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US5809502A
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Object-oriented interface for an index
Assignee: AltaVista Co
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Filing: 1996-08-09
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Granted: 1998-09-15
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Expires: 2016-08-09
Abstract
Abstract A computer implemented method searches an index to locate records of a database using an object oriented interface. Each record has a unique address in the database. The index is organized as a plurality of index entries where each index entry including a word and an ordered list of locations where the word occurs in the database. The words represent a unique piece of information of the database. The index entries are ordered first according to the collating order of the words, and second according to the collating order of the locations of each associated word. A query is parsed into terms and operators. Each term is associated with a corresponding index entry, the operators relate the terms. A basic stream reader object is generated for each term of the query. The basic stream reader object sequentially reads the locations of the corresponding index entry to determine a target location. A compound stream reader object is generated for each operator. The compound stream reader object references the basic stream reader objects associated with the terms related by the operator. The compound stream reader object produces locations of words within a single record according to the operator. Each basic and compound stream reader object is an encapsulation of data references and method references with operate on the data references.
Inventors
- 👤 Michael Burrows
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 22:49
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F16/00; G06F16/90; G06F16/95; G06F16/951; G06F16/30; G06F16/31; G06F16/316; G06F16/319; G06F16/953; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S707/00; Y10S707/99931; Y10S707/99933; Y10S707/99934; Y10S707/99937; Y10S707/99941; Y10S707/99944; Y10S707/99945
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
191 words
A computer implemented method for searching an index of a database, the database including a plurality of records, each record having a unique record address in the database, comprising: organizing the index as a plurality of index entries, each index entry including a word and an ordered list of locations where the word occurs in the database, the word representing a unique piece of information of the database; ordering the index entries first according to the collating order of the words, and second according to the collating order of the locations of each word; parsing a query into terms and operators, each term associated with a corresponding index entry, the operators relating the terms; generating a basic stream reader object for each term, the basic stream reader object to sequentially read the locations of the corresponding index entry to determine a target location; generating a compound stream reader object for each operator, the compound stream reader object referencing the plurality of basic stream reader objects associated with the terms related by the operator, the compound stream reader object to produce locations of words within a single record according to the operator.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
191 words
A computer implemented method for searching an index of a database, the database including a plurality of records, each record having a unique record address in the database, comprising: organizing the index as a plurality of index entries, each index entry including a word and an ordered list of locations where the word occurs in the database, the word representing a unique piece of information of the database; ordering the index entries first according to the collating order of the words, and second according to the collating order of the locations of each word; parsing a query into terms and operators, each term associated with a corresponding index entry, the operators relating the terms; generating a basic stream reader object for each term, the basic stream reader object to sequentially read the locations of the corresponding index entry to determine a target location; generating a compound stream reader object for each operator, the compound stream reader object referencing the plurality of basic stream reader objects associated with the terms related by the operator, the compound stream reader object to produce locations of words within a single record according to the operator.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 1 wherein each basic and compound stream reader object includes data references and method references.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
74 words
The method of claim 2 wherein the data references of a basic stream reader object include a pointer to a file storing the index entry including the word associated with the term, a reference to the word of the index entry, a current location, a previous location, and an estimated over-shoot, and wherein the method references include a get word, get location, get next location, get location linit, get previous location, and close methods.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
80 words
The method of claim 2 wherein the data references of a compound stream reader object includes pointers to the a plurality of related basic stream reader objects, a current word of a current basic stream reader object being read, a current location of the current word, a previous location of the current word, and an estimated over-shoot, and wherein the method references include a get word, get location, get next location, get location limit, get previous location, and close methods.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 3 further comprising: producing a current word when the get word method of a particular stream reader object is called.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 3 further comprising: producing a current location when the get location method of a particular stream reader object is called.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 3 further comprising: producing a next location when the get next location method of a particular stream reader object is called.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
39 words
The method of claim 3 further comprising: producing a next location which is at least a target location but not greater than a limit location when the get location limit method of a particular stream reader object is called.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 3 further comprising: producing a previous location when the get previo us method of a particular stream reader object is called.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 3 further comprising: closing the stre am reader object when the close method of a particular stream reader object is called.
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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) | 2001-09-14 | 2002-03-16 | 2002-09-15 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2005-09-14 | 2006-03-16 | 2006-09-15 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2009-09-14 | 2010-03-16 | 2010-09-15 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |