Dynamic prioritization of attributes to determine search space size of each term, then index on those sizes as attributes

Abstract

A method and system provides efficient data searches. The method and system include receiving search request data that requests a search to be made and identifying multiple search terms or clauses in the search request data. The method and system includes determining an expected cost in resources for searching each search term. The method and system then searches for each search term in order from least resource intensive to most resource intensive, with each search after the first search being performed only among the results of the previously searched term.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for performing an efficient data search, the method performed by one or more processors of a system and comprising:
 determining a cost of searching for each term of a plurality of terms;   ordering the plurality of terms from least cost term to most cost term;   searching a set of data for the least cost term;   searching for the next least cost term only within results of searching for the prior least cost term, according to the ordering, until the most cost term has been searched; and   outputting results of searching for the most cost term.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 receiving a search request including the plurality of terms; and   parsing the search request to identify each term of the plurality of terms.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the search request is received from at least one of a system user, a caller, a human, a technician, or a computer application. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein outputting the results includes providing the results to the at least one system user, caller, human, technician, or computer application in response to receiving the search request. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein determining a cost of searching for a respective term includes matching the respective term to a known term in a search cost database. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the determined cost represents an expected cost in system resources to perform a data search for the respective term. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the system resources relate to at least one of data transmission resources, processing resources, memory resources, or an amount of time. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the search cost database is generated based on previously performed searches, the method further comprising:
 determining, for each respective term of the plurality of terms, an amount of system resources expended when searching for the respective term; and   updating the search cost database based on the determined amounts, wherein the updated search cost database indicates at least one of an average of resources expended, a resource expenditure related only to a most recent search, or data related to all searches performed.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 5 , further comprising matching at least two of the plurality of terms to the same known term. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the set of data is stored in at least one of a public information computing environment, an additional service provider system, an internal database, or a third-party computing environment. 
     
     
         11 . A system comprising:
 one or more processors; and   at least one memory coupled to the one or more processors and storing instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the system to perform operations including:
 determining a cost of searching for each term of a plurality of terms; 
 ordering the plurality of terms from least cost term to most cost term; 
 searching a set of data for the least cost term; 
 searching for the next least cost term only within results of searching for the prior least cost term, according to the ordering, until the most cost term has been searched; and 
 outputting results of searching for the most cost term. 
   
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein execution of the instructions causes the system to perform operations further including:
 receiving a search request including the plurality of terms; and   parsing the search request to identify each term of the plurality of terms.   
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the search request is received from at least one of a system user, a caller, a human, a technician, or a computer application. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein outputting the results includes providing the results to the at least one system user, caller, human, technician, or computer application in response to receiving the search request. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein determining a cost of searching for a respective term includes matching the respective term to a known term in a search cost database. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the determined cost represents an expected cost in system resources to perform a data search for the respective term. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein the system resources relate to at least one of data transmission resources, processing resources, memory resources, or an amount of time. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the search cost database is generated based on previously performed searches, and wherein execution of the instructions causes the system to perform operations further including:
 determining, for each respective term of the plurality of terms, an amount of system resources expended when searching for the respective term; and   updating the search cost database based on the determined amounts, wherein the updated search cost database indicates at least one of an average of resources expended, a resource expenditure related only to a most recent search, or data related to all searches performed.   
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein execution of the instructions causes the system to perform operations further including matching at least two of the plurality of terms to the same known term. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the set of data is stored in at least one of a public information computing environment, an additional service provider system, an internal database, or a third-party computing environment.