Method and apparatus for organizing data by overlaying a searchable database with a directory tree structure

Abstract

Method and apparatus for organizing data by overlaying a searchable database with a directory tree structure. The method includes generating the directory tree structure that includes nodes comprising a designated category for each node and branches comprising links between the nodes, and generating one or more pointers. Each pointer corresponds to a specific node and the pointer links the specific node to an item of data within the searchable database. All pointers associated with the specific node link related items of data corresponding to the designated category. Each node within the directory tree structure can include a corresponding html address. Items of data can be web-based multimedia including audio, video, images, and appropriately formatted text, displayed in an encyclopedia-like format. Nodes, branches, and pointers within the directory tree structure can continually be added, edited, or deleted.

1 . A method of providing access to data within a research system to an application external to the research system, the method comprising:
 formatting a searchable database within the research system into a directory tree structure, wherein the directory tree structure includes nodes and branches comprising links between the nodes, wherein each node comprises at least one data item categorized by a navigation path through the directory tree structure and by one or more parameters, each of the one or more parameters having a value associated with the at least one data item, wherein the one or more parameters are specific to the node in which the at least one data item is included; and   providing an applications programming interface (API) associated with the research system to an external system, the external system being external to the research system, wherein the API is usable to configure an application in the external system to access one or more nodes within the directory tree structure and obtain data from the one or more nodes using a research module, wherein the research module includes a plurality of search implementations, and wherein each of the plurality of search implementations is usable at any location within the searchable database.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the API comprises instructions for accessing one or more nodes within the directory tree structure using a query string that defines a navigation path through the directory tree structure. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one data item comprises one or more of text, a graphic, an object, a link to another node in the directory tree structure, and a link to a web site external to the searchable database. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the searchable database is distributed into more than one physical location. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of search implementations comprises one or more of a keyword search, a hierarchical search, a dichotomous key search, and a parametric search. 
     
     
         6 . A system for providing access to data within a research system to an application external to the research system, the system comprising:
 means for formatting a searchable database within the research system into a directory tree structure, wherein the directory tree structure includes nodes and branches comprising links between the nodes, wherein each node comprises at least one data item categorized by a navigation path through the directory tree structure and by one or more parameters, each of the one or more parameters having a value associated with the at least one data item, wherein the one or more parameters are specific to the node in which the at least one data item is included; and   means for providing an applications programming interface (API) associated with the research system to an external system, the external system being external to the research system, wherein the API is usable to configure an application in the external system to access one or more nodes within the directory tree structure and obtain data from the one or more nodes using a research module, wherein the research module includes a plurality of search implementations, and wherein each of the plurality of search implementations is usable at any location within the searchable database.   
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the API comprises instructions for accessing one or more nodes within the directory tree structure using a query string that defines a navigation path through the directory tree structure. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the at least one data item comprises one or more of text, a graphic, an object, a link to another node in the directory tree structure, and a link to a web site external to the searchable database. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the searchable database is distributed into more than one physical location. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the plurality of search implementations comprises one or more of a keyword search, a hierarchical search, a dichotomous key search, and a parametric search. 
     
     
         11 . A system for providing access to data within a research system to an application external to the research system, the system comprising:
 a research server configured to format a searchable database within the research system into a directory tree structure, wherein the directory tree structure includes nodes and branches comprising links between the nodes, wherein each node comprises at least one data item categorized by a navigation path through the directory tree structure and by one or more parameters, each of the one or more parameters having a value associated with the at least one data item, wherein the one or more parameters are specific to the node in which the at least one data item is included; and   a communication mechanism configured to provide an applications programming interface (API) associated with the research system to an external system, the external system being external to the research system, wherein the API is usable to configure an application in the external system to access one or more nodes within the directory tree structure and obtain data from the one or more nodes using a research module, wherein the research module includes a plurality of search implementations, and wherein each of the plurality of search implementations is usable at any location within the searchable database.   
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the API comprises instructions for accessing one or more nodes within the directory tree structure using a query string that defines a navigation path through the directory tree structure. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the at least one data item comprises one or more of text, a graphic, an object, a link to another node in the directory tree structure, and a link to a web site external to the searchable database. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the searchable database is distributed into more than one physical location. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the plurality of search implementations comprises one or more of a keyword search, a hierarchical search, a dichotomous key search, and a parametric search. 
     
     
         16 . A computer readable medium having instructions embodied thereon for providing access to data within a research system to an application external to the research system, the instructions comprising:
 instructions to format a searchable database within the research system into a directory tree structure, wherein the directory tree structure includes nodes and branches comprising links between the nodes, wherein each node comprises at least one data item categorized by a navigation path through the directory tree structure and by one or more parameters, each of the one or more parameters having a value associated with the at least one data item, wherein the one or more parameters are specific to the node in which the at least one data item is included; and   instructions to provide an applications programming interface (API) associated with the research system to an external system, the external system being external to the research system, wherein the API is usable to configure an application in the external system to access one or more nodes within the directory tree structure and obtain data from the one or more nodes using a research module, wherein the research module includes a plurality of search implementations, and wherein each of the plurality of search implementations is usable at any location within the searchable database.   
     
     
         17 . The computer readable medium of  claim 16 , wherein the API comprises instructions for accessing one or more nodes within the directory tree structure using a query string that defines a navigation path through the directory tree structure. 
     
     
         18 . The computer readable medium of  claim 16 , wherein the at least one data item comprises one or more of text, a graphic, an object, a link to another node in the directory tree structure, and a link to a web site external to the searchable database. 
     
     
         19 . The computer readable medium of  claim 16 , wherein the searchable database is distributed into more than one physical location. 
     
     
         20 . The computer readable medium of  claim 16 , wherein the plurality of search implementations comprises one or more of a keyword search, a hierarchical search, a dichotomous key search, and a parametric search.