Abstract: A system and method for storing and managing sets of objects is disclosed. The method and system comprises providing a plurality of set nodes based upon a defined set of data objects; and associating a plurality of constraint nodes with the plurality of set nodes. The method and system includes providing a plurality of object nodes based upon the objects; and obtaining object metadata from the plurality of object nodes. The method and system further includes associating at least one of the plurality of object nodes with at least one of the plurality of set nodes based upon a criteria and detecting that at least one of the plurality of set nodes has been modified and delivering a notification to at least one constraint node of a plurality of constraint nodes. Each of the plurality of constraint nodes provides constraints on at least one set node. Accordingly, a method and system in accordance with the present invention unifies the storing and managing of sets in order to simplify overall system behavior.

Abstract: A method and system for improving text searching is disclosed. The method and system provides a network of document relationship and utilizes the network of document relationships to identify the region of documents that can be used to satisfy a user's request. In a preferred embodiment, the text searching method in accordance with the present invention augments a conventional text search by using information on document relationships and metadata. The text searching method and system improves upon conventional text search techniques by incorporating relationship metadata to define regions to search within. In the present invention the definition of a region is not limited to just categories as it includes neighborhoods around individual documents and sets which have been user defined.

Abstract: A method and system for managing object types for objects which are defined externally to a system is disclosed. In a first aspect, the method and system comprises recording a relationship of an object to an object class within the system and then recording a system-defined super-class of the object class. A plurality of tables are utilized to record the relationship and the system defined super-class. In a second aspect, a method and system for receiving an externally generated object comprises determining that the externally generated object is represented as an object class in one of a base table and a derived table. The method and system further including obtaining a system-defined super-class of the object. The method and system further includes inserting an object class of the object into the derived table with an identifier of the system-defined super-class and a derived table identifier to create a relationship of a system-defined super-class to a user-defined subclass.

Abstract: A method and system for improving text searching is disclosed. The method and system provides a network of document relationship and utilizes the network of document relationships to identify the region of documents that can be used to satisfy a user's request. In a preferred embodiment, the text searching method in accordance with the present invention augments a conventional text search by using information on document relationships and metadata. The text searching method and system improves upon conventional text search techniques by incorporating relationship metadata to define regions to search within. In the present invention the definition of a region is not limited to just categories as it includes neighborhoods around individual documents and sets which have been user defined.