SYSTEM AND METHODS FOR CONTENT-SEARCH CAROUSEL FOR MOBILE-COMPUTING DEVICES

• US 20150212664A1
• Filed: 09/25/2012
• Published: 07/30/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 10/11/2011
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: iQNECT Pte., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: IQnect Technology Limited
• Inventors: Freer, Carl J.
• Application Number:
  US14/420,533
• Publication Number:
  US 20150212664A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/951 Indexing; Web crawling techniques
• 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 3/0485 Scrolling or panning
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/167 Audio in a user interface, e.g. using voice commands for navigating, audio feedback
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0256 User search

Abstract

The inventive concepts described herein are generally directed to a mobile and fixedline software application that provides a user with an enhanced graphical toolbar with an edge-on view of a carousel interface populated with a plurality of selectable icons representing information-search channels, and with an integrated, multi-input search bar, which is integrated with the software application and can be communicatively coupled with supporting back-end architecture. This enhanced toolbar is referred to as the Content Search Carousel (CSC), and is especially adapted for use with mobile-computing devices, as it maximizes functionality while minimizing the amount of device-display real estate that is taken up at the expense of other mobile-computing application functionality.

Claims

1. A software-based graphical toolbar used in conjunction with an associated computing application operating on a computing device, said computing device having a user display and a user-input pointing means for selecting areas and/or items on said graphical display, the toolbar comprising:

a plurality of icons that are logically linked such that a logical circle of icons is formed, wherein;

each of said plurality of icons represents a discrete functional capability associated with a different information-search channel,

said logical circle is graphically presented as an edge-on view of a carousel interface within an associated computing application, in order to minimize the amount of user-screen area taken-up by said carousel interface to maximize the user-screen area available for other computing-application functionality,

said carousel interface is adapted such that a subset of said plurality of icons is displayed at any one time, and each of said displayed icons is user-selectable,

said carousel interface is adapted to allow a user to scroll said carousel in either direction to display and/or select additional icons, and

each of said plurality of icons, when selected by a user, is adapted to provide added predetermined functionality and information to a user via the balance of an associated computing application.

2. The graphical toolbar of claim 1, wherein when any of said plurality of icons is selected by a user, said carousel interface is programmatically caused to center said selected icon within the viewable part of said carousel interface.

3. The graphical toolbar of claim 1, wherein said edge-on view of said carousel interface is oriented and rotated relative to a user'"'"'s view of said user'"'"'s computing device display screen by an orientation selected from the group consisting of substantially horizontal and substantially vertical.

4. The graphical toolbar of claim 1, wherein said information-search channel of each of said plurality of icons represents an Internet-search engine different than at least one of the other said icons within said carousel interface.

5. The graphical toolbar of claim 1, wherein said information-search channel of each of said plurality of icons represents a premium channel reserved for a commercial entity to provide targeted user-search results to a computing device such that said commercial entity'"'"'s business interests are promoted while providing information to a user.

6. The graphical toolbar of claim 5, wherein said premium channel results from a given commercial entity paying consideration to the provider of an associated computing application in order to reserve a channel that is associated with one or more key search terms.

7. The graphical toolbar of claim 6, wherein said commercial entity reserves said one or more key search terms and said associated premium channel by a means selected from the group consisting of renting and purchasing.

8. The graphical toolbar of claim 1, wherein:

at least one of said plurality of icons represents a functional process related to at least one user-inputted search term, and

a user can launch said functional process by selecting the associated icon on said carousel interface.

9. The graphical toolbar of claim 8, wherein at least one of said plurality of icons represents a functional process that, when selected, launches an augmented-reality application to provide media-rich content, related to said at least one user-inputted search term, back to a computing device.

10. The graphical toolbar of claim 1, wherein said graphical-toolbar application further comprises a toolbar-management module, said module being launchable by a user by selecting a point anywhere on said carousel interface for in excess of a predetermined time, and when launched, displays a user dialogue comprised of:

a first section displaying icons currently available to said user when viewing said carousel interface,

a second section displaying other icons not currently available for selection by said user on said carousel interface,

a means to allow a user to switch between said first and second sections,

in said first section, a means for a user to select a displayed icon and cause said selected icon to be removed from said first section and simultaneously added to said second section,

in said second section, a means for a user to select a displayed icon and cause said selected icon to be removed from said second section and simultaneously added to said first section, and

a means for a user to save any user-changes made and exit said user dialogue.

