The BANKS system supports keyword search on databases storing structured/semi-structured data. Answers to keyword queries are ranked, and as in IR systems, the top answers may not be exactly what a user is looking for. Further interaction with the system is required to narrow in on desired answers. We describe some of the new features that we have added to the BANKS system to improve user interaction. These include an extended query model, richer support for user feedback and better display of answers. 1.

With the growth of the Web, there has been a rapid increase in the number of users who need to access online databases without having a detailed knowledge of the schema or of query languages; even relatively simple query languages designed for non-experts are too complicated for them. We describe BANKS, a system which enables keyword-based search on relational databases, together with data and schema browsing. BANKS enables users to extract information in a simple manner without any knowledge of the schema or any need for writing complex queries. A user can get information by typing a few keywords, following hyperlinks, and interacting with controls on the displayed results. BANKS models tuples as nodes in a graph, connected by links induced by foreign key and other relationships. Answers to a query are modeled as rooted trees connecting tuples that match individual keywords in the query. Answers are ranked using a notion of proximity coupled with a notion of prestige of nodes based on inlinks, similar to techniques developed for Web search. We present an efficient heuristic algorithm for finding and ranking query results.