Displaying portions of text from multiple documents over multiple database related to a search query in a computer network

Abstract

The system of the present invention provides for a method and apparatus of displaying portions of text from multiple documents over multiple databases related to a search query. The initial step in this method is to identify a search query. Based on this identification, a search against multiple databases is initiated. In particular, the computer system identifies auxiliary databases either within a network or between networks that are likely to contain documents relating to terms in the search query. Upon identification of these databases, the databases are then searched to identify those documents relating to the identified query. The various sets of identified documents from multiple databases are then returned and processed to create an ordered ranking for the returned documents. Text portions from the highest ranking documents across the multiple databases are then automatically displayed to the user.

We claim:  
     
         1 . A method for automatically displaying text from a database related to a query, comprising the steps of: 
 generating a query on a computer;    prior to communicating with a database, automatically selecting at least one of a plurality of databases related to said query from a list stored in computer memory, wherein said list includes a list of a plurality of databases, corresponding addresses for said databases, and a description of said databases;    automatically searching the selected database(s) for documents related to said query;    organizing documents returned from said search in a relevance order corresponding to the relevance of said returned documents to said query; and    displaying portions of text on said computer, wherein said portions of text are related to said query from a plurality of said returned documents in said relevance order.    
     
     
         2 . A method for automatically displaying text from a database related to a query, as in  claim 1 , wherein: 
 the step of generating said query comprises selecting a region of text from a document.    
     
     
         3 . A method for automatically displaying text from a database related to a query, as in  claim 2 , wherein: 
 said document from which said region of text is selected is stored in a database unrelated to said query.    
     
     
         4 . A method for automatically displaying text from a database related to a query, as in  claim 2 , wherein: 
 the step of organizing documents returned from said search in a relevance order comprises computing a relevance score for said returned documents and rank ordering the returned documents according to said relevance score.    
     
     
         5 . A method for automatically displaying text from a database related to a query, as in  claim 2 , wherein: 
 the step of automatically searching the selected database(s) comprises comparing document text of said selected database to boolean combinations of keywords.    
     
     
         6 . A method for automatically displaying text from a database related to a query, as in  claim 5 , wherein: 
 the step of organizing documents returned from said search in a relevance order comprises computing a relevance score for said returned documents and rank ordering the returned documents according to said relevance score.    
     
     
         7 . A system for displaying text from a database related to a query, comprising: 
 a computer coupled to an input/output device for generating a query;    said computer coupled to a disk storage unit, prior to communicating with a database, said computer automatically selects at least one of a plurality of databases related to said query from a list stored in computer memory, wherein said list includes a list of a plurality of databases, corresponding addresses for said databases, and a description of said databases;    said computer automatically searches said selected database(s) for documents related to said query;    said computer organizes documents returned from said search in a relevance order corresponding to the relevance of said returned documents to said query; and    said computer coupled to a display unit for displaying portions of text related to said query from a plurality of said returned documents in said relevance order.    
     
     
         8 . A system for displaying text from a database related to a query, as in  claim 7 , wherein: 
 said query is generated by selecting a region of text from a document.    
     
     
         9 . A system for displaying text from a database related to a query, as in  claim 8 , wherein: 
 said document incorporating said selected region of text is stored in a database that is not related to said query.    
     
     
         10 . A system for displaying text from a database related to a query, as in  claim 8 , wherein: 
 said organization of said returned documents computes a relevance score for said returned documents and rank orders the returned documents according to said relevance score.    
     
     
         11 . A system for displaying text from a database related to a query, as in  claim 8 , wherein: 
 said automatic searching of the selected database compares document text of said selected database to boolean combinations of keywords.    
     
     
         12 . A system for displaying text from a database related to a query, as in  claim 11 , wherein: 
 said organization of said returned documents computes a relevance score for said returned documents and rank orders the returned documents according to said relevance score.    
     
     
         13 . A computer readable medium bearing sequences of instructions for searching database, said sequences of instructions comprising: 
 generating a query;    prior to communicating with a database, automatically selecting at least one of a plurality of databases related to said query from a list stored in computer memory, wherein said list includes a list of a plurality of databases, corresponding addresses for said databases, and a description of said databases;    automatically searching the selected database(s) for documents related to said query;    organizing documents returned from said search in a relevance order corresponding to the relevance of said returned documents to said query; and    displaying portions of text related to said query from a plurality of said returned documents in said relevance order.    
     
     
         14 . The computer readable medium of  claim 13 , wherein said sequence of instructions for generating a query includes: 
 selecting a region of text from a document to generate said query.    
     
     
         15 . The computer readable medium of  claim 14 , wherein said sequence of instructions further comprises: 
 storing said document incorporating said selected region in a database that is not related to said query.    
     
     
         16 . The computer readable medium of  claim 14 , wherein said sequence of instructions for organizing documents returned in said relevance order includes: 
 computing a relevance score for said returned documents and ordering the returned documents according to said relevance score.    
     
     
         17 . The computer readable medium of  claim 14 , wherein said sequence of instructions for automatically searching the selected database includes: 
 comparing document text of said selected databases to boolean combinations of keywords in said query.    
     
     
         18 . The computer readable medium of  claim 17 , wherein said sequence of instructions for organizing documents returned in said relevance order includes: 
 computing a relevance score for said returned documents and ordering the returned documents according to said relevance score.