PATENT ABSTRACT
A method for automatically sensing a set of elements in a computer system, wherein each element in the set has an associated character body from a plurality of character bodies, and each character body comprises character strings which characterize a respective element, the performance of the method involving a search for at least one prescribed character string within the character bodies and use of the at least one character string to ascertain at least one property for at least one element, and association of this at least one ascertained property with at least one category, and this involving a user of the method being provided with a taxonomy which is inherent of the set of elements.

PATENT DESCRIPTION
RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This is a continuation of International PCT application No. PCT/EP2008/007344, filed Sep. 9, 2008, claiming the priority benefit of German application No. 10 2007 044 460.7, filed Sep. 10, 2007. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The invention relates to a method for automatically sensing a set of items, a method for automatically searching for at least one item of a set of items, a device for automatically sensing a set of items, and a computer program product. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    Data sets generally include a plurality of items which can be configured as data records. In order to determine a particular item from these, search strategies can be used which orient themselves by a classification of the data set. 
         [0004]    However, in this case it is required that the user who wants to perform the search is aware of the type of classification. Usually, the following classifications can be present:
       A flat classification characterized by a simple list of features.   A hierarchical classification which is based on a tree structure. A tree provided for this purpose is branched at nodes with a relation existing between the nodes and branches.   A network classification in which the individual items are interconnected by cross-references, wherein each item can theoretically be linked with each other item. The handling of such a network classification is generally problematic.   A faceted classification has a star-shaped topology, wherein a center is linked with a plurality of peripheral points.       
 