11. The graphical toolbar of claim 1, wherein said graphical-toolbar application further comprises the capability of launching a child toolbar when a predetermined icon is selected by a user, said child toolbar comprising:

a second plurality of icons that are logically linked such that a logical circle of icons is formed, wherein;

each of said second plurality of icons represents a discrete functional capability associated with a different information-search channel or functionality,

said logical circle is graphically presented as an edge-on view of a second carousel interface within an associated computing application, in order to minimize the amount of user-screen area taken-up by said second carousel interface to maximize the user-screen area available for other computing-application functionality,

said second carousel interface is adapted such that a subset of said second plurality of icons is displayed at any one time, and each of said displayed icons is user-selectable,

said second carousel interface is adapted to allow a user to scroll said second carousel in either direction to display and/or select additional icons, and

each of said second plurality of icons, when selected by a user, is adapted to provide added predetermined functionality and information to a user via the balance of an associated computing application.

12. The graphical toolbar of claim 11, wherein said second carousel interface is oriented substantially orthogonally relative to its parent graphical toolbar.

13. The graphical toolbar of claim 11, wherein said second carousel interface is oriented substantially in parallel relative to its parent graphical toolbar.

14. The graphical toolbar of claim 1, further comprising a multi-input searchbar, said searchbar graphically located either above or below, and proximal to, said carousel interface, wherein:

said searchbar has a text-input section and launchable program module programmatically coupled to an associated computing application;

said searchbar has an audio-input section and launchable program module programmatically coupled to an associated computing application; and

said searchbar has an image-capture-input section and launchable program module programmatically coupled to an associated computing application.

15. The graphical toolbar of claim 14, wherein said carousel interface is adapted to be dynamically populated with said plurality of icons after a user initiates a search via said searchbar, said plurality of icons reflecting information channels and/or functionality according to the results of a user-initiated search.

16. The graphical toolbar of claim 14, adapted such that a user can select an information-search channel from said carousel interface, then initiate a search via said searchbar and associated computing application, wherein the search results are limited to said selected information-search channel.

17. The graphical toolbar of claim 14, wherein said audio-input section is adapted to receive voice-command inputs via a computing device'"'"'s microphone.

18. The graphical toolbar of claim 14, wherein said image-capture-input section is adapted to receive inputs via a computing device'"'"'s camera.

19. The graphical toolbar of claim 1, wherein said computing device is a mobile computing device selected from the group consisting of mobile smart phones, tablet computers, and laptop computers.

20. The graphical toolbar of claim 19, wherein said user-input pointing means is selected from the group comprising a touch screen, a touch pad, and a trackball pointer.

81. A method of using a software-based graphical toolbar according to claim 1 operating in conjunction with an associated mobile-computing application, and operating on a mobile-computing device having a touch screen, the method comprising the steps of:

by a user, on a mobile-computing device, launching a mobile-computing application having a graphical toolbar having a carousel interface according to claim 1;

by a user, touching said mobile-computing device'"'"'s touch screen with a swiping-like motion in order to cause said carousel interface to traverse in either direction until an icon is identified by said user for selection;

by a user, selecting said identified icon on said carousel interface by a method selected from the group consisting of pressing on selected icon and rapidly double-pressing on said selected icon; and

by said mobile-computing device, causing said selected icon to rotate to the center point of said graphical toolbar; and

by said mobile-computing device, launching an associated information-search channel and/or functionality programmatically associated with said selected icon.

82. The method of claim 81, wherein said software-based graphical toolbar further comprises the limitations of claim 11, the method further comprising the steps of:

by said mobile-computing device, if said user-selected and pressed icon is configured to launch a child graphical toolbar containing a second plurality of icons to form a second carousel interface, displaying said child graphical toolbar with a carousel interface;

by a user, touching said mobile-computing device'"'"'s touch screen with a swiping-like motion in order to cause said child carousel interface to traverse in either direction until an icon is identified by said user for selection;

by a user, selecting said identified icon on said child carousel interface by a method selected from the group consisting of pressing on selected icon and rapidly double-pressing on said selected icon; and

by said mobile-computing device, causing said selected icon to rotate to the center point of said child graphical toolbar; and

by said mobile-computing device, launching an associated information-search channel and/or functionality programmatically associated with said selected icon.

83. A method of using a software-based graphical toolbar according to claim 10 operating in conjunction with an associated mobile-computing application, and operating on a mobile-computing device having a touch screen, the method comprising the steps of:

by a user, on a mobile-computing device, launching a computing application having a graphical toolbar having a carousel interface according to claim 10;

by a user, continuously touching said carousel interface on said mobile-computing device'"'"'s touch screen for a predetermined period;

by said mobile-computing device, launching an associated user dialogue for adding icons to and/or removing icons from said carousel interface;

by a user, if an icon is desired to be removed from said carousel interface display, then touching and selecting said icon to be removed from said first section into said second section;

by a user, if an icon is desired to be added to said carousel interface display, then touching and selecting said icon to be added from said second section to said first section; and

by a user, touching said carousel interface again to close said user dialogue once all desired modifications to said carousel interface are made.

84. A method of using a software-based graphical toolbar according to claim 14 operating in conjunction with an associated mobile-computing application, and operating on a mobile-computing device, the method comprising the steps of:

by a user, on a mobile-computing device in communicative coupling with a back-end network adapted to process information-search requests, launching a mobile-computing application having a graphical toolbar having a carousel interface and an integrated searchbar according to claim 14;

by a user, selecting a search-initiation-input method from said searchbar, selected from the group comprising text input, audio input, and image input;

by a user, initiating an information search on said computing device according to said selected input method;

by said mobile-computing application operating on said mobile-computing device, receiving information-search results from said back-end network, then populating said graphical toolbar'"'"'s carousel interface with a set of icons, each of which representing a predetermined channel of information-search results;

by a user, touching said mobile-computing device'"'"'s touch screen with a swiping-like motion in order to cause said carousel interface to traverse in either direction until an icon is identified by said user for selection;

by a user, selecting said identified icon on said carousel interface by a method selected from the group consisting of pressing on selected icon and rapidly double-pressing on said selected icon;

by said mobile-computing device, causing said selected icon to rotate to the center point of said graphical toolbar; and

by said mobile-computing device, launching an associated information-search channel and/or functionality programmatically associated with said selected icon.

85. The method of claim 84, wherein said graphical toolbar further comprises the limitations of claim 16, the method further comprising the step of:

before the step of initiating an information search, by a user, selecting an information-search channel from said carousel interface.

21. A method of making a software-based graphical toolbar used in conjunction with an associated computing application operating on a computing device, said computing device having a user display and a user-input pointing means for selecting areas and/or items on said graphical display, the method comprising the step of:

providing a plurality of icons that are logically linked such that a logical circle of icons is formed, wherein;

each of said plurality of icons represents a discrete functional capability associated with a different information-search channel,

said logical circle is graphically presented as an edge-on view of a carousel interface within an associated computing application, in order to minimize the amount of user-screen area taken-up by said carousel interface to maximize the user-screen area available for other computing-application functionality,

said carousel interface is adapted such that a subset of said plurality of icons is displayed at any one time, and each of said displayed icons is user-selectable,

said carousel interface is adapted to allow a user to scroll said carousel in either direction to display and/or select additional icons, and

each of said plurality of icons, when selected by a user, is adapted to provide added predetermined functionality and information to a user via the balance of an associated computing application.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein when any of said plurality of icons is selected by a user, said carousel interface is programmatically caused to center said selected icon within the viewable part of said carousel interface.

23. The method of claim 21, wherein said edge-on view of said carousel interface is oriented and rotated relative to a user'"'"'s view of said user'"'"'s computing device display screen by an orientation selected from the group consisting of substantially horizontal and substantially vertical.

24. The method of claim 21, wherein said information-search channel of each of said plurality of icons represents an Internet-search engine different than at least one of the other said icons within said carousel interface.

25. The method of claim 21, wherein said information-search channel of each of said plurality of icons represents a premium channel reserved for a commercial entity to provide targeted user-search results to a computing device such that said commercial entity'"'"'s business interests are promoted while providing information to a user.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein said premium channel results from a given commercial entity paying consideration to the provider of an associated computing application in order to reserve a channel that is associated with one or more key search terms.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein said commercial entity reserves said one or more key search terms and said associated premium channel by a means selected from the group consisting of renting and purchasing.

