Searching for data objects

Abstract

Searching for data objects includes searching a content index for first data objects, where the content index stores content of plural data objects, where the first data objects contain content that corresponds to content of a search query, and where the first data objects define a first search result set. The search for data objects also includes searching an attribute index for second data objects, where the attribute index stores access control attributes for plural data objects, where the second data objects have access control attributes that correspond to user access data associated with the search query, and where the second data objects define a second search result set. A search result is obtained based on the first search result set and the second search result set.

1 . A method of searching for data objects, the method comprising: 
 searching a content index for first data objects, the content index storing content of plural data objects, the first data objects containing content that corresponds to content of a search query, the first data objects defining a first search result set;    searching an attribute index for second data objects, the attribute index storing access control attributes for plural data objects, the second data objects having access control attributes that correspond to user access data associated with the search query, the second data objects defining a second search result set; and    obtaining a search result based on the first search result set and the second search result set.    
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the search result comprises pointers to at least some of the first and/or second data objects.  
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein obtaining comprises merging the first search result set and the second search result set.  
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein merging the first search result set and the second search result set comprises identifying data objects having a predetermined relationship to the first search result set and the second search result set.  
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein merging the first search result set and the second search result set comprises performing a logical AND operation on the first search result set and the second search result set to produce a resultant set.  
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 4 , further comprising: 
 merging the resultant set with an additional search result set.    
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein merging the resultant set with the additional search result set comprising performing a logical OR operation on the resultant set and the additional search result set.  
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 6 , further comprising: 
 obtaining the additional search result set by searching the attribute index for data objects that have access control attributes that correspond to the user access data and that have metadata that corresponds to the content associated with the search query.    
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the access control attributes comprise metadata.  
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the access control attributes comprise user access right information.  
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the access control attributes comprise at least one of a user name, a user role, a user group name, and at least one user access right.  
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the user access right information comprises at least one of read access, read and write access, and full access.  
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 generating the content index by indexing text of data objects.    
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 generating the attribute index by indexing metadata of data objects.    
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising: 
 updating the attribute index by indexing only changes to the access control attributes.    
   
   
       16 . A computer program product tangibly embodied in an information carrier, the computer program product comprising instructions that, when executed, cause at least one processor to perform operations comprising: 
 searching a content index for first data objects, the content index storing content of plural data objects, the first data objects containing content that corresponds to content of a search query, the first data objects defining a first search result set;    searching an attribute index for second data objects, the attribute index storing access control attributes for plural data objects, the second data objects having access control attributes that correspond to user access data associated with the search query, the second data objects defining a second search result set; and    obtaining a search result based on the first search result set and the second search result set.    
   
   
       17 . The computer program product of  claim 16 , wherein obtaining comprises merging the first search result set and the second search result set.  
   
   
       18 . The computer program product of  claim 16 , wherein merging the first search result set and the second search result set comprises identifying data objects having a predetermined relationship to the first search result set and the second search result set.  
   
   
       19 . The computer program product of  claim 16 , wherein merging the first search result set and the second search result set comprises performing a logical AND operation on the first search result set and the second search result set to produce a resultant set.  
   
   
       20 . A system for searching for data objects, the system comprising: 
 memory that stores executable instructions; and    a processing device that executes the executable instructions to: 
 search a content index for first data objects, the content index storing content of plural data objects, the first data objects containing content that corresponds to content of a search query, the first data objects defining a first search result set;  
 search an attribute index for second data objects, the attribute index storing access control attributes for plural data objects, the second data objects having access control attributes that correspond to user access data associated with the search query, the second data objects defining a second search result set; and  
 obtain a search result based on the first search result set and the second search result set.