US6014664A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Method and apparatus for incorporating weights into data combinational rules
Assignee: International Business Machines Corp
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Filing: 1997-08-29
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Granted: 2000-01-11
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Expires: 2017-08-29
Abstract
Abstract A data processing system provides the correct weighted combinational function for any unweighted combinational rules applied to a database. The system receives weights to be applied to data attributes, checks for ordering conditions and if necessary re-orders the weights, and produces the correct, unique combinational function that incorporates the user weights into the base combinational rules that otherwise would be applied to retrieve desired data from the database. Thus, the invention provides unprecedented flexibility in determining the proper computation of combined scoring functions.
Inventors
- 👤 Ronald Fagin
- 👤 Edward Leo Wimmers
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 23:24
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F16/00; G06F16/40; G06F16/48; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S707/00; Y10S707/99931; Y10S707/99933; Y10S707/99934; Y10S707/99935
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 42
Claim 1
Independent Claim
80 words
A computer method of incorporating user weights into base combinational functions that operate on data stored in data storage of a computer processing system to retrieve desired data, the method comprising the steps of: receiving a collection of base scoring function data; receiving a set of user weight data corresponding to each of the base scoring functions; testing the received user weight data for solution conditions; and determining a new combinational scoring function over the weighted collection of base functions.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
80 words
A computer method of incorporating user weights into base combinational functions that operate on data stored in data storage of a computer processing system to retrieve desired data, the method comprising the steps of: receiving a collection of base scoring function data; receiving a set of user weight data corresponding to each of the base scoring functions; testing the received user weight data for solution conditions; and determining a new combinational scoring function over the weighted collection of base functions.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
32 words
A method as defined in claim 1, wherein the step of receiving base scoring, function data comprises receiving data defining a subroutine that implements one or more of the base scoring, functions.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
36 words
A method as defined in claim 1, wherein the step of receiving base scoring function data comprises receiving function coefficients and operation data from the user that specifies one or more of the base scoring, functions.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
35 words
A method as defined in claim 1, wherein the step of receiving user weight data comprises receiving data that defines a weight value that is substantially continuously adjustable in the range of zero to one.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
29 words
A method as defined in claim 1, wherein the step of testing the received data includes checking to ensure that the sum of weight data is equal to one.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
78 words
A method as defined in claim 1, wherein the step of testing the received user weight data comprises the steps of: determining if the collection of weight data values Θ={θ 1 , θ 2 , . . . , θ m } is ordered so that θ 1 >=θ 2 . . . >=θ m ; and ordering the user weight data in descending order if the step of determining shows that it was not so originally ordered.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
21 words
A method as defined in claim 1, further including the step of retrieving database matches that satisfy the weighted combinational function.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
51 words
A method as defined in claim 1, wherein the determining step comprises applying a General Weighting Rule, with the General Weighting Rule given by the following: f(X)=mθ m b {1 , 2, . . . , i} (X)+Σi(θ i -θ i+1 )b {1 , 2, . . . , i} (X).
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
17 words
A method as defined in claim 1, further comprising the step of receiving a base combinational function.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
19 words
A method as defined in claim 9 wherein the base combinational function that is received is the minimum function.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
19 words
A method as defined in claim 9 wherein the base combinational function that is received is the maximum function.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
20 words
A method as defined in claim 9 wherein the base combinational function that is received is the geometric mean function.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
20 words
A method as defined in claim 9 wherein the base combinational function that is received is the Euclidean distance function.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
98 words
A data processing system comprising: a central processing unit; one or more data storage devices in which data is stored for retrieval by the data processing system; and a query engine that receives database queries from a system user and processes them to retrieve data from the data storage devices, wherein the query engine: receives a collection of base scoring function data, receives a set of user weight data corresponding to each of the base scoring functions, tests the received data for solution conditions, and determines a new combinational scoring function over the weighted collection of base functions.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
98 words
A data processing system comprising: a central processing unit; one or more data storage devices in which data is stored for retrieval by the data processing system; and a query engine that receives database queries from a system user and processes them to retrieve data from the data storage devices, wherein the query engine: receives a collection of base scoring function data, receives a set of user weight data corresponding to each of the base scoring functions, tests the received data for solution conditions, and determines a new combinational scoring function over the weighted collection of base functions.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
35 words
A data processing system as defined in claim 14, wherein the query engine receives the base scoring function data by receiving data defining a subroutine that implements one or more of the base scoring functions.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
38 words
A data processing system as defined in claim 14, wherein the query engine receives base scoring function data by receiving function coefficients and operation data from the user that specify one or more of the base scoring functions.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
37 words
A data processing system as defined in claim 14, wherein the query engine receives user weight data by receiving data that defines a weight value that is substantially continuously adjustable in the range of zero to one.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
31 words
A data processing system as defined in claim 14, wherein the query engine tests the received data by checking to ensure that the sum of weight data is equal to one.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
79 words
A data processing system as defined in claim 14, wherein the query engine tests the received user weight data by determining if the collection of weight data values Θ={θ 1 , θ 2 , . . . , θ m } is ordered so that θ 1 >=θ 2 . . . >=θ m , and by ordering the user weight data in descending order if it is determined that the user weight data was not so originally ordered.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
24 words
A data processing system as defined in claim 14, further including the step of retrieving database matches that satisfy the weighted combinational scoring function.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
63 words
A data processing system as defined in claim 14, wherein determining a new combinational scoring function over the weighted collection of base functions comprises applying a General Weighting Rule, with the General Weighting Rule given by the following: f(X)=mθ m b {1 , 2, . . . , i} (X)+Σi(θ i -θ i+1 )b {1 , 2, . . . , i} (X).
