Claims
- 1. A system for retrieving search results from a plurality of databases, comprising:
an interface configured to receive search information; and a plurality of translators configured to retrieve search results from said plurality of databases respectively based on said search information; wherein each of said plurality of translators formulates a search request using said search information and syntax and protocol information specific to its corresponding database; and wherein said plurality of translators use said respective search requests to retrieve said search results from their corresponding databases in a concurrent manner.
- 2. The system of claim 1 further comprising:
a control engine configured to forward said search information to said plurality of translators and to consolidate said search results retrieved by said plurality of translators.
- 3. The system of claim 2 wherein said search results consolidated by said control engine are passed to said interface for display to a user.
- 4. The system of claim 2 wherein said search results consolidated by said control engine are passed to said interface for further processing.
- 5. The system of claim 3 wherein said consolidated search results are formatted using a markup language.
- 6. The system of claim 5 wherein said markup language is selected from a group consisting of HTML, DHTML and XML.
- 7. The system of claim 1 wherein each of said translators is further configured to perform one or more authorization steps so as to communicate with its corresponding database.
- 8. The system of claim 1 wherein at least one or more of said plurality of databases are Web-accessible.
- 9. The system of claim 8 wherein at least one or more of said plurality of databases are locally accessible.
- 10. The system of claim 1 wherein each of said plurality of translators communicates with its corresponding database using an interface protocol.
- 11. The method of claim 10 wherein said interface protocol is selected from a group consisting of HTTP, telnet, Z39.50 and ODBC.
- 12. The system of claim 1 wherein said interface is implemented using a Web browser; and
wherein said interface receives said search information from a user.
- 13. The system of claim 1 wherein said system is implemented using computer software.
- 14. A system for retrieving search results from a plurality of databases, comprising:
a user interface configured to receive search information entered by a user; a plurality of translators, wherein each translator is configured to communicate with a corresponding database so as to allow a search to be performed in said corresponding database; and a control engine configured to forward said search information to said plurality of translators, wherein each translator uses said search information and protocol information specific to its corresponding database to formulate a search request to effectuate said search; wherein said plurality of translators use said respective search requests to effectuate said respective searches and retrieve said search results from said plurality of databases in a concurrent manner.
- 15. The system of claim 14 wherein said control engine is further configured to consolidate said search results retrieved from said plurality of databases.
- 16. The system of claim 14 wherein each translator is further configured to perform one or more authorization steps so as to communicate with its corresponding database.
- 17. The system of claim 14 wherein said search results consolidated by said control engine are passed to said user interface for display to a user or returned to a calling program.
- 18. The system of claim 17 wherein said consolidated search results are formatted using a markup language.
- 19. The system of claim 18 wherein said markup language is selected from a group consisting of HTML, DHTML and XML.
- 20. The system of claim 14 wherein at least one or more of said plurality of databases are Web-accessible.
- 21. The system of claim 20 wherein at least one or more of said plurality of databases are locally accessible.
- 22. The system of claim 14 wherein each of said plurality of translators communicates with its corresponding database using an interface protocol.
- 23. The system of claim 22 wherein said interface protocol is selected from a group consisting of HTTP, telnet, Z39.50 and ODBC.
- 24. A method for retrieving search results from a plurality of databases, comprising:
receiving search information from a user or a user agent; formulating a plurality of search requests using said search information and database syntax and protocol information, wherein each search request is recognizable by a corresponding database; executing said plurality of search requests in their corresponding databases in a concurrent manner; returning search results from said plurality of databases after execution of said plurality of search requests; and consolidating said search results for display to the user or the user agent.
- 25. The method of claim 24 further comprising:
communicating said plurality of search requests to their corresponding databases using an interface protocol.
- 26. The method of claim 25 wherein said interface protocol is selected from a group consisting of HTTP, telnet, Z39.50 and ODBC.
- 27. The method of claim 24 further comprising:
formatting said consolidated search results using a markup language.
- 28. The method of claim 27 wherein said markup language is selected from a group consisting of HTML, DHTML and XML.
- 29. The method of claim 24 further comprising:
performing one or more authorization procedures respectively in said plurality of databases in a concurrent manner.
- 30. The method of claim 24 wherein at least one or more of said plurality of databases are Web-accessible.
- 31. The method of claim 30 wherein at least one or more of said plurality of databases are locally accessible.
- 32. A method for retrieving search results from a plurality of databases, comprising:
receiving search information from a user; generating a plurality of search requests using said search information and database syntax and protocol information, wherein each search request is tailored to be understood by a corresponding database; retrieving search results from said plurality of databases in a concurrent manner pursuant to said plurality of search requests; and consolidating said search results.
- 33. The method of claim 32 further comprising:
performing one or more authorization procedures respectively in said plurality of databases in a concurrent manner.
- 34. The method of claim 32 further comprising:
communicating said plurality of search requests to their corresponding databases using an interface protocol.
- 35. The method of claim 34 wherein said interface protocol is selected from a group consisting of HTTP, telnet, Z39.50 and ODBC.
- 36. The method of claim 32 further comprising:
formatting said consolidated search results using a markup language.
- 37. The method of claim 36 wherein said markup language is selected from a group consisting of HTML, DHTML and XML.
- 38. The method of claim 32 further comprising:
presenting the consolidated search results to the user or a user agent.
- 39. The method of claim 32 wherein at least one or more of said plurality of databases are Web-accessible.
- 40. The method of claim 39 wherein at least one or more of said plurality of databases are locally accessible.
- 41. A computer-readable medium having program code configured to retrieve search results from a plurality of databases, said program code comprising:
a program code segment configured to receive search information from a user; a program code segment configured to formulate a plurality of search requests using said search information and database syntax and protocol information, wherein each search request is recognizable by a corresponding database; a program code segment configured to perform one or more authorization procedures respectively in said plurality of databases in a concurrent manner; a program code segment configured to execute said plurality of search requests in their corresponding databases in a concurrent manner; a program code segment configured to return search results from said plurality of databases after execution of said plurality of search requests; and a program code segment configured to consolidate said search results for display to the user.
CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATION(S)
[0001] This application claims the benefit of priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119 from co-pending U.S. Provisional Patent Application Serial No. 60/200,044 filed on Apr. 27, 2000, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety for all purposes.
Provisional Applications (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
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60200044 |
Apr 2000 |
US |