Generalized language independent index storage system and searching method
First Claim
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1. A device, comprising:
- a storage configured to store a database comprising at least one index, wherein each of the at least one index comprisesat least one descriptor associated with an item in memory,a first pointer that identifies a location of the item, anda second pointer that identifies a location of information that corresponds to the item;
an input mechanism for entry by a user of strokes corresponding to ideographic characters, and of character keys corresponding to the ideographic characters;
at least one processor configured tosearch the database for indexes having descriptors that match the strokes or characters entered by the user, andprovide for display to the userthe ideographic character and the alphabetic equivalent for each of the indexes that have matching descriptors, anda list of selectable icons each corresponding to one of the indexes, wherein each of the selectable icons comprises a type indicator identified by the second pointer for a corresponding index.
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Abstract
The invention may be embodied as a system having and/or a method utilizing a searchable database of index information. Each index in the database may have (a) at least one descriptor, which matches an entry that a user might provide in order to identify an item, (b) a first pointer which identifies a location of the item, and (c) a second pointer which identifies a location of information that may be helpful to the user in deciding whether to request retrieval of the item. The first pointers of one index may be the same as first pointers in a different index. The second pointer may identify a general class to which an item belongs.
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Citations
24 Claims
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1. A device, comprising:
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a storage configured to store a database comprising at least one index, wherein each of the at least one index comprises at least one descriptor associated with an item in memory, a first pointer that identifies a location of the item, and a second pointer that identifies a location of information that corresponds to the item; an input mechanism for entry by a user of strokes corresponding to ideographic characters, and of character keys corresponding to the ideographic characters; at least one processor configured to search the database for indexes having descriptors that match the strokes or characters entered by the user, and provide for display to the user the ideographic character and the alphabetic equivalent for each of the indexes that have matching descriptors, and a list of selectable icons each corresponding to one of the indexes, wherein each of the selectable icons comprises a type indicator identified by the second pointer for a corresponding index. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A method, comprising the steps of:
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providing a database comprising at least one index, wherein each of the at least one index comprises at least one descriptor associated with an item stored in memory, a pointer that identifies a location of the item, and a second pointer that identifies a location of information that corresponds to the item; entering a search query by a user, wherein the search query comprises any of strokes corresponding to an ideographic character, or of character keys corresponding to the ideographic character; searching the database for indexes having descriptors that match the strokes or characters entered by the user; and providing for display to the user the ideographic character and the alphabetic equivalent for each of the indexes that have matching descriptors, and a list of selectable icons each corresponding to one of the indexes, wherein each of the selectable icons comprises a type indicator identified by the second pointer for a corresponding index. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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Specification