US6434546B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
System and method for transferring attribute values between search queries in an information retrieval system
Assignee: Majandro LLC
•
Filing: 1998-12-22
•
Granted: 2002-08-13
•
Expires: 2018-12-22
Abstract
Abstract An information retrieval system for retrieving information from multiple information sources. The information retrieval system provides for the building of dynamic queries through the use of query channels. A query channel permits the passing of attributes of the search results between different queries. The query channel can cause the automatic passing of the attributes, or it can be user controlled (breakpoints). Further, the query results may be transformed so that they are in the context of the target query (computational transformations). For example, the results may be translated or reformatted into a form utilized by the target query. Query channels are created based on graphical representations of queries and their attributes. A simple drag and drop operation, wherein an attribute is selected and dragged to the target query, is used to create the channel. A channel may be created while a query is running. Specification of breakpoints or computational transformations are made using a pop-up window interface that may appear when the channel is selected.
Inventors
- 👤 Jutta Williamowski
- 👤 Remo Pareschi
- 👤 Uwe M. Borghoff
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 13:43
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F16/00; G06F16/90; G06F16/95; G06F16/953; G06F16/9532; G06F16/951; G06F16/9538; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S707/00; Y10S707/99931; Y10S707/99933; Y10S707/99941; Y10S707/99943
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 21
Claim 1
Independent Claim
157 words
An information retrieval system for generating queries to one or more information sources, said information retrieval system comprising: a demand agent providing: a user interface for allowing a user to specify a search expression; a query specification interface for allowing a user to specify a dynamic channel between a first query and a second query wherein the search results for an attribute of said first query are provided as a search attribute of said second query, said dynamic channel specified and operational while said first query or said second query is being executed; a broker agent providing a search and retrieval element for processing a search expression and creating specific information source search requests; a channel element for associating the results of an attribute of said first query with said input attribute of said second query; a supply agent for receiving said search requests and requesting and obtaining documents from information sources responsive to said search requests.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
157 words
An information retrieval system for generating queries to one or more information sources, said information retrieval system comprising: a demand agent providing: a user interface for allowing a user to specify a search expression; a query specification interface for allowing a user to specify a dynamic channel between a first query and a second query wherein the search results for an attribute of said first query are provided as a search attribute of said second query, said dynamic channel specified and operational while said first query or said second query is being executed; a broker agent providing a search and retrieval element for processing a search expression and creating specific information source search requests; a channel element for associating the results of an attribute of said first query with said input attribute of said second query; a supply agent for receiving said search requests and requesting and obtaining documents from information sources responsive to said search requests.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
26 words
The system as recited in claim 1 wherein said demand agent is further comprised of a channel control interface for causing user controls on said channel.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
54 words
The system as recited in claim 2 wherein a first user control is a computational transformation for transforming the results of the search for said first attribute into the query context of said second query; and wherein said broker agent is further comprised of an element for causing an associated computational transformation to occur.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
23 words
The system as recited in claim 3 wherein said computational transformation is a translation from a source language to a target query language.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
16 words
The system as recited in claim 3 wherein said computational transformation is an attribute type integration.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
16 words
The system as recited in claim 3 wherein said computational transformation is an attribute arity integration.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
16 words
The system as recited in claim 3 wherein said computational transformation is an attribute unit integration.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
43 words
The system as recited in claim 2 wherein said a second user control is for specifying automatic or user controlled transfer; and wherein said broker agent is further comprised of an element for causing said user controlled transfer when specified by said user.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
154 words
A method for obtaining information from one or more information sources from an information retrieval system, said method comprising the steps of: a) a user specifying one or more query attributes for a first query and causing said first query to be executed by said information retrieval system; b) said user specifying a second query while said first query is being executed, wherein at least one of said attributes for said second query is the results of a query attribute from said first query; c) said information retrieval system providing the results of said first query; d) said information retrieval system extracting from the results of said first query, the results for said specified query attribute; e) said information retrieval system providing said results for said specified query attribute as a an input attribute for said second query; and f) said information retrieval system providing said user with the results of said second query.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
