Patent ID: 7222129

Claim:
A database retrieval apparatus which retrieves data corresponding to an input character string from a database having a trie structure, characterized by comprising: a plurality of child node search means for searching for a child node corresponding to the input character string at each node of the trie structure; setting means for setting, in advance for each node, one of said plurality of child node search means which is to be used at each node, wherein data held in the database is retrieved by searching for a child node using said child node search means set for each node by said setting means, wherein said child node search means sequentially inputs each character of the character string as a search key, starting from a first character, and searches for a child node by searching for a transition key which is used to make a transition from a node to the child node and matches the transition key; means for holding a transition table in which a child node which each of the nodes has is associated with the transition key; and means for holding a management table which contains at least one of an address indicating a position where the transition table is held and an address indicating a position where the data is held and an identifier indicating said child node search means set by said setting means.