Method and apparatus for searching for information in a data processing system and for providing scheduled search reports in a summary format

• US 6,161,102 A
• Filed: 08/12/1997
• Issued: 12/12/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 07/25/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Computer Incorporated (Apple Inc.)
• Inventors: Yanagihara, Kazu, Vaughan, Gregory B., Holloway, Matthew, Peralta, Steven F., Martherus, Robin E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kulik, Paul V.
• Application Number:
  US08/910,060
• Time in Patent Office: 1,218 Days
• Field of Search: 707/2, 707/3, 707/10, 707/104, 709/201, 709/203, 709/217, 709/219
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/33 Querying
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/332 Query formulation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/337 Profile generation, learning or modification
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/338 Presentation of query results
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99933 Query processing, i.e. searching

Abstract

A method and apparatus for processing information in a data processing system which is coupled to an information storage device having information stored therein. The method includes defining on a first processor a first search request which includes at least one parameter which specifies a first desired type of information, then performing a first search using the first request to determine whether the first type of desired information is stored in the information storage device. While performing the first search the first processor executes another process associated with searching for information in the data processing system. This other process typically includes defining a further search request and performing a further search using the further search request while the first search is being performed. The apparatus of the present invention includes a first processor coupled to the information storage device and a second processor coupled to a network to the first processor. An input device is coupled to the first processor which is used to define a first search request. According to another aspect of the invention, a first search request may be defined and the performance of the first search request may be scheduled such that a first search may be performed at a first scheduled search time or a report of the first search may be retrieved at a first scheduled time. A report in summary format is generated following performance of the first search at the first scheduled search time.

Claims

1. A method for processing information in a data processing system which is coupled to an information storage device having information stored in said information storage device, said method comprising:

defining on a first processor a first search request, said first search request including at least one first parameter which specifies a first type of desired information;

said first processor causing a first search to be performed of at least a first portion of said information using said first search request to determine whether said first type of desired information is stored in said information storage device;

while said first search is performed, defining on said first processor a second search request of said information, said second search request including at least one second parameter which specifies a second type of desired information; and

,

while said first search is performed, said first processor causing a second search to be performed of at least a second portion of said information using said second search request to determine whether said second type of desired information is stored in said information storage device.

2. A method as in claim 1 wherein said first search is performed on said first processor.

3. A method as in claim 2 wherein said second search is performed on one of said first processor and a second processor.

4. A method as in claim 3 wherein said first search and said second search are caused to be performed by the same software application.

5. A method as in claim 4 wherein said first search is not deferred.

6. A method as in claim 5 wherein said second search is not deferred.

7. A method as in claim 6 wherein said second search is not scripted.

8. A method as in claim 3 wherein said first search is not deferred.

9. A method as in claim 8 wherein said second search is not deferred.

10. A method as in claim 9 wherein said second search in not scripted.

11. A method as in claim 3 further comprising:

displaying a first search report showing a first result of performing a first search.

12. A method as in claim 11 further comprising:

displaying a second search report showing a second result of performing a second search.

13. A method as in claim 3 wherein said information comprises a plurality of documents having data in character format and wherein said method further comprises prior to performing said first and said second searches, indexing said plurality of documents to create an indexed list of words in said plurality of documents, and wherein performing said first and second searches comprises searching said indexed list of words.

14. A method as in claim 12 wherein said information comprises a plurality of documents having data in character format and wherein at least a portion of said information is stored at a remote location and wherein said first result comprises a first list of at least one name representing a first document within said plurality of documents and said second result comprises a second list of at least one name representing a second document of said plurality of documents, and wherein said method further comprises displaying said first document in character format for viewing by a user.

15. A method as in claim 12 wherein said first search request is defined within a first window and said first search report is displayed within said first window, and wherein said second search request and said second search report are displayed within a second window.

16. A method as in claim 14 wherein said first search request is defined within a first window and said first search report is displayed within said first window, and wherein said second search request and said second search report are displayed within a second window.

17. A method as in claim 14 further comprising:

prior to performing said first and said second searches, indexing said plurality of documents to create an indexed list of words in said plurality of documents, and wherein performing said first and said second searches comprises searching said indexed list of words.

18. A method as in claim 16 further comprising:

prior to performing said first and said second searches, indexing said plurality of documents to create an indexed list of words in said plurality of documents, and wherein performing said first and said second searches comprises searching said indexed list of words.

19. A method as in claim 18 wherein said at least one parameter comprises at least one word and said first type of desired information comprise at least one document which includes said at least one word.

20. An apparatus for processing information in a data processing system comprising:

an information storage device having information stored in said information storage device;

a first processor coupled to said information storage device;

a first input device coupled to said first processor, said input device for defining a first search request which includes at least one first parameter which specifies a first type of desired information, and for defining a second search request which includes at least one second parameter which specifies a second type of desired information;

a first memory coupled to said first processor, said first memory for storing said first search request, said first processor using said first search request to perform a first search of at least a first portion of said information to determine whether said first type of desired information is stored in said information storage device, and said first processor, while performing said first search, causing to be performed another searching process wherein said first memory stores said second search request of said information, said first processor using said second research request to perform a second search of at least a second portion of said information to determine whether said second type of desired information is stored in said information storage device.

21. An apparatus as in claim 20 further comprising a first display coupled to said first processor, said first processor displaying on said first display a first search report showing a first result of performing said first search, and wherein said first type of desired information comprises a plurality of documents having data in character format.

22. An apparatus as in claim 21 further comprising:

a second processor coupled to said first display and coupled to said first input device;

a first network interface coupled to said first processor;

a second network interface coupled to said second processor;

a network coupler coupled to said first network interface and to said second network interface, wherein said first search request is sent over said network coupler from said first input device, through said first and said second network interfaces, to said first processor.

23. An apparatus as in claim 22 wherein said second search request is sent over said network coupler from said first input device, through said first and said second network interfaces, to said second processor.

24. An apparatus as in claim 20 wherein said first processor, prior to performing said first and said second searches, indexes said plurality of documents to create an indexed list of words in said plurality of documents and wherein said indexed list of words is stored in said information storage device and said first processor, when performing said first and said second searches, searches said indexed list of words.

25. An apparatus as in claim 21 wherein at least said first parameter from said first search request is displayed within a first window and wherein said first result is displayed within said first window, and wherein at least said second parameter from said second search request is displayed within a second window and wherein said second result is displayed within said second window.

26. A computer readable storage medium for use in a data processing system which is coupled to an information storage device having information stored in said information storage device, said computer readable storage medium containing executable computer program instructions, which when executed by a digital processing system cause the digital processing system to perform a method comprising:

defining on a first processor a first search request, said first search request including at least one first parameter which specifies a first type of desired information;

said first processor causing a first search to be performed of at least a first portion of said information using said first search request to determine whether said first type of desired information is stored in said information storage device;

while said first search is performed, defining on said first processor a second search request of said information, said second search request including at least one second parameter which specifies a second type of desired information; and

,

while said first search is performed, said first processor causing a second search to be performed of at least a second portion of said information using said second search request to determine whether said second type of desired information is stored in said information storage device.

27. A computer readable storage medium as in claim 26 wherein said first search is performed on said first processor.

28. A computer readable storage medium as in claim 27 wherein said second search is performed on one of said first processor and a second processor.

29. A computer readable storage medium as in claim 28 wherein said first search and said second search are caused to be performed by the same software application.

30. A computer readable storage medium as in claim 29 wherein said first search is not deferred.

31. A computer readable storage medium as in claim 30 wherein said second search is not deferred.

32. A computer readable storage medium as in claim 31 wherein said second search in not scripted.

33. A computer readable storage medium as in claim 28 wherein said first search is not deferred.

34. A computer readable storage medium as in claim 33 wherein said second search is not deferred.

35. A computer readable storage medium as in claim 34 wherein said second search in not scripted.

36. A computer readable storage medium as in claim 28 further comprising:

displaying a first search report showing a first result of performing a first search.

37. A computer readable storage medium as in claim 36 further comprising:

displaying a second search report showing a second result of performing a second search.

38. A computer readable storage medium as in claim 28 wherein said information comprises a plurality of documents having data in character format and wherein, prior to performing said first and said second searches, indexing said plurality of documents to create an indexed list of words in said plurality of documents, and wherein performing said first and second searches comprises searching said indexed list of words.

