Identifier vocabulary data access method and system

Abstract

A method of organizing, managing, and providing interactive access to data in a database is disclosed, along with a program and a system for implementing the method. Associations between each data Item and at least one ItemSelector are established and stored. A predefined (but modifiable) Vocabulary of ItemSelectors sufficient to describe each Item of the database is created. Presently selected Items are described by a combination of associations defined by an appropriate Boolean combination of each ItemSelector in a presently selected set of ItemSelectors. A user controls the presently selected set by adding an ItemSelector from a presented group, or by removing a previously selected ItemSelector. The system ideally makes available to the user all relevant ItemSelectors—those which, if added to the presently selected set, would result in a set that describes at least one extant data Item. The system ideally makes all presently selected Items available to the user.

1 . A method of creating a Boolean expression for identifying data Items in a database, comprising:
 a) initiating formation of a query using a controlled vocabulary of ItemSelectors by presenting a plurality of such ItemSelectors to a user, each ItemSelector
 i) having a Boolean property associated therewith, and 
 ii) having been determined to describe at least one data Item in the database; 
   b) incorporating an ItemSelector selected by the user from among those presented as part of currently selected ItemSelectors;   c) changing the ItemSelectors presented to the user as necessary after each user selection such that each ItemSelector presented, when combined according to the corresponding Boolean properties with all other currently selected ItemSelectors, is determined to describe at least one data Item in the database;   d) repeating steps (b) and (c) until a plurality of ItemSelectors are currently selected, including
 i) at least a first ItemSelector having a first Boolean property associated therewith, and 
 ii) at least a second ItemSelector having a different second Boolean property associated therewith; and 
   e) deriving from the accepted ItemSelectors a Boolean expression encompassing the first and second ItemSelectors and reflecting the corresponding associated Boolean properties of each ItemSelector.