tabular data source using the defined scope. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A computer-implemented apparatus comprising:
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a computer processor and a main memory; means for receiving user input identifying tabular source data, the tabular source data representing data that has a tabular structure; means for receiving user input specifying parameters for a search of a plurality of documents, the search intended to find, in any of the plurality of documents, information from at least one random row within the tabular source data, each of the plurality of documents including freeform text, the search parameters identifying a plurality of columns within the tabular source data; means for defining, based on the search parameters, a scope of the search to find, in any of the plurality of documents, a sub-set of data fragments that matches the information from at least one random row within the tabular source data, the matched sub-set of data including a sub-set of tokens matching the information from any single row within the tabular source data and containing token corresponding to one of the plurality of columns, the token having a specified value when the specified value is contained in the search parameters; and means for searching each of the plurality of documents for the information from at least one random row within the tabular data source using the defined scope. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A computer readable storage medium that stores instructions, which when executed on a processor cause the processor to perform a method comprising:
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receiving user input identifying tabular source data, the tabular source data representing data that has a tabular structure;
receiving user input specifying parameters for a search of a plurality of documents, the search intended to find, in any of the plurality of documents, information from at least one random row within the tabular source data, each of the plurality of documents including freeform text, the search parameters identifying a plurality of columns within the tabular source data;defining, based on the search parameters, a scope of the search to find, in any of the plurality of documents, a sub-set of data fragments that matches the information from at least one random row within the tabular source data, the matched sub-set of data including a sub-set of tokens matching the information from any single row within the tabular source data and containing a token corresponding to one of the plurality of columns, the token having a specified value when the specified value is contained in the search parameters; and searching each of the plurality of documents for the information from at least one random row within the tabular data source using the defined scope. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24)
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Specification