US6317741B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Technique for ranking records of a database
Assignee: Eureka Database Solutions LLC
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Filing: 2000-08-07
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Granted: 2001-11-13
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Expires: 2020-08-07
Abstract
Abstract A technique for ranking records of a database is disclosed. The database records to be ranked are located during a search of an index to the database performed in response to a query received from a user. The index has a plurality of index entries, wherein each index entry has a weight. The query has a plurality of query terms, wherein each query term corresponds to an index entry. In one embodiment, the technique is realized by scoring each located record according to the number of times portions of information corresponding to each query term occur in each record and the weight of each index entry corresponding to each occurring query term. The score and an identifier of each located record are then stored in a respective entry of a ranking list. The ranking list has a limit on the number of entries that are stored therein. In response to the ranking list reaching the limit, it is determined if any records yet to be located may achieve a score that is higher than the score of any of the records already located and stored in the ranking list based upon query terms corresponding to index entries having a low weight. If not, the index is searched using query terms corresponding to index entries having weights higher than the low weight.
Inventors
- 👤 Michael Burrows
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 12:16
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F16/00; G06F16/30; G06F16/31; G06F16/316; G06F16/328; G06F16/319; G06F16/33; G06F16/3331; G06F16/334; G06F16/3341; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S707/00; Y10S707/99931; Y10S707/99932; Y10S707/99933; Y10S707/99934; Y10S707/99935; Y10S707/99936; Y10S707/99937; Y10S707/99941; Y10S707/99943
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 31
Claim 1
Independent Claim
203 words
A method for ranking records of a database located during a search of an index to the database performed in response to a query received from a user, the index having a plurality of index entries, each index entry having a weight, the query having a plurality of query terms, each query term corresponding to an index entry, the method comprising the steps of: scoring each located record according to the number of times portions of information corresponding to each query term occur in each record and the weight of each index entry corresponding to each occurring query term; storing the score and an identifier of each located record in a respective entry of a ranking list, the ranking list having a limit on the number of entries stored therein; and in response to the ranking list reaching the limit, determining if any records yet to be located may achieve a score that is higher than the score of any of the records already located and stored in the ranking list based upon query terms corresponding to index entries having a low weight, and, if not, searching the index using query terms corresponding to index entries having weights higher than the low weight.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
203 words
A method for ranking records of a database located during a search of an index to the database performed in response to a query received from a user, the index having a plurality of index entries, each index entry having a weight, the query having a plurality of query terms, each query term corresponding to an index entry, the method comprising the steps of: scoring each located record according to the number of times portions of information corresponding to each query term occur in each record and the weight of each index entry corresponding to each occurring query term; storing the score and an identifier of each located record in a respective entry of a ranking list, the ranking list having a limit on the number of entries stored therein; and in response to the ranking list reaching the limit, determining if any records yet to be located may achieve a score that is higher than the score of any of the records already located and stored in the ranking list based upon query terms corresponding to index entries having a low weight, and, if not, searching the index using query terms corresponding to index entries having weights higher than the low weight.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
67 words
The method as defined in claim 1 , wherein each index entry has a word entry corresponding a unique portion of information of the database, further comprising the step of: assigning the weight to each index entry according to a difference between the number of records indexed and the number of records including the unique portion of information corresponding to the word entry of the index entry.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method as defined in claim 1 , further comprising the step of: ordering the entries of the ranking list according to the scores.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method as defined in claim 3 , further comprising the step of: providing information associated with each located record to the user in the order of the ranking list.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method as defined in claim 4 , wherein the provided information associated with each located record is the score of each located record.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method as defined in claim 4 , wherein the provided information associated with each located record is the identifier of each located record.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
222 words
A system for ranking records of a database located during a search of an index to the database performed in response to a query received from a user, the index having a plurality of index entries, each index entry having a weight, the query having a plurality of query terms, each query term corresponding to an index entry, the system comprising: at least one processor configured to score each located record according to the number of times portions of information corresponding to each query term occur in each record and the weight of each index entry corresponding to each occurring query term; and at least one memory configured to store the score and an identifier of each located record in a respective entry of a ranking list, the ranking list having a limit on the number of entries stored therein; wherein, in response to the ranking list reaching the limit, the at least one processor is also configured to determine if any records yet to be located may achieve a score that is higher than the score of any of the records already located and stored in the ranking list based upon query terms corresponding to index entries having a low weight, and, if not, search the index using query terms corresponding to index entries having weights higher than the low weight.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
222 words