         [0009]    Depending upon a classification implemented in the respective data set, the user can filter out items of the set in a search using different strategies. However, this procedure is difficult if the user does not know a respective classification mentioned above. 
         [0010]    According to the prior art, it is also possible to sense a search term within a data set in the framework of a full-text search. However, if there is no taxonomy for the data set, such a full-text search is performed in an unspecific way. 
         [0011]    At the Internet page http://beilando.sims.berkley.idu/flamenco-interface.html, among others, a demo version for a database subject to a faceted classification is shown. This database includes a list of all female and male Nobel Prize laureates. Here, to each female or male Nobel Prize laureate, are assigned among others the nationality, the affiliation to an organization, the category in which the Nobel Prize was won, and the year in which the Nobel Prize was awarded. For these mentioned categories individual properties can be retrieved, so that a female or male Nobel Prize laureate can be searched for under consideration of the nationality, for example. However, the categories of this database are rigidly predetermined and can not be expanded. 
         [0012]    On the basis of these facts, the above mentioned methods, the device and the computer program product having the features of the respective independent and accessory claims are proposed. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0013]    The invention relates to a method for automatically sensing a set of items in a computer system, wherein it is provided that to each item of the set a character body of a plurality of character bodies is assigned, wherein each character body comprises character strings which characterize a respective item. When carrying out the method, at least one character string within the character bodies is searched for, and at least one property of at least one item is determined on the basis of the at least one character string, and this at least one determined property is assigned to at least one category. On that occasion, a taxonomy inherent in the set of items is provided to a user of the method. 
         [0014]    With the method, a user is among others able to sense a set or a database of items and data records, respectively, even without prior knowledge of a possibly already present taxonomy, wherein the acquisition of the set of items is carried out in a flexible and dynamic manner. In this way, it can at any time be reacted to possibly carrying out modifications of particular items either by additions or deletions. 
         [0015]    In a possible embodiment, each item can be regarded as a file card, e.g., the contents of which being represented by the character body, wherein such a character body typically includes alphanumeric characters. However, it can additionally or alternatively be provided that the character body also includes symbols, especially mathematic symbols. In this case, it can also be considered that the characters within the character body are highlighted, e.g. in color, and/or are present in particular fonts, types or sizes. Therefore, by the graphic representation of the characters an order present within the character body, among others, can be considered. 
         [0016]    In the automatic acquisition of the set, in this case all items configured as file cards will be searched for suitable character strings as in a full-text search, among others also under consideration of their graphic representation. The properties provided by discovered character strings can then be assigned to suitable categories under consideration of logic criteria, for example. 
         [0017]    In an embodiment of the method, the taxonomy inherent in the set and thus among others a faceted classification for the at least one discovered category and a discovered aspect, respectively, comprising the at least one assigned property can be extracted and thereby provided. This taxonomy can be shown to the user in a structured manner at a display module of a typically computer controller man-machine interface, typically configured in the form of a monitor. The individual categories of the taxonomy can be displayed in display fields of the display module. 
         [0018]    In one variation, the at least one character string is selected by a user and thus provided. In this way, the user can individually generate a taxonomy adapted for him. 
         [0019]    As already mentioned, a full-text search within the character body can be carried out under consideration of the at least one character string. 
         [0020]    In order to provide a taxonomy corresponding to the requirements of the user, the user can predetermine the at least one category. Furthermore, it is additionally or alternatively possible that in carrying out the method, at least one new category is automatically generated and/or discovered. Moreover, at least one category which is already present in the set or which is predetermined can be considered and/or sensed. 
         [0021]    In one embodiment, one individual item can be characterized by a partial taxonomy comprising at least one category having at least one assigned property. Thus, a partial taxonomy characterizing the respective item by which this item is classified within the taxonomy of the entire set can be provided as in the case of a file card. 
         [0022]    In another variation of the method, it is not required that a partial taxonomy of a respective item comprises all categories assigned in the entire taxonomy of the set. This means among others that partial taxonomies of different items comprise different numbers of categories and thus also of properties. 
         [0023]    It is appropriate that the set of items is regularly sensed again because the set is usually not static and can thus change dynamically. Thus, a flexible update of the taxonomy is possible. 
         [0024]    In an optional realization of the method, as the at least one character string to be searched for, a number sequence can be searched for, for example. If the set to be sensed includes components as items, dimensions of these components are regularly determined by numbers. In this case, these numbers determining dimensions can determine size indications such as length, width, height, both in one-dimensional direction and in multi-dimensional direction, such as a surface area or a volume. Furthermore, also other physical properties such as mass, density, electric resistance and so on can be determined by number sequences. For the at least one character string provided as a number sequence in the framework of the method, it is investigated to what extent it is associated with dimensional indications, typically abbreviations for dimensional indications, within the character body. Thus, for one particular dimension a category would have to be determined, e.g., wherein the associated properties correspond to the number sequences and thus to the dimensional indications for the respective dimensions. 
         [0025]    In another presented method for automatically searching for at least one item of at least one set according to the present invention, it is provided that the set is sensed by the above described method. Thereby the at least one item to be searched for is selected and thus determined under consideration of at least one category. 