28. The method of claim 21, wherein:

at least one of said plurality of icons represents a functional process related to at least one user-inputted search term, and

a user can launch said functional process by selecting the associated icon on said carousel interface.

29. The method of claim 28, wherein at least one of said plurality of icons represents a functional process that, when selected, launches an augmented-reality application to provide media-rich content, related to said at least one user-inputted search term, back to a computing device.

30. The method of claim 21, further comprising the step of providing a toolbar-management module, said module being launchable by a user by selecting a point anywhere on said carousel interface for in excess of a predetermined time, and when launched, displays a user dialogue comprised of:

a first section displaying icons currently available to said user when viewing said carousel interface,

a second section displaying other icons not currently available for selection by said user on said carousel interface,

a means to allow a user to switch between said first and second sections,

in said first section, a means for a user to select a displayed icon and cause said selected icon to be removed from said first section and simultaneously added to said second section,

in said second section, a means for a user to select a displayed icon and cause said selected icon to be removed from said second section and simultaneously added to said first section, and

a means for a user to save any user-changes made and exit said user dialogue.

31. The method of claim 21, further comprising the step of providing said graphical toolbar the capability of launching a child toolbar when a predetermined icon is selected by a user, said child toolbar comprising:

a second plurality of icons that are logically linked such that a logical circle of icons is formed, wherein;

each of said second plurality of icons represents a discrete functional capability associated with a different information-search channel or functionality,

said logical circle is graphically presented as an edge-on view of a second carousel interface within an associated computing application, in order to minimize the amount of user-screen area taken-up by said second carousel interface to maximize the user-screen area available for other computing-application functionality,

said second carousel interface is adapted such that a subset of said second plurality of icons is displayed at any one time, and each of said displayed icons is user-selectable,

said second carousel interface is adapted to allow a user to scroll said second carousel in either direction to display and/or select additional icons, and

each of said second plurality of icons, when selected by a user, is adapted to provide added predetermined functionality and information to a user via the balance of an associated computing application.

32. The method of claim 31, wherein said second carousel interface is oriented substantially orthogonally relative to its parent graphical toolbar.

33. The method of claim 31, wherein said second carousel interface is oriented substantially in parallel relative to its parent graphical toolbar.

34. The method of claim 31, further comprising the step of providing a multi-input searchbar, said searchbar graphically located either above or below, and proximal to, said carousel interface, wherein:

said searchbar has a text-input section and launchable program module programmatically coupled to an associated computing application;

said searchbar has an audio-input section and launchable program module programmatically coupled to an associated computing application; and

said searchbar has an image-capture-input section and launchable program module programmatically coupled to an associated computing application.

35. The method of claim 34, wherein said carousel interface is adapted to be dynamically populated with said plurality of icons after a user initiates a search via said searchbar, said plurality of icons reflecting information channels and/or functionality according to the results of a user-initiated search.

36. The method of claim 34, wherein said graphical toolbar is adapted such that a user can select an information-search channel from said carousel interface, then initiate a search via said searchbar and associated computing application, wherein the search results are limited to said selected information-search channel.

37. The method of claim 34, wherein said audio-input section is adapted to receive voice-command inputs via a computing device'"'"'s microphone.

38. The method of claim 34, wherein said image-capture-input section is adapted to receive inputs via a computing device'"'"'s camera.

39. The method of claim 21, wherein said computing device is a mobile computing device selected from the group consisting of mobile smart phones, tablet computers, and laptop computers.

40. The method of claim 39, wherein said user-input pointing means is selected from the group comprising a touch screen, a touch pad, and a trackball pointer.

42. The computer-readable medium of claim 37, wherein when any of said plurality of icons is selected by a user, said carousel interface is programmatically caused to center said selected icon within the viewable part of said carousel interface.

43. The computer-readable medium of claim 37, wherein said edge-on view of said carousel interface is oriented and rotated relative to a user'"'"'s view of said user'"'"'s computing device display screen by an orientation selected from the group consisting of substantially horizontal and substantially vertical.

44. The computer-readable medium of claim 37, wherein said information-search channel of each of said plurality of icons represents an Internet-search engine different than at least one of the other said icons within said carousel interface.

45. The computer-readable medium of claim 37, wherein said information-search channel of each of said plurality of icons represents a premium channel reserved for a commercial entity to provide targeted user-search results to a computing device such that said commercial entity'"'"'s business interests are promoted while providing information to a user.

47. The computer-readable medium of claim 42, wherein said commercial entity reserves said one or more key search terms and said associated premium channel by a means selected from the group consisting of renting and purchasing.

48. The computer-readable medium of claim 37, wherein:

at least one of said plurality of icons represents a functional process related to at least one user-inputted search term, and

a user can launch said functional process by selecting the associated icon on said carousel interface.

49. The computer-readable medium of claim 44, wherein at least one of said plurality of icons represents a functional process that, when selected, launches an augmented-reality application to provide media-rich content, related to said at least one user-inputted search term, back to a computing device.

50. The computer-readable medium of claim 37, wherein said graphical-toolbar API further comprises a toolbar-management module, said module being launchable by a user by selecting a point anywhere on said carousel interface for in excess of a predetermined time, and when launched, displays a user dialogue comprised of:

a first section displaying icons currently available to said user when viewing said carousel interface,

a second section displaying other icons not currently available for selection by said user on said carousel interface,

a means to allow a user to switch between said first and second sections,

in said first section, a means for a user to select a displayed icon and cause said selected icon to be removed from said first section and simultaneously added to said second section,

in said second section, a means for a user to select a displayed icon and cause said selected icon to be removed from said second section and simultaneously added to said first section, and

a means for a user to save any user-changes made and exit said user dialogue.

51. The computer-readable medium of claim 37, wherein said graphical-toolbar API further comprises the capability of launching a child toolbar when a predetermined icon is selected by a user, said child toolbar comprising:

a second plurality of icons that are logically linked such that a logical circle of icons is formed, wherein;

each of said second plurality of icons represents a discrete functional capability associated with a different information-search channel or functionality,

said logical circle is graphically presented as an edge-on view of a second carousel interface within an associated computing application, in order to minimize the amount of user-screen area taken-up by said second carousel interface to maximize the user-screen area available for other computing-application functionality,

said second carousel interface is adapted such that a subset of said second plurality of icons is displayed at any one time, and each of said displayed icons is user-selectable,

said second carousel interface is adapted to allow a user to scroll said second carousel in either direction to display and/or select additional icons, and

each of said second plurality of icons, when selected by a user, is adapted to provide added predetermined functionality and information to a user via the balance of an associated computing application.

52. The computer-readable medium of claim 47, wherein said second carousel interface is oriented substantially orthogonally relative to its parent graphical toolbar.

53. The computer-readable medium of claim 47, wherein said second carousel interface is oriented substantially in parallel relative to its parent graphical toolbar.

54. The computer-readable medium of claim 37, wherein said graphical toolbar API further comprises a multi-input searchbar, said searchbar graphically located either above or below, and proximal to, said carousel interface, wherein:

said searchbar has a text-input section and launchable program module programmatically coupled to an associated computing application;

said searchbar has an audio-input section and launchable program module programmatically coupled to an associated computing application; and

said searchbar has an image-capture-input section and launchable program module programmatically coupled to an associated computing application.

55. The computer-readable medium of claim 50, wherein said carousel interface is adapted to be dynamically populated with said plurality of icons after a user initiates a search via said searchbar, said plurality of icons reflecting information channels and/or functionality according to the results of a user-initiated search.

56. The computer-readable medium of claim 50, wherein said graphical toolbar is adapted such that a user can select an information-search channel from said carousel interface, then initiate a search via said searchbar and associated computing application, wherein the search results are limited to said selected information-search channel.

57. The computer-readable medium of claim 50, wherein said audio-input section is adapted to receive voice-command inputs via a computing device'"'"'s microphone.

58. The computer-readable medium of claim 50, wherein said image-capture-input section is adapted to receive inputs via a computing device'"'"'s camera.

62. The method of claim 55, wherein when any of said plurality of icons is selected by a user, said carousel interface is programmatically caused to center said selected icon within the viewable part of said carousel interface.

63. The method of claim 55, wherein said edge-on view of said carousel interface is oriented and rotated relative to a user'"'"'s view of said user'"'"'s computing device display screen by an orientation selected from the group consisting of substantially horizontal and substantially vertical.

