Method for searching for data in at least two databases, and database system having at least two databases

• US 6,745,182 B2
• Filed: 05/30/2001
• Issued: 06/01/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 06/02/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ironworks Patents LLC
• Original Assignee: Nokia Mobile Phones UK Limited (Nokia Corporation)
• Inventors: Josenhans, Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): Robinson, Greta
• Assistant Examiner(s): Rayyan, Susan F.
• Application Number:
  US09/867,738
• Publication Number:
  US 20020078013A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,098 Days
• Field of Search: 707/3, 707/5, 707/100, 707/102, 707/104.1, 345/700
• US Class Current: 707/707
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/248 Presentation of query results
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/2747 Scrolling on a display
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/2748 by matching character strings
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/724 User interfaces specially adapted for cordless or mobile telephones
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/14 including a card reading device
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99933 Query processing, i.e. searching
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99934 Query formulation, input preparation, or translation

Abstract

A method and system for searching for data in at least two databases. To allow simultaneous access to two or more databases, a search term is entered. On the basis of the entered search term, the predecessor or a plurality of predecessors and the successor or a plurality of successors to the search term and, if available, the search term itself from each of the databases are stored in a search table, and the search term, if stored in the search table, or that term from the successors stored in the search table which comes closest after the entered search term is displayed.

Claims

1. A Method for searching for data in at least two databases (18′

-23′

), in particular for searching for telephone directory, address book or appointment diary entries in at least two telephone directory, address book or appointment diary databases, the method comprising;

entering a search term,

on the basis of the entered search term, searching for and retrieving a predecessor or a plurality of predecessors and a successor or a plurality of successors to the entered search term and, if available, the entered search term itself from each of the at least two databases (18′

-23′

), and storing in a search table a predecessor or a plurality of predecessors and a successor or a plurality of successors to the entered search term and, if available, the entered search term itself, and

displaying the entered search term, if stored in the search table, or that term from the successor or plurality of successors stored in the search table which comes closest after the entered search term.

2. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that the displayed successor is used as a search term for updating the search table.

3. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that either the displayed term is selected in order to display or select for further processing the data associated therewith, or a new search term is determined for continuing the search.

4. Method according to claim 3, characterized in that the new search term selected is the next predecessor or the next successor to the displayed term from the search table.

5. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that only the respective predecessors and successors to the search term in the connected databases and also, if available, the search term itself are stored in the search table in response to a search query, and in that the data associated with a search term are read from the appropriate database (18′

-23′

) and stored only for the term displayed, in order that they may be displayed or processed further upon request.

6. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that each term stored in the search table has an associated unique identification number.

7. Method according to claim 6, characterized in that, for the purpose of reading the data associated with a displayed tern from the appropriate database, the identification number of the displayed term is transmitted with a read request.

8. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that, together with the respective predecessors and the successors to the search term and also, it available, with the search term itself, the associated data from the connected databases are also stored in the search table in response to a search query in order that they may be displayed or processed further upon request.

9. A database system, for searching for data in at least two databases (18′

-23′

), in particular for searching for telephone directory, address book or appointment diary entries in at least two telephone directory, address book or appointment diary databases comprising;

at least two databases (18′

-23′

), each of which has an associated database control device (18″

-23″

),

a database primary control apparatus (26),

which can be connected to the database control devices (18″

-23″

) for the purposes of transmitting data and control commands to the database control devices (18″

-23″

) and receiving them therefrom, and

which has an associated search table memory (27) which is able to store data transmitted from the database control devices (18″

-23″

), and

a user interface (28) which is connected to the database primary control apparatus (26) and via which search terms and control commands can be entered for the purpose off simultaneously searching for data in all the connected databases (18′

-23′

), and via which terms and data found during the search in the connected databases (18′

-23′

) can be output, wherein on the basis of the entered search terms a predecessor or a plurality of predecessors and a successor or a plurality of successors to the entered search terms and, if available, the entered search terms can be searched for and retrieved from each of the at least two databases (18′

-23′

), and the predecessor or a plurality of predecessors and a successor or a plurality of successors to the entered search term and, if available, the entered search term itself can be stored in the search table memory; and

a display coupled to the user interface for displaying the entered search terms, if stored in the search table memory, or that term from the successor or plurality of successors stored in the search table memory which comes closest after the entered search terms.

10. Database system according to claim 9, characterized in that the database primary control apparatus (26) is connected to a database access interface (25) to which the database control devices (18″

-23″

) of the databases (18′

-23′

) can be connected for the purpose of interchanging data and control commands using communication links (14, 24, 17).

11. Database system according to claim 10, characterized in that the communication links (14, 17) provided are radio links.

12. Database system according to claim 10, characterized in that the communication links provided are infrared links.

13. Database system according to claim 10, characterized in that the communication links (24) provided are wired links.

14. Database system according to claim 9, wherein the databases are a telephone directory, address book or appointment diary databases.

15. Database system according to claim 9, characterized in that the databases (18′

-23′

) are provided on various apparatuses, at least one of which is a telephone (10, 15).

16. Database system according to claim 15, characterized in that the database primary control apparatus (26) is provided in the telephone (10).

17. Database system according to claim 9, characterized in that a plurality of database primary control apparatuses (26) are provided, each of which is arranged in a different apparatus.

18. The database system of claim 15 wherein the telephone is a mobile telephone.