         [0026]    This method for searching can usually be carried out by operating a control item. In an embodiment, categories and facets of the taxonomy, respectively, can be provided to a user as selectable options which are displayed in display fields, e.g., for carrying out an automated search. 
         [0027]    The invention also relates to a device for automatically sensing a set of items, wherein it is provided that to each item of the set a character body of a plurality of character bodies is assigned, wherein each character body of the plurality of character bodies comprises character strings which characterize a respective item. The device is designed to search for at least one character string within the character body and to determine at least one property of at least one item on the basis of the at least one character string and to assign this at least one determined property to at least one category. Hereby, a taxonomy inherent in the set can be provided to a user of the device. 
         [0028]    This device can include at least one display module for displaying the taxonomy and possibly also display fields for individual categories, at least one control item configured as an input field and/or at least one control item or control field configured as a classification module. This device is generally also configured for automatically searching for at least one item. 
         [0029]    It is provided that the device or at least one component of the device is designed to carry out all steps of the above described method according to the present invention, especially if this method is performed by a computer system. Furthermore, functions which can be carried out by the device or at least one component of the device can be realized as steps of the method according to the invention. 
         [0030]    The invention also relates to a computer program product with a computer program having program code means stored on a computer-readable medium for carrying out all steps of a method according to the invention when the computer program is run on a computer or a corresponding processing unit, especially in a device as described above. 
         [0031]    In an embodiment of the invention, the taxonomy of the set configured as a data set or a database, e.g., is automatically detected by the device or a corresponding system, particularly a computer system, and transformed into a faceted classification. The individual facets and categories, respectively, of the detected taxonomy and classification, respectively, and/or the systematic can be displayed optically or in a written form in the framework of the search as options in display fields or items of the display module, e.g., to the user. Thus, the user is among others enabled to combine facets and categories, respectively, while forming intersections and thus to reduce the items of the set coming into question for the search under different aspects. An item to be searched for can thus also be determined through the formation of an intersection by selecting one respective preferred property of a plurality of categories. 
         [0032]    The individual categories can also be considered and displayed as axes of an n-dimensional space within the taxonomy, wherein the properties which are assigned to a respective category can be considered or displayed as points at a respective axis. 
         [0033]    The invention enables, e.g., to find a subset comprising a limited number of items and data, respectively, or an individual item from the set and a corresponding data record, respectively, without having knowledge of a possibly already present taxonomy. On that occasion, a reduction of the items coming into question can be carried out exponentially, whereby the corresponding search velocity can be increased considerably. 
         [0034]    In a possible variation of the invention, a classifier for sensing a contents of the set and thus also of the database of the set is applied to the predetermined set and the predetermined database, respectively, which comprises all character bodies of all items, the classifier being configured as an application, particularly a software application. 
         [0035]    It can occur that specific character strings which can be configured as terms and/or number sequences are not unique. By providing an assignment of items to categories, the properties of the items can be sensed in the context, i.e. under consideration of the categories without having to perform a parameterization. Particularly in the case of the above described example of the database of the female and male Nobel Prize laureates, the categories are rigidly predetermined and thus scaled. 
         [0036]    If it should be intended to apply the invention to the mentioned database, the already present categories can be extended by new categories so that also details with respect to a work for which the Nobel Prize was awarded, e.g., can be classified in a suitable manner. Thus, it is possible, for example, to search for a female or male Nobel Prize laureate according to the field of physics such as nuclear physics, quantum physics, astrophysics and so on. 
         [0037]    A database of the set can be modified at any time without having to modify the application on which the invention is based because this application also dynamically and/or flexibly adapts to the set transformed with respect to the contents on the basis of unparameterized search terms present as character strings and because it can on that occasion provide a new taxonomy of the set at any time. 
         [0038]    In an embodiment, a database of the set can be configured as a catalogue of components. In a simple tree-shaped classification, the set comprises fixation elements, e.g., which in a first level can be configured as bolts, rivets, nails, screws and so on. In another level, these mentioned fixation elements can be defined by the materials of which they are formed. If for the materials metals come into question, steel or aluminum, e.g., can be provided as the metals. 
         [0039]    In another embodiment of the method, all items of the set, in this case of the catalogue, can be assigned to a suitable category of the faceted classification, wherein one item of the set can be assigned to several categories. Thus, it is possible to assign the property “Steel” and “Bolt” to a bolt made of steel. 
         [0040]    The application used in the scope of the method is designed to transform the taxonomy which is present here in the form of a tree, e.g., into the faceted taxonomy. In this case, the application reads the database in the context of a text acquisition, e.g., and provides assignments to the categories of the faceted classification. 
         [0041]    Other advantages and embodiments of the invention will become apparent with respect to the specification and the accompanying drawings. 
         [0042]    It will be understood that the characteristics mentioned above and the characteristics still to be described can be used not only in the particular indicated combination but also in other combinations or individually without leaving the scope of the present invention. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0043]      FIGS. 1 to 5  show a possible embodiment of a display module in different schematic views, wherein these views of the display module accompany different steps of an embodiment of the method according to the invention. 
