System and method for query translation/semantic translation using generalized query language
First Claim
1. In an information network, an information retrieval system including client stations, broker stations, agent stations and using heterogenous, dissimilar and multiple search engines, a method for providing combined search results in a common format to a single query by a client station, comprising:
- a) translating the single query into search phrases contained in a programming library;
b) constructing a complex search query using the search phrases which relate to the search engines associated with data bases;
c) transmitting the query to a broker station which checks the query for syntax errors;
parses the associated query into individual search or partial queries terms and associated logical operation for combining the partial searches;
d) transmitting the individual or partial queries to agent stations for distribution to the search engines, each search engine translating the partial queries into database search grammar for searching purposes and retrieving search information in the form of a "Hit List" related to the query;
e) combining the "Hit List" in accordance with the logical operations associated with the partial queries and any constraints specified in the query to generate a search result having a common format appearance with other search engines;
f) combining and forwarding the "Hit List" results from the associated search engines to the broker station; and
g) generating and forwarding to the requesting client station a single response from the heterogeneous, dissimilar, multiple search engines to the single query.
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Abstract
An information retrieval system and method translates a single search request or query across heterogenous databases independent of the database search grammar(s). A client uses a process to express the query in a powerful programming language, i.e., Generalized Query Language (GQL) which has a wide variety of operators to precisely specify the conditions of the query and enable a fused response to be provided by the databases to the query. The process translates the query into phrases contained in a GQL and constructs a complex search query which bridges the gap between the query and the low level of functionality provided in search engines associated with the databases. A search broker receives the GQL query and using a process (i) checks for syntax errors; (2), if correct, parses the complex query into individual search or partial queries and associated logical operations, and (3) forwards the partial queries and operations to the database search engines. Each search engines translates the partial queries into database search grammar for searching purposes and retrieves search information in the form of a "HitList" related to the query. Each search engines combines the "HitList" in accordance with the operations associated with the partial queries and any constraints specified in the query to generate a search result having a format common in appearance with other search engine results which serves as a fused response from the heterogenous databases.
401 Citations
20 Claims
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1. In an information network, an information retrieval system including client stations, broker stations, agent stations and using heterogenous, dissimilar and multiple search engines, a method for providing combined search results in a common format to a single query by a client station, comprising:
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a) translating the single query into search phrases contained in a programming library; b) constructing a complex search query using the search phrases which relate to the search engines associated with data bases; c) transmitting the query to a broker station which checks the query for syntax errors;
parses the associated query into individual search or partial queries terms and associated logical operation for combining the partial searches;d) transmitting the individual or partial queries to agent stations for distribution to the search engines, each search engine translating the partial queries into database search grammar for searching purposes and retrieving search information in the form of a "Hit List" related to the query; e) combining the "Hit List" in accordance with the logical operations associated with the partial queries and any constraints specified in the query to generate a search result having a common format appearance with other search engines; f) combining and forwarding the "Hit List" results from the associated search engines to the broker station; and g) generating and forwarding to the requesting client station a single response from the heterogeneous, dissimilar, multiple search engines to the single query. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. In an information network, an information retrieval system using heterogenous, dissimilar and multiple search engines and providing combined search results in a common format to a single query by a client station, comprising:
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a) means for translating the single query into search phrases contained in a programming library; b) means for constructing a complex search query using the search phrases which relate to the search engines associated with data bases; c) means for transmitting the query to a broker station which checks the query for syntax errors;
parses the associated query into individual search or partial queries terms and associated logical operation for combining the partial searches;d) means for transmitting the individual or partial queries to agent stations for distribution to the search engines, each search engine translating the partial queries into database search grammar for searching purposes and retrieving search information in the form of a "Hit List" related to the query; e) means for combining the "Hit List" in accordance with the logical operations associated with the partial queries and any constraints specified in the query to generate a search result having a common format appearance with other search engines; f) means in each agent station for combining and forwarding the "Hit List" results from the associated search engines to the broker station; and g) means for generating and forwarding to the requesting client station a single response from the heterogeneous, dissimilar, multiple search engines to the single query. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification