Patent ID: 8549031

Claim:
A search method comprising: executing, by a record searching module, a first search of a plurality of data records stored in a database for a target data range, the database comprising a database record structure including range-based numeric data fields each specifying at least one defined target data range, the first search including searching a plurality of text-strings associated with at least one of the data records, each text string comprising one or more text-based data descriptors including a field descriptor that defines a specific range-based numeric data field within the data record to which the text- string is related, and a text-based range descriptor that specifies one of a plurality of predetermined ranges of numeric values for the specific range-based numeric data field; generating, by the record searching module, a first result set by identifying one or more text-strings that include a text-based range descriptor that specifies the target data range; executing, by the record searching module, a second search of the plurality of data records stored in the database for target values, wherein each of one or more numeric data fields within the database record structure of the database has a defined target value; and generating a second result set by identifying one or more data records that include a field value that is equivalent to at least one of the target values.