Method and apparatus for displaying database search results

• US 20020099701A1
• Filed: 01/24/2001
• Published: 07/25/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 01/24/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ridgeview IP LLC (IP Edge LLC)
• Original Assignee: Andreas Rippich
• Inventors: Rippich, Andreas
• Granted Patent: US 6,983,270 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9032 Query formulation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9038 Presentation of query results
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99933 Query processing, i.e. searching

Abstract

The invention relates to a method of displaying the progress of a database search so as to accomplish a logical operation that satisfies certain conditions; for example avoiding a null value. The invention also relates to an apparatus for practicing the method. The method displays all possible and relevant data capable of fulfilling the operation (like Boolean, SQL etc.) in addition to all possible and relevant operations (like Boolean, SQL etc.) to be applied on the given data. A key feature of the invention is that the displays occur during the operation. This is done by displaying all remaining possible and relevant data and/or operations directly after choosing a datum and/or the desired operation.

Claims

1. A method for displaying the progress and results of a database search, said method comprising the steps of:

a. performing an initialization step comprising entering a search term by choosing at least one item of a displayed set of contents or entries of a database;

b. entering at least one search command, said search command being defined by at least one operator chosen from a set of operators and at least one item chosen from the displayed set of contents or entries, the operator specifying an operation to be performed in relation to the chosen items and the data base;

c. auditing at least one of (i) said displayed set, in response to the chosen operator, and of (ii) said set of operators in response to the chosen item, with reference to the contents of the database, and eliminating from the respective set all impossible items or operators, which would produce an unwanted result at the end of said database search, the auditing and eliminating being performed by an automatic auditing processor or auditing program means;

d. displaying in a visible manner the remaining contents or entries of said displayed set, that can produce or indicate a wanted result; and

wherein steps b, c, and d are repeated until the wanted result is achieved.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said displayed set of contents or entries of said database are displayed in at least one list, table or multi-dimensional field.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the content can be displayed in any hierarchical order.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said unwanted result corresponds to a nullity.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said wanted result corresponds to a nullity.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the displayed set of contents or entries of said database is a subset of all contents or entries of said database.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the contents or entries of said database which bear no relevance for the database search are not contained in the displayed set.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein any operation term which would produce said unwanted result from a set of displayed available operations is eliminated.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the search commands are entered by a conventional computer mouse-clicking mechanism followed by choosing a Boolean operator.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the search commands are entered as logical structured queries such as a SQL query.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the applicable operators comprise at least one of the group containing fuzzy logic, phonetic comparisons, mathematical comparisons or other logical operations.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the database contents or entries are represented by words, text or numbers.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the database contents or entries are represented by pictures, photos, drawings, designs, or other visual characterizations of a particular content.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the database contents or entries are represented by video or audio segments.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein a displayed list of database entries is merged with a number of operators of said set of operators to form at least one hybrid search term.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein a logical operator comprises a plurality of nested or combined single operators.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein the progress and results of the database search are being displayed on a computer display.

19. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein all items which are not capable of satisfying said operation, are eliminated from said displayed contents or entries to avoid generating a null search response.

20. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein said operations are logical operations such as Boolean or SQL queries.

21. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein a logical operator comprises a plurality of nested or combined single operators.

23. The method according to claim 1 or 22, wherein said method is directed by a computer program product,:

said program product comprising, a computer readable medium, having thereon, a computer code means which when loaded by a computer, directs the computer to execute a procedure to display information on a computer display; and

wherein said procedure being executed is based on entered or chosen search terms, search commands, operators or operands.

24. The method according to claim 1 or 22, wherein said method is directed by a computer program element;

said program element comprising a computer code means which when loaded by a computer directs the computer to execute a procedure to display information on a computer display; and

wherein

said execution of said procedure is based on entered or chosen search terms, search commands, operators or operands.

25. The method according to claim 1 or 22, wherein said method is directed by a computer readable medium;

said medium having a program recorded thereon which when loaded by a computer directs the computer to execute a procedure to display information on a computer display; and

wherein

said execution of said procedure being based on entered or chosen search terms, search commands, operators or operands.

18. A apparatus for displaying the progress and results of a database search, comprising:

a database comprising a plurality of entries;

a search processor for searching the database and retrieving one or more entries, wherein said search processor employs retrieval software to fulfill one or more operations to generate at least one search result list;

a displaying means for visually presenting said at least one search result list;

an auditing processor, that methodically determines all database entries capable of satisfying one of said operations, and eliminating from the displayed contents or entries all of said database entries that would produce an unwanted result upon satisfying the operation; and

a display processor, for visually displaying at least one of the results lists.

22. A method for displaying the start, progress and end-results of an operation, so as to enhance the probability of obtaining a desired object, said method comprising the steps of:

a. performing an initialization step comprising entering at least one operand of a displayed set of operands;

b. entering at least one command, said command being defined by at least one operator chosen from a set of operators and at least one operand chosen from the displayed set of operands, the operator specifying an operation to be performed in relation to the chosen operands;

c. auditing at least one of (i) said displayed set, in response to the chosen operator, and of (ii) said set of operators in response to the chosen operand, and eliminating from the respective set all impossible operands or operators which would produce an unwanted result, the auditing and eliminating being performed by an automatic auditing processor or auditing program means;

d. displaying in a visible manner the remaining operands of said displayed set that can produce a wanted result; and

wherein steps b, c, and d are repeated until the wanted result is achieved.