Conceptual Search Algorithms for FDB Databases

Information retrieval is a necessary and important process for all information systems. In a traditional database information retrieval is carried out via query languages like SQL using keywords while any conceptual information is ignored. The current research is based on the FDB model which allows the management of any multilingual database both at data and interface levels through a universal schema and provides the definition and administration of any multilingual thesaurus. Two different algorithms have been defined for conceptual search in any multilingual FDB database by exploiting the information provided by multilingual thesauri. The first conceptual search algorithm provides common search parameters for all the keywords that form the search criteria. The second algorithm is more flexible than the first one since it allows different search parameters for each keyword; it enables the user to exploit the information provided by the thesauri in a different level for each keyword. At the same time, on a higher level, the user can define logical operators in order to connect the different keywords and their corresponding terms that come from the thesaurus. The purpose of the current paper is to present the conceptual search algorithms and their features, as well as conclusions and recommendations for the interface of a system that will implement conceptual search in any FDB database.