Method and apparatus configured according to a logical table having cell and attributes containing address segments

DC CAFC

US 6,163,775 A
Filed: 03/05/1998
Issued: 12/19/2000
Est. Priority Date: 03/28/1995
Status: Expired due to Term

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1. A data storage and retrieval system for a computer having a memory, a central processing unit and a display, comprising:

means for configuring said memory according to a logical table, said logical table including;

a plurality of cells, each said cell having a first address segment and a second address segment;

a plurality of attribute sets, each said attribute set including a series of cells having the same second address segment, each said attribute set including an object identification number (OID) to identify each said attribute set; and

a plurality of records, each said record including a series of cells having the same first address segment, each said record including an OID to identify each said record, wherein at least one of said records has an OID equal to the OID of a corresponding one of said attribute sets, and at least one of said records includes attribute set information defining each of said attribute sets.

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Abstract

The information management and database system of the present invention comprises a flexible, self-referential table that stores data. The table of the present invention may store any type of data, both structured and unstructured, and provides an interface to other application programs. The table of the present invention comprises a plurality of rows and columns. Each row has an object identification number (OID) and each column also has an OID. A row corresponds to a record and a column corresponds to a field such that the intersection of a row and a column comprises a cell that may contain data for a particular record related to a particular field, a cell may also point to another record. To enhance searching and to provide for synchronization between columns, columns are entered as rows in the table and the record corresponding to a column contains various information about the column. The table includes an index structure for extended queries.

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60 Claims

1. A data storage and retrieval system for a computer having a memory, a central processing unit and a display, comprising:
- means for configuring said memory according to a logical table, said logical table including;
  
  a plurality of cells, each said cell having a first address segment and a second address segment;
  
  a plurality of attribute sets, each said attribute set including a series of cells having the same second address segment, each said attribute set including an object identification number (OID) to identify each said attribute set; and
  
  a plurality of records, each said record including a series of cells having the same first address segment, each said record including an OID to identify each said record, wherein at least one of said records has an OID equal to the OID of a corresponding one of said attribute sets, and at least one of said records includes attribute set information defining each of said attribute sets.
- View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
- - 2. The system of claim 1 wherein said attribute set information defines one of said attribute sets to contain information for enabling determination of OIDs from text entry.
  - 3. The system of claim 1 wherein said one of said attribute sets contains information including a search path that references a folder, said folder including a group of records of a similar type.
  - 4. The system of claim 1, wherein said attribute set information defines one of said attribute sets to contain information for synchronizing two attribute sets reciprocally.
  - 5. The system of claim 4 wherein said one of said attribute sets contains information including reciprocal pointers to said two attribute sets.
  - 6. The system of claim 1 wherein:
    - at least one of said plurality of records includes information defining the type of a different record; and
      
      at least one of said plurality of records includes a cell that contains a pointer to said record including record type information.
  - 7. The system of claim 1 wherein at least one of said attribute sets defines cells that include a plurality of pointers to other attribute sets within the same record, said pointers indicating those attribute sets within the same record that contain defined values.
  - 8. The system of claim 1 wherein at least one of said records is a folder type record, said folder type record including at least one cell that contains data and a plurality of pointers to a plurality of other records included within said folder.
  - 9. The system of claim 8 wherein said plurality of other records included within said folder each includes a cell that contains a pointer to said folder type record.
  - 10. The system of claim 1 wherein said OID'"'"'s are variable length and include data related to a session identification number and a timestamp.

11. A data storage and retrieval system for a computer having a memory, a central processing unit and a display, comprising:
- means for configuring said memory according to a logical table, said logical table including;
  
  a plurality of cells, each said cell having a first address segment and a second address segment;
  
  a plurality of attribute sets, each said attribute set including a series of cells having the same second address segment, each said attribute set including an object identification number (OID) to identify each said attribute set;
  
  a plurality of records, each said record including a series of cells having the same first address segment, each said record including an OID to identify each said record, at least one of said records contains a cell having a pointer to a different record and at least one of said records includes attribute set information defining each of said attribute sets; and
  
  means for searching said table for said pointer.
- View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14)
- - 12. The system of claim 11 wherein at least one of said attribute sets defines cells that include a plurality of pointers to other attribute sets within the same record, said pointers indicating those attribute sets within the same record that contain defined values.
  - 13. The system of claim 11 wherein at least one of said records is a folder type record, said folder type record including at least one cell that contains data and a plurality of pointers to a plurality of other records included within said folder.
  - 14. The system of claim 13 wherein said plurality of other records included within said folder each includes a cell that contains a pointer to said folder type record.

