Information retrieval system and method

Abstract

An information retrieval method, process, and apparatus are provided which includes iterative or parametric data set querying. The result of each query iteration may be displayed in an easy to analyze fashion, enabling the user to interactively refine the query with additional iterations. Each field of data in a data set may be represented by a filter in a filter tree table. A user may graphically select and de-select filters using the filter tree table. The selections may be converted into a filtering query that is run against the data set to produce filtered data. A summary query may then run against the results of the filtering query. The filtered data may be displayed, along with the selected filters of the filter tree table. The filter tree table may also display other information related to each filter, such as an associated data item count as generated by the summary query.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A computer-implemented information filtering method, comprising the steps of:
 accepting a user input for selecting or de-selecting at least one of a plurality of data groupings within a filter tree table, said data groupings being associated with a plurality of data items in an unfiltered data table;   generating a filtering query, including at least one query operator, based on said at least one data grouping selected from said plurality of data groupings;   running said filtering query against said unfiltered data table;   receiving a plurality of filtered data items from said unfiltered data table in response to said filtering query;   creating a filtered data table with said plurality of filtered data items;   generating a data item count For each selected data grouping; and   displaying said filtered data table and said filter tree table.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising the steps of:
 selecting one or more data sets automatically or in response to a user input;   receiving a plurality of data items from said one or more data sets;   creating said unfiltered data table based on said plurality of data items;   displaying said unfiltered data table; and   updating said filter tree table with selectable data groupings associated with said plurality of data items.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising the steps of:
 generating a summary query from selected data groupings of said filter tree table;   running said summary query against said filtered data table;   generating summary results comprising said data item counts; and   updating said filter tree table with said summary results.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising the step of generating one or more data item results. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , further including a preliminary step of selecting a data set. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said data set comprises a database. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said data set comprises one or more data tables. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein a first filter level of said filter tree table corresponds to a column in said data set. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , further including the step of displaying the data item count for a particular data grouping. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , further including the step of updating all data item counts upon a data grouping selection or de-selection by said user. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein all data groupings are automatically recalculated upon a selection or de-selection by said user. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said generating a filtering query step includes creating said filtering query based on selected data groupings. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said filtering query is a SQL query. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said user input includes clicking on a selection icon corresponding to a predetermined data grouping. 
     
     
         15 . An information filtering apparatus, comprising:
 a processor;   a user interface, communicating with said processor, to interface with a user;   an unfiltered data table, communicating with said processor, to store one or more data items;   a filtered data table, communicating with said processor, to store one or more filtered data items;   a filter tree table, communicating with said processor, to store one or more data groupings associated with said data items;   wherein said processor executes instructions to perform a filtering method, said filtering method including:
 receiving a user input, from said user interface, for selecting or deselecting at least one of said data groupings in said filter tree table, 
 generating at least one filtering query based on said at least one selected data grouping, 
 running said filtering query against said unfiltered data table, 
 filling said filtered data table with filtered data items from said unfiltered data table, 
 generating a data item count for each selected data grouping, and 
 displaying said filtered data table and said filter tree table using said user interface. 
   
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein said processor, said unfiltered data table, said filtered data table and said filter tree table are hosted by a data server accessible to a plurality of clients in a client-server arrangement. 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein said processor, said unfiltered data table, said filtered data table and said filter tree table are hosted by a user computer that includes input and output devices. 
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , further comprising a data source interface, communicating with said processor, to receive data from one or more external data sources. 
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , further comprising a data source interface, communicating with said processor, to receive data items from one or more external data sources and translate said received data items into a predetermined data format. 
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , further comprising at least one internal data source communicating with said processor.