Legal research system

• US 20050278633A1
• Filed: 11/17/2004
• Published: 12/15/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 11/17/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bloomberg Finance LP (Bloomberg LP), Bloomberg, Inc. (Bloomberg LP), Bloomberg LP, Bureau of National Affairs Incorporated (Bloomberg LP)
• Original Assignee: Bureau of National Affairs Incorporated (Bloomberg LP)
• Inventors: Kemp, Richard Douglas
• Granted Patent: US 9,015,213 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/713
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/3323 using document space presentation or visualization, e.g. category, hierarchy or range presentation and selection
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/382 using citations hypermedia G06F16/94
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/93 Document management systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04803 Split screen, i.e. subdividing the display area or the window area into separate subareas
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0481 based on specific properties of the displayed interaction object or a metaphor-based environment, e.g. interaction with desktop elements like windows or icons, or assisted by a cursor's changing behaviour or appearance
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus

Abstract

Methods, systems, and user interfaces for accessing, retrieving, storing, and presenting information stored in computer readable media. Information stored on a computer readable media may be searched using selectable items representing an index of information. In response to selection of one of the selectable items, information is presented which is related to the selected item, concurrently with display of the index and at least one least one previously-selected item in a hierarchical display. The invention has particular application to the legal field, but is also applicable to other fields, e.g., accounting, medicine, business and finance, engineering, scientific fields, merchandising fields, fulfillment fields, inventory fields, etc.

Claims

1. A method of presenting information stored on computer readable media on at least one display device with the aid of a computer and an input device for selecting information displayed on the at least one display device, comprising, in a presentation session:

displaying on at least one display device a first plurality of selectable items in more than one level of a first index of information stored in the computer readable media;

displaying on the at least one display device, concurrently with displaying the first plurality of selectable items, at least one selectable item in the first index not included in the plurality of selectable items or in a second index; and

if an item of the first plurality of selectable items is selected while the first plurality of selectable items and the at least one selectable item are displayed, displaying on the at least one display device information related to the selected item of the first plurality of items while concurrently displaying the first plurality of items and the at one least selectable item; and

if the at least one selectable item is selected while the first plurality of selectable items and the at least one selectable item are displayed, displaying on the at least one display device a second plurality of selectable items, in the first index or in the second index, that is at least partially different from the first plurality of selectable items, while concurrently displaying on the at least one display device at least one other selectable item that was previously selected in the presentation session.

3. The method of claim 1 or 2, comprising displaying the first plurality of items, the at least one selectable item, and the information related to the selected item on a same display device.

4. The method of claim 3, comprising displaying the first plurality of items, the at least one selectable item, and the information related to the selected item on at least two display devices.

5. The method of claim 1 or 2, wherein displaying information related to the selected item of the plurality of items comprises displaying in association with the information displayed related to the selected item of the first plurality of items:

a source or sources of the information displayed; and

an indicator associated with each displayed source indicating a number items of information of a respective source related to the selected item.

6. The method of claim 1 or 2, wherein the at least one selectable item comprises a plurality of items in a hierarchical first or second index consisting of items previously selected in the session.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the information related to the selected item of the first plurality of items comprises a summary of at least one document stored in the computer readable media.

8. The method of claim 1, comprising displaying on the at least one display device at least one selectable item relating to information displayed on the at least one display device which can be updated with updated information, wherein in response to selection of the at least one selectable item, the displayed information is updated with the updated information.

41. Computer readable media comprising programming for causing a computer to perform the method of claim 1.

42. A system comprising at least one computer and programming for causing the computer to execute the method of claim 1.

2. A method of displaying information relating to at least one area of law stored on computer readable media on at least one display device with the aid of a computer and an input device for selecting information displayed on the at least one display device, comprising, in a presentation session:

displaying on at least one display device a first plurality of selectable items in more than one level of a first index of information stored in the computer readable media;

displaying on the at least one display device, concurrently with displaying the first plurality of selectable items, at least one selectable item in the first index not included in the plurality of selectable items or in a second index; and

if an item of the first plurality of selectable items is selected while the first plurality of selectable items and the at least one selectable item are displayed, displaying on the at least one display device information related to the selected item of the first plurality of items while concurrently displaying the first plurality of items and the at one least selectable item; and

if the at least one selectable item is selected while the first plurality of selectable items and the at least one selectable item are displayed, displaying on the at least one display device a second plurality of selectable items, in the first index or in the second index, that is at least partially different from the first plurality of selectable items, while concurrently displaying on the at least one display device at least one other selectable item that was previously selected in the presentation session.