15. A data storage and retrieval system for a computer having a memory, a central processing unit and a display, comprising:
- means for configuring said memory according to a logical table, said logical table including;
  
  a plurality of cells, each said cell having a first address segment and a second address segment;
  
  a plurality of attribute sets, each said attribute set including a series of cells having the same second address segment, each said attribute set including an object identification number (OID) to identify each said attribute set;
  
  a plurality of records, each said record including a series of cells having the same first address segment, each said record including an OID to identify each said record, at least one of said plurality of records contains a cell having a pointer to a different record and at least one of said plurality of records includes information defining the type of a different record; and
  
  means for searching said table for said pointer.

16. A data storage and retrieval system for a computer having a memory, a central processing unit and a display, comprising:
- means for configuring said memory according to a logical table, said logical table including;
  
  a plurality of cells, each said cell having a first address segment and a second address segment;
  
  a plurality of attribute sets, each said attribute set including a series of cells having the same second address segment, each said attribute set including an object identification number (OID) to identify each said attribute set; and
  
  a plurality of records, each said record including a series of cells having the same first address segment, each said record including an OID to identify each said record, wherein said OID'"'"'s are variable length.

17. A data storage and retrieval system for a computer having a memory, a central processing unit and a display, comprising:
- means for configuring said memory according to a logical table, said logical table including;
  
  a plurality of cells, each said cell having a first address segment and a second address segment;
  
  a plurality of attribute sets, each said attribute set including a series of cells having the same second address segment, each said attribute set including an object identification number (OID) to identify each said attribute set;
  
  a plurality of records, each said record including a series of cells having the same first address segment, each said record including an OID to identify each said record; and
  
  means for indexing data stored in said table.
- View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
- - 18. The system of claim 17 wherein said indexing means further comprises:
    - means for searching a plurality of cells within said table for a key word, said searching means capable of searching a attribute set containing unstructured text and a attribute set containing structured data; and
      
      means for inserting into said table a record corresponding to said key word.
  - 19. The system of claim 18 wherein:
    - said inserted record includes a cell that contains a pointer to a searched cell that contains the keyword corresponding to said inserted record; and
      
      said searched cell that contains a keyword corresponding to said inserted record contains a pointer to said inserted record.
  - 20. The system of claim 19 wherein said pointer to said searched cell includes the OID'"'"'s of the attribute set and record defining said searched cell.
  - 21. The system of claim 19 wherein said searched cell includes an anchor that marks said key word.
  - 22. The system of claim 18 wherein one of said plurality of records of said table includes a folder type record that includes at least one pointer to said key word.
  - 23. The system of claim 18 wherein said searching means further includes:
    - means for searching for every word in a text cell;
      
      means for searching for every entry in a attribute set;
      
      means for searching for data based on automatic analysis; and
      
      means for searching for data marked by a user.

24. A data storage and retrieval system for a computer having a memory, a central processing unit and a display, comprising:
- means for configuring said memory according to a logical table, said logical table including;
  
  a plurality of cells, each said cell having a first address segment and a second address segment, at least one of said cells includes a pointer to an index record;
  
  a plurality of attribute sets, each said attribute set including a series of cells having the same second address segment, each said attribute set including an object identification number (OID) to identify each said attribute set;
  
  a plurality of records, each said record including a series of cells having the same first address segment, each said record including an OID to identify each said record; and
  
  means for indexing data stored in said table.
- View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
- - 25. The system of claim 24 wherein said indexing means further comprises:
    - means for searching said table for a key word; and
      
      means for creating an index record for said key word, said index record including one or more pointers to a cell in said table that contains said key word.
  - 26. The system of claim 25 further including querying means, said querying means further including:
    - index look-up means for locating said index record according to the query of a user; and
      
      record retrieval means for retrieving at least one cell in said table pointed to by said located index record.
  - 27. The system of claim 26 wherein said index look-up means includes means for locating said index record pointed to by said at least one retrieved cell.
  - 28. The system of claim 27 wherein said index look-up means and said record retrieval means each includes weighing means for weighing key words and retrieved cells according to pre-defined search criteria.
  - 29. The system of claim 27 wherein said index look-up means and said record retrieval means each includes filtering means for filtering key words and retrieved cells according to pre-defined search criteria.
  - 30. The system of claim 25 wherein said indexing means further includes means for indexing external documents.