           [0044]      FIG. 6  shows a schematic view of a diagram with respect to another embodiment of a method for sensing a set of items according to the invention. 
           [0045]      FIG. 7  shows a schematic view of an embodiment of a device according to the invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0046]    The invention is schematically shown in the drawings with respect to embodiments and will be described below in detail with respect to the drawings. 
         [0047]    The Figures are described coherently and comprehensively. Equal character symbols denote equal components. 
         [0048]    The display module  2  schematically shown in  FIG. 1  in a first view having the description “Finder-CoCreate OneSpace 2008” comprises an input field  4  in which the term “disc”, e.g., for searching for a disk is input and thus predetermined as a search term and thus as a character string  6  to be searched for within a set of items to be sensed. For starting the described embodiment of the method, it is provided that a user of the method presses a control item  8  (“Search”) designed as a search button. A display item  10  (“Searching Index . . . ”) indicates to the user that the present method is being executed. On that occasion, the user can cancel the method on demand by operating a control item  12  (“Cancel”) provided for cancelling the method. 
         [0049]    The present embodiment of the method provides that for automatically sensing a set of items which here includes a catalogue of components, each item of the set being associated with a character body of a plurality of character bodies and each character body including character strings  6  characterizing a respective item, at least one character string  6  within the character body is searched for and via the at least one character string  6  at least one property of at least one item is identified and the at least one identified property is associated with one category. Thus, it is possible to provide the user of the method with a taxonomy inherent in the set. 
         [0050]    In another step of the method schematically shown by the illustration of the display module  2  of  FIG. 2 , in a lower area  20  of the display module  2 , it is indicated that  22  items have been identified which have a property corresponding to one of the character strings  6  and the search term “disc”. 
         [0051]    In a left partial window  21  of the display module  2 , categories of the taxonomy inherent in the set sensed with the method illustratively described here are schematically shown in display fields of the clip module  22 . On that occasion, in each display field of each clip module  22  which can be operated, a term describing a respective category of the taxonomy and a number in parentheses for a plurality of properties for each category are indicated in written form and thus displayed. 
         [0052]    The first clip module  22   a  with the designation “AssignedTo ( 1 )” represents an assignment, wherein the category represented by this first clip module  22   a  includes a property. A second clip module  22   b  with the designation “Author ( 3 )” represents the category Author and has three properties. The third clip module  22   c  is denoted as “ContentSource ( 2 )” and here embodies a content source with two properties. A fourth clip module  22   d  is denoted as “ContentType ( 6 )” and represents the category Content Type which here comprises six properties. 
         [0053]    A fifth clip module  22   e  with the designation “Created ( 1 )” represents a category corresponding to a generation of a respective item which here has one property. The sixth clip module  22   f  with the designation “Diameter ( 2 )” represents a category which characterizes the diameter of an item and in the present embodiment has two properties. The seventh clip module  22   g  with the label “DiscType ( 2 )” represents a category which describes a disc type in further detail and here has two properties. The eighth clip module  22   h  with the designation “FileExtension ( 9 )” represents a category which refers to an extension of a data set and here has nine properties. The ninth clip module  22   i  with the designation “Filename ( 16 )” represents a category which characterizes the name of a data set and here has 16 properties. The tenth clip module  22   j  with the designation “LastModifiedTime ( 3 )” represents a category which describes the time of the last modification and here has three properties. 
         [0054]    The eleventh clip module  22   k  with the designation “ManufactureTime ( 1 )” represents a category which here characterizes the manufacturing time and has one property. The twelfth clip module  22   l  with the label “Material ( 2 )” represents a category which refers to the material composition of an item and here has two properties. The thirteenth clip module  22   m  with the designation “Part Number ( 4 )” represents a category which characterizes the serial number of an item and has four properties. The fourteenth clip module  22   n  with the designation “Priority ( 2 )” represents a category characterizing a priority which here has two properties. The fifteenth clip module  22   o  with the label “Rank ( 2 )” represents a category which refers to a rank and has two properties. The sixteenth clip module  22   p  with the label “SetupTime ( 1 )” represents a category which relates to the setup time of an item and here has one property. 
         [0055]    As is further shown in  FIG. 2 , the thirteenth clip module  22   m  is activated so that two properties  23   a ,  23   b  are indicated below this clip module  22   m . On this occasion, a first property  23   a  which is here denoted as “High Relevance ( 15 )” is characterized by a high relevance with respect to the rank, wherein here  15  items fall under this first property  23   a . The second property  23   b  is denoted as “Medium Relevance ( 7 )” and represents a property with respect to the category Rank which characterizes a medium relevance and here has seven items. 
         [0056]    In a right window area of the display module  2 , further details of items are provided which fall under the category Rank. On that occasion, these items are listed below each other, wherein for each item the properties of the subsequent categories are indicated: title (“Title”), file name (“FileName”), time of a modification (“Modified”), type (“Type”) and author (“Author”). 
         [0057]    In an upper area  25  of the display module  2 , those 15 items are listed which within the 22 items of the category Rank (“22 items grouped by: Rank”) are associated with the property High Relevance. In a lower area  27 , those seven items are listed for the category Rank which have the property of a medium relevance. 
         [0058]    In the following Table 1, for the items with high relevance, the property associated with a category is indicated in each column, wherein each of these items occupies one row of Table 1. 
         [0000]    
       