64. The method of claim 55, wherein said information-search channel of each of said plurality of icons represents an Internet-search engine different than at least one of the other said icons within said carousel interface.

65. The method of claim 55, wherein said information-search channel of each of said plurality of icons represents a premium channel reserved for a commercial entity to provide targeted user-search results to an associated computing device such that said commercial entity'"'"'s business interests are promoted while providing information to a user.

68. The method of claim 55, wherein:

at least one of said plurality of icons represents a functional process related to at least one user-inputted search term, and

a user can launch said functional process by selecting the associated icon on said carousel interface.

69. The method of claim 62, wherein at least one of said plurality of icons represents a functional process that, when selected, launches an augmented-reality application to provide media-rich content, related to said at least one user-inputted search term back, to a computing device.

70. The method of claim 55, wherein said graphical-toolbar API further comprises a toolbar-management module, said module being launchable by a user by selecting a point anywhere on said carousel interface for in excess of a predetermined time, and when launched, displays a user dialogue comprised of:

a first section displaying icons currently available to said user when viewing said carousel interface,

a second section displaying other icons not currently available for selection by said user on said carousel interface,

a means to allow a user to switch between said first and second sections,

in said first section, a means for a user to select a displayed icon and cause said selected icon to be removed from said first section and simultaneously added to said second section,

in said second section, a means for a user to select a displayed icon and cause said selected icon to be removed from said second section and simultaneously added to said first section, and

a means for a user to save any user-changes made and exit said user dialogue.

71. The method of claim 55, wherein said graphical-toolbar API further comprises the capability of launching a child toolbar when a predetermined icon is selected by a user, said child toolbar comprising:

a second plurality of icons that are logically linked such that a logical circle of icons is formed, wherein;

each of said second plurality of icons represents a discrete functional capability associated with a different information-search channel or functionality,

said logical circle is graphically presented as an edge-on view of a second carousel interface within an associated computing application, in order to minimize the amount of user-screen area taken-up by said second carousel interface to maximize the user-screen area available for other computing-application functionality,

said second carousel interface is adapted such that a subset of said second plurality of icons is displayed at any one time, and each of said displayed icons is user-selectable,

said second carousel interface is adapted to allow a user to scroll said second carousel in either direction to display and/or select additional icons, and

each of said second plurality of icons, when selected by a user, is adapted to provide added predetermined functionality and information to a user via the balance of an associated computing application.

72. The method of claim 65, wherein said second carousel interface is oriented substantially orthogonally relative to its parent graphical toolbar.

73. The method of claim 65, wherein said second carousel interface is oriented substantially in parallel relative to its parent graphical toolbar.

74. The method of claim 55, wherein said graphical toolbar API further comprises a multi-input searchbar, said searchbar graphically located either above or below, and proximal to, said carousel interface, wherein:

said searchbar has a text-input section and launchable program module programmatically coupled to an associated computing application;

said searchbar has an audio-input section and launchable program module programmatically coupled to an associated computing application; and

said searchbar has an image-capture-input section and launchable program module programmatically coupled to an associated computing application.

75. The method of claim 68, wherein said carousel interface is adapted to be dynamically populated with said plurality of icons after a user initiates a search via said searchbar, said plurality of icons reflecting information channels and/or functionality according to the results of a user-initiated search.

76. The method of claim 68, wherein said graphical toolbar is adapted such that a user can select an information-search channel from said carousel interface, then initiate a search via said searchbar and associated computing application, wherein the search results are limited to said selected information-search channel.

77. The method of claim 68, wherein said audio-input section is adapted to receive voice-command inputs via a computing device'"'"'s microphone.

78. The method of claim 68, wherein said image-capture-input section is adapted to receive inputs via a computing device'"'"'s camera.

41. A computer-readable medium containing a software-development kit (SDK) that defines an application-programming interface (API) for a software-based graphical toolbar used in conjunction with an associated computing application operating on a computing device, said computing device having a user display and a user-input pointing means for selecting areas and/or items on said graphical display, wherein said API defines a toolbar comprising the following features:

a plurality of icons that are logically linked such that a logical circle of icons is formed, wherein;

each of said plurality of icons represents a discrete functional capability associated with a different