Patent ID: 6643638
Filing Date: 2003-11-04
Classification: G06F,Y10S

Abstract:
An apparatus having input/output means; memory means; and CPU means, comprises a database with a plurality of nodes; a plurality of up-down links; a plurality of dash arrows; a plurality of solid arrows, each of said up-down links being a means supported by said memory that has an up end connecting to a node selected from said nodes and a down end connecting another node selected from said nodes, each of said dash arrows being a means supported by said memory that has a tail connecting to a node selected from said nodes and a head connecting another node selected from said nodes, each of said solid arrows being a means supported by said memory that has a tail connecting to a node selected from said nodes and a head connecting another node selected from said nodes, each of said nodes being connected by the up ends of zero or more links selected from said up-down links; being connected by the down end of zero or one link selected from said up-down links; being connected by the heads of zero or more arrows selected from said dash arrows; being connected by the heads of zero or more arrows selected from said solid arrows, each of the nodes (or the root nodes) which are not connected by the down ends of a plurality of links selected from said up-down links having a label, and each of the nodes (or the non-root nodes) which are connected by the down end of exactly one link selected from said up-down links being connected by the tail of exactly one arrow selected from said dash arrows; and a receptionist which accepts requests from other apparatus or users, and converts said requests to db-terms.