         
               
               
               
               
               
             
           
               
                 TABLE 1 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 Title 
                 FileName 
                 Modified 
                 Type 
                 Author 
               
               
                   
               
             
             
               
                 Enterprise 
                 enterprise 
                 8/9/2007 
                 text/html; 
                 Steven Pearson 
               
               
                   
                   
                 8:10:53 PM 
                 charset=utf-8 
               
               
                 Enterprise - 
                 AllItems.aspx 
                 8/9/2007 
                 text/html; 
                 Steven Pearson 
               
               
                 Classification 
                   
                 8:10:53 PM 
                 charset=utf-8 
               
               
                 List 
               
               
                 Additional 
                 DISC DI 3545 
                 8/9/2007 
                 application/vnd.ms-won 
                 Ernst 
               
               
                 Information 
                   
                 1:43:42 PM 
                   
                 Gschwind, erg 
               
               
                 Additional 
                 DISC DI 3545 
                 8/9/2007 
                 application/vnd.ms-won 
                 Ernst 
               
               
                 Information 
                   
                 1:46:05 PM 
                   
                 Gschwind, erg 
               
               
                 Additional 
                 DISC DI 3545 
                 8/9/2007 
                 application/vnd.ms-won 
                 Ernst 
               
               
                 Information 
                   
                 1:44:42 PM 
                   
                 Gschwind, erg 
               
               
                 Enterprise - 
                 AllItems.aspx 
                 8/9/2007 
                 text/html; 
                 Steven Pearson 
               
               
                 Shared Documents 
                   
                 1:46:05 PM 
                 charset=utf-8 
               
               
                 Enterprise - 
                 AllItems.aspx 
                 8/8/2007 
                 text/html; 
                 Ernst Gschwind 
               
               
                 Links 
                   
                 8:08:16 PM 
                 charset=utf-8 
               
               
                 OSMProfile 
                 masterdata.a 
                 8/6/2007 
                 text/html; 
                 Steven Pearson 
               
               
                 Library - 
                   
                 9:06:34 AM 
                 charset=utf-8 
               
               
                 masterdata 
               
               
                 brake disc with 
                 Model.aspx 
                 8/10/2007 
               
               
                 air intake (1) 
                   
                 5:59:50 PM 
               
               
                 work 
               
               
                 brake disc with 
                 Model.aspx 
                 8/10/2007 
               
               
                 air intake (1) 
                   
                 5:59:58 PM 
               
               
                 work 
               
               
                 Enterprise - 
                 AllItems.aspx 
                 8/8/2007 
                 text/html; 
                 Steven Pearson 
               
               
                 Masterdata Issues 
                   
                 3:37:01 PM 
                 charset=utf-8 
               
               
                 Enterprise - 
                 AllItems.aspx 
                 8/9/2007 
                 text/html; 
                 Ernst Gschwind 
               
               
                 Tasks 
                   
                 12:47:42 PM 
                 charset=utf-8 
               
               
                 Enterprise - 
                 active.aspx 
                 8/9/2007 
                 text/html; 
                 Ernst Gschwind 
               
               
                 Tasks - Active 
                   
                 12:47:42 PM 
                 charset=utf-8 
               
               
                 Tasks 
               
               
                 Enterprise - 
                 byowner.aspx 
                 8/9/2007 
                 text/html; 
                 Ernst Gschwind 
               
               
                 Tasks - By 
                   
                 12:47:42 PM 
                 charset=utf-8 
               
               
                 Assigned To 
               
               
                 Enterprise - 
                 active.aspx 
                 8/8/2007 
                 text/html; 
                 Steven Pearson 
               
               
                 Masterdata Issues - 
                   
                 3:37:01 PM 
                 charset=utf-8 
               
               
                 Active Issues 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
         [0059]    The following Table 2 is constructed according to the same scheme as Table 1 and represents in each respective row of Table 2 for each one of the seven items with medium relevance the properties of this item in association with the categories in the first row. 
         [0000]    
       
         
               
               
               
               
               
             
           
               
                 TABLE 2 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 Title 
                 FileName 
                 Modified 
                 Type 
                 Author 
               
               
                   
               
             
             
               
                 Disc is failing 
                 Disc is failing 
                 8/8/2007 
                 Issue 
                 Ernst Gschwind 
               
               
                   
                   
                 3:37:01 PM 
               
               
                 http://vm3gplmtest/Docs/Documents/Customer 
                 http://wm3gp 
                 8/8/2007 
                 Link 
                 Ernst Gschwind 
               
               
                   
                   
                 8:08:16 PM 
               
               
                 Replace Disc 
                 Replace Disc 
                 8/8/2007 
                 Task 
                 Ernst Gschwind 
               
               
                   
                   
                 8:12:20 PM 
               
               
                 http://vm3gplmtest/Docs/Documents/Customer 
                 http://wm3gp 
                 8/8/2007 
                 Link 
                 Ernst Gschwind 
               
               
                   
                   
                 8:06:18 PM 
               
               
                 Disc: DI3545-002 
                 Disc: DI 3545 
                 8/9/2007 
                 Disc 
                 Steven Pearson 
               
               
                   
                   
                 8:10:53 PM 
               
               
                 Disc: DI3545-003 
                 Disc: DI 3545 
                 8/9/2007 
                 Disc 
                 Steven Pearson 
               
               
                   
                   
                 8:10:53 PM 
               
               
                 Disc: DI3545-001 
                 Disc: DI 3545 
                 8/9/2007 
                 Disc 
                 Steven Pearson 
               
               
                   
                   
                 8:10:52 PM 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
         [0060]      FIG. 3  schematically shows another illustration of the display module  2 . In addition to the clip modules  22   a  to  22   p  already presented in  FIG. 2 , two other clip modules  22   q ,  22   r  are illustrated in the partial window  21 . Here, a clip module  22   q  with the designation “SiteName ( 1 )” represents a category Site Name, and a clip item  22   r  with the designation “SiteTitle ( 1 )” represents a category Site Title. Here, each category has one property. Herein, in addition to the clip module  22   o  for the rank as a category, the tenth clip module  22   j  representing the category related to the time of manufacturing is activated so that the categories Rank and Diameter are considered in the formation of an intersection. Here, a third property  29  is denoted by “7 (3)”. This means in the present context that the number 7 represents this third property  29 , wherein three items exist in the sensed set having the property “7” with respect to the manufacturing time and further fall within the search term “disc”. As in the example of  FIG. 2 , the found three items within a window area shown on the right are listed one below the other according to the categories Title, File Name, Modification Time, Type and Author. 
         [0061]    Properties of these three items are shown in the following Table 3. As in the preceding Tables 1 and 2, the properties of the items assigned to the categories are shown column by column in each row. 
         [0000]    
       
         
               
               
               
               
               
             
           
               
                 TABLE 3 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 Title 
                 FileName 
                 Modified 
                 Type 
                 Author 
               
               
                   
               
             
             
               
                 Disc: DI3545-002 
                 Disc: DI 3545 
                 8/9/2007 
                 Disc 
                 Steven Pearson 
               
               
                   
                   
                 8:10:53 PM 
               
               
                 Disc: DI3545-003 
                 Disc: DI 3545 
                 8/9/2007 
                 Disc 
                 Steven Pearson 
               
               
                   
                   
                 8:10:53 PM 
               
               
                 Disc: DI3545-001 
                 Disc: DI 3545 
                 8/9/2007 
                 Disc 
                 Steven Pearson 
               
               
                   
                   
                 8:10:52 PM 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
         [0062]      FIG. 4  schematically shows another illustration of the display module  2 , wherein the sixth clip module  22   f  is now activated by the user and thus a selection according to the diameter of an item is made. In this example, the category Diameter is associated with two properties  33   a  and  33   b , wherein the first property  33   a  is denoted by “207.5 (2)” and stands for a diameter of 207.5 mm which means that two discs with this diameter have been discovered in this method. The second property  33   b  is here denoted by “220 (1)” and represents a diameter of 220 mm according to the higher ranked category, wherein one item has this diameter. 
         [0063]    In a window area  35  in the right upper region, details with respect to the individual items  37 ,  39  which are related to discs and have a diameter of 207.5 mm are listed analogously to the illustrations of  FIGS. 2 and 3 . 
         [0064]    The properties with respect to a first item  37  are shown in the first row and denoted by “Disc: DI3545-003” for the category Title, “Disc: DI3545” for the category File Name, “8/9/2007 8:10:53 PM” for the category Modification Time, “Disc” for the category Type and “Steven Pearson” for the category Author. Correspondingly, the properties of the second item  39  are characterized by the title “Disc: DI3545-001”, the file name “Disc: DI3545”, the modification time “8/9/2007 8:10:52 PM”, the type “Disc” and the author “Steven Pearson”. 
         [0065]    From the above mentioned properties for the two items  37 ,  39 , it can be, inter alia, deduced that those items  37 ,  39  are discs. 
         [0066]      FIG. 5  shows in another step of the method that in the upper window area  35  of the display module  2  the second item  39  is activated now. For this item  39 , the details known with respect to the item  39  are shown in the lower area  20  of the display module  2 . A character body  41  which is present here as a listed text body comprises the following contents listed in Table 4: 
         [0000]    
       
         
               
               
               
             
           
               
                   
                 TABLE 4 
               
               
                   
                   
               
               
                   
                 Category 
                 Property 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
             
               
                   
                 ContentType 
                 Disc 
               
               
                   
                 Created 
                 06-Aug-07 9:08:25 AM 
               
               
                   
                 Diameter 
                 207.5 
               
               
                   
                 DiscType 
                 I 
               
               
                   
                 FileExtension 
                 ASPX?ID=2 
               
               
                   
                 Filename 
                 Disc: DI3545-001 
               
               
                   
                 LastModifiedTime 
                 09-Aug-07 8:10:52 PM 
               
               
                   
                 ManufactureTime 
                 7 
               
               
                   
                 Material 
                 UNS G10300 
               
               
                   
                 PartNumber 
                 DI3545-001 
               
               
                   
                 Path 
                 http://vm3gplmtest/enterprise/Lists/ 
               
               
                   
                   
                 ClassificationList/DispForm.aspx?ID=2 
               
               
                   
                 Rank 
                 280 
               
               
                   
                 SetupTime 
                 3 
               
               
                   
                 SiteName 
                 http://vm3gplmtest/enterprise 
               
               
                   
                 SiteTitle 
                 Enterprise 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
         [0067]    In the left column of Table 3, the categories of item  39  are indicated, and in the right column the property of the item  39  associated with a respective category is indicated. 
         [0068]    In this character body  41  present in the form of a file card, the categories and the properties of the item  39  are listed. Here, it is provided that at the left side of a colon the category is displayed as a character string in a first written form and at the right side of a colon the property associated with the category is displayed as a character string in a second written form of the item  39 . Furthermore, a small and a large illustration of the found disc  43  is displayed on the display module  2 . 
         [0069]      FIG. 6  shows a schematic illustration of a database  51  with an initially unknown set  50  of items  52   a ,  52   b ,  52   c ,  52   d ,  52   e.    
         [0070]    In another embodiment of the method described with respect to this example, it is provided that a full-text search module  56  automatically senses the set  50  of items  52   a ,  52   b ,  52   c ,  52   d ,  52   e  in the database  51  as search result and searches at least one character string within character bodies  54   a ,  54   b ,  54   c ,  54   d ,  54   e  of the items  52   a ,  52   b ,  52   c ,  52   d ,  52   e  in the database  51 . At least one property of the respective items  52   a ,  52   b ,  52   c ,  52   d ,  52   e  is determined by the at least one searched character string. 
         [0071]    In the illustration in  FIG. 6 , the embodiment of the method determines a set  50  of in total five items  52   a ,  52   b ,  52   c ,  52   d ,  52   e  from the database  51 , wherein each of these determined items  52   a ,  52   b ,  52   c ,  52   d ,  52   e  has a character body  54   a ,  54   b ,  54   c ,  54   d ,  54   e.    
         [0072]    In a middle section of  FIG. 6 , a classification module  53  is shown which determines a taxonomy  58  inherent in the items  52   a ,  52   b ,  52   c ,  52   d ,  52   e  and assigns a partial taxonomy  60   a ,  60   b ,  60   c ,  60   d ,  60   e  to each item  52   a ,  52   b ,  52   c ,  52   d ,  52   e  of the set  50  which has been sensed as a search result here. 
         [0073]    Here, each partial taxonomy  60   a ,  60   b ,  60   c ,  60   d ,  60   e  reflects at least a fraction of the contents of a respective character body  54   a ,  54   b ,  54   c ,  54   d ,  54   e . One content of the respective partial taxonomy  60   a ,  60   b ,  60   c ,  60   d ,  60   e  is shown in the form of a table in the present embodiment. Here, Table 5 represents a first partial taxonomy  60   a  for a first item  52   a : 
         [0000]    
       
         
               
               
               
             
           
               
                   
                 TABLE 5 
               
               
                   
                   
               
               
                   
                 Cat. 
                 Prop. 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
             
               
                   
                 A 
                 1001 
               
               
                   
                 B 
                 1002 
               
               
                   
                 C 
                 1003 
               
               
                   
                 D 
                 1004 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
         [0074]    A second partial taxonomy  60   b  for a second item  52   b  is shown in Table 6: 
         [0000]    
       
         
               
               
               
             
           
               
                   
                 TABLE 6 
               
               
                   
                   
               
               
                   
                 Cat. 
                 Prop. 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
             
               
                   
                 A 
                 2001 
               
               
                   
                 B 
                 1002 
               
               
                   
                 E 
                 2005 
               
               
                   
                 F 
                 2006 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
         [0075]    A third partial taxonomy  60   c  for a third item  52   c  is shown in Table 7: 
         [0000]    
       
         
               
               
               
             
           
               
                   
                 TABLE 7 
               
               
                   
                   
               
               
                   
                 Cat. 
                 Prop. 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
             
               
                   
                 B 
                 3002 
               
               
                   
                 C 
                 1003 
               
               
                   
                 D 
                 3004 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
         [0076]    The following Table 8 shows a fourth partial taxonomy  60   d  for a fourth item  52   d : 
         [0000]    
       
         
               
               
               
             
           
               
                   
                 TABLE 8 
               
               
                   
                   
               
               
                   
                 Cat. 
                 Prop. 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
             
               
                   
                 A 
                 4001 
               
               
                   
                 C 
                 1004 
               
               
                   
                 D 
                 4004 
               
               
                   
                 F 
                 2006 
               
               
                   
