Method and apparatus for distributing queries and actions

Abstract

A virtual database system including multiple independent database servers is disclosed. The virtual database system uses a unified interface to query multiple independent databases, and the multiple independent database servers include appliances, general servers, etc. The system preferably includes a packet-based network, and a number of physically separated, independent database servers coupled to the network, 10 where each of the database servers has a unique address and an independent database interface. Preferably, each database server includes an database created at least in part by the passive capture of data on the network, and each of which supports database queries including at least one of metadata and text via its respective interface. Queries are distributed concurrently to a number of appliances as virtual user queries.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A virtual database system including multiple independent database servers comprising:
 a plurality of database servers, wherein each of said database servers has a unique address and an independent database interface, wherein each of said database servers includes a database created at least in part by a passive capture of data, and wherein each of said database servers supports database queries including at least one of metadata and text via its respective interface; and   a virtual database server receiving a virtual database query from an originator and, in response thereto, directing a plurality of server queries to said plurality of database servers via their respective interfaces, collecting responses from said plurality of database servers, composing said collected responses into a unified response, and presenting said unified response to said originator of said virtual database query.   
     
     
         2 . A virtual database system as recited in  claim 1  wherein said plurality of database servers communicate via TCP/IP and each has a unique IP address. 
     
     
         3 . A virtual database system as recited in  claim 2  wherein said passive capture of data includes at least one of e-mail, FTP and print capture. 
     
     
         4 . A virtual database system as recited in  claim 3  further comprising at least one data capture device coupled to said network and producing at least one of said e-mail, FTP and print capture protocol data. 
     
     
         5 . A virtual database system as recited in  claim 4  wherein said at least one data capture device includes at least one of an e-mail system, a photocopier, a scanner, a facsimile machine, a personal computer in conjunction with a network interface. 
     
     
         6 . A virtual database system as recited in  claim 1  wherein each of said database servers is associated with a backup storage device. 
     
     
         7 . A virtual database system as recited in  claim 6  wherein each database server is associated with a dedicated backup storage device. 
     
     
         8 . A virtual database system as recited in  claim 6  wherein said backup storage device is used by one or more database servers. 
     
     
         9 . A virtual database system comprising:
 a virtual database server being capable of receiving a virtual database query from an originator, said virtual database server parsing said virtual database query into a plurality of related database queries, and presenting said plurality of related database queries to a plurality of databases for concurrent processing, said virtual database server collecting responses to said plurality of related database queries from said plurality of databases as they are generated and mapping said responses into a unified response to provide to said originator of said virtual database query.   
     
     
         10 . A virtual database system as recited in  claim 9  wherein said originator is at least one of a human originator, a virtual database server originator, and an agent originator. 
     
     
         11 . A virtual database system as recited in  claim 10  wherein said virtual database server replicates said virtual database query as said plurality of related database queries. 
     
     
         12 . A virtual database system as recited in  claim 10  wherein said virtual database server modifies said virtual database query for at least one of said related database queries. 
     
     
         13 . A virtual database system as recited in  claim 9  wherein said virtual database query includes a query portion, a view portion, and a range portion. 
     
     
         14 . A virtual database system as recited in  claim 13  wherein said virtual database server modifies at least a range portion of at least one related database query. 
     
     
         15 . A method for viewing multiple databases comprising:
 receiving a database query from a user;   distributing said query to a plurality of appliance servers as a virtual user, each of which has its own query interface;   receiving records from said plurality of appliance servers responsive to said query; and   consolidating said records from said plurality of appliance ‘servers for presentation to said user.   
     
     
         16 . A method for viewing multiple databases as recited in  claim 15  wherein said database query is received by a general server. 
     
     
         17 . A method for viewing multiple databases as recited in  claim 15  wherein said database query is received by one of said plurality of appliance servers. 
     
     
         18 . A method for viewing multiple databases as recited in  claim 15  further comprising modifying said query for at least one of said plurality of appliance servers. 
     
     
         19 . A method for viewing multiple databases as recited in  claim 15  wherein  15  said consolidating of said records includes interleaving said records and presenting said records in a common interface. 
     
     
         20 . (canceled)