Graphical user interface for building boolean queries and viewing search results
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Accused Products
Abstract
A graphical user interface is for building Boolean queries and viewing search results using search cells, combination cells, a toolbar, and a menu bar. The search cells are movable within a workspace and preferably contain a text field, a facet type designation, an advanced button and a hit count. Search cells can search records by a category, keyword, date or numeric value. Categories are preferably chosen with the assistance of a category walker. The combination cells are movable within the workspace and preferably contain a combine icon, a hit count and an expression field. The combination cell is a Boolean combination of two or more selected search cells. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the Boolean logic is graphically depicted with the use of combination brackets. The contents of each combination bracket is controllable by the use of movable graphical pins that are located between each pair of search cells. The combination bracket can be represented by use of a rectangular bracket, a square bracket, or a curly brace. In an alternative embodiment of the invention, the Boolean query is depicted in a folder tree hierarchy. Search folders and combination folders are used to depict search cells and combination cells, respectively. Search folders contain the same information as search cells, but search folders can be toggled to appear as small folder icons within the workspace. Combination folders are represented as small folder icons containing a logical AND icon, a logical OR icon or a logical MINUS icon. Search folders are shown to be included within combination folders through the use of the folder tree hierarchy, just as computer files are shown to be included within a folder in a typical file manager program. In the preferred embodiment, the invention runs an internet browser and is coupled to a remote server through the internet. To minimize communication delays across the internet, an applet can be run on the local client to perform most graphical display manipulations prompted by the searches manipulation of the search cells, the combination cells, the toolbar, and the menu. The remote server is used to execute queries received over the internet from the local client and deliver search results back to the local client over the internet. Optionally, the client can take on some or all of the tasks of the server in executing queries over the internet.
137 Citations
95 Claims
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1-39. -39. (canceled)
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40. A graphical user interface for building Boolean queries and viewing search results comprising:
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a) a workspace capable of enclosing one or more search folders and one or more combination folders in a folder tree hierarchy;
b) a means for inserting search folders into the workspace, each search folder configured for displaying a search by type icon, a text field, and a hit count;
c) a means for inserting combination folders into the workspace, each combination folder having a combine icon;
d) a means for moving selected search folders and selected combination folders within the folder tree hierarchy;
e) a means for deleting selected search folders and selected combination folders from the workspace; and
f) a means for viewing search results of selected search folders and selected combination folders. - View Dependent Claims (41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50)
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51. A method of building Boolean queries and viewing search results using a graphical user interface comprising the steps of:
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a) opening a window including a workspace and a toolbar;
b) inserting two or more search folders into the workspace, each search folder configured for displaying a search by type icon, a text field, and a hit count;
c) entering text in the text fields of the search folders;
d) selecting two or more search folders;
e) inserting one or more combination folders into the workspace, each combination folder having a combine icon;
f) arranging the search folders and combination folders within a folder tree hierarchy;
g) selecting one combination folder thereby forming a selected combination folder;
h) executing a query represented by each the selected combination folder; and
i) viewing search results in the workspace. - View Dependent Claims (52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60)
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61. A graphical user interface for building Boolean queries and viewing search results comprising:
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a) a window including a workspace, a tool bar, and a folder tree hierarchy;
b) two or more search folders located within the folder tree hierarchy, each search folder capable of being moved within the folder tree hierarchy and configured for displaying a search by type icon, a text field, and a hit count;
c) one or more combination folders, each combination folder capable of being moved within the folder tree hierarchy and having a combine icon. - View Dependent Claims (62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70)
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71-94. -94.
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95-107. -107. (canceled)
Specification