Patent attributes
Processing a query involves directing the query to an extended index database, the extended index database comprising a core database and one or more supplemental indexes, wherein the query seeks an item. Directing the query for processing includes determining if the sought item is located within the core database and, if the item is not determined to be located in the core database, then determining if the item is located in one or more of the supplemental indexes, and returns a query result. The returned result may comprise any one of three responses, including a response that indicates the item is located in the core database, or a response that indicates that the item was not located in the core database but was located in one or more of the supplemental indexes, or a response that indicates that the item was not located at all.
