Hypercube topology based advanced search algorithm

Abstract

The present invention is a system and method of conducting an adaptive search from a plurality of data sources utilizing a hypercube topology. The system includes a search engine which utilizes a hypercube architecture having a plurality of hypercubes. Each hypercube indexes several data sources in a manner such that similar data sources are located in proximity with other similar data sources. In addition, the search engine utilizes a plurality of message passing ants providing a signal of a path taken for other message passing ants to follow.

1 . An adaptive searching system, said system comprising:
 a search engine for receiving and processing search queries, the search engine utilizing an adaptive search algorithm;   an interface device for communicating with the search engine, the interface device providing a communication link between a user providing a search query to the search engine; and   a plurality of data sources;   the search algorithm having an index of the plurality of data sources;   wherein the search algorithm indexes the plurality of data sources by forming the data sources into a hypercube topology, the hypercube topology including a plurality of cubes associated with one or more data source, whereby data sources are arranged in proximity to other data sources based upon a similarity of the information possessed by each data source;   whereby the search engine utilizes a plurality of message passing ants, each message passing ant searching the indexed plurality of data sources to answer the search query and depositing a signal of a path traversed, thereby allowing other message passing ants to follow the path taken by a previous message passing ant in response to the signal of the path traversed by a previous message passing ant.   
   
   
       2 . The adaptive searching system of  claim 1  wherein each message passing ant provides a results message to the search engine. 
   
   
       3 . The adaptive searching system of  claim 2  wherein a search by a message passing ant of a cube is terminated when a search result is negative. 
   
   
       4 . The adaptive searching system of  claim 1  further comprising:
 a plurality of corporate databases, each corporate database storing data related to a specific business enterprise;   a business intelligence engine having a process and rules protocol to determine at least one corporate database providing information associated with the search query.   
   
   
       5 . The adaptive searching system of  claim 1  further comprising a data discovery router for determining the data sources to respond to the search query from the user. 
   
   
       6 . An adaptive searching algorithm responding to a search query from a user through an interface device, the algorithm comprising:
 a search engine for receiving and processing search queries;   means for indexing a plurality of data sources;   a plurality of message passing ants, each message passing ant providing a signal of a path followed in searching the plurality of data sources in response to the search query;   the means for indexing a plurality of data sources includes utilizing a hypercube architecture having a plurality of hypercubes, each hypercube having a plurality of nodes associated with the data sources; and   the data sources being indexed in a manner where data sources are positioned in proximity to each other based on similarity of information of the data sources;   whereby other message passing ants follow the signal deposited by a previous message passing ant in response to the signal of the path traversed by a previous message passing ant while searching the plurality of data sources.   
   
   
       7 . The adaptive searching algorithm of  claim 6  wherein:
 a scoutmaster directs the plurality of message passing ants;   whereby the message passing ants follow paths having a deposited signal in response to the search query.   
   
   
       8 . A method of adaptively searching a plurality of data sources within a network, the method comprising the steps of:
 indexing the plurality of data source, wherein the step of indexing the plurality of data sources includes arranging the data sources into a hypercube topology wherein each data source is positioned in proximity to another data source based on the similarity of information possessed by each data source;   sending a search query to a search engine by a user;   sending a plurality of message passing ants to the data sources searching an answer to the search query;   depositing a signal by a first message passing ant to indicate a path traversed by the message passing ant during the search;   determining by a second message passing ant the path taken by the first message passing ant in search of an answer to the search query;   following in response to the signal of the path traversed by a previous message passing ant, by the second message passing ant, the path of the first message passing ant to answer the search query; and   providing a response to the search query by at least one message passing ant searching the plurality of data sources.