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
19 words
A data processing system as defined in claim 14, wherein the query engine further receives a base combinational function.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
23 words
A data processing system as defined in claim 22 wherein the base combinational function that the query engine receives is the minimum function.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
23 words
A data processing system as defined in claim 22 wherein the base combinational function that the query engine receives is the maximum function.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
24 words
A data processing system as defined in claim 22 wherein the base combinational function that the query engine receives is the geometric mean function.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
24 words
A data processing system as defined in claim 22 wherein the base combinational function that the query engine receives is the Euclidean distance function.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
89 words
A program product, tangibly embodying a program of machine-readable instructions executable by a computer system, the program product comprising: a recordable media; and a data processing system (DP) recorded on the recordable media, the DP having a query engine that executes steps comprising: receiving a collection of base scoring function data, receiving a set of user weight data corresponding to each of the base scoring functions, testing the received user weight data for solution conditions, and determining a new weighted combinational function over the weighted collection of base functions.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
89 words
A program product, tangibly embodying a program of machine-readable instructions executable by a computer system, the program product comprising: a recordable media; and a data processing system (DP) recorded on the recordable media, the DP having a query engine that executes steps comprising: receiving a collection of base scoring function data, receiving a set of user weight data corresponding to each of the base scoring functions, testing the received user weight data for solution conditions, and determining a new weighted combinational function over the weighted collection of base functions.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
35 words
A program product as defined in claim 27, wherein the query engine step of receiving base scoring function data comprises receiving data defining a subroutine that implements one or more of the base scoring functions.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
39 words
A program product as defined in claim 27, wherein the query engine step of receiving base scoring function data comprises receiving function coefficients and operation data from the user that specify one or more of the base scoring functions.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
38 words
A program product as defined in claim 27, wherein the query engine step of receiving user weight data comprises receiving data that defines a weight value that is substantially continuously adjustable in the range of zero to one.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
33 words
A program product as defined in claim 27, wherein the query engine step of testing the received data includes checking to ensure that the sum of the weight data is equal to one.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
81 words
A program product as defined in claim 27, wherein the query engine step of testing the received user weight data comprises the steps of: determining if the collection of weight data values Θ={θ 1 , θ 2 , . . . , θ m } is ordered so that θ 1 >=θ 2 . . . >=θ m ; and ordering the user weight data in descending order if the step of determining shows that it was not so originally ordered.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
22 words
A program product as defined in claim 27, further including the step of retrieving database matches that satisfy the weighted combinational function.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
62 words
A program product as defined in claim 27, wherein determining a new combinational scoring function over the weighted collection of base functions comprises applying a General Weighting Rule, with the General Weighting Rule given by the following: f(X)=mθ m b {1 , 2, . . . , i} (X)+Σi(θ i -θ i+1 )b {1 , 2, . . . , i} (X).
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
23 words
A program product as defined in claim 27, wherein the steps executed by the query engine further comprise receiving a base combinational function.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
22 words
A program product as defined in claim 35 wherein the base combinational function that the query engine receives is the minimum function.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
22 words
A program product as defined in claim 35 wherein the base combinational function that the query engine receives is the maximum function.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
23 words
A program product as defined in claim 35 wherein the base combinational function that the query engine receives is the geometric mean function.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
23 words
A program product as defined in claim 35 wherein the base combinational function that the query engine receives is the Euclidean distance function.
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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) | 2003-01-10 | 2003-07-12 | 2004-01-11 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2007-01-10 | 2007-07-12 | 2008-01-11 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2011-01-10 | 2011-07-12 | 2012-01-11 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |