The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jan. 13, 1998
Filed:
Jul. 26, 1996
Julie Francis Goodwin, Boca Raton, FL (US);
Charles Sterling Lanier, Delray Beach, FL (US);
James Robert Lewis, Coconut Creek, FL (US);
Byron Kevin Tiller, Boca Raton, FL (US);
Raymond Lee Yee, Coral Springs, FL (US);
International Business Machines Corp., Armonk, NY (US);
Abstract
A data processing device and method for searching a database having a plurality of entries to locate entries which match a search string. Each entry within the database is arranged into one or more predetermined search fields which each contain a character string. In response to receipt of a search string, a determination is made whether the search string is a subset of a particular entry within the database. In response to the determination that the search string is a subset of a particular entry, the particular entry is recorded as a matching entry. However, in response to a determination that the search string is not a subset of a particular entry, a determination is made whether a modified search string formed by removing delimiters from the search string is a subset of a character string within a particular predetermined search field within the particular entry. In response to a determination that the modified search string is a subset of the character string, the particular entry is recorded as a matching entry. Thereafter, the foregoing steps are repeated for each of the number of entries within the database such that matching entries within the database are efficiently located.