A system for ranking records of a database located during a search of an index to the database performed in response to a query received from a user, the index having a plurality of index entries, each index entry having a weight, the query having a plurality of query terms, each query term corresponding to an index entry, the system comprising: at least one processor configured to score each located record according to the number of times portions of information corresponding to each query term occur in each record and the weight of each index entry corresponding to each occurring query term; and at least one memory configured to store the score and an identifier of each located record in a respective entry of a ranking list, the ranking list having a limit on the number of entries stored therein; wherein, in response to the ranking list reaching the limit, the at least one processor is also configured to determine if any records yet to be located may achieve a score that is higher than the score of any of the records already located and stored in the ranking list based upon query terms corresponding to index entries having a low weight, and, if not, search the index using query terms corresponding to index entries having weights higher than the low weight.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
72 words
The system as defined in claim 7 , wherein each index entry has a word entry corresponding a unique portion of information of the database, wherein the at least one processor is also configured to assign the weight to each index entry according to a difference between the number of records indexed and the number of records including the unique portion of information corresponding to the word entry of the index entry.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
29 words
The system as defined in claim 7 , wherein the at least one processor is also configured to order the entries of the ranking list according to the scores.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
35 words
The system as defined in claim 9 , wherein the at least one processor is also configured to provide information associated with each located record to the user in the order of the ranking list.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
24 words
The system as defined in claim 10 , wherein the provided information associated with each located record is the score of each located record.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
24 words
The system as defined in claim 10 , wherein the provided information associated with each located record is the identifier of each located record.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
251 words
An article of manufacture for ranking records of a database located during a search of an index to the database performed in response to a query received from a user, the index having a plurality of index entries, each index entry having a weight, the query having a plurality of query terms, each query term corresponding to an index entry, the article of manufacture comprising: at least one processor readable carrier; and instructions carried on the at least one carrier; wherein the instructions are configured to be readable from the at least one carrier by at least one processor and thereby cause the at least one processor to operate so as to: score each located record according to the number of times portions of information corresponding to each query term occur in each record and the weight of each index entry corresponding to each occurring query term; store the score and an identifier of each located record in a respective entry of a ranking list, the ranking list having a limit on the number of entries stored therein; and in response to the ranking list reaching the limit, determine if any records yet to be located may achieve a score that is higher than the score of any of the records already located and stored in the ranking list based upon query terms corresponding to index entries having a low weight, and, if not, search the index using query terms corresponding to index entries having weights higher than the low weight.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
251 words
An article of manufacture for ranking records of a database located during a search of an index to the database performed in response to a query received from a user, the index having a plurality of index entries, each index entry having a weight, the query having a plurality of query terms, each query term corresponding to an index entry, the article of manufacture comprising: at least one processor readable carrier; and instructions carried on the at least one carrier; wherein the instructions are configured to be readable from the at least one carrier by at least one processor and thereby cause the at least one processor to operate so as to: score each located record according to the number of times portions of information corresponding to each query term occur in each record and the weight of each index entry corresponding to each occurring query term; store the score and an identifier of each located record in a respective entry of a ranking list, the ranking list having a limit on the number of entries stored therein; and in response to the ranking list reaching the limit, determine if any records yet to be located may achieve a score that is higher than the score of any of the records already located and stored in the ranking list based upon query terms corresponding to index entries having a low weight, and, if not, search the index using query terms corresponding to index entries having weights higher than the low weight.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
82 words
The article of manufacture as defined in claim 13 , wherein each index entry has a word entry corresponding a unique portion of information of the database, wherein the instructions are further configured to cause the at least one processor to operate so as to: assign the weight to each index entry according to a difference between the number of records indexed and the number of records including the unique portion of information corresponding to the word entry of the index entry.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
39 words
The article of manufacture as defined in claim 13 , wherein the instructions are further configured to cause the at least one processor to operate so as to: order the entries of the ranking list according to the scores.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
45 words
The article of manufacture as defined in claim 15 , wherein the instructions are further configured to cause the at least one processor to operate so as to: provide information associated with each located record to the user in the order of the ranking list.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
26 words
The article of manufacture as defined in claim 16 , wherein the provided information associated with each located record is the score of each located record.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
26 words
The article of manufacture as defined in claim 16 , wherein the provided information associated with each located record is the identifier of each located record.