                 G 
                 4007 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
         [0077]    Table 9 shows a fifth partial taxonomy  60   e  for a fifth item  52   e : 
         [0000]    
       
         
               
               
               
             
           
               
                   
                 TABLE 9 
               
               
                   
                   
               
               
                   
                 Cat. 
                 Prop. 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
             
               
                   
                 A 
                 1001 
               
               
                   
                 B 
                 4002 
               
               
                   
                 C 
                 5003 
               
               
                   
                 D 
                 5004 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
         [0078]    In each of the above mentioned Tables 5 to 9, categories “Cat.” are shown in the left column one below the other. In the right column, the properties “Prop.” of the items  52   a  to  52   e  are listed, wherein each property is represented by a character string having four digits. In this case, each category is associated with one property. 
         [0079]    In the present embodiment of the method, for the five items  52   a ,  52   b ,  52   c ,  52   d ,  52   e  in total seven categories A, B, C, D, E, F and G could be determined. The properties assigned to these are displayed as four-digit character strings that can be searched for with the method. A more detailed observation of the Tables and partial taxonomies  60   a ,  60   b ,  60   c ,  60   d ,  60   e , respectively, shows that the first item  52   a  and the second item  52   b  each have the property “1002” under the category B. Correspondingly, the first item  52   a  and the third item  52   c  have the property “1003” under the category C. Similar is true for the property “2006” which is assigned to the category F of the second item  52   b  and the fourth item  52   d , respectively. Moreover, the property “1001” is assigned to the category A of the first item  52   a  and of the fifth item  52   e , respectively. Thus, said items have the same properties in said categories. 
         [0080]    Moreover, it should be noted that the property “1004” is assigned to category D for the first item  52   a  but to category C for the fourth item  52   d . This shows that one property can also be assigned to several different categories. 
         [0081]    As the Tables 5 to 9 additionally show, the partial taxonomies  60   a ,  60   b ,  60   c ,  60   d ,  60   e  do not have to be completely parameterized, which means that individual partial taxonomies  60   a  to  60   e  of individual items  52   a  to  52   e  can have different numbers of categories. This means that in the case of the third item  52   c , e.g., this has only three categories B, C and D. The partial taxonomies  60   a ,  60   b ,  60   d  for the first, second and fourth item  52   a ,  52   b ,  52   d  each have four categories, which may be different, however. The partial taxonomy  60   d  of the fourth item  52   d  has the highest number of categories. 
         [0082]    In a lower portion of  FIG. 6 , the partial taxonomies  60   a ,  60   b ,  60   c ,  60   d ,  60   e  are processed in an intersection module  55 . The intersection module  55  creates the intersection of all items  52   a ,  52   b ,  52   c ,  52   d ,  52   e  from the search result having identical properties. In this case, the properties for which the intersections are generated are configured by the display module  2  shown in the preceding  FIGS. 1-5 . 
         [0083]      FIG. 7  shows a schematic illustration of an embodiment of a device  80  according to the invention which here is configured as a computer and has at least one processing unit. This device  80  is configured for performing an embodiment of a method according to the invention. 
         [0084]    To this end, it is provided that the device  80  is configured for sensing a set of items  84   a ,  84   b ,  84   c ,  84   d ,  84   e  etc. in the form of a database  82 . It is provided that to each of these items  84   a ,  84   b ,  84   c ,  84   d ,  84   e  of the set  82  a character body of a plurality of character bodies is assigned and that each character body comprises character strings characterizing a respective item  84   a ,  84   b ,  84   c ,  84   d ,  84   e.    
         [0085]    In one embodiment of the method, the device  80  is configured to search for at least one predetermined character string within the character body and to determine at least one property of at least one item on the basis of the at least one character string and to assign this at least one determined property  84   a ,  84   b ,  84   c ,  84   d ,  84   e  to at least one category. 
         [0086]    Moreover,  FIG. 7  shows a schematic illustration of a display device  86  connected to the device  80 . According to the present embodiment, the display device  86  is configured as a monitor and designed to display a result of the method presented here as an embodiment. 
         [0087]    In this way, the device  80  can provide a taxonomy  88  inherent in the set  82  of items  84   a ,  84   b ,  84   c ,  84   d ,  84   e  by the display device  86  to a user of the device  80 . 
         [0088]    Moreover, the device  80  is also designed to automatically search for at least one item of the set  82 . 
         [0089]    According to the present embodiment, it is provided that this item to be searched for within the set is searched for by the device  80  on the basis of n properties of n categories. The result of this search is that one item  84   f  meets all these n properties. The device  80  provides this found item  84   f  also by the display device  86  to a user of the method.