Method and system for transporting and displaying search results and information hierarchies
First Claim
1. A method for fulfilling a search request generated from a client computer to a search server, comprising:
- instantiating a program on said client computer for requesting and presenting a result of said search request;
transmitting information specifying said search request to said search server;
downloading binary search result data from a database within said search server to said client computer, said search request result comprising location information and match quality information;
interpreting said location information and match quality information for display of said location information on a graphical display of said client computer, whereby said location information is formatted for presentation on said graphical display by said program; and
generating said graphical display in conformity a result of said interpreting.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method and system for transporting and displaying search results and information hierarchies provides a powerful tool for implementing Internet search engines, directory displays and interfaces to similar structures. Upon receiving a user request for an information access, binary search result information including quality of match information is downloaded from a server to the user site. The search information is then interpreted and a graphical output is generated. Interpretation at the client-side provides flexibility in presentation and active reorganization of the display. Graphical user interfaces use the local binary search data to provide user reorganization and inspection of the data. A user may navigate through a three-dimensional map organized by regions and categories, a two-dimensional map organized by match quality and/or an enhanced list display that provides local behavior to modify the information display based on the downloaded search data.
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Citations
66 Claims
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1. A method for fulfilling a search request generated from a client computer to a search server, comprising:
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instantiating a program on said client computer for requesting and presenting a result of said search request;
transmitting information specifying said search request to said search server;
downloading binary search result data from a database within said search server to said client computer, said search request result comprising location information and match quality information;
interpreting said location information and match quality information for display of said location information on a graphical display of said client computer, whereby said location information is formatted for presentation on said graphical display by said program; and
generating said graphical display in conformity a result of said interpreting. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A graphical user interface method for displaying search results downloaded from a search server, said search results including a set of location information and match quality information, said method including:
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generating a list of said location information and a control interface located at each list item for manipulating said list item on a graphical display;
receiving a user input at a particular control interface for manipulating an associated list item; and
in response to said receiving, modifying a display of said particular list item in conformity with said user input without generating another request to said search server. - View Dependent Claims (23)
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- 24. A graphical user interface method for displaying Internet search results downloaded from a search server, said search results including a set of location information and match quality information, said method including generating a graphical mosaic comprising graphical figures each corresponding to a location, and wherein characteristics of said graphical figures are generated in conformity with said interpretation of said match quality information.
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33. A graphical user interface method comprising:
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generating a hierarchical view wherein graphical figures corresponding to a set of categories is generated within a first area of a graphical display, and wherein said hierarchical view is adapted for user input for selecting a state of said hierarchical view;
interpreting a set of search results in conformity with a selected state of said hierarchical view; and
generating a search result display from said interpreted search results in a second area of said graphical display. - View Dependent Claims (34, 35)
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36. A computer network comprising:
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a search server for providing search database information in response to search requests;
a client computer system coupled to said search server via said network, said computer system comprising a memory for storing program instructions and data coupled to a processor for executing said program instructions, and wherein said program instructions comprise;
program instructions for requesting and presenting a result of said search request;
transmitting information specifying said search request to said search server;
downloading binary search result data from said search server, said search request result comprising location information and match quality information;
interpreting said location information and match quality information for display of said location information on a graphical display of said client computer, whereby said location information is formatted for presentation on said graphical display by said program; and
generating said graphical display in conformity a result of said interpreting. - View Dependent Claims (37, 38, 39)
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40. A computer system comprising a memory for storing program instructions and data, a processor coupled to said memory for executing said program instructions, a graphical display device coupled to said processor for displaying a graphical user interface (GUI) and an input device coupled to said processor for providing user input, wherein said program instructions comprise program instructions for:
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receiving search results including a set of location information and match quality information, and generating a graphical mosaic comprising graphical figures each corresponding to a location, and wherein characteristics of said graphical figures are generated in conformity with said interpretation of said match quality information. - View Dependent Claims (41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47)
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48. A computer system comprising a memory for storing program instructions and data, a processor coupled to said memory for executing said program instructions, a graphical display device coupled to said processor for displaying a graphical user interface (GUI) and an input device coupled to said processor for providing user input, wherein said program instructions comprise program instructions for:
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receiving search results including a set of location information;
generating a hierarchical view wherein graphical figures corresponding to a set of categories is generated within a first area of a graphical display, and wherein said hierarchical view is adapted for user input for selecting a state of said hierarchical view;
interpreting a set of search results in conformity with a selected state of said hierarchical view; and
generating a search result display from said interpreted search results in a second area of said graphical display. - View Dependent Claims (49, 50, 51)
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52. A computer program product comprising signal-bearing media encoding program instructions for execution within a general-purpose computer coupled to a search server via a network, wherein said program instructions comprise program instructions for:
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instantiating a program for requesting a search and presenting a result of said search request;
transmitting information specifying said search request to said search server;
downloading binary search result data from said search server, said search request result comprising location information and match quality information;
interpreting said location information and match quality information for display of said location information on a graphical display of said computer, whereby said location information is formatted for presentation on said graphical display by said program; and
generating said graphical display in conformity with a result of said interpreting. - View Dependent Claims (53, 54)
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55. A computer program product comprising signal-bearing media encoding program instructions for execution within a computer system, wherein said program instructions comprise program instructions for:
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receiving search results including a set of location information and match quality information, and generating a graphical mosaic comprising graphical figures each corresponding to a location, and wherein characteristics of said graphical figures are generated in conformity with said interpretation of said match quality information. - View Dependent Claims (56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62)
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63. A computer program product comprising signal-bearing media encoding program instructions for execution within a general-purpose computer system, wherein said program instructions comprise program instructions for:
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receiving search results including a set of location information;
generating a hierarchical view wherein graphical figures corresponding to a set of categories is generated within a first area of a graphical display, and wherein said hierarchical view is adapted for user input for selecting a state of said hierarchical view;
interpreting a set of search results in conformity with a selected state of said hierarchical view; and
generating a search result display from said interpreted search results in a second area of said graphical display. - View Dependent Claims (64, 65, 66)
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Specification