31. A method for storing and retrieving data in a computer system having a memory, a central processing unit and a display, comprising the steps of:
- configuring said memory according to a logical table, said logical table including;
  
  a plurality of cells, each said cell having a first address segment and a second address segment;
  
  a plurality of attribute sets, each said attribute set including a series of cells having the same second address segment, each said attribute set including an object identification number (OID) to identify each said attribute set; and
  
  a plurality of records, each said record including a series of cells having the same first address segment, each said record including an OID to identify each said record, wherein at least one of said records has an OID equal to the OID of a corresponding one of said attribute sets, and at least one of said records includes attribute set information defining each of said attribute sets.
- View Dependent Claims (32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40)
- - 32. The method of claim 31 wherein said attribute set information defines one of said attribute sets to contain information for enabling determination of OIDs from text entry.
  - 33. The method of claim 31 wherein said one of said attribute sets contains information including a search path that references a folder, said folder including a group of records of a similar type.
  - 34. The method of claim 31 wherein said attribute set information defines one of said attribute sets to contain information for synchronizing two attribute sets reciprocally.
  - 35. The method of claim 34 wherein said one of said attribute sets contains information including reciprocal pointers to said two attribute sets.
  - 36. The method of claim 31 wherein:
    - at least one of said plurality of records includes information defining the type of a different record; and
      
      at least one of said plurality of records includes a cell that contains a pointer to said record including record type information.
  - 37. The method of claim 31 wherein at least one of said attribute sets defines cells that include a plurality of pointers to other attribute sets within the same record, said pointers indicating those attribute sets within the same record that contain defined values.
  - 38. The method of claim 37 wherein at least one of said records is a folder type record, said folder type record including at least one cell that contains data and a plurality of pointers to a plurality of other records included within said folder.
  - 39. The method of claim 38 wherein said plurality of other records included within said folder each includes a cell that contains a pointer to said folder type record.
  - 40. The method of claim 31 wherein said OID'"'"'s are variable length and include data related to a session identification number and a timestamp.

41. A method for storing and retrieving data in a computer system having a memory, a central processing unit and a display, comprising the steps of:
- configuring said memory according to a logical table, said logical table including;
  
  a plurality of cells, each said cell having a first address segment and a second address segment;
  
  a plurality of attribute sets, each said attribute set including a series of cells having the same second address segment, each said attribute set including an object identification number (OID) to identify each said attribute set;
  
  a plurality of records, each said record including a series of cells having the same first address segment, each said record including an OID to identify each said record, wherein at least one of said records has an OID equal to the OID of a corresponding one of said attribute sets, and at least one of said records includes attribute set information defining each of said attribute sets; and
  
  searching said table for said pointer.
- View Dependent Claims (42, 43, 44)
- - 42. The method of claim 41 wherein at least one of said attribute sets defines cells that include a plurality of pointers to other attribute sets within the same record, said pointers indicating those attribute sets within the same record that contain defined values.
  - 43. The method of claim 41 wherein at least one of said records is a folder type record, said folder type record including at least one cell that contains data and a plurality of pointers to a plurality of other records included within said folder.
  - 44. The method of claim 43 wherein said plurality of other records included within said folder each includes a cell that contains a pointer to said folder type record.

45. A method for storing and retrieving data in a computer system having a memory, a central processing unit and a display, comprising the steps of:
- configuring said memory according to a logical table, said logical table including;
  
  a plurality of cells, each said cell having a first address segment and a second address segment;
  
  a plurality of attribute sets, each said attribute set including a series of cells having the same second address segment, each said attribute set including an object identification number (OID) to identify each said attribute set; and
  
  a plurality of records, each said record including a series of cells having the same first address segment, each said record including an OID to identify each said record, wherein at least one of said records contains a cell that contains a pointer to a different record and at least one of said plurality of records includes information defining the type of a different record; and
  
  searching said table for said pointer.

46. A method for storing and retrieving data in a computer system having a memory, a central processing unit and a display, comprising the steps of:
- configuring said memory according to a logical table, said logical table including;
  
  a plurality of cells, each said cell having a first address segment and a second address segment;
  
  a plurality of attribute sets, each said attribute set including a series of cells having the same second address segment, each said attribute set including an object identification number (OID) to identify each said attribute set; and
  
  a plurality of records, each said record including a series of cells having the same first address segment, each said record including an OID to identify each said record, wherein said OID'"'"'s are variable length.

