Systems and methods for managing data in a database

• US 8,892,581 B2
• Filed: 10/17/2002
• Issued: 11/18/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 10/17/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Jorge Diniz Queiroga Loureiro
• Original Assignee: Jorge Diniz Queiroga Loureiro
• Inventors: Loureiro, Jorge Diniz Queiroga
• Primary Examiner(s): Hoang, Son T
• Application Number:
  US10/531,652
• Publication Number:
  US 20060149749A1
• Time in Patent Office: 4,415 Days
• Field of Search: 707/758, 707/802
• US Class Current: 707/758
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9024 Graphs; Linked lists G06F16/9027 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9558 Details of hyperlinks; Management of linked annotations

Abstract

A database containing information relating to a particular topic includes a number of portions (10) which are each sub-divided into a number of sub-portions (12). The sub-portions (12) of each portion (10) are linked to one another in a sequential arrangement wherein each subsequent sub-portion contains further information on the topic. Selected sub-portions (12) include primary key expressions which are embedded in the information contained in the sub-portions and which are linked via a hypertext link, to other sub-portions of the database containing more information on the topic. The invention extends to a computer program product for managing the content of the database and to a method of compiling the database.

Claims

1. A non-transitory computer-storage medium having computer program instructions stored thereon, the computer program instructions causing a computer processor to execute a method to enable management of information relating to a particular topic, comprising:

compiling a database in which the information is stored, the database comprising a first portion subdivided into first sub-portions and a second portion subdivided into second sub-portions, wherein the information is stored in both the first sub-portions and second sub-portions;

linking the first sub-portions in a first predetermined sequential arrangement such that, when at least a part of the information is stored in the first sub-portions, each subsequent sub-portion in the first predetermined sequential arrangement contains further information on the particular topic compared to a previous sub-portion;

linking the second sub-portions in a second predetermined sequential arrangement such that navigation from one second sub-portion to another succeeding or preceding second sub-portion within the second predetermined sequential arrangement is permitted, when at least another part of the information is stored in the second sub-portions;

defining primary key expressions, in particular information parts that are stored in selected sub-portions of at least one of the first sub-portions and the second sub-portions, wherein the primary key expressions are defined based on content of the particular information parts selected by the compiler;

establishing explanatory notes in which additional information parts are provided by the compiler;

defining secondary key expressions in particular different information parts that are stored in selected sub-portions of at least one of the first sub-portions and the second sub-portions and linking each secondary key expression to a different explanatory note;

linking each secondary key expression to a particular associated explanatory note in an arrangement wherein receiving a selection of a particular secondary key expression from the user, causes the particular associated explanatory note to be displayed;

responsive to receiving a user selection of at least one of the primary key expressions, stored in at least one of the selected sub-portions of the first sub-portions, and using the at least one of the primary key expressions, establishing a user-executable navigation link permitting a user to navigate from the at least one selected sub-portion of the first sub-portions to a second sub-portion of the second sub-portions, wherein the second sub-portion is non-sequential to the at least one selected sub-portion; and

recording an address in the database of the at least one selected sub-portion of the first sub-portions from which the user-executable navigation link is made to allow the user to return to the at least one selected sub-portion of the first sub-portions from which the navigation link is made.

2. The computer-storage medium as claimed in claim 1, further comprising displaying a view of the at least one selected sub-portion from which the navigation link is made, to be displayed in a same format as it was displayed before the navigation link to the second sub-portion was made.

3. A The computer-storage medium as claimed in claim 1, further comprising recording and displaying title information representing each sub-portion from which the navigation link is made.

4. The computer-storage medium as claimed in claim 1, further comprising establishing default explanatory notes in which the additional information parts are provided by the compiler, the program instructions being operable to display the default explanatory notes simultaneously with an information part in a particular sub-portion of the database.

5. The computer-storage medium as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a feedback component including program instructions permitting any of the information parts contained in a sub-portion or explanatory note of the database, to be selected by the user and for the user'"'"'s selection to be recorded.

6. The computer-storage medium as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a monitoring component including program instructions for recording a user'"'"'s selection of the primary and the secondary key expressions.

7. The computer-storage medium as claimed in claim 1, further comprising displaying title information representing each sub-portion from which a navigation link is made so as to provide the user with a record of those sub-portions of the database from which navigation links are made.

8. The computer-storage medium as in claim 1, further comprising:

displaying on a display device, title information representing each sub-portion from which a link is made via the primary key expressions, so as to provide the user with a record of a conversation path formed by sub-portions of the database which are linked via the primary key expressions.

9. The computer-storage medium as in claim 8, further comprising:

recording and displaying the title information in an order representing the access sequence of any sub-portions which were accessed by a user.

