Method and apparatus for an interactive catalog
First Claim
1. A method for presenting a portion of a database, the method comprising steps of:
- presenting a first tier of tabs, each tab in the first tier of tabs representing a first collection of data objects corresponding thereto; and
in response to a selecting of a tab of the first tier to produce a selected first tier tab, presenting a second tier of tabs, each tab in the second tier of tabs representing a second collection of data objects, each data object in the second tier also belonging to the first collection of data objects corresponding to the selected first tier tab.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method and apparatus for an interactive catalog includes presenting a portion of a database. The method includes presenting a first tier of selectable graphics images. Each selectable graphics image in the first tier of selectable graphics images represents a first collection of data structures corresponding thereto. The method also includes presenting a second tier of selectable graphics images, in response to a selecting of a selectable graphics image of the first tier to produce a first tier selected graphics image. Each selectable graphics image in the second tier of selectable graphics images represents a second collection of data structures. Each data structure in the second tier also belongs to the first collection of data structures corresponding to the first tier selected graphics image.
68 Citations
44 Claims
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1. A method for presenting a portion of a database, the method comprising steps of:
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presenting a first tier of tabs, each tab in the first tier of tabs representing a first collection of data objects corresponding thereto; and
in response to a selecting of a tab of the first tier to produce a selected first tier tab, presenting a second tier of tabs, each tab in the second tier of tabs representing a second collection of data objects, each data object in the second tier also belonging to the first collection of data objects corresponding to the selected first tier tab. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30, 31)
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24. A method of accessing and presenting a plurality of catalogs, the method comprising:
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presenting, on a graphic user interface, a plurality of tabs, each tab representing a library of at least one catalog;
Presenting, in response to selection of a tab, at least one icon, each icon representing a catalog;
accepting the selection of a first icon; and
presenting a first catalog in response to the first icon.
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27. A method for presenting an electronic office products catalog, the method comprising:
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assigning, for each office product, at least one product category name;
assigning, for each product category name, an alphabetic tab, such that the tab corresponds to the first letter of the product category name;
assigning, for each office product, at least one page number of the electronic catalog where the office product will be displayed;
assigning, for each product category name, a set of page numbers corresponding to the pages of the electronic catalog at least one office product corresponding to the product category name will be displayed in the electronic office products catalog;
presenting a first tier of alphabetic tabs, each alphabetic tab displaying at least one letter;
in response to a selecting of an alphabetic tab, presenting a second tier of product category name tabs, such that a product category name tab is presented for each product category name beginning with the alphabetic letter of the selected alphabetic tab;
in response to a selecting of a product category name tab, presenting a third tier page number tabs, such that at least one page number tab is presented for each product category name; and
in response to a selecting of a page number tab, displaying the first page represented by the page number tab.
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32. A method for automatically creating an electronic catalog having at least one tier of selectable graphic images, the method comprising steps of:
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selecting a group of records corresponding to a selectable graphic image;
determining whether the group of records fits on a first page;
if the group of records fits on the page, tagging all the records in the group with the page number of first page; and
if the group of records does not fit on the first page, splitting the records into a first subgroup and at least one other subgroup, tagging all the records in the first subgroup with the page number of the first page, and assigning each other subgroup to a new page associated with the subgroup.
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33. A method for automatically creating a custom electronic catalog from a larger catalog, the custom electronic catalog having at least one tier of selectable graphic images, the method comprising:
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reviewing the larger catalog;
designating each item from the larger catalog to be included in the custom electronic catalog; and
for each designated item selecting a group of records corresponding to a selectable graphic image;
determining whether the group of records fits on a first page;
if the group of records fits on the first page, tagging all the records in the group with a page number of the first page; and
if the group of records does not fit on the first page, splitting the records into a first subgroup and at least one other subgroup, tagging all the records in the first subgroup with the page number of the first page, and assigning each other subgroup to a new page associated with the subgroup. - View Dependent Claims (35, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41)
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34. A method for creating a electronic office products catalog, the method comprising:
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Reading at least one data file, the data file representing information about a plurality of office products, the information for each office product including an item number for the product, a manufacturer name, an optional location of a graphics image of the object, product information such as narrative description, size, cost, and weight, and at least one product category name;
assigning each office product to a page in the catalog;
assigning each page in the catalog at least one page number tab;
assigning each office product to at least one product category name;
assigning each product category name to at least one product category name tab;
assigning each product category name to at least one alphabetic tab;
displaying a first tier of user selectable alphabetic tabs;
displaying a second tier of user selectable product category name tabs such that product category name corresponds to a selected alphabetic tab;
displaying a third tier of user selectable page number tabs such that the page number tabs correspond to a selected product category name; and
displaying a page from the catalog such that the page corresponds to a selected page number tab.
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36. A method for presenting a portion of a database, the method comprising steps of:
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presenting a bottom tier of tabs, each tab in the bottom tier of tabs representing a first collection of data objects corresponding thereto; and
in response to a selecting of a tab of the bottom tier to produce a selected bottom tier tab, presenting a form of selectable graphics images representing a collection of records of the database; and
presenting a next tier of tabs, each tab in the next tier of tabs representing a collection of tabs of the bottom tier of tabs.
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42. A method of presenting a plurality of electronic catalogs on a computer workstation, the method comprising
presenting a menu of electronic catalogs to a user from the workstation; - and
in response to the selection of a catalog, displaying a page from the selected electronic catalog, a second tier of user selectable tabs, including at least one tab associated with the page, and a first tier of user selectable tabs, including at least one tab associated with the second tier tab associated with the page. - View Dependent Claims (43, 44)
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Specification