CATEGORY-BASED SEARCHING

• US 20080147606A1
• Filed: 12/15/2006
• Published: 06/19/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 12/15/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: IAC Search & Media Incorporated (IAC/InterActiveCorp)
• Original Assignee: IAC Search & Media Incorporated (IAC/InterActiveCorp)
• Inventors: Collier, Erik T., Read, Daniel J.
• Application Number:
  US11/611,822
• Publication Number:
  US 20080147606A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 707/3
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/954 Navigation, e.g. using categorised browsing

Abstract

A user interface is described, having a search box for entering a search query. The search box and other components remain stationary when conducting a search. A toolbox is provided with links to different views for conducting category-specific searches, and the links are editable.

Claims

1. A user interface, comprising:

a first content area;

first content within the first content area, the first content including a plurality of categories at respective category areas of the first content area; and

a first search box associated with at least a first one of the category areas.

2. The user interface of claim 1, further comprising a second search box.

3. The user interface of claim 2, wherein the second search box is associated with a second one of the category areas.

4. The user interface of claim 3, further comprising a third search box that is not associated with any one of the category areas.

5. The user interface of claim 2, wherein the second search box is not associated with any one of the category areas.

6. The user interface of claim 1, further comprising:

a second content area; and

second content in the second content area, the second content including search results responsive to a category-specific query entered in the first search box.

7. The user interface of claim 1, wherein, the first search box appears after moving a cursor into the first category area.

8. The user interface of claim 7, further comprising a search button that appears after moving the cursor into the first category area.

9. A method of interfacing with a client site, comprising:

providing from at least one server to a client site first content, including a plurality of categories at a plurality of respective category areas, and a first search box associated with at least a first one of the category areas;

receiving a category search command and a category search query from the client site at said at least one server, indicative of entering a category-specific search query in the category search box;

extracting category-specific search results from a database using the category-specific search query; and

providing second content from said at least one server to the client site, the second content including the category-specific search results.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising a second search box.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the second search box is associated with a second one of the category areas.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising a third search box that is not associated with any one of the category areas.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein the second search box is not associated with any one of the category areas.

14. The method of claim 9, further comprising providing from said at least one server to the client site second content. Including search results responsive to the category-specific query entered in the first search box.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the first search box appears after moving a cursor into the first category area.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising a search button that appears after moving the cursor into the first category area.

17. A computer-readable medium, having a set of instructions stored thereon, which, when executed by a processor of a computer, carries out a method of interfacing with a client site, comprising:

providing from at least one server to a client site first content, including a plurality of categories at a plurality of respective category areas, and a first search box associated with at least a first one of the category areas;

receiving a category search command and a category search query from the client site at said at least one server, indicative of entering a category-specific search query in the category search box;

extracting category-specific search results from a database using the category-specific search query; and

providing second content from said at least one server to the client site, the second content including the category-specific search results.

18. The computer-readable medium of claim 17, further comprising a second search box.

19. The computer-readable medium, of claim 18, wherein the second search box is associated with a second one of the category areas.

20. The computer-readable medium of claim 19, further comprising a third search box that is not associated with any one of the category areas.

21. The computer-readable medium of claim 18, wherein the second search box is not associated with any one of the category areas.

22. The computer-readable medium of claim 17, further comprising providing from said at least one server to the client site second content, including search results responsive to the category-specific query entered in the first search box.

23. The computer-readable medium of claim 22, wherein the first search box appears after moving a cursor into the first category area.

24. The computer-readable medium of claim 23, further comprising a search button that appears after moving the cursor into the first category area.