GRAPHICAL USER INTERFACE FOR FILTERING A POPULATION OF ITEMS

• US 20060195799A1
• Filed: 05/11/2006
• Published: 08/31/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 03/28/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: eBay Inc.
• Original Assignee: eBay Inc.
• Inventors: Sawyer, Brian N.
• Granted Patent: US 7,721,230 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/853
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/951 Indexing; Web crawling techniques
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9535 Search customisation based on user profiles and personalisation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9538 Presentation of query results
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/143 Markup, e.g. Standard Generalized Markup Language [SGML] or Document Type Definition [DTD]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/06 Asset management; Financial planning or analysis
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99934 Query formulation, input preparation, or translation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99935 Query augmenting and refining, e.g. inexact access
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 715/968 interface for database querying and retrieval

Abstract

Graphical user interface for filtering a population of items. The graphical user interface may be implemented as a method on a system comprising a computer server or other computing device. The system defines a library of available criteria to be used in filtering a population of items to identify items of interest. Each criterion has a graphical representation. The system receives an indication of at least one of the criterion to be applied to the population as a filter and also accepts an indication of a tier of the filter to which the selected criterion is to be associated. The system identifies a list of items of interest satisfying a current set of criteria defining the filter. A graphical representation of the filter is displayed by the system while it is being constructed by the user. In one embodiment, the items are securities such as stocks.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a module to receive selections of criteria to be applied to data as a multi-tiered query;

a module to receive a selection, for at least one criterion of the criteria, of a tier of the multi-tiered query to which the at least one criterion is to be applied; and

a module to construct the multi-tiered query utilizing the criteria and the received selection of a tier.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising a module to receive selections of a plurality of tiers to which the criteria are to be applied.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the module to receive the selection of the criteria is responsive to a user selection of graphical representations of the criteria.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the module to receive the selection of the tier of the multi-tiered query is responsive to a placement of a graphical representation of the at least one criterion relative to a graphical representation of the multi-tiered query.

5. The system of claim 4, further comprising a module to remove a criterion from the multi-tiered query responsive to an action of a user with respect to the graphical representation of the multi-tiered query.

6. The system of claim 4, further comprising a module to move a criterion from a first tier in the multi-tiered query to a second tier in the multi-tiered query responsive to an action of a user with respect to the graphical representation of the multi-tier query.

7. The system of claim 1, further comprising a module to generate a graphical representation of the multi-tiered query to be displayed to a user.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the module to generate the graphical representation of the multi-tiered query is responsive to receipt of the selections of the criteria and the module to receive the selection of the tier.

9. The system of claim 1, further comprising a module to identify a list of items satisfying the multi-tiered query.

10. The system of claim 1, further comprising a module to display a graphical representation of the multi-tiered query while the multi-tiered query is constructed.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the data relates to financial instruments.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the criteria is selected from a collection of criteria received from a user of the data search.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein the criteria is selected from a collection of criteria received from a plurality of users in an on-line community.

14. The system of claim 1, wherein the graphical representation of the criteria is provided in one or more groups or sets.

15. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a module to receive an indication of a tier level; and

a module to construct a query using the indicated tier level and all prior tier levels.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the module to receive the indication of the tier level comprises a sub-module to receive an input associated with a graphical representation of the received tier level.

17. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a module to apply a Boolean OR to criteria on a common tier of the graphical representation; and

a module to apply a Boolean AND to different tiers in a graphical representation.

18. The system of claim 1, further comprising a module to display data responsive to the criteria and the multi-tiered query.

19. The system of claim 18, further comprising:

a module to compute a tally of the data; and

a module to display a tally of the data.

20. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a module to receive an indication of a tier in the multi-tiered query; and

a module to apply criteria of the received indication of a tier to the data.

21. The system of claim 1, wherein the criteria comprises user customizable criteria.

22. The system of claim 1, wherein the collection of criteria is predefined.

23. A machine readable medium having instructions for executing a process comprising:

receiving selections of a plurality of criteria to be applied to data as a multi-tiered query;

receiving a selection, for at least one criterion of the plurality of criteria, of a tier of the multi-tiered query to which the at least one criterion is to be applied; and

constructing the multi-tiered query utilizing the plurality of criteria and the received selection of a tier.

24. The machine readable medium of claim 23, further comprising instructions for receiving selections of a plurality of tiers to which the plurality of criteria are to be respectively applied.

25. The machine readable medium of claim 23, wherein the instructions for receiving the selection of the plurality of criteria is responsive to a user selection of a plurality of graphical representations of the plurality of criteria.

26. The machine readable medium of claim 23, wherein the instructions for receiving the selection of the tier of the multi-tiered query is responsive to a placement of a graphical representation of the at least one criterion relative to a graphical representation of the multi-tiered query.

27. The machine readable medium of claim 26, further comprising instructions for removing a criterion from the multi-tiered query responsive to an action of a user with respect to the graphical representation of the multi-tiered query.

28. The machine readable medium of claim 26, further comprising instructions for moving a criterion from a first tier in the multi-tiered query to a second tier in the multi-tiered query responsive to an action of a user with respect to the graphical representation of the multi-tier query.

29. The machine readable medium of claim 23, further comprising instructions for generating a graphical representation of the multi-tiered query to be displayed to a user.

