Method and apparatus for browsing search results via a virtual file system
First Claim
1. A method for browsing search results using a virtual file system, comprising:
- (a) mounting a virtual file system containing a hierarchy of categories relevant to a specific query wherein categories at a given level in the hierarchy contain categories in levels of the hierarchy below the given level, each category having a method associated therewith which determines the content of the category;
(b) upon selection of a category in the hierarchy of categories, retrieving from the virtual file system each category contained within the selected category and executing the method in the selected category to retrieve resources from the search results in order to form the content of the selected category; and
(c) presenting categories contained in the selected category and the retrieved resources to the user.
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Abstract
Users can browse a repository of search results obtained from a search engine by mounting a virtual file system, for example, on a network server over a network. The virtual file system contains a hierarchy of categories and is associated with a document repository. Consequently, although documents could be located anywhere, documents indexed by the virtual file system are accessed by users in the original document locations. Accordingly, all changes made by a user are made to the original document rather than to a copy of the document. Therefore, there is no need to upload a copy of the document to the original file location. The search engine can be associated with the virtual file system so that the search engine recognizes the changed document immediately.
168 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method for browsing search results using a virtual file system, comprising:
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(a) mounting a virtual file system containing a hierarchy of categories relevant to a specific query wherein categories at a given level in the hierarchy contain categories in levels of the hierarchy below the given level, each category having a method associated therewith which determines the content of the category;
(b) upon selection of a category in the hierarchy of categories, retrieving from the virtual file system each category contained within the selected category and executing the method in the selected category to retrieve resources from the search results in order to form the content of the selected category; and
(c) presenting categories contained in the selected category and the retrieved resources to the user. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 13)
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11. Apparatus for browsing search results using a virtual file system, comprising:
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a virtual file server client that mounts a virtual file system containing a hierarchy of categories relevant to a specific query wherein categories at a given level in the hierarchy contain categories in levels of the hierarchy below the given level, each category having a method associated therewith which determines the content of the category;
a mechanism operable upon selection of a category in the hierarchy of categories, that retrieves from the virtual file system each category contained within the selected category and executes the method in the selected category to retrieve resources from the search results in order to form the content of the selected category; and
a mechanism that presents categories contained in the selected category and the retrieved resources to the user. - View Dependent Claims (12, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. Apparatus for browsing search results using a virtual file system, comprising:
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means for mounting a virtual file system containing a hierarchy of categories relevant to a specific query wherein categories at a given level in the hierarchy contain categories in levels of the hierarchy below the given level, each category having a method associated therewith which determines the content of the category;
means operable upon selection of a category in the hierarchy of categories, retrieving from the virtual file system each category contained within the selected category and executing the method in the selected category to retrieve resources from the search results in order to form the content of the selected category; and
means for presenting categories contained in the selected category and the retrieved resources to the user.
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Specification