Distributed search system and method

Abstract

A method and system for providing distributing a query to devices on a communications network, such as servers on the internet, using an application that can survey a subscriber's server that can include text documents and databases, and use the formatting information and data from the survey to create at least one dictionary customized to the subscriber's data sources. A user seeking information can initiate a search or query from an initiating device using keywords, natural language terms, connectors, expressions, etc., and the query can be transmitted to various subscriber customized dictionaries. The customized dictionaries can customize the query based on respective subscriber databases and text documents, text search engines, etc., to produce an customized query result. The query results can be filtered and integrated for presentation to the initiating device. Search results can be customized using user preference or profile information.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A method for providing a SQL search query for a database, comprising, 
 identifying database information based on at least one of, 
 at least one database column information, at least one database row information, and at least one database element,  
   providing query information,    processing the query information with a natural language processor, and,    generating the SQL search query based on the processed query information and the identified database information.    
     
     
         2 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein providing query information includes providing a natural language expression.  
     
     
         3 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein providing query information includes providing query information via a network.  
     
     
         4 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein providing query information includes receiving a HTTP message.  
     
     
         5 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein providing query information includes providing at least one query term.  
     
     
         6 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein processing the query information includes determining at least one of query information context and at least one synonym based on the query information.  
     
     
         7 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein identifying database information includes identifying at least one of at least one database column header and at least one database row header.  
     
     
         8 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein identifying database information further includes determining at least one relationship between at least two rows or at least two columns.  
     
     
         9 . A method for providing a query for a text document, comprising, 
 determining at least one text document keyword and an associated keyword context,    providing query information,    processing the query information with a natural language processor, and,    generating the query based on the processed query information, the keyword, and the associated keyword context.    
     
     
         10 . A method according to  claim 9 , wherein providing query information includes providing a natural language expression.  
     
     
         11 . A method according to  claim 9 , wherein providing query information includes receiving a HTTP message.  
     
     
         12 . A method according to  claim 9 , wherein processing the query information further includes determining at least one of query information context and at least one synonym based on the query information.  
     
     
         13 . A method according to  claim 9 , wherein providing query information includes providing query information via a network.  
     
     
         14 . A method for distributing a query to at least one data source on a network, the method comprising, 
 for the at least one data source, providing at least one dictionary, wherein providing the at least one dictionary further includes,    receiving the query, 
 translating the query to a customized query based on the at least one data source,  
 applying the customized query to the at least one data source,  
 receiving results from the customized query, and,  
 communicating the results to a device on the network.  
   
     
     
         15 . A method according to  claim 14 , wherein providing at least one dictionary includes providing at least one of providing at least one dictionary based on a database and providing at least one dictionary based on at least one textual document.  
     
     
         16 . A method according to  claim 15 , wherein providing at least one of a textual document includes providing at least one of a text file and a file including program instructions.  
     
     
         17 . A method according to  claim 14 , wherein receiving the query includes receiving at least one of a natural language query and at least one keyword.  
     
     
         18 . A method according to  claim 14 , wherein receiving the query includes receiving the query via a network.  
     
     
         19 . A method according to  claim 14 , wherein receiving the query includes receiving at least one relational operator.  
     
     
         20 . A method according to  claim 14 , wherein providing at least one customized dictionary further includes, 
 identifying the at least one data source, and,    surveying the at least one data source based on the identity of the at least one data source.    
     
     
         21 . A method according to  claim 14 , wherein translating the natural language query includes translating the query from a first language to a distinct second language.  
     
     
         22 . A method according to  claim 14 , wherein translating the query includes processing the query using a natural language processor.  
     
     
         23 . A method according to  claim 14 , wherein translating the natural language query includes performing a spell check.  
     
     
         24 . A method according to  claim 14 , wherein translating the query includes performing a context evaluation of the query.  
     
     
         25 . A method according to  claim 14 , wherein translating the query includes determining a data format of the data source.  
     
     
         26 . A method according to  claim 14 , wherein translating the query includes identifying at least one abbreviation in the natural language query.  
     
     
         27 . A method according to  claim 14 , wherein translating the query includes identifying at least one abbreviation in the data source.  
     
     
         28 . A method according to  claim 14 , wherein translating the query includes identifying at least one of at least one column header, at least one row header, and at least one textual term.  
     
     
         29 . A method according to  claim 14 , wherein translating the query includes identifying at least one word variation.  
     
     
         30 . A method according to  claim 14 , wherein translating the query includes identifying at least one phrase variation.  
     
     
         31 . A method according to  claim 14 , wherein translating the query includes identifying at least one code based on the data source.  
     
     
         32 . A method according to  claim 14 , wherein translating the query includes generating at least one phonetic equivalent.  
     
     
         33 . A method according to  claim 14 , wherein translating the query includes identifying a Frequently Asked Question (FAQ).  
     
     
         34 . A method according to  claim 14 , further including creating a log file that includes at least one of the query, the customized query, the customized query results, and a time of query.  
     
     
         35 . A method according to  claim 14 , further comprising associating at least one of at least one identity and at least one privilege with the query.  
     
     
         36 . A method according to  claim 14 , further comprising performing at least one filtering of the results from the customized query.  
     
     
         37 . A method according to  claim 14 , wherein communicating the results to a device on the network includes generating a SGML document.  
     
     
         38 . A method according to  claim 14 , wherein communicating the results to a device on the network includes generating at least one of a graph, a pie chart, a spreadsheet, and a histogram based on the results of the customized query.  
     
     
         39 . A method according to  claim 14 , wherein communicating the results to a device on the network includes communicating the results to a server.  
     
     
         40 . A method according to  claim 14 , wherein communicating the results to a device on the network includes at least one of generating an email, generating an instant-message, and generating a voice reply.  
     
     
         41 . A method according to  claim 14 , wherein applying the customized query to the at least one data source includes transferring the query to a broadcast dictionary.  
     
     
         42 . A method according to  claim 14 , wherein receiving results from the customized query includes receiving results from at least one of at least one text document, at least one database, and at least one broadcast dictionary.  
     
     
         43 . A method according to  claim 14 , wherein applying the customized query includes applying at least one of a SQL query and search expression.  
     
     
         44 . A method according to  claim 14 , wherein providing at least one customized dictionary further includes conditioning the application of the customized query based on at least one of an identity and a profile associated with the natural language query.  
     
     
         45 . A method according to  claim 14 , wherein applying the customized query further includes conditioning the application of the customized query based on the data source.  
     
     
         46 . A system for providing a customized query in response to a query, the system comprising, 
 an initiating device for providing a query,    at least one data source, and,    a processor in communication with the initiating device and the at least one data source, the processor having instructions for receiving the query, processing the query to generate a customized query based on the at least one data source, applying the customized query to the data source, and receiving results from the customized query.    
     
     
         47 . A system according to  claim 46 , wherein the initiating device includes a microprocessor-controlled device.  
     
     
         48 . A system according to  claim 46 , wherein the query includes at least one word.  
     
     
         49 . A system according to  claim 46 , wherein the query includes at least one relational operator.  
     
     
         50 . A system according to  claim 46 , further including at least one first server in communication with the initiating device and the data source.  
     
     
         51 . A system according to  claim 46 , further including at least one database in communication with the second server.  
     
     
         52 . A system according to  claim 46 , further including at least one database in communication with the at least one first server and the at least one data source.  
     
     
         53 . A system according to  claim 46 , further including at least one third server in communication with the second server, to receive at least one of the customized query or the natural language query from the second server.  
     
     
         54 . A system according to  claim 46 , wherein the at least one data source includes at least one of at least one text document and at least one database.  
     
     
         55 . A system for performing a search in response to a query, the system comprising, 
 at least one data source,    at least one dictionary based on the at least one data source, and,    a processor having instructions for receiving the query, generating a customized query based on the at least one dictionary and the query, and applying the query to the at least one data source.    
     
     
         56 . A system according to  claim 55 , wherein the data source includes at least one of at least one text document and at least one database.  
     
     
         57 . A system according to  claim 55 , further including a survey engine to examine the at least one data source.  
     
     
         58 . A system according to  claim 55 , further including a network interface to receive the query.  
     
     
         59 . A system according to  claim 55 , further including a memory to store privilege information associated with the at least one data source.  
     
     
         60 . A system according to  claim 55 , further including a distinct second processor to supply the query.  
     
     
         61 . A system for providing a customized query, the system comprising, 
 means for providing a query,    data source means,    means for receiving the query, submitting the query to a natural language processor, and generating a customized query based on the query and the data source means.    
     
     
         62 . A system according to  claim 61 , wherein the means for providing a query includes a microprocessor-controlled device.  
     
     
         63 . A system according to  claim 61 , wherein the data source means includes at least one of at least one database and at least one text document.  
     
     
         64 . A system according to  claim 61 , wherein the means for receiving the query includes a processor.  
     
     
         65 . A computer product for providing a SQL search query for a database, the computer product disposed on a computer readable medium and comprising instructions for causing a processor to, 
 identify database information based on at least one of, at least one database column information, at least one database row information, and at least one database element,    provide query information,    process the query information with a natural language processor, and,    generate the SQL search query based on the processed query information and the identified database information.    
     
     
         66 . A computer product according to  claim 65 , wherein instructions to provide query information include instructions to providing a natural language expression.  
     
     
         67 . A computer product according to  claim 65 , wherein instructions to provide query information include instructions to providing query information via a network.  
     
     
         68 . A computer product according to  claim 65 , wherein instructions to provide query information include instructions to receive a HTTP message.  
     
     
         69 . A computer product according to  claim 65 , wherein instructions to provide query information include instructions to provide at least one query term.  
     
     
         70 . A computer product according to  claim 65 , wherein instructions to process the query information include instructions to determine at least one of query information context and at least one synonym based on the query information.  
     
     
         71 . A computer product according to  claim 65 , wherein instructions to identify database information include instructions to identify at least one of at least one database column header and at least one database row header.  
     
     
         72 . A computer product according to  claim 65 , wherein instructions to identify database information further include instructions to determine at least one relationship between at least two rows or at least two columns.  
     
     
         73 . A computer product for providing a query for a text document, the computer product disposed on a computer readable medium and comprising instruction for causing a processor to, 
 determine at least one text document keyword and an associated keyword context,    provide query information,    process the query information with a natural language processor, and,    generate the query based on the processed query information, the keyword, and the associated keyword context.    
     
     
         74 . A computer product according to  claim 73 , wherein instructions to provide query information include instructions to provide a natural language expression.  
     
     
         75 . A computer product according to  claim 73 , wherein instructions to provide query information include instructions to receive a HTTP message.  
     
     
         76 . A computer product according to  claim 73 , wherein instructions to process the query information further include instructions to determine at least one of query information context and at least one synonym based on the query information.  
     
     
         77 . A computer product according to  claim 73 , wherein instructions to provide query information include instructions to provide query information via a network.