Claim 22
Independent Claim
247 words
A system for ranking records of a database located during a search of an index to the database performed in response to a query received from a user, the index having a plurality of index entries, each index entry having a weight, the query having a plurality of query terms, each query term corresponding to an index entry, the system comprising: means for scoring each located record according to the number of times portions of information corresponding to each query term occur in each record and the weight of each index entry corresponding to each occurring query term; means for storing the score and an identifier of each located record in a respective entry of a ranking list, the ranking list having a limit on the number of entries stored therein; means for determining if any records yet to be located may achieve a score that is higher than the score of any of the records already located and stored in the ranking list based upon query terms corresponding to index entries having a low weight in response to the ranking list reaching the limit; and means for searching the index using query terms corresponding to index entries having weights higher than the low weight if no records yet to be located may achieve a score that is higher than the score of any of the records already located and stored in the ranking list based upon query terms corresponding to index entries having the low weight.
Claim 23
Independent Claim
247 words
A system for ranking records of a database located during a search of an index to the database performed in response to a query received from a user, the index having a plurality of index entries, each index entry having a weight, the query having a plurality of query terms, each query term corresponding to an index entry, the system comprising: means for scoring each located record according to the number of times portions of information corresponding to each query term occur in each record and the weight of each index entry corresponding to each occurring query term; means for storing the score and an identifier of each located record in a respective entry of a ranking list, the ranking list having a limit on the number of entries stored therein; means for determining if any records yet to be located may achieve a score that is higher than the score of any of the records already located and stored in the ranking list based upon query terms corresponding to index entries having a low weight in response to the ranking list reaching the limit; and means for searching the index using query terms corresponding to index entries having weights higher than the low weight if no records yet to be located may achieve a score that is higher than the score of any of the records already located and stored in the ranking list based upon query terms corresponding to index entries having the low weight.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
18 words
The system as defined in claim 19 , wherein the means for scoring comprises at least one processor.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
18 words
The system as defined in claim 19 , wherein the means for storing comprises at least one memory.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
18 words
The system as defined in claim 19 , wherein the means for determining comprises at least one processor.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
18 words
The system as defined in claim 19 , wherein the means for searching comprises at least one processor.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
66 words
The system as defined in claim 19 , wherein each index entry has a word entry corresponding a unique portion of information of the database, further comprising: means for assigning the weight to each index entry according to a difference between the number of records indexed and the number of records including the unique portion of information corresponding to the word entry of the index entry.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
18 words
The system as defined in claim 24 , wherein the means for assigning comprises at least one processor.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
23 words
The system as defined in claim 19 , further comprising: means for ordering the entries of the ranking list according to the scores.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
18 words
The system as defined in claim 26 , wherein the means for ordering comprises at least one processor.
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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) | 2004-11-12 | 2005-05-14 | 2005-11-13 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2008-11-12 | 2009-05-14 | 2009-11-13 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2012-11-12 | 2013-05-14 | 2013-11-13 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |