Abstract: A method and system provides a search interface that permits a user to interrogate a structured database, and includes retrieving database entries from one or more databases, flattening a plurality of database entries, indexing the plurality of flattened database entries to form a search engine index, and prompting the user to enter an input. The system continuously monitors the user input and each time an input is entered by the user, the system computes a set of non-null partial queries in response to the input entered by the user, associates a structured item to each non-null partial query, and allows the user to select one of the structured items. If the user selects one of the structured items, the system replaces the user input by the non-null partial query associated to the selected structured item. When the user validates the input, the system executes the input as a query. Finally, the system provides documents to the user corresponding to the executed query.

Abstract: A method and system provides a search interface that permits a user to interrogate a structured database, and includes retrieving database entries from one or more databases, flattening a plurality of database entries, indexing the plurality of flattened database entries to form a search engine index, and prompting the user to enter an input. The system continuously monitors the user input and each time an input is entered by the user, the system computes a set of non-null partial queries in response to the input entered by the user, associates a structured item to each non-null partial query, and allows the user to select one of the structured items. If the user selects one of the structured items, the system replaces the user input by the non-null partial query associated to the selected structured item. When the user validates the input, the system executes the input as a query. Finally, the system provides documents to the user corresponding to the executed query.

Abstract: A computer implemented method for transforming an inverted index of a collection of documents into a smaller inverted index of documents. The smaller index contains links to all and only to those documents appearing in a subset of the original collection of documents. The method avoids reprocessing the subset to create the smaller inverted index by intersecting each inverted list with the list of document references from the desired subset. If this intersection is empty then the list is removed from the new smaller index, otherwise the list containing only the intersected reference list is included in the new inverted index. The method is also extended to deal with creating multiple smaller inverted indexes and with propagating updates changes in the first collection of documents down into the smaller inverted index or indexes.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a method, computer program product and computer system for creating an index of a subset of data, comprising: a first step of receiving: a set of data; a first index of said set of data; and identifiers of a subset of data of said set; and a second step of creating a second index of said subset of data according to the first index and said identifiers.

Abstract: A database of entries, such as Web pages and sites, is provided. The entries are at least partially mapped to a set of predetermined categories. The entries are also associated with keywords, for instance, by automatic indexing of documents. In response to a query into the database, a user is provided with a series of refinement strategies, in addition to search results. Refinement strategies comprise categories relevant for the search, selected among the set of predetermined categories. Refinement strategies also include keywords dynamically selected among keywords associated with the entries. The user may easily navigate among the results to the query, and formulate new queries.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a program for accessing information records on a computer, the program being adapted for operating on the computer and comprising: an indexer adapted to build an index of information records stored in at least two information systems present on the computer; wherein an information system provides access to information records using at least an interface such as a user interface, an application programming interface, or a procedure call interface; an agent adapted to receive requests from a terminal remote from the computer and to serve said requests using said index. A person travelling is thus able to get access to his or her own information stored on his or her personal computer at home or at work, using for instance another computer, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a smartphone. It can furthermore act on these information records, using the service available on his local computer.

Abstract: A collection of documents comprises referencing documents, such as html documents, and referenced documents, such as images or audio documents. Referenced documents are referenced in the referencing documents. In response to a search query, a search engine displays to the user information or attributes of the referenced documents, as well as an excerpt of the referencing document.

Abstract: A database of entries, such as Web pages and sites, is provided. The entries are at least partially mapped to a set of predetermined categories. The entries are also associated with keywords, for instance, by automatic indexing of documents. In response to a query into the database, a user is provided with a series of refinement strategies, in addition to search results. Refinement strategies comprise categories relevant for the search, selected among the set of predetermined categories. Refinement strategies also include keywords dynamically selected among keywords associated with the entries. The user may easily navigate among the results to the query, and formulate new queries.