9. A user interface of a computer system for retrieving and displaying information stored on media readable by the computer system, the computer system comprising at least one display device and at least one input device for selecting information displayed on the at least one display device, the user interface comprising displays of information on the at least one display device including:

a display of a plurality of selectable items in more than one level of a first index of information stored in the media, at least one of the plurality of selectable items being hierarchically related with lower level information stored in the media, and with higher level information stored in the media;

a display concurrently with and separate from the plurality of selectable items of lower level information stored in the media hierarchically related to a selected item of the plurality of items; and

a display concurrently with and separate from the plurality of selectable items and the lower level information of selectable higher level information stored in the media hierarchically related to one or more of the plurality of selectable items in the first index not included in the displayed plurality of selectable items; and

the user interface;

in response to selection of higher level information displayed in a display on the at least one display device, displaying on the at least one display device a plurality of selectable items stored in the media of which at least one is hierarchically related to the selected higher level information, and in response to selection of an item of the plurality of selectable items displayed in a display on the at least one display device, displaying on the at least one display device lower level information, if any, stored in the media hierarchically related to the selected item.

10. The user interface of claim 9, wherein a plurality of the displays are displayed on the same display device.

11. The user interface of claim 9, wherein the computer system comprises a plurality of display devices and a plurality of the displays are displayed in different display devices.

12. A method of presenting results on at least one display device of a search for legal information stored on computer readable media with the aid of a computer and an input device for selecting information displayed on the at least one display device, comprising, in a presentation session:

displaying on at least one display device a plurality of selectable items from a plurality of levels of an index of legal information stored in computer readable media;

in response to selection of one of the plurality of selectable items, displaying on the at least one display device, concurrently with the plurality of selectable items, information associated with the selected one of the plurality of items; and

displaying on the at least one display device, concurrently with and in addition to the plurality of selectable items and the displayed information, a hierarchical index of selectable items representing levels of the index previously selected in the session.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein displaying on the at least one display device information associated with the selected one of the plurality of items comprises displaying summary information.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the hierarchical index of selectable items representing levels of the index previously selected in the session includes the currently-selected one of the plurality of selectable items.

15. The method of claim 12, comprising:

in response to selection of a second one of the plurality of selectable items from the plurality of levels of an index of legal information, displaying on the at least one display device information associated with the second selected item.

16. The method of claim 12, comprising:

in response to selection of the selected one of the plurality of selectable items, displaying on the at least one display device one or more selectable items from at least one level of the index of legal information subordinate to the level of the selected item.

17. The method of claim 12, wherein the plurality of selectable items and the information associated with the selected one of the plurality of items are displayed in two or more user interface areas of the at least one display device.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein at least one of the two or more user interface areas is displayed on a different display device.

19. The method of claim 12, comprising displaying on the at least one display device at least one selectable item relating to information displayed on the at least one display device which can be updated with updated information, wherein in response to selection of the at least one selectable item, the displayed information is updated with the updated information.

20. The method of claim 12, comprising displaying:

a source or sources of information associated with the selected one of the plurality of items; and

an indicator associated with each displayed source indicating a number items of information of a respective source related to the selected item.

21. The method of claim 12, comprising displaying on the at least one display device, concurrently with the plurality of selectable items and the displayed information, at least one source of the displayed information and a plurality of selectable source-related items available from the source that are associated with the selected one of the plurality of selectable items.

22. A method of presenting legal information stored on computer readable media on at least one display device with the aid of a computer and an input device for selecting information displayed on the at least one display device, comprising:

displaying concurrently on the at least one display device a first display comprising selectable items from a plurality of levels of an index of legal information stored in a computer readable media, information associated with a selected one of the items, and a hierarchical index of selectable items representing previously-selected levels of the index;

displaying on the at least one display device, in response to a selection of a second selected one of the items, a second display, the second display comprising a plurality of selectable items representing at least a portion of the index of legal information corresponding to the second selected one of the items, information associated with the second selected one of the items, and a hierarchical index of selectable items representing previously-selected levels of the index, including the first selected one of the items; and

displaying on the at least one display device, in response to a selection of one of the items of the hierarchical index, a third display comprising a plurality of selectable items representing at least a portion of an index of legal information corresponding to the selected item of the hierarchical index.

23. A method of presenting legal information stored on computer readable media on at least one display device with the aid of a computer and an input device for selecting information displayed on the at least one display device, comprising:

displaying on at least one display device a first display comprising selectable items from a plurality of levels of an index of legal information stored in a computer readable media, the selectable items including a first selected one of the items;

displaying on the at least one display device information associated with the selected one of the items, the information including at least one selectable item representing an item other than the first selected one of the items, and of the same or another index; and

displaying at the user station, in response to a selection of the at least one selectable item of the same or another index, at least a portion of the same or the other index including the second selected item.

