Database system and method for data acquisition and perusal

• US 6,834,276 B1
• Filed: 02/25/1999
• Issued: 12/21/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 02/25/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Indacon Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Integrated Data Control, Inc.
• Inventors: Jensen, Robert Leland, Smith, Daniel Victor
• Primary Examiner(s): Wassum, Luke S
• Application Number:
  US09/257,714
• Time in Patent Office: 2,126 Days
• Field of Search: 707/1-7, 707/10, 707/513, 707/501, 707/102, 707/104, 709/217, 709/219
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9558 Details of hyperlinks; Management of linked annotations
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/958 Organisation or management of web site content, e.g. publishing, maintaining pages or automatic linking
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99932 Access augmentation or optimizing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99936 Pattern matching access
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99943 Generating database or data structure, e.g. via user interface

Abstract

A data acquisition and perusal system and method including a database selection module, a database index generator module and a search module. The database selection module enables selection of a plurality of files for inclusion into at least one selectable database. The database index generator module enables generation of a searchable index of the data contained in the selectable database. The search module enables a search to be performed of the searchable index according to search criteria. The data acquisition and perusal system and method may also allow users to view, acquire, and generate single- or multiple-data sources locally or remotely, and allow users to compile, index, modify, and append the data sources according to default or user defined criteria. The data acquisition and perusal system and method may also selectively acquire and display data contained within remote databases depending upon the user'"'"'s access permissions to such databases. Such a system allows for the capture of hypertext data which is automatically indexed without human intervention and has the ability to automatically and accurately locate or “pinpoint,” and highlight specific text or groups of text designated by the user within the resulting database. Such a system contains a link module that enables custom links to be defined between selected terms of selected files of the selectable database including the custom links so that the searchable index includes only valid links.

Claims

1. A data acquisition and perusal system, comprising:

a database selection module that enables selection of a plurality of files for inclusion into at least one selectable database;

a link module that enables custom links to be defined between selected terms of selected files of the at least one database;

wherein the link module enables association of any link term with any of the plurality of files in the at least one selectable database; and

wherein the link module enables at least one alias term to be defined for the any link term to enable a link to be established between the at least one alias term and the any of the plurality of files;

a database index generator module that enables generation of a searchable index of the data contained in the at least one selectable database, including the custom links, the generator module enabling only valid custom links to be added to the searchable index; and

a search module that enables a search of the searchable index to be performed according to a search criterions.

2. A data acquisition and perusal system, comprising:

a database selection module that enables selection of a plurality of files for inclusion into at least one selectable database;

a link module that enables custom links to be defined between selected terms of selected files of the at least one database;

wherein the link module enables designation of a pattern that corresponds to one or more text strings, and wherein the link module is operable to link instances of the one or more text strings in the selected files with other of said selected files having identification data that matches the text strings;

a database index generator module that enables generation of a searchable index of the data contained in the at least one selectable database, including the custom links, the generator module enabling only valid custom links to be added to the searchable index; and

a search module that enables a search of the searchable index to be performed according to a search criterion.

3. The data acquisition and perusal system of claim 2, wherein the link module enables designation of a pattern that includes wildcard characters.

4. A data acquisition and perusal system, comprising:

a database selection module that enables selection of a plurality of files for inclusion into at least one selectable database;

a link module that enables custom links to be defined between selected terms of selected files of the at least one database;

the link module enabling association of at least one selected link term with any of the plurality of files in the at least one selectable database;

at least one selected link term including at least one alias;

a database index generator module that enables generation of a searchable index of the data contained in the at least one selectable database, including the custom links, the generator module enabling only valid custom links to be added to the searchable index;

a search module that enables a search of the searchable index to be performed according to a search criterion;

at least one input device; and

a display utility including a graphic user interface that enables graphic interaction with the database selection, the link and the search modules via the at least one input device, wherein the display utility displays at least portions of files in the selectable database that meet the search criterion, indicates terms in the displayed file portions that meet the search criterion, indicates any of the at least one selected link term in the displayed portions of files in the selectable database that meet the search criterion, enables interaction with any indicated selected link terms via the at least one input device to enable perusal of linked files in the at least one selectable database;

the display utility further indicating the at least one alias; and

the display utility enabling interaction with the at least one alias via the at least one input device to enable perusal of linked files in the at least one selectable database.

5. A data acquisition and perusal system for finding, storing and retrieving useful information, comprising:

means for locating a plurality of accessible computer files according to a selected search criteria;

means for selecting files containing relevant information from the located files for inclusion into at least one selectable database;

means for enabling user defined custom linking relationships among selected terms of said selected files of the at least one database;

wherein said link means enables association of any link term with any of the plurality of files in the at least one selectable database;

wherein said link means enables at least one alias term to be defined for the any link term to enable a link to be established between the at least one alias term and the any of the plurality of files;

means for generating a searchable index of the data contained in the selected database including the custom links so that the searchable index includes only valid links;

means for searching the searchable index to be performed according to a search criterion to locate words and phrases in the selected database; and

means for accurately highlighting the located words and phrases in the display from the search results.

6. A data acquisition and perusal system, comprising:

means for locating a plurality of accessible computer files according to a selected search criteria;

means for selecting files containing relevant information from the located files for inclusion into at least one selectable database;

means for enabling user defined custom linking relationships among selected terms of said selected files of the at least one database;

wherein the link means enables designation of a pattern that corresponds to one or more text strings, and wherein the link means is operable to link instances of the one or more text strings in the selected files with other of said selected files having identification data that matches the text strings;

means for generating a searchable index of the data contained in the selected database including the custom links so that the searchable index includes only valid links;

means for searching the searchable index to be performed according to a search criterion to locate words and phrases in the selected database; and

means for accurately highlighting the located words and phrases in the display from the search results.