10. An information management product which comprises:

a non-transitory computer-storage medium for storing a database component and a computer program component;

the database component configured to store information relating to a particular topic, wherein the database component is stored on the non-transitory computer-storage medium and comprising a first portion subdivided into first sub-portions and a second portion sub-divided into second sub-portions, wherein information on a plurality of aspects of the particular topic is stored in the first sub-portions and the second sub-portions; and

the computer program component configured to manage the information relating to the particular topic stored by the database component, wherein the computer program component is stored on the non-transitory computer-storage medium and executable by a computer processor and including program instructions for;

linking the first sub-portions in a first predetermined sequential arrangement such that, when at least a part of the information is stored in the first sub-portions, each subsequent sub-portion in the first predetermined sequential arrangement contains further information parts on the particular topic compared to a previous sub-portion; and

linking the second sub-portions in a second predetermined sequential arrangement such that navigation from one second sub-portion to another succeeding or preceding second sub-portion within the second predetermined sequential arrangement is permitted, when at least another part of the information is stored in the second sub-portions;

defining primary key expressions, in particular information parts that are stored in selected sub-portions of at least one of the first sub-portions and the second sub-portions, wherein the primary key expressions are defined based on content of the particular information parts selected by the compiler;

establishing explanatory notes in which additional information parts are provided by the compiler;

defining secondary key expressions in particular different information parts that are stored in selected sub-portions of at least one of the first sub-portions and the second sub-portions and linking each secondary key expression to a different explanatory note;

linking each secondary key expression to a particular associated explanatory note in an arrangement, wherein receiving a selection of a particular secondary key expression from the user, causes the particular associated explanatory note to be displayed;

responsive to receiving a user selection of at least one of the primary key expressions stored in at least one of the selected sub-portions of the first sub-portions, and using the at least one of the primary key expressions, establishing a user-executable navigation link permitting a user to navigate from the at least one selected sub-portion of the first sub-portions to a second sub-portion of the second sub-portions, wherein the second sub-portion is non-sequential to the at least one selected sub-portion; and

record an address in the database component of the at least one selected sub-portion of the first sub-portions from which a navigation link is made to allow the user to return to the at least one selected sub-portion of the first sub-portions from which the navigation is made.

11. The information management product as in claim 10, wherein the computer program component is further configured to display on a display device, title information representing each sub-portion from which a link is made via the primary key expressions, so as to provide the user with a record of a conversation path formed by sub-portions of the database which are linked via the primary key expressions.

12. The information management product as in claim 11, wherein the computer program component is further configured to record and display the title information in an order representing an access sequence of any sub-portions which were accessed by the user.

13. A method of compiling a database of information relating to a particular topic, which comprises:

compiling a first portion and a second portion of the database, wherein the first portion is subdivided into first sub-portions and the second portion is subdivided into second sub-portions;

linking the first sub-portions in a first predetermined sequential arrangement such that navigation from one first sub-portion to another succeeding or preceding first sub-portion within the predetermined sequential arrangement is permitted, when at least a part of the information is stored in the first sub-portions;

linking the second sub-portions in a second predetermined sequential arrangement such that navigation from one second sub-portion to another succeeding or preceding second sub-portion within the second predetermined sequential arrangement is permitted, when at least another part of the information is stored in the second sub-portions;

storing the at least part of the information by inserting the at least part of the information in the first sub-portions in the first sequential arrangement wherein each subsequent sub-portion contains further information part on the particular topic than in an immediately preceding sub-portion to which the succeeding first sub-portion is linked;

defining primary key expressions, in particular information parts that are stored in selected sub-portions of at least one of the first sub-portions and the second sub-portions, wherein the primary key expressions are defined based on content of the particular information part selected by the compiler;

establishing explanatory notes in which additional information parts are provided by the compiler;

defining secondary key expressions in particular different information parts that are stored in selected sub-portions of at least one of the first sub-portions and the second sub-portions and linking each secondary key expression to a different explanatory note;

linking each secondary key expression to a particular associated explanatory note in an arrangement, wherein receiving a selection of a particular secondary key expression from the user, causes the particular associated explanatory note to be displayed;

responsive to receiving a user selection of at least one of the primary key expressions stored in at least one of the selected sub-portions of the first sub-portions, and using the at least one of the primary key expressions, establishing a user-executable navigation link to permit a user to navigate from the at least one selected sub-portion of the first sub-portions of the database to a second sub-portion of the second sub-portions, wherein the second sub-portion is non-sequential to the at least one selected sub-portion; and

recording an address in the database of the at least one selected sub-portion of the first sub-portions from which the user-executable navigation link is made to allow the user to return to the at least one selected sub-portion of the first sub-portions from which the navigation link is made.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

displaying a view of the at least one selected sub-portion from which the navigation link is made, in a same format as it was displayed before the navigation link to the second sub-portion was made.

15. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

displaying on a display device, title information representing each sub-portion from which a link is made via the primary key expressions, so as to provide the user with a record of a conversation path formed by sub-portions of the database which are linked via the primary key expressions.

16. The method claim 15, further comprising:

recording and displaying the title information in an order representing an access sequence of any sub-portions which were accessed by a user.