154 words
A method for obtaining information from one or more information sources from an information retrieval system, said method comprising the steps of: a) a user specifying one or more query attributes for a first query and causing said first query to be executed by said information retrieval system; b) said user specifying a second query while said first query is being executed, wherein at least one of said attributes for said second query is the results of a query attribute from said first query; c) said information retrieval system providing the results of said first query; d) said information retrieval system extracting from the results of said first query, the results for said specified query attribute; e) said information retrieval system providing said results for said specified query attribute as a an input attribute for said second query; and f) said information retrieval system providing said user with the results of said second query.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
77 words
The method as recited in claim 9 wherein prior to said step of said information retrieval system providing said results for said specified query attribute as a result for said second query, said user performing the step of specifying that a computational transformation should be performed on said results for said specified query attribute so that said results are in a context of said second query; and said system performing said computational transformation as results are received.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method as recited in claim 10 wherein said computational transformation is a translation from a source language to a target query language.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method as recited in claim 10 wherein said computational transformation is an attribute type integration.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method as recited in claim 10 wherein said computational transformation is an attribute arity integration.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method as recited in claim 10 wherein said computational transformation is an attribute unit integration.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
69 words
The method as recited in claim 9 wherein prior to said step of said information retrieval system providing said results for said specified query attribute as a result for said second query, said user performing the step of specifying that said results for said specified query attribute should be user controlled; and said system providing said user the ability to exclude results from being provided to said second query.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
173 words
A program storage device readable by a machine, tangibly embodying a program of instructions executable by the machine to perform method steps for obtaining information from one or more information sources from an information retrieval system, said method comprising the steps of: a) a user specifying one or more query attributes for a first query and causing said first query to be executed by said information retrieval system; b) said user specifying a second query while said first query is being executed, wherein at least one of said attributes for said second query is the results of a query attribute from said first query; c) said information retrieval system providing the results of said first query; d) said information retrieval system extracting from the results of said first query, the results for said specified query attribute; e) said information retrieval system providing said results for said specified query attribute as an input attribute for said second query; and f) said information retrieval system providing said user with the results of said second query.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
173 words
A program storage device readable by a machine, tangibly embodying a program of instructions executable by the machine to perform method steps for obtaining information from one or more information sources from an information retrieval system, said method comprising the steps of: a) a user specifying one or more query attributes for a first query and causing said first query to be executed by said information retrieval system; b) said user specifying a second query while said first query is being executed, wherein at least one of said attributes for said second query is the results of a query attribute from said first query; c) said information retrieval system providing the results of said first query; d) said information retrieval system extracting from the results of said first query, the results for said specified query attribute; e) said information retrieval system providing said results for said specified query attribute as an input attribute for said second query; and f) said information retrieval system providing said user with the results of said second query.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
78 words
The method steps as recited in claim 16 wherein prior to said step of said information retrieval system providing said results for said specified query attribute as a result for said second query, said user performing the step of specifying that a computational transformation should be performed on said results for said specified query attribute so that said results are in a context of said second query; and said system performing said computational transformation as results are received.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
69 words
The method as recited in claim 16 wherein prior to said step of said information retrieval system providing said results for said specified query attribute as a result for said second query, said user performing the step of specifying that said results for said specified query attribute should be user controlled; and said system providing said user the ability to exclude results from being provided to said second query.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US5047918A
Cited
US4849898A
Cited
US5594641A
Cited
US5642522A
Cited
US5799309A
Cited
EP0747845A1
Cited
US6169992B1
Cited
US6088717A
Cited
WO1998029792A2
Cited
US6108044A
Cited
WO1998048361A1
Cited
WO1998048359A1
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2005-08-12 | 2006-02-11 | 2006-08-13 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2009-08-12 | 2010-02-11 | 2010-08-13 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2013-08-12 | 2014-02-11 | 2014-08-13 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |