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Method for optimizing entries for searching an index

Assignee: AltaVista Co
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Filing: 1996-08-09
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Granted: 1998-12-22
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Expires: 2016-08-09
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Abstract

Abstract A computerized method optimizes an index of information stored as records of a database in response to queries made to the index. The index is generated by storing index entries in a memory. Each index entry includes a word entry immediately followed by one or more location entries. The word entry encodes a unique portion of information of the records, and the location entries encode occurrences of the unique portion of information in the records. A query phrase is processed, the phrase corresponds to a concatenation of adjacent portions of indexed information. A measure of the amount of time required to process the phrase is recorded in a journal. Periodically, the journal is processed and new index entries are generated for the phrases if the processing of the phrase exceeds some predetermined threshold time.

Inventors

  • 👤 Michael Burrows

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-29 10:00
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F16/00; G06F16/30; G06F16/31; G06F16/316; G06F16/319; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S707/00; Y10S707/99931; Y10S707/99932; Y10S707/99933; Y10S707/99934; Y10S707/99941; Y10S707/99943

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 2
Claim 1
Independent Claim 132 words
A method for optimizing an index of information stored as records of a database, comprising: generating index entries in the index, each index entry including a word entry immediately followed by one or more location entries, each index entry encoding a unique portion of information of the records, and the location entries encoding occurrences of the unique portion of information; processing a phrase of a query, the phrase corresponding to a concatenation of adjacent portions of indexed information; recording a measure of the amount of time required to process the phrase of the query; and if the measure exceeds a threshold, generating an optimized index entry where the word entry encodes the concatenation of the adjacent portions of information, and the location entry encodes the location of a first portion the concatenation.
Claim 2
Independent Claim 132 words
A method for optimizing an index of information stored as records of a database, comprising: generating index entries in the index, each index entry including a word entry immediately followed by one or more location entries, each index entry encoding a unique portion of information of the records, and the location entries encoding occurrences of the unique portion of information; processing a phrase of a query, the phrase corresponding to a concatenation of adjacent portions of indexed information; recording a measure of the amount of time required to process the phrase of the query; and if the measure exceeds a threshold, generating an optimized index entry where the word entry encodes the concatenation of the adjacent portions of information, and the location entry encodes the location of a first portion the concatenation.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 2001-12-21 2002-06-22 2002-12-22 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 2005-12-21 2006-06-22 2006-12-22 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2009-12-21 2010-06-22 2010-12-22 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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