Dynamic Glyph-Based Search

• US 20150082248A1
• Filed: 11/25/2014
• Published: 03/19/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 01/10/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Begeja, Lee, Andres, Robert J., Gibbon, David C., Tischer, Steven Neil
• Granted Patent: US 10,133,752 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/835
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/24522 Translation of natural language queries to structured queries
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/434 using image data, e.g. images, photos, pictures taken by a user
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/50 of still image data
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/532 Query formulation, e.g. graphical querying
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/538 Presentation of query results
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04817 using icons graphical or visual programming using iconic symbols G06F8/34
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04842 Selection of displayed objects or displayed text elements G06F3/0482 takes precedence

Abstract

A method and apparatus for a dynamic glyph based search includes an image server. The image server analyzes images to determine the content of an image. The image and data related to the determined content of the image are stored in an image database. A user can access the image server and search images using search glyphs. In response to selection of a generic-search glyph, the image server finds related images in the image database and the images are displayed to the user. In addition, refine-search glyphs are displayed to a user based on the selected generic-search glyph. One or more refine-search glyphs can be selected by a user to further narrow a search to specific people, locations, objects, and other image content.

Claims

1. A method for searching electronic media comprising:

transmitting data representing a first plurality of glyphs for display at a user device, each of the first plurality of glyphs representing a search type;

receiving data representing a first input identifying one of the first plurality of glyphs; and

transmitting data representing stored electronic media for display at the user device based on the first input.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

transmitting data representing a plurality of refine-search glyphs for display at the user device based on the first input;

receiving data representing a second input identifying one of the plurality of refine-search glyph; and

transmitting data to update the stored electronic media for display at the user device based on the second input.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

generating a search string based on the first input and the second input.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising:

transmitting the search string to a user in response to input requesting transmission of the search string.

5. The method of claim 2, wherein each of the plurality of refine-search glyphs comprises a stored image captured by a user.

6. The method of claim 2, wherein each of the plurality of glyphs comprises a generic image.

7. The method of claim 2, wherein each particular refine-search glyph of the plurality of refine-search glyphs comprises a stored image captured by a user and modified to depict only parts of the stored image relevant to a subject of the particular refine-search glyph.

8. An apparatus comprising:

a processor; and

a memory to store computer program instructions, the computer program instructions when executed on a processor cause the processor to perform operations comprising;

transmitting data representing a first plurality of glyphs for display at a user device, each of the first plurality of glyphs representing a search type;

receiving data representing a first input identifying one of the first plurality of glyphs; and

transmitting data representing stored electronic media for display at the user device based on the first input.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, the operations further comprising:

transmitting data representing a plurality of refine-search glyphs for display at the user device based on the first input;

receiving data representing a second input identifying one of the plurality of refine-search glyph; and

transmitting data to update the stored electronic media for display at the user device based on the second input.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, the operations further comprising:

generating a search string based on the first input and the second input.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, the operations further comprising:

transmitting the search string to a user in response to input requesting transmission of the search string.

12. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein each of the plurality of refine-search glyphs comprises a stored image captured by a user.

13. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein each of the plurality of glyphs comprises a generic image.

14. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein each particular refine-search glyph of the plurality of refine-search glyphs comprises a stored image captured by a user and modified to depict only parts of the stored image relevant to a subject of the particular refine-search glyph.

15. A computer readable medium storing computer program instructions, which, when executed on a processor, cause the processor to perform operations comprising:

transmitting data representing a first plurality of glyphs for display at a user device, each of the first plurality of glyphs representing a search type;

receiving data representing a first input identifying one of the first plurality of glyphs; and

transmitting data representing stored electronic media for display at the user device based on the first input.

16. The computer readable medium of claim 15, the operations further comprising:

transmitting data representing a plurality of refine-search glyphs for display at the user device based on the first input;

receiving data representing a second input identifying one of the plurality of refine-search glyph; and

transmitting data to update the stored electronic media for display at the user device based on the second input.

17. The computer readable medium of claim 16, the operations further comprising:

generating a search string based on the first input and the second input.

18. The computer readable medium of claim 17, the operations further comprising:

transmitting the search string to a user in response to input requesting transmission of the search string.

19. The computer readable medium of claim 16, wherein each of the plurality of refine-search glyphs comprises a stored image captured by a user.

20. The computer readable medium of claim 16, wherein each particular refine-search glyph of the plurality of refine-search glyphs comprises a stored image captured by a user and modified to depict only parts of the stored image relevant to a subject of the particular refine-search glyph.