Apparatus and Method for Displaying Records Responsive to a Database Query
First Claim
1. A method for displaying records responsive to a database query where the records are characterized by having identifiers and content elements, said method comprising the steps of:
- performing said database query to select one or more records from a database or group of databases, wherein said one or more records selected by said performing of said database query comprise one or more responsive records;
displaying a list of identifiers for a plurality of said records which are responsive to said database query; and
displaying, simultaneously with said step of displaying a list of identifiers, content elements of at least one of said responsive records, wherein said list of identifiers and said selected elements are displayed simultaneously in separate respective areas of a display.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus and method for simultaneously displaying both record names and the associated files responsive to a user'"'"'s search over a database. A user conducts a routine search query over a database or group of databases of records containing, for example, text documents, or alphabetical concordances thereof. The search engine returns a list of records responsive to the user'"'"'s query. In contrast to the standard list of record identifiers, the apparatus displays both the identifiers and selected portions of those records or other useful information, as defined by the user, facilitating quick review. The user is able to sort the list of these responsive records in a variety of ways, either before the search, or within the list of results, to expedite review. The apparatus identifies records that have been reviewed previously by marking them as “viewed” links. Finally, when reviewing any responsive record in full, the complete list of records is displayed in a side panel, in a way that still allows resorting by the user. This side panel display may be re-sorted “on the fly.” It also allows the user to see the identifiers of records anywhere in the list, and to easily jump, such as with a single mouse click, to any record in the list.
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Citations
79 Claims
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1. A method for displaying records responsive to a database query where the records are characterized by having identifiers and content elements, said method comprising the steps of:
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performing said database query to select one or more records from a database or group of databases, wherein said one or more records selected by said performing of said database query comprise one or more responsive records;
displaying a list of identifiers for a plurality of said records which are responsive to said database query; and
displaying, simultaneously with said step of displaying a list of identifiers, content elements of at least one of said responsive records, wherein said list of identifiers and said selected elements are displayed simultaneously in separate respective areas of a display. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 14, 15, 17, 50, 52, 54, 58, 62, 63, 66, 74)
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5. A method for displaying records responsive to a database query where the records are characterized by having identifiers and content elements, said method comprising the steps of:
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performing said database query to select one or more records from a database or group of databases, wherein said one or more records selected by said performing of said database query comprise one or more responsive records;
displaying a list of identifiers for a plurality of said records which are responsive to said database query;
displaying, simultaneously with said step of displaying a list of identifiers, content elements of at least one of said responsive records; and
identifying and marking records in accordance with at least one of a user action in regard to a corresponding responsive record and a prior search request.
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11-13. -13. (canceled)
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16. (canceled)
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18-20. -20. (canceled)
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21. An apparatus for displaying records responsive to a database query where the records are characterized by having identifiers and content elements, said apparatus comprising:
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means for displaying a list of identifiers for at least two of said records which are responsive to a database query means for displaying content elements of at least one of said records simultaneously with display of said list of identifiers, wherein said list of identifiers and at least one of said content elements are displayed simultaneously in separate respective areas of a display. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 39, 40, 41, 51, 53, 55, 59, 64, 67, 68, 71, 75, 78, 79)
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24. (canceled)
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25. An apparatus for displaying records responsive to a database query where the records are characterized by having identifiers and content elements, said apparatus comprising:
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means for displaying a list of identifiers for at least two of said records which are responsive to a database query means for displaying content elements of at least one of said records simultaneously with display of said list of identifiers, and a means for marking records in accordance with at least one of a user action in regard to a corresponding responsive record and a prior database query.
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36-38. -38. (canceled)
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42-49. -49. (canceled)
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56. A method for displaying records responsive to a database query on a screen having at least two panels where the records are characterized by having identifiers and content elements, comprising the steps of:
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displaying simultaneously in a first panel the identifier and at least one content element of at least one record; and
displaying in a second panel the identifier of each record of at least two different records. - View Dependent Claims (60, 76)
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57. An apparatus for displaying records responsive to a database query on a screen having at least two panels where the records are characterized by having identifiers and content elements, comprising:
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means for simultaneously displaying in a first panel the identifier and at least one content element of at least one record; and
means for displaying in a second panel the identifier of each record of at least two different records. - View Dependent Claims (61, 77)
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65. The apparatus of 21 where said content elements are identified using XML tags.
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69. A method of selecting documents responsive to a database query comprising steps of:
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identifying keywords in the database query;
computing a frequency of selection of documents by users that used a prior database query containing at least one of said keywords; and
choosing documents such that said frequency exceeds a threshold frequency.
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70. An apparatus for selecting documents responsive to a database query, said apparatus comprising:
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means for identifying keywords in the database query;
means for computing a frequency of selection of documents by users that used a prior database query containing at least one of said keywords; and
means for choosing documents such that said frequency exceeds a threshold frequency.
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72. A method for analyzing a list of records which are responsive to a database query, said method comprising steps of:
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choosing a means for sorting said records;
viewing said records; and
choosing a second means for sorting said records.
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73. A apparatus for analyzing a list of records which are responsive to a database query, said apparatus comprising:
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means for choosing a means for sorting said records;
means for viewing said records; and
means for choosing a second means for sorting said records.
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Specification