47. A method for storing and retrieving data in a computer system having a memory, a central processing unit and a display, comprising the steps of:
- configuring said memory according to a logical table, said logical table including;
  
  a plurality of cells, each said cell having a first address segment and a second address segment;
  
  a plurality of attribute sets, each said attribute set including a series of cells having the same second address segment, each said attribute set including an object identification number (OID) to identify each said attribute set;
  
  a plurality of records, each said record including a series of cells having the same first address segment, each said record including an OID to identify each said record; and
  
  indexing data stored in said table.
- View Dependent Claims (48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53)
- - 48. The method of claim 47 wherein the step of indexing data stored in said table further comprises:
    - searching a plurality of cells within said table for a key word, said cells containing unstructured text or structured data; and
      
      inserting a record into said table corresponding to said key words.
  - 49. The method of claim 48 wherein:
    - said inserted record includes a cell that contains a pointer to a searched cell that contains the keyword corresponding to said inserted record; and
      
      said searched cell that contains a keyword corresponding to said inserted record contains a pointer to said inserted record.
  - 50. The method of claim 49 wherein said pointer to said searched cell includes the OID'"'"'s of the attribute set and record defining said searched cell.
  - 51. The method of claim 49 wherein said searched cell includes an anchor that marks said key word.
  - 52. The method of claim 48 wherein one of said plurality of records of said table includes a folder type record that includes at least one pointer to said key word.
  - 53. The method of claim 48 wherein said step of searching a plurality of cells within said table for a key word further comprises the steps of:
    - searching for every word in a text cell;
      
      searching for every entry in a attribute set;
      
      searching for data based on automatic analysis; and
      
      searching for data marked by a user.

54. A method for storing and retrieving data in a computer system having a memory, a central processing unit and a display, comprising the steps of:
- configuring said memory according to a logical table, said logical table including;
  
  a plurality of cells, each said cell having a first address segment and a second address segment, at least one of said cells includes a pointer to an index record;
  
  a plurality of attribute sets, each said attribute set including a series of cells having the same second address segment, each said attribute set including an object identification number (OID) to identify each said attribute set;
  
  a plurality of records, each said record including a series of cells having the same first address segment, each said record including an OID to identify each said record; and
  
  indexing data stored in said table.
- View Dependent Claims (55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60)
- - 55. The method of claim 54 wherein said step of indexing data further comprises the steps of:
    - searching said table for a key word; and
      
      creating an index record for said key word, said index record including one or more pointers to a cell in said table that contains said key word.
  - 56. The method of claim 55 further comprising the steps of:
    - locating said index record according to the query of a user; and
      
      retrieving at least one cell in said table pointed to by said located index record.
  - 57. The method of claim 56 wherein said step of locating said index record further comprises the step of:
    - locating said index record pointed to by said at least one retrieved cell.
  - 58. The method of claim 57 wherein said step of locating said index record further comprises the step of:
    - weighing key words and retrieved cells according to pre-defined search criteria.
  - 59. The method of claim 57 wherein said step of locating said index record further comprises the step of:
    - filtering key words and retrieved cells according to pre-defined search criteria.
  - 60. The method of claim 54 wherein said step of indexing data further comprises the step of:
    - indexing external documents.

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Current Assignee
Enfish, LLC
Original Assignee
Enfish, Inc.
Inventors
Gordon, Clay, Wannier, Louise J., Gordon, Robert M., Wlaschin, Scott
Primary Examiner(s)
Black, Thomas G.
Assistant Examiner(s)
Coby, Frantz

Application Number

US09/035,187
Time in Patent Office

1,020 Days
Field of Search

707/3, 707/4, 707/1, 707/100
US Class Current

1/1
CPC Class Codes

G06F 16/221   Column-oriented storage; Ma...

Y10S 707/917   Text

Y10S 707/954   Relational

Y10S 707/99931   Database or file accessing

Y10S 707/99933   Query processing, i.e. sear...

Y10S 707/99934   Query formulation, input pr...

Y10S 707/99943   Generating database or data...

Method and apparatus configured according to a logical table having cell and attributes containing address segments

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60 Claims

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Method and apparatus configured according to a logical table having cell and attributes containing address segments

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5 Petitions

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Accused Products

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Abstract

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60 Claims

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