Search and presentation engine
First Claim
1. A computerized method for searching for objects comprising the steps of:
- (a) assigning a plurality of Attributes to each of a plurality of objects in a collection;
(b) assigning each of the Attributes to a Kind;
(c) receiving a search query including at least one Attribute specified by a user;
(d) displaying a list of Kinds associated with Attributes specified by the user if a number of objects having Attributes specified by the user is greater than a predetermined object list length;
(e) receiving a specification of a Kind from the list of Kinds displayed in the previous step from the user;
(f) displaying a list of Attributes assigned to the Kind specified by the user;
(g) repeating steps (d)-(f) until the number of objects having Attributes specified by the user is less than the predetermined object list length; and
(h) displaying a list of objects having Attributes specified by the user.
3 Assignments
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Accused Products
Abstract
A contents display and search system for navigating and searching and exploring a collection of objects includes a database of Attributes; each of the Attributes being associated with one or more objects, and a database of Kinds, each Kind being associated with one or more Attributes. When a user enters a search query including at least one Attribute, an object is tested to determine whether it has Attributes of the Kind corresponding to the Kind of the at least one specified Attribute before function testing is performed. Search and contents investigation results are presented in a hierarchical format in which Kinds and Attributes rather than objects, are displayed until the search or content type is further specified by selecting additional Kinds and/or Attributes such that the number of objects satisfying the specified search is below a threshold. User interaction modifies the hierarchical order of Kinds and Attributes in the display.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A computerized method for searching for objects comprising the steps of:
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(a) assigning a plurality of Attributes to each of a plurality of objects in a collection;
(b) assigning each of the Attributes to a Kind;
(c) receiving a search query including at least one Attribute specified by a user;
(d) displaying a list of Kinds associated with Attributes specified by the user if a number of objects having Attributes specified by the user is greater than a predetermined object list length;
(e) receiving a specification of a Kind from the list of Kinds displayed in the previous step from the user;
(f) displaying a list of Attributes assigned to the Kind specified by the user;
(g) repeating steps (d)-(f) until the number of objects having Attributes specified by the user is less than the predetermined object list length; and
(h) displaying a list of objects having Attributes specified by the user. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A computerized search system comprising:
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a memory for storing a database of Attributes and Kinds, each of the Attributes being associated with one or more objects, and each of the Kinds being associated with one or more Attributes;
a processor connected to the memory;
a display connected to the processor; and
an input device connected to the processor;
wherein the processor is programmed to perform the following steps;
inputting a search query specified by the user with the input device, said search query including at least one parameter selected from the group consisting of an Attribute and a Kind;
displaying the at least one parameter on the display together with at least one other Attribute or Kind in a hierarchy;
rearranging the hierarchy upon a command from a user;
accepting a selection of a displayed Kind or Attribute from the user and, in response to the selection, displaying a list of Kinds if the user selects an Attribute, and displaying a list of Attributes if the user selects a Kind. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification