Patent ID: 6424973
Filing Date: 2002-07-23
Classification: G06F,Y10S

Abstract:
A method for information retrieval using fuzzy queries in a distributed computer database system having a plurality of home nodes and a plurality of query nodes connected by a network, said method comprising the steps of:A) selecting a first one of said plurality of home nodes; B) extracting, by said selected home node, a plurality of features and a plurality of target ontology identifiers from a query by a user; C) fragmenting the extracted features into query feature fragments; D) hashing, by said selected home node, each said query feature fragments of said plurality of query features fragement, said hashed query feature fragment having a first portion and a second portion; E) transmitting, by said selected home node, each said hashed query feature fragment of said plurality of query feature fragments and said plurality of target ontology identifiers to a respective one of said plurality of query nodes indicated by said first portion of each said hashed query feature fragment; F) using by said query node, said second portion of said respective hashed query feature fragment to access data according to a local hash table located on said query node; G) using by said query node, said plurality of target ontology identifiers and said accessed data according to said respective hashed query feature fragment, to extract a plurality of hashed feature fragments and a plurality of object identifiers; H) transmitting, by said query node, each said hashed feature of said plurality of hashed feature fragments and said plurality of target ontology identifiers to a respective one of said plurality of query nodes indicated by said first portion of each said hashed feature; and I) returning, by each said query node accessing data according to said respective hashed feature, a plurality of object identifiers corresponding to said accessed data to said selected home node.