Dynamic search interface

• US 20070143264A1
• Filed: 12/21/2005
• Published: 06/21/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 12/21/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Oath Inc. (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Yahoo! Inc. (Apollo Global Management, Inc.)
• Inventors: Szeto, Christopher
• Application Number:
  US11/316,028
• Publication Number:
  US 20070143264A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 16/954 Navigation, e.g. using categorised browsing

Abstract

A dynamic search interface presents a context which changes in response to user interaction. When the user engages the interface, it responds dynamically to display relevant information and controls. When the user disengages the interface, it returns to a simpler form.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for facilitating a search, comprising:

presenting a search box in a computing device interface;

presenting a plurality of vertical search categories in association with the search box in response to activation of the search box; and

removing the vertical search categories from the computing device interface in response to deactivation of the search box.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

presenting first contextual information relating to a first one of the vertical search categories in response to activation of the search box; and

replacing the first contextual information with second contextual information relating to a second one of the vertical search categories in response to selection of the second vertical search category.

3. The method of claim 2 further comprising initiating a search within the first vertical search category in response to selection of a portion of the first contextual information.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein the search is characterized by a search scope which includes at least one of a computing device with which the computing device interface is associated, the World Wide Web, a Web site, the Internet, at least one remote device, a local area network, and a wide area network.

5. The method of claim 2 further comprising narrowing a search scope within the first vertical search category in response to selection of a portion of the first contextual information.

6. The method of claim 2 further comprising facilitating access to a resource relating to the first vertical search category in response to selection of a portion of the first contextual information.

7. The method of claim 2 further comprising presenting additional contextual information within the first vertical search category in response to selection of a portion of the first contextual information, the additional contextual information relating to the selected portion of the first contextual information.

8. The method of claim 2 wherein the first and second contextual information each include at least one of a link to a prior search in the corresponding vertical search category, a control operable to constrain a scope of a search within the corresponding vertical search category, a link to a resource relating to the corresponding vertical search category, and a link to additional contextual information within the corresponding vertical search category.

9. The method of claim 2 wherein at least one of the first and second contextual information includes at least one link which is operable to facilitate navigation of one of a menu, a file system, and a hierarchical data structure.

10. The method of claim 2 wherein at least one of the first and second contextual information includes advertising content relating to a current context.

11. The method of claim 2 wherein at least one of the first and second contextual information includes a user interface operable to refine the search.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein the user interface includes at least one of a form control, a Java application, an embedded application, an ActiveX control, and a Flash application.

13. A computing device operable to perform the method of claim 1.

14. A computer-implemented method for facilitating a search, comprising:

transmitting computer program instructions to a computing device, the computer program instructions being operable to cause the computing device to present a search box in a computing device interface associated with the computing device, present a plurality of vertical search categories in association with the search box and first contextual information relating to a first one of the vertical search categories in response to activation of the search box, and replace the first contextual information with second contextual information relating to a second one of the vertical search categories in response to selection of the second vertical search category; and

transmitting at least a portion of the first and second contextual information to the computing device.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein the computer program instructions are further operable to initiate a search within the first vertical search category in response to selection of a portion of the first contextual information.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein the search is characterized by a search scope which includes at least one of the computing device, the World Wide Web, a Web site, the Internet, at least one remote device, a local area network, and a wide area network.

17. The method of claim 14 wherein the computer program instructions are further operable to narrow a search scope within the first vertical search category in response to selection of a portion of the first contextual information.

18. The method of claim 14 wherein the computer program instructions are further operable to facilitate access to a resource relating to the first vertical search category in response to selection of a portion of the first contextual information.

19. The method of claim 14 wherein the computer program instructions are further operable to present additional contextual information within the first vertical search category in response to selection of a portion of the first contextual information, the additional contextual information relating to the selected portion of the first contextual information.

20. The method of claim 14 wherein the first and second contextual information each include at least one of a link to a prior search in the corresponding vertical search category, a control operable to constrain a scope of a search within the corresponding vertical search category, a link to a resource relating to the corresponding vertical search category, and a link to additional contextual information within the corresponding vertical search category.

21. The method of claim 14 wherein at least one of the first and second contextual information includes at least one link which is operable to facilitate navigation of one of a menu, a file system, and a hierarchical data structure.

22. The method of claim 14 wherein at least one of the first and second contextual information includes advertising content relating to a current context.

23. The method of claim 14 wherein at least one of the first and second contextual information includes a user interface operable to refine the search.

24. The method of claim 23 wherein the user interface includes at least one of a form control, a Java application, an embedded application, an ActiveX control, and a Flash application.

25. At least one computing device operable to perform the method of claim 14.

26. A computer program product for facilitating a search, comprising at least one computer-readable medium having computer program instructions stored therein which are operable to cause a computing device to:

present a search box in a computing device interface;

present a plurality of vertical search categories in association with the search box in response to activation of the search box; and

remove the vertical search categories from the computing device interface in response to deactivation of the search box.

27. The computer program product of claim 26 wherein the computer program instructions are further operable to cause the computing device to:

present first contextual information relating to a first one of the vertical search categories in response to activation of the search box; and

replace the first contextual information with second contextual information relating to a second one of the vertical search categories in response to selection of the second vertical search category.

28. The computer program product of claim 27 wherein the computer program instructions are further operable to cause the computing device to initiate a search within the first vertical search category in response to selection of a portion of the first contextual information.

29. The computer program product of claim 28 wherein the search is characterized by a search scope which includes at least one of the computing device, the World Wide Web, a Web site, the Internet, at least one remote device, a local area network, and a wide area network.

30. The computer program product of claim 27 wherein the computer program instructions are further operable to cause the computing device to narrow a search scope within the first vertical search category in response to selection of a portion of the first contextual information.

31. The computer program product of claim 27 wherein the computer program instructions are further operable to cause the computing device to facilitate access to a resource relating to the first vertical search category in response to selection of a portion of the first contextual information.

32. The computer program product of claim 27 wherein the computer program instructions are further operable to cause the computing device to present additional contextual information within the first vertical search category in response to selection of a portion of the first contextual information, the additional contextual information relating to the selected portion of the first contextual information.

33. The computer program product of claim 27 wherein the first and second contextual information each include at least one of a link to a prior search in the corresponding vertical search category, a control operable to constrain a scope of a search within the corresponding vertical search category, a link to a resource relating to the corresponding vertical search category, and a link to additional contextual information within the corresponding vertical search category.

34. The computer program product of claim 27 wherein at least one of the first and second contextual information includes at least one link which is operable to facilitate navigation of one of a menu, a file system, and a hierarchical data structure, and wherein the computer program instructions are further operable to cause the computing device to facilitate the navigation using the at least one link.

35. The computer program product of claim 27 wherein at least one of the first and second contextual information includes advertising content relating to a current context.

36. The computer program product of claim 27 wherein at least one of the first and second contextual information includes a user interface operable to refine the search.

37. The computer program product of claim 36 wherein the user interface includes at least one of a form control, a Java application, an embedded application, an ActiveX control, and a Flash application.