7. The data acquisition and perusal system of claim 6 wherein the link means enables designation of a pattern that includes wildcard characters.

8. A data acquisition and perusal method for finding, storing and retrieving useful information, comprising the steps of:

locating a plurality of accessible files according to a selected search criteria;

selecting a plurality of the located files containing relevant information for automatic inclusion into at least one selectable database;

defining custom linking relationships between selected terms and designated files of the selected database;

wherein said link definition step includes defining at least one alias term for at least one of the selected terms to establish linking relationships between the at least one alias term and one of the designated files;

verifying the validity of the custom linking relationships;

generating a searchable index of the data contained in the selected database including the custom linking relationships so that the searchable index includes only valid custom linking relationships; and

searching the searchable index according to a selected search criterion to locate words and phrases in the data and accurately highlighting the located terms and phrases.

9. A data acquisition and perusal method for finding, storing and retrieving useful information, comprising the steps of:

locating a plurality of accessible files according to a selected search criteria;

selecting a plurality of the located files containing relevant information for automatic inclusion into at least one selectable database;

defining custom linking relationships between selected terms and designated files of the selected database;

wherein the step of defining the linking relationships includes designating a pattern that corresponds to one or more text strings and linking instances of the one or more text strings in the selected files with other of said selected files having identification data that matches the text strings;

verifying the validity of the custom linking relationships;

generating a searchable index of the data contained in the selected database including the custom linking relationships so that the searchable index includes only valid custom linking relationships; and

searching the searchable index according to a selected search criterion to locate words and phrases in the data and accurately highlighting the located terms and phrases.

10. The data acquisition and perusal method of claim 9 wherein the step of defining the linking relationships includes designating a pattern that includes wildcard characters.

11. A data acquisition and perusal method for finding, storing and retrieving useful information comprising the steps of:

locating a plurality of accessible files according to a selected search criteria;

selecting a plurality of the located files containing relevant information for automatic inclusion into at least one selectable database;

defining custom linking relationships between selected terms and designated files of the selected database;

verifying the validity of the custom linking relationships;

generating a searchable index of the data contained in the selected database including the custom linking relationships so that the searchable index includes only valid custom linking relationships;

searching the searchable index according to a selected search criterion to locate words and phrases in the data and accurately highlighting the located terms and phrases;

displaying a graphic user interface that enables graphic interaction with the database selection, the link and the search means via the at least one input device;

displaying at least portions of files in the selectable database that meet the search criterion;

indicating terms in the displayed file portions that meet the search criterion;

identifying at least one alias of at least one of the selected terms for which custom linking relationships with designated files are defined;

displaying the at least one alias; and

enabling interaction with the at least one alias via at least one input device to enable perusal of linked files in the at least one selectable database.

12. A data indexing and perusal system comprising:

an index module that enables generation of an index of a plurality of selected source files;

a custom link module that enables a user to create links between two of the plurality of selected source files; and

a search module that enables a search to be performed according to a search criterion to locate words and phrases in the plurality of selected source files;

wherein the link module enables designation of a link term and designation of one of the plurality of selected source files to be linked to the designated link term;

the link module being operable to automatically link multiple instances of the designated link term in the plurality of selected source files with the designated file;

wherein the link module further enables identification of a plurality of alias terms to be associated with the designated link term, the link module being operable to automatically link instances of the alias terms in the plurality of selected source files with the designated file.

13. A data indexing and perusal system, comprising:

an index module that enables generation of an index of a plurality of selected source files;

a custom link module that enables a user to create links between two of the plurality of selected source files; and

a search module that enables a search to be performed according to a search criterion to locate words and phrases in the plurality of selected source files;

wherein at least some of the plurality of selected source files have predefined fields containing identification data;

wherein the link module enables designation of a link field pattern, including wild card characters, that correspond to one or more text strings; and

the link module being operable to automatically link instances of the one or more text strings in the plurality of selected source files with source files having identification data that match the text strings.

14. A method of linking, indexing, and searching a plurality of selected source files, the method comprising:

enabling users to create custom links between two or more of the plurality of selected source files;

enabling designation of a link term and designation of one of the plurality of selected source files to be linked to the designated link term;

automatically generating links between all instances of the link term within the plurality of selected source files and the designated file;

enabling identification of a plurality of alias terms to be associated with the designated link term;

automatically generating links between all instances of the alias terms in the plurality of selected source files and the designated file;

generating a searchable index of the plurality of selected source files;

incorporating any user-created custom links into the index; and

searching the searchable index according to a search criterion to locate words and phrases in the plurality of selected source files.

15. A method of linking indexing, and searching a plurality of selected source files, the method comprising:

enabling users to create custom links between two or more of the plurality of selected source files, wherein at least some of the plurality of selected source files have predetermined fields containing identification data;

enabling designation of a link term and designation of one of the plurality of selected source files to be linked to the designated link term;

automatically generating links between all instances of the link term within the plurality of selected source files and the designated file;

enabling designation of a link field pattern, including wild card characters, that correspond to one or more text strings;

automatically linking instances of the one or more text strings in the plurality of selected source files with source files having identification data that match the text strings;

generating a searchable index of the plurality of selected source files;

incorporating any user-created custom links into the index; and

searching the searchable index according to a search criterion to locate words and phrases in the plurality of selected source files.