39. A computer readable storage medium as in claim 37 wherein said information comprises a plurality of documents having data in character format and wherein at least a portion of said information is stored at a remote location and wherein said first result comprises a first list of at least one name representing a first document within said plurality of documents and said second result comprises a second list of at least one name representing a second document of said plurality of documents, and wherein said first document is displayed in character format for viewing by a user.

40. A computer readable storage medium as in claim 37 wherein said first search request is defined within a first window and said first search report is displayed within said first window, and wherein said second search request and said second search report are displayed within a second window.

41. A computer readable storage medium as in claim 39 wherein said first search request is defined within a first window and said first search report is displayed within said first window, and wherein said second search request and said second search report are displayed within a second window.

42. A computer readable storage medium as in claim 39 further comprising:

prior to performing said first and said second searches, indexing said plurality of documents to create an indexed list of words in said plurality of documents, and wherein performing said first and said second searches comprises searching said indexed list of words.

43. A computer readable storage medium as in claim 41 further comprising:

prior to performing said first and said second searches, indexing said plurality of documents to create an indexed list of words in said plurality of documents, and wherein performing said first and said second searches comprises searching said indexed list of words.

44. A computer readable storage medium as in claim 43 wherein said at least one parameter comprises at least one word and said first type of desired information comprise at least one document which includes said at least one word.

45. An apparatus for processing information in a data processing system which is coupled to an information storage device having information stored in said information storage device, comprising:

means for defining on a first processor a first search request, said first search request including at least one first parameter which specifies a first type of desired information;

means for causing a first search to be performed of at least a first portion of said information using said first search request to determine whether said first type of desired information is stored in said information storage device;

means for defining on said first processor, while said first search is performed, a second search request of said information, said second search request including at least one second parameter which specifies a second type of desired information; and

,

means for causing, while said first search is performed, a second search to be performed of at least a second portion of said information using said second search request to determine whether said second type of desired information is stored in said information storage device.

46. An apparatus as in claim 45 wherein said first search is performed on said first processor.

47. An apparatus as in claim 46 wherein said second search is performed on one of said first processor and a second processor.

48. An apparatus as in claim 47 wherein said first search and said second searches are caused to be performed by the same software application.

49. An apparatus as in claim 48 wherein said first search is not deferred.

50. An apparatus as in claim 47 wherein said second search is not deferred.

51. An apparatus as in claim 50 wherein said second search in not scripted.

52. An apparatus as in claim 47 wherein said first search is not deferred.

53. An apparatus as in claim 52 wherein said second search is not deferred.

54. An apparatus as in claim 53 wherein said second search in not scripted.

55. An apparatus as in claim 47 further comprising:

means for displaying a first search report showing a first result of performing a first search.

56. An apparatus as in claim 55 further comprising:

means for displaying a second search report showing a second result of performing a second search.

57. An apparatus as in claim 47 wherein said information comprises a plurality of documents having data in character format and wherein said apparatus further comprises prior to performing said first and said second searches, means for indexing said plurality of documents to create an indexed list of words in said plurality of documents, and wherein performing said first and second searches comprises means for searching said indexed list of words.

58. An apparatus as in claim 56 wherein said information comprises a plurality of documents having data in character format and wherein at least a portion of said information is stored at a remote location and wherein said first result comprises a first list of at least one name representing a first document within said plurality of documents and said second result comprises a second list of at least one name representing a second document of said plurality of documents, and wherein said apparatus further comprises means for displaying said first document in character format for viewing by a user.

59. An apparatus as in claim 56 wherein said first search request is defined within a first window and said first search report is displayed within said first window, and wherein said second search request and said second search report are displayed within a second window.

60. An apparatus as in claim 58 wherein said first search request is defined within a first window and said first search report is displayed within said first window, and wherein said second search request and said second search report are displayed within a second window.

61. An apparatus as in claim 58 further comprising:

means for indexing said plurality of documents, prior to performing said first and said second searches, to create an indexed list of words in said plurality of documents, and wherein said means for performing said first and said second searches, searches said indexed list of words.

62. An apparatus as in claim 60 further comprising:

means for indexing said plurality of documents, prior to performing said first and said second searches, to create an indexed list of words in said plurality of documents, and wherein said means for performing said first and said second searches, searches said indexed list of words.

63. An apparatus as in claim 62 wherein said at least one parameter comprises at least one word and said first type of desired information comprise at least one document which includes said at least one word.