24. A method of presenting on at least one display device legal information stored on computer readable media, including documents containing primary legal information and documents containing secondary legal information, with the aid of a computer and an input device for selecting information displayed on the at least one display device, comprising:

displaying on at least one display device a plurality of selectable items representing at least a portion of an index of legal information;

in response to a selection of one of the selectable items, displaying on the at least one display device, concurrently with the selectable items, links to documents containing primary legal information and links to documents containing secondary legal information.

25. A method of presenting legal information stored on computer readable media on at least one display device with the aid of a computer and an input device for selecting information displayed on the at least one display device, comprising:

displaying on the at least one display device a plurality of selectable items corresponding to topics of an index of legal information;

in response to selection of a displayed selectable item, providing a search query that includes an identifier for a topic corresponding to the selected item; and

performing a search based on the search query; and

displaying on the at least one display device results of the search.

26. A method of presenting on at least one display device legal information stored on computer readable media, including information stored in at least two databases, with the aid of a computer and an input device for selecting information displayed on the at least one display device, comprising:

displaying on at least one display device selectable items of an index of legal information stored in a computer readable media;

in response to selection of one of the selectable items, displaying on the at least one display device, concurrently with the selectable items, information associated with the selected one of the items from the at least two databases; and

displaying on the at least one display device, concurrently with and in addition to the selectable items and the displayed information, a hierarchical index of selectable items representing previously-selected levels of the index.

28. A method of presenting results on at least one display device of a search for legal information stored on a computer readable media, including information of at least two source types, with the aid of a computer and an input device for selecting information displayed on the at least one display device, comprising:

displaying on at least one display device selectable items of an index of legal information stored in a computer readable media;

in response to selection of one of the selectable items, displaying on the at least one display device, concurrently with the selectable items, information of the at least two source types associated with the selected one of the items; and

displaying on the at least one display device, concurrently with and in addition to the selectable items and the displayed information, a hierarchical index of selectable items representing previously-selected levels of the index.

29. A user interface of a computer system for retrieving and displaying information stored on media readable by the computer system, the computer system comprising at least one display device and at least one input device for selecting information displayed on the at least one display device, the user interface comprising displays of information on the at least one display device including:

a first display for a list of selectable items each of which representing a source of information stored in the media;

a second display for one or more items selected from the list representing sources to be included in a search query enterable into a third display; and

the third display for an entered search query;

the user interface displaying the first, second and third displays concurrently, and the computer system performing a search of sources displayed in the second display based on a search query displayed in the third display.

30. A method of retrieving and displaying information stored on media readable by a computer system, the computer system comprising at least one display device and at least one input device for selecting information displayed on the at least one display device, the method comprising:

displaying in a first display a list of selectable items each of which representing a source of information stored in the media;

displaying in a second display for one or more items selected from the list representing sources to be included in a search query enterable into a third display; and

displaying in the third display an entered search query;

the first, second and third displays being displayed concurrently;

the computer system performing a search of sources displayed in the second display based on a search query displayed in the third display.

31. The method of claim 30, wherein the first, second and third displays are displayed in different areas of a single display device.

32. The method of claim 30, wherein the first, second and third displays are displayed on at least two display devices.

33. The method of claim 30, wherein the list comprises a hierarchy of selectable items.

34. The method of claim 33, wherein the hierarchy comprises a plurality of levels.

35. A method of retrieving and displaying information stored on media readable by a computer system, the computer system comprising at least one display device and at least one input device for selecting information displayed on the at least one display device, the method comprising:

displaying in a first display a list of selectable items each of which represents items of information stored in the media;

storing in the media at least one summary of each stored item of information, and for a plurality of items of information, storing a plurality of summaries each of which relates to a selectable item of a different list;

displaying in a second display an entered search query;

the computer system performing a search of information stored in the media corresponding to one or more items selected from the list displayed in the first display based on the search query displayed in the second display, and displaying in a third display a summary of an item of information, if any, stored in the media responsive to the search query, the displayed item of information being a summary related to the selected item of the displayed list if more than one summary is stored for an item of information.

36. The method of claim 35, comprising displaying the first, second and third displays concurrently.

37. The method of claim 35, wherein the list comprises a hierarchy of selectable items.

38. The method of claim 37, wherein the hierarchy comprises a plurality of levels.

39. A method of retrieving and displaying information stored on media readable by a computer system, the computer system comprising at least one display device and at least one input device for selecting information displayed on the at least one display device, the method comprising:

displaying on the at least one display device a hierarchical list of selectable items;

in response to selection of an item in the list, displaying on the at least one display device as part of an expanded hierarchical list that includes at least part of the hierarchical list, one or more lower level selectable items, and if there are none, displaying a list of selectable documents containing information related to the selected item, if any, the list of selectable documents being positioned relative to at least a part of the hierarchical list to indicate a relationship between the list of documents and the selected item.

40. The method of claim 39, comprising displaying the list of documents in a scrollable or page format.