30. The machine readable medium of claim 29, wherein the instructions for generating the graphical representation of the multi-tiered query is responsive to receipt of the selections of the plurality of criteria and the receiving of the selection of the tier.

31. The machine readable medium of claim 23, further comprising instructions for identifying a list of items satisfying the multi-tiered query.

32. The machine readable medium of claim 23, further comprising instructions for displaying a graphical representation of the multi-tiered query while the multi-tiered query is constructed.

33. The machine readable medium of claim 23, wherein the data relates to financial instruments.

34. The machine readable medium of claim 23, wherein the plurality of criteria is selected from a collection of criteria received from a user of the data search.

35. The machine readable medium of claim 23, wherein the plurality of criteria is selected from a collection of criteria received from a plurality of users in an on-line community.

36. The machine readable medium of claim 23, wherein the graphical representation of the criteria is provided in one or more groups or sets.

37. The machine readable medium of claim 23, further comprising instructions for:

receiving an indication of a tier level; and

constructing a query using the indicated tier level and all prior tier levels.

38. The machine readable medium of claim 37, wherein the instructions for receiving the indication of the tier level comprises further instructions for receiving an input associated with a graphical representation of the received tier level.

39. The machine readable medium of claim 23, further comprising instructions for:

applying a Boolean OR to criteria on a common tier of the graphical representation; and

applying a Boolean AND to different tiers in a graphical representation.

40. The machine readable medium of claim 23, further comprising instructions for displaying data responsive to the plurality of criteria and the multi-tiered query.

41. The machine readable medium of claim 40, further comprising instructions for:

computing a tally of the data; and

displaying a tally of the data.

42. The machine readable medium of claim 23, further comprising instructions for:

receiving an indication of a tier in the multi-tiered query; and

applying criteria of the received indication of a tier to the data.

43. The machine readable medium of claim 23, wherein the criteria comprises user customizable criteria.

44. The machine readable medium of claim 23, wherein the collection of criteria is predefined.

45. A method comprising:

receiving selections of a plurality of criteria to be applied to data as a multi-tiered query;

receiving a selection, for at least one criterion of the plurality of criteria, of a tier of the multi-tiered query to which the at least one criterion is to be applied; and

constructing the multi-tiered query utilizing the plurality of criteria and the received selection of a tier.

46. The method of claim 45, further comprising receiving selections of a plurality of tiers to which the plurality of criteria are to be respectively applied.

47. The method of claim 45, wherein the receiving of the selection of the plurality of criteria is responsive to a user selection of a plurality of graphical representations of the plurality of criteria.

48. The method of claim 45, wherein the receiving of the selection of the tier of the multi-tiered query is responsive to a placement of a graphical representation of the at least one criterion relative to a graphical representation of the multi-tiered query.

49. The method of claim 48, further comprising removing a criterion from the multi-tiered query responsive to an action of a user with respect to the graphical representation of the multi-tiered query.

50. The method of claim 48, further comprising moving a criterion from a first tier in the multi-tiered query to a second tier in the multi-tiered query responsive to an action of a user with respect to the graphical representation of the multi-tier query.

51. The method of claim 45, further comprising generating a graphical representation of the multi-tiered query to be displayed to a user.

52. The method of claim 51, wherein the generation of the graphical representation of the multi-tiered query is responsive to receipt of the selections of the plurality of criteria and the receiving of the selection of the tier.

53. The method of claim 45, further comprising identifying a list of items satisfying the multi-tiered query.

54. The method of claim 45, further comprising displaying a graphical representation of the multi-tiered query while the multi-tiered query is constructed.

55. The method of claim 45, wherein the data relates to financial instruments.

56. The method of claim 45, wherein the plurality of criteria is selected from a collection of criteria received from a user of the data search.

57. The method of claim 45, wherein the plurality of criteria is selected from a collection of criteria received from a plurality of users in an on-line community.

58. The method of claim 45, wherein the graphical representation of the criteria is provided in one or more groups or sets.

59. The method of claim 45, further comprising:

receiving an indication of a tier level; and

constructing a query using the indicated tier level and all prior tier levels.

60. The method of claim 59, wherein the receiving of the indication of the tier level comprises receiving an input associated with a graphical representation of the received tier level.

61. The method of claim 45, further comprising:

applying a Boolean OR to criteria on a common tier of the graphical representation; and

applying a Boolean AND to different tiers in a graphical representation.

62. The method of claim 45, further comprising displaying data responsive to the plurality of criteria and the multi-tiered query.

63. The method of claim 62, further comprising:

computing a tally of the data; and

displaying a tally of the data.

64. The method of claim 45, further comprising:

receiving an indication of a tier in the multi-tiered query; and

applying criteria of the received indication of a tier to the data.

65. The method of claim 45, wherein the criteria comprises user customizable criteria.

66. The method of claim 45, wherein the collection of criteria is predefined.

67. A method comprising:

receiving selections of criteria, each criterion having a graphical representation, to be applied to data as a multi-tiered query;

receiving a selection of a tier of the multi-tiered query to which at least one criterion of the criteria is to be applied; and

constructing the multi-tiered query utilizing the at least one criterion and the received selection of a tier.

68. The method of claim 67, further comprising storing the criteria.

69. The method of claim 67, wherein the criteria are received from a user of the multi-tiered query.

70. The method of claim 67, wherein the criteria are received from a plurality of users in an on-line community.