Pattern index

Abstract

A pattern index can be created and used to searching for desired content in electronic databases. The pattern index can include a tuple pattern index containing separately identifiable and indexed tuple entries that are based on combinations of words within the electronic documents. The pattern index and other indexes can also be used in an incrementally graduating search to inherently apply order and priority to the search. Suggested terms and alternate terms, which are different than those that are provided by the user as part of a search request, can also be considered as part of the search and can be provided to the user for selection during the search to dynamically alter the scope of the search and to provide auto-complete functionality.

1 . A method for creating a tuple index with separately indexed tuple word combinations, comprising: 
 identify a plurality of words corresponding to electronic content;    converting the plurality of words into a tuple that independently identifies the plurality of words;    entering the tuple as an entry in an index in such a way that it can be separately identified during a subsequent search procedure; and    providing a reference in the index that cross-references the tuple to the electronic content.    
   
   
       2 . A method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of words are consecutive words in a string of words found within a document.  
   
   
       3 . A method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of words are consecutive words in a string of words, with only stop words omitted from the string of words, the stop words being predefined by a stop word index.  
   
   
       4 . A method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of words are terms associated with non-textual electronic content.  
   
   
       5 . A method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the reference in the index cross-referencing the tuple to the electronic content includes a reference to a particular electronic document containing the words corresponding to the tuple.  
   
   
       6 . A method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the reference in the index cross-referencing the tuple to the electronic content includes a reference to a particular location within an electronic document where the plurality of words corresponding to the tuple are located.  
   
   
       7 . A method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein converting the plurality of words into a tuple includes converting the plurality of words into a numeric representation of the plurality of words.  
   
   
       8 . A method as recited in  claim 7 , wherein the numeric representation is based at least in part on a sequence in which the plurality of words are identified in the electronic content.  
   
   
       9 . A method as recited in  claim 7 , wherein the numeric representation is based on a word index that associates common words with numerical references.  
   
   
       10 . A method as recited in  claim 7 , wherein numeric representations of the words is based on at least one of a word frequency, word size or word location of each of the plurality of words in the electronic content.  
   
   
       11 . A method as recited in  claim 7 , wherein the converting the plurality of words into a numeric representation of the plurality of words includes converting the plurality of words into an order independent numeric representation of the plurality of words.  
   
   
       12 . A method as recited in  claim 7 , wherein converting the plurality of words into a numeric representation of the plurality of words includes converting a plurality of common words into a concept word which comprises its own numeric representation and which is included with other numeric representations of words as part of the tuple.  
   
   
       13 . A method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein converting the plurality of words into a tuple includes replacing at least one of the plurality of words with a new word.  
   
   
       14 . A method as recited in  claim 13 , wherein the new word is a derivative or alternate spelling of said at least one word.  
   
   
       15 . A method as recited in  claim 13 , wherein the new word comprises a synonym or alternate meaning of said at least one word.  
   
   
       16 . A method as recited in  claim 13 , wherein said new word is a complete word and wherein said at least one word is an incomplete version of said new word.  
   
   
       17 . A method as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 sorting the tuple in the tuple index.    
   
   
       18 . A method as recited in  claim 17 , wherein sorting is based at least in part on a sequential ordering of tuple numerals that comprise numeric representations of words associated with the tuple.  
   
   
       19 . A method as recited in  claim 17 , wherein the sorting is based on an alphabetic ordering of words associated with the tuple.  
   
   
       20 . A method as recited in  claim 17 , wherein sorting is based at least in part on a document reliability or relevance metric associated with the tuple.  
   
   
       21 . A method as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 compressing the tuple.    
   
   
       22 . A method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of words comprises more than 2 words.  
   
   
       23 . A method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the electronic content comprises content in a structured database.  
   
   
       24 . A method as recited in  claim 23 , wherein the electronic content comprises content in one or more fields of a structured database.  
   
   
       25 . A computer program product comprising one or more computer-readable media having computer-executable instructions for implementing the method recited in  claim 1 .  
   
   
       26 . A method for performing a search for content in an electronic database using a tuple index with separately indexed tuple word combinations, the method comprising: 
 receiving a search request that includes one or more search terms;    identifying a tuple index that includes separately identifiable and indexed tuples that are based on combinations of words or terms within electronic content;    performing a search of at least the tuple index for one or more indexed entries corresponding to the search request; and    providing results of the performed search.    
   
   
       27 . A method as recited in  claim 26 , wherein the one or more search terms are received from a local computing system.  
   
   
       28 . A method as recited in  claim 26 , wherein the one or more search terms are received from a remote computing system.  
   
   
       29 . A method as recited in  claim 26 , further comprising: 
 converting the one or more search terms into a tuple corresponding to a tuple index.    
   
   
       30 . A method as recited in  claim 29 , wherein converting the one or more search terms into the tuple comprises referencing at least one other index.  
   
   
       31 . A method as recited in  claim 30 , wherein said at least one other index is a partial word index that associates incomplete words with complete words.  
   
   
       32 . A method as recited in  claim 30 , wherein said at least one other index is one of a dictionary, thesaurus and a phonetic word index.  
   
   
       33 . A method as recited in  claim 26 , wherein converting the one or more search terms into the tuple comprises converting the one or more search terms into a numeric representation of the one or more search terms.  
   
   
       34 . A method as recited in  claim 26 , wherein the one or more search terms are consecutive words in a string of words, with only stop words omitted from the string of words, the stop words being predefined by a stop word index.  
   
   
       35 . A method as recited in  claim 26 , wherein the search is performed dynamically while search input is still being entered.  
   
   
       36 . A method as recited in  claim 35 , wherein dynamically performing the search includes performing keystroke analysis as input is being received.  
   
   
       37 . A method as recited in  claim 26 , wherein performing the search includes determining whether at least one of new search criteria, a new search term and a new index should be considered in a subsequent search.  
   
   
       38 . A method as recited in  claim 37 , wherein performing the search includes incrementally applying at least one of the new search criteria, new search term and new index to the subsequent search and prior to receiving any additional search terms from the user.  
   
   
       39 . A method as recited in  claim 26 , further comprising: providing results of the performed search dynamically while search input is being received.  
   
   
       40 . A method as recited in  claim 39 , wherein the results comprise an auto-complete suggestion.  
   
   
       41 . A method as recited in  claim 39 , wherein the results comprise a suggested new term to use in the search request.  
   
   
       42 . A method as recited in  claim 26 , wherein the one or more search terms consist of one or more partial and incomplete words.  
   
   
       43 . A method as recited in  claim 26 , wherein providing the results includes sorting the results according to a document reliability or document relevance measure associated with the tuples.  
   
   
       44 . A method as recited in  claim 26 , wherein the electronic database is a structured electronic database.  
   
   
       45 . A computer program product comprising one or more computer-readable media having computer-executable instructions for implementing the method recited in  claim 26 .  
   
   
       46 . A method for performing incrementally enhanced searching for content in one or more electronic databases, the method comprising: 
 receiving a search request that includes one or more search terms for which a search for content is to be performed;    identifying a plurality of different indexes that can be used to identify content in the one or more electronic database;    performing a search of at least one of the indexes for one or more indexed entries corresponding to the search request;    providing results of the performed search to the user; and    in response to either user input indicating a more enhanced search should be performed and automatic criteria, and without having to first receive additional search terms from the user, performing a subsequent search which includes at least one of accessing at least one new index or considering at least one new search term to identify one or more indexed entries corresponding to the search request.    
   
   
       47 . A method as recited in  claim 46 , wherein the one or more search terms are received from a local computing system.  
   
   
       48 . A method as recited in  claim 46 , wherein the one or more search terms are received from a remote computing system.  
   
   
       49 . A method as recited in  claim 46 , further comprising: 
 converting the one or more search terms into a tuple corresponding to a tuple index.    
   
   
       50 . A method as recited in  claim 46 , wherein the plurality of different indexes includes at least a tuple index.  
   
   
       51 . A method as recited in  claim 46 , wherein identifying a plurality of different indexes is based at least in part on first determining a context in which the search is to be performed.  
   
   
       52 . A method as recited in  claim 46 , wherein the different indexes include at least two indexes that reference some identical content in a different way.  
   
   
       53 . A method as recited in  claim 46 , wherein at least one of the search and subsequent search are performed dynamically while search input is being received and prior to a user formally submitting a search request.  
   
   
       54 . A method as recited in  claim 46 , wherein the subsequent search considers a new search term without receiving the new search term from the user or as part of the search request.  
   
   
       55 . A method as recited in  claim 54 , wherein the new search term is identified from one of the plurality of different indexes.  
   
   
       56 . A method as recited in  claim 55 , wherein the new search term comprises a complete version of one or more of the search terms that is incomplete.  
   
   
       57 . A method as recited in  claim 46 , wherein at least one of the search and the subsequent search are performed and corresponding subsequent results are provided without processing each document that is identified by the plurality of indexes and that is determined to contain the one or more search terms.  
   
   
       58 . A method as recited in  claim 46 , wherein the search results include references to electronic documents.  
   
   
       59 . A method as recited in  claim 46 , wherein the search results include references to portions of an electronic document.  
   
   
       60 . A computer program product comprising one or more computer-readable media having computer-executable instructions for implementing the method recited in  claim 46 .  
   
   
       61 . A method for creating a tuple index with separately indexed tuple word combinations, comprising: 
 identify a plurality of terms in a field-based database;    converting the plurality of words into a tuple that independently identifies the plurality of words;    entering the tuple as an entry in an index in such a way that it can be separately identified during a subsequent search procedure; and    providing a reference in the index that cross-references the tuple to the electronic content.    
   
   
       62 . A method as recited in  claim 61 , wherein the plurality of terms comprise a plurality of terms from a plurality of disparate fields in the field-based database.  
   
   
       63 . A method as recited in  claim 62 , wherein the plurality of terms comprise at least one of genealogical information and census information.  
   
   
       64 . A method as recited in  claim 61 , wherein the tuple is associated with a document reliability or relevance measure that is comparable to at least one other document reliability or relevance measure of another tuple in the tuple index, and such that the document reliability or relevance measures provide a basis for prioritizing and sorting tuples and documents containing the tuples.