Patent ID: 6778946
Filing Date: 2004-08-17
Classification: G06F

Abstract:
A computer-based method of pruning a search space of a composite object associated with a ranked fuzzy cartesian query, the method comprising the steps of:obtaining at least two simple objects associated with the composite object, the at least two simple objects being characterized by respective lists of one or more candidates associated with the simple objects, the candidates of the at least two lists having relations respectively therebetween which are defined in accordance with a fuzzy specification, wherein each candidate in one of the lists, each candidate in the other of the lists and the relation therebetween form a path; calculating a metric for at least a subset of the paths formed by the candidates and relations and identifying the paths having the top-K ranked path metrics; and removing candidates from the at least two lists which are not associated with the paths having the top-K ranked path metrics such that a pruned composite object is formed that may be used in a fuzzy cartesian query evaluation operation.