Interface Including Graphic Representation of Relationships Between Search Results

• US 20090276724A1
• Filed: 04/07/2009
• Published: 11/05/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 04/07/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Andrew T. Schiebler, Ed Walters, Philip J. Rosenthal, Thomas A. Lee
• Original Assignee: Andrew T. Schiebler, Ed Walters, Philip J. Rosenthal, Thomas A. Lee
• Inventors: Schiebler, Andrew T., Rosenthal, Philip J., Walters, Ed, Lee, Thomas A.
• Granted Patent: US 9,135,331 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/771
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/24575 using context
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/24578 using ranking
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/248 Presentation of query results
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/283 Multi-dimensional databases or data warehouses, e.g. MOLAP or ROLAP
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/335 Filtering based on additional data, e.g. user or group profiles filtering in web context G06F16/9535, G06F16/9536
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/338 Presentation of query results
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9535 Search customisation based on user profiles and personalisation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04847 Interaction techniques to control parameter settings, e.g. interaction with sliders or dials
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 11/206 Drawing of charts or graphs
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2200/24 involving graphical user interfaces [GUIs]

Abstract

A multi-dimensional graphic user interface displays selected types of information regarding items included in one or more databases or returned by a search in accordance with locations on a two-dimensional display area or projection of a three-dimensional space on a two-dimensional area and provides for selective display of information about respective items in a database (e.g. metadata) as additional dimensions of the display which may be suppressed and/or selectively introduced to avoid user distraction or obscuring information or for comparison between screens which may indicate to a user the degree to which a particular item may or may not be germane to an issue or particular subject matter of interest. The graphic user interface thus provides an effective tool for evaluating search results and organizing detailed review thereof.

Claims

1. A graphic user interface capable of display of different types of information about a set of items in a selected number of dimensions, said interface including

indicia representing individual items of a set of items at respective locations on a two dimensional display area wherein said items represent a physical object or data representing a physical object, and

indicia which may be displayed in connection with said locations representing additional information pertaining to respective items as additional dimensions of said graphic user interface.

2. The graphic user interface as recited in claim 1, wherein said items represent published legal decisions.

3. The graphic user interface as recited in claim 1, wherein one dimension of said two dimensional display represents the date of an item.

4. The graphic user interface as recited in claim 3, wherein another dimension of said two dimensional display represents authority of an item.

5. The graphic user interface as recited in claim 3, wherein another dimension of said two dimensional display represents accuracy of a match to a search query.

6. The graphic user interface as recited in claim 1, wherein one dimension of said two dimensional display represents authority of an item.

7. The graphic user interface as recited in claim 1, wherein one dimension of said two dimensional display represents accuracy of a match to a search query.

8. The graphic user interface as recited in claim 1, wherein said additional dimensions are represented by one or more of numbers of indicia representing items, size, shape, one or more concentric shapes, icons, color, blinking, associated indicia at or adjacent said locations or lines or arrows between said locations, said lines or arrows having particular line patterns, colors or blinking attributes between said locations.

9. The graphic user interface as recited in claim 1, wherein said additional dimensions represent numbers of citations or statistics of citations, said citations being citations to and/or citations from an item represented by said interface.

10. The graphic user interface as recited in claim 1, wherein said additional dimensions represent numbers of citations or statistics of citations, said citations being citations to and/or citations from an item represented by said interface of items in another set of items.

11. The graphic user interface as recited in claim 10, wherein said additional dimensions represent numbers of citations or statistics of citations, said citations being citations to and/or citations from other items represented by said interface.

12. The graphic user interface as recited in claim 1, wherein said interface provides for means for toggling between screens including different numbers of said additional dimensions.

13. The graphic user interface as recited in claim 1, wherein said further information is stored as metadata.

14. The graphic user interface as recited in claim 1, further including a text box display.

15. The graphic user interface as recited in claim 14, wherein said text box includes quantitative information represented by said additional dimensions.

16. The graphic user interface as recited in claim 1, wherein said selected number of dimensions and/or additional types of information is selectable by a user, said interface further including

means for selectively controlling particular types of said additional information pertaining to said items in a selectable plurality of said additional dimensions in respective instances of said display.

17. The graphic user interface as recited in claim 16, wherein said means for selectively controlling particular types of information to be displayed further includes

means for displaying and selecting from pull-down menus or a text or dialog box.

18. The graphic user interface as recited in claim 1, further including means for limiting a number of said indicia representing individual items.

19. The graphic user interface as recited in claim 18, wherein said means for limiting a number of said indicia representing individual items includes means for specifying a date range for said items.

20. The graphic user interface as recited in claim 1, further including

a secondary display as a condensation or abridgement of a display of said indicia representing individual items.

21. A method of operating a search engine for searching a database, said method including configuring data processing apparatus to include

a memory for storing data derived from parsing items in said database, and

a display generator for representing respective types of said data derived from parsing said items in said database as additional dimensions on a two dimensional display, wherein a number of said dimensions representing types of data and which are included in an image produced on a display driven by said display generator is selectable by a user.

22. A method as recited in claim 21, further including

configuring said data processing apparatus to include an overlay display generator.

23. A method as recited in claim 22 wherein said overlay generator produces a text box display.