Data processing: database and file management or data structures – Database design – Data structure types
Reexamination Certificate
1997-09-11
2001-05-15
Choules, Jack M. (Department: 2777)
Data processing: database and file management or data structures
Database design
Data structure types
C707S793000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06233578
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates in general to methods and systems for retrieving information, and relates in particular to a method for retrieving information, specified by an information searcher, from a plurality of different database systems which are connected to a communication network.
2. Description of the Related Art
Searching and retrieving information in a database system is carried out by first specifying a target database residing in certain meta-information (known as metadata or schema information, i.e., information on the use of the database and preparing a structured query language (SQL) for) to describe what table to be searched, under what search conditions and what type of information to be retrieved.
When searching for information in a number of databases connected to a communication network, there are search systems that give an impression that the search is being carried out within one database, by having the database manager integrate all the separate sections of meta-information from applicable databases so that there is no need for the information searcher (user) to be aware of the existence of separate databases or their retrieval methods to carry out searches through different databases.
When communicating with databases distributed over several database systems, there are also known methods to work with a structure of the meta-information which is common to all the database systems, so that the user's request is executed by generating a common request to all such systems, and the search results are displayed in a summary table; or when the content of the retrieval information has been decided or when the structure and format of the specified information are given in the retrieval conditions, the specified search content can be analyzed and the target database systems can be selected to lead to the execution of specific search commands.
However, integrated meta-information managed by such conventional multi-databased systems connected to a number of databases are strictly dependent on the data managed by some database management system (DBMS) and are available as an interface to particular sets of data. In using such a retrieval system, the user must be cognizant of the type of data stored, their structures and the format.
Furthermore, there is no assurance that the information available through general meta-information platforms are grouped after interpreting the meaning of the stored data, because data are often selected on the basis of ease of programming or to maintain some consistency in database tables. This situation presents a problem because it is difficult for the user to anticipate the type of information actually being stored unless the user, searching through databases connected to a network, is relatively familiar with the contents of information described in the meta-information.
Further, when searches are conducted through a plurality of distributed database systems, it is necessary that the different meta-information be built on an identical structure, for the retrieval to be successful. Additionally, when working in such a distributed information system, it must be remembered that the system manager is only capable of searching for a set of request items or words recognizable by the DBMS and search results are then reported to correspond to the common items. Therefore, it is difficult for the system manager to respond to individualized request items of the user. Although the user can specify certain database systems to be searched with specific search commands, when the structures and formats of the required information are specified in search content or in search conditions, this is possible only if all the database systems of interest share strictly identical structures, because the existing search methodologies do not permit the user to retrieve information from database systems having different structures.
Therefore, using the conventional information retrieval systems based on present meta-information or schema information offered by an integrally managed platform, the user is required first to interact with an integrated platform of meta-information provided by some DBMS, and then to enter search commands directly applicable to relevant database structures. As the number of database systems connected to a network increases in the future, it becomes increasingly difficult for the user to first understand the contents of the large number of database systems, and then to describe search commands and specify necessary conditions to obtain desired information.
With further advancement anticipated in the communications network, there is a growing desire to connect various database systems to the network so as to more effectively utilize data stored in various database systems. However, even if a technical environment is created so that a large number of databases become accessible in the network, the user still faces a situation of vast amounts of information exceeding his ability to develop proper understanding of the potential information available, resulting in difficulties in retrieving desired information from a widely distributed databases.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to provide an information retrieval system to enable an information searcher or user to carry out a thorough and effective retrieval from a plurality of different databases managed by different management systems, without having to interact with integrally managed meta-information, schema information or to specify technical requirements for the operation of different database systems, such as the locations and structures of the plurality of databases.
The object has been achieved in a method for retrieving requested information, comprising the steps of: storing reference information beforehand to access a plurality of database systems; consulting the reference information upon receiving the information retrieval request; determining a database system which contains data to satisfy the information retrieval request as well as a storage location of the data, and obtaining instructions relating to an acquiring method for retrieving data from the database system; preparing an information retrieval statement in conformity with the storage location and the acquiring method; searching through the database system for requested information according to the information retrieval statement and the acquiring method; and presenting retrieved information to an information searcher.
Accordingly, the present method of retrieving information allows the user to retrieve desired information from a plurality of different storage locations and database systems, by simply specifying retrieval content and retrieval conditions using words that are familiar to the user, without the need for the user to interact with the integrated meta-information platform which manages different database systems or to know the names for databases or the structures of different databases.
Also, the method is most preferably practiced by using an information retrieval system having a communication network, a plurality of different database systems connected to the communication network, and retrieval means for retrieving information in response to an information retrieval request entered by an information searcher, and comprising: reference information storage means for storing access requirements for accessing the plurality of different database systems; storage location information retrieval means for retrieving information, concerning database locations, database structures and database format to satisfy the information retrieval request, from the reference information storage means; method retrieval means for obtaining instructions relating to acquiring methods for retrieving information specified in the information retrieval request from the database systems which contain information specified in the information retrieval request; and information retrieval means for determining relevant database systems acc
Kanou Naoya
Machihara Hiroki
Okada Eiji
Suzuki Gengo
Choules Jack M.
Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation
Pennie & Edmonds LLP
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