Patent EA-001738-B1 (EA)
Title: Method and system for evaluating a data set
Inventor: NELSON PHILIP C
IPC: G06F17/30
Filed: 1996-12-31
Abstract: 1. A method for evaluating a set of data to determine whether the set of data satisfies one or more of a plurality of queries, the contents of the set of data capable of being described by one or more pieces of evidence, the queries being arranged in an execution plan of queries in which each query is operably related to one or more other queries, each of the plurality of queries including one or more query terms, each query term including one or more evidence descriptors that can be related to a combination operator, each evidence descriptor describing a piece of evidence or the characteristics of a piece or pieces of evidence, the method comprising the steps of: comparing each piece of evidence as the data set is received to one or more of the evidence descriptors; identifying each evidence descriptor that is satisfied by a piece of evidence; evaluating each query term that includes a satisfied evidence descriptor or another query term that has been satisfied to determine whether the query term is satisfied; and identifying each query for which all query terms have been satisfied as a query that is satisfied by the set of data. 2. A method as in claim 1, wherein at least one query term is operably related to another query term by sharing at least one evidence descriptor that is part of each of the operably related query terms. 3. A method as in claim 2, wherein the step of comparing further comprises the steps of: identifying the type of each of the evidence descriptors; identifying the type of each piece of evidence; and comparing each piece of evidence to each evidence descriptor that is of the same type as the piece of evidence. 4. A method as in claim 2, further comprising the steps of: defining one or more types of evidence; identifying the type or types of the evidence descriptors; and modifying the one or more types of evidence in response to the identified type or types of evidence descriptors. 5. A method as in claim 1, wherein the step of comparing further comprises the steps of: identifying the type of each of the evidence descriptors; identifying the type of each piece of evidence; and comparing each piece of evidence to each evidence descriptor that is of the same type as the piece of evidence. 6. A method as in claim 5, further comprising the steps of: defining one or more types of evidence; identifying the type or types of the evidence descriptors; and modifying the one or more types of evidence in response to the identified type or types of evidence descriptors. 7. A method as in claim 1, further comprising the steps of: defining one or more types of evidence; identifying the type or types of the evidence descriptors; and modifying the one or more types of evidence in response to the identified type or types of evidence descriptors. 8. A method for evaluating a set of data to enable identification of, from a plurality of queries that each include at least one evidence descriptor, each candidate query that may be satisfied by the set of data, the method comprising the steps of: identifying the type of each of the evidence descriptors; identifying the type of each piece of evidence in the set of data; comparing each piece of evidence in the set of data to each of the evidence descriptors that are of the same type as the piece of evidence; and identifying each of the evidence descriptors that is satisfied by a piece of evidence, wherein only a query including a satisfied evidence descriptor can be a candidate query. 9. A method as in claim 8, wherein the step or steps comprising the step of comparing are dependent upon the type of the element and the evidence descriptor being compared. 10. A method as in claim 1, wherein a plurality of sets of data are evaluated. 11. A method as in claim 1, wherein the plurality of sets of data are evaluated sequentially. 12. A method as in claim 1, further comprising establishing a duplication of the plurality of queries for each of the sets of data, and wherein each of the plurality of sets of data are evaluated simultaneously using one of the plurality of queries. 13. A method as in claim 1, wherein the set of data is textual data. 14. A method as in claim 1, wherein the set of data is arranged as a database. 15. A method for evaluating a set of data to determine whether the set of data satisfies one or more of a plurality of queries comprising the steps of: identifying one or more candidate queries that may be satisfied by the set of data using the approximation of the query term; and evaluating each of the candidate queries using the query term to determine which, if any, of the candidate queries are satisfied by the set of data. 16. A method as in claim 11, wherein the plurality of queries are arranged in an execution plan of queries in which each query is operably related to one or more other queries. 17. A method as in claim 12, wherein the contents of the set of data are capable of being described by one or more pieces of evidence each of the plurality of queries includes one or more query terms, each query term including one or more evidence descriptors that can be related to a combination operator, each evidence descriptor describing a piece of evidence or the characteristics of a piece or pieces of evidence and at least one query term is operably related to another query term by sharing at least one evidence descriptor that is part of each of the operably related query terms. 18. A method as in claim 17, wherein the step of identifying further comprises: establishing an approximation of one or more of the query terms to create an execution plan of approximated query terms; evaluating the query terms in the execution plan of approximated query terms to determine which, if any, of the queries in the execution plan of approximated query terms are satisfied by the set of data; and identifying each query in the execution plan of approximated query terms for which all query terms in the query are satisfied as a candidate query. 19. A method as in claim 17, wherein the step of identifying further comprises the steps of: identifying the type of each evidence descriptor; identifying the type of each piece of evidence; comparing each piece of evidence to each evidence descriptor that is of the same type as the piece of evidence; and identifying each evidence descriptor that is satisfied by a piece of evidence, wherein only a query including a satisfied evidence descriptor can be a candidate query. 20. A method as in claim 19, wherein the step of identifying further comprises the steps of: establishing an approximation of one or more of the query terms to create an execution plan of approximated query terms; evaluating the query terms in the execution plan of approximated query terms to determine the queries in the execution plan of approximated query terms are satisfied by the set of data; and identifying each query in the execution plan of approximated query terms for which all query terms in the query are satisfied as a candidate query. 21. A method as in claim 20, further comprising the steps of: defining one or more types of evidence; identifying the type or types of the evidence descriptors; and modifying the one or more types of evidence in response to the identified type or types of evidence descriptors. 22. A method as in claim 17, further comprising the steps of: defining one or more types of evidence; identifying the type or types of the evidence descriptors; and modifying the one or more types of evidence in response to the identified type or types of evidence descriptors. 23. A method as in claim 15, wherein the contents of the set of data are capable of being described by one or more pieces of evidence, each of the plurality of queries includes one or more query terms, each query term including one or more evidence descriptors that can be related to a combination operator, each evidence descriptor describing a piece of evidence or the characteristics of a piece or pieces of evidence and the step of identifying further comprises the steps of: identifying the type of each of the evidence descriptors; identifying the type of each piece of evidence; comparing each piece of evidence to each evidence descriptor that is of the same type as the piece of evidence; and identifying each evidence descriptor that is satisfied by a piece of evidence, wherein only a query including a satisfied evidence descriptor can be a candidate query. 24. A method as in claim 23, wherein the step of identifying further comprises the steps of: establishing an approximation of one or more of the query terms to create an execution plan of approximated query terms; evaluating the query terms in the execution plan of approximated query terms to determine which, if any, of the queries in the execution plan of approximated query terms are satisfied by the set of data; and identifying each query in the execution plan of approximated query terms for which all query terms in the query are satisfied as a candidate query. 25. A method as in claim 15, wherein the step of identifying further comprises the steps of: establishing an approximation of one or more of the query terms to create an execution plan of approximated query terms; evaluating the query terms in the execution plan of approximated query terms to determine which, if any, of the queries in the execution plan of approximated query terms are satisfied by the set of data; and identifying each query in the execution plan of approximated query terms for which all query terms in the query are satisfied as a candidate query. 26. A method as in claim 23, further comprising the steps of: defining one or more types of evidence; identifying the type or types of the evidence descriptors; and modifying the one or more types of evidence in response to the identified type or types of evidence descriptors. 27. A method as in claim 15, wherein the plurality of queries includes a plurality of evidence descriptors that can be compared to one