Associative search method for heterogeneous databases with an integration mechanism configured to combine schema-free data models such as a hyperbase

摘要

A method of performing an associative search on a set of heterogeneous databases is described, the method implemented on a general purpose computer. The method comprises converting each database of the set of databases into a schema-free structure called a hyperbase. The hyperbases corresponding to each database of the set of databases are combined into a single combined hyperbase, and that single hyperbase is normalized into a single normalized hyperbase. An associative search on the single hyperbase includes providing a set of input words. The method of the present invention determines an answer, which is that sub- hyperbase of the hyperbase to be searched which has minimum "cost" according to a criterion. Once an answer is determined, the answer is displayed to the user.