초록 ▼

An electronic catalog search engine is configurable to optimize the search process by identifying the desired item from the most advantageous supplier, while efficiently utilizing computing resources. The search engine comprises a configurable search and data subset creation mechanism. The system ac

An electronic catalog search engine is configurable to optimize the search process by identifying the desired item from the most advantageous supplier, while efficiently utilizing computing resources. The search engine comprises a configurable search and data subset creation mechanism. The system accepts search terms from a user, and then executes a sequence of search strategies on subsets of the database which may include a proximity search, a word count search, and a fuzzy logic search. Subsets can be searched in any order and different search strategies can be applied to different subsets. The sequences are terminated when search steps have uncovered at least one match. Each database entry has a corresponding product category. A list of categories from each of the matching products is dynamically compiled and displayed to the user. The user can page through the list of displayed matches, or alternatively can create a subset of the list by selecting only the items within one of the categories. In addition, the user can further refine the list of items by selecting those items having a particular attribute. The invention has the advantage that users with a wide range of skills and/or familiarity with products can quickly find the products that they need. The system has the additional feature of creating electronic requisitions for the products listed in the database.

대표청구항 ▼

[ What is claimed is:] [1.]1. A method of selecting data records in a computer readable database, each data record having at least one classification, the method comprising the steps of:designating a plurality of subsets of data records in a database;designating at least a first and a second search

[ What is claimed is:] [1.]1. A method of selecting data records in a computer readable database, each data record having at least one classification, the method comprising the steps of:designating a plurality of subsets of data records in a database;designating at least a first and a second search strategy, wherein each search strategy comprises a search methodology preselected to operate upon at least one of the plurality of subsets to search for at least one match;forming a search hierarchy comprised of the first search strategy followed by the second search strategy;inputting a search string, comprising at least one search term, to a user interface;executing the search hierarchy, wherein said search string is applied by a succession of said search strategies;terminating said search hierarchy upon finding said at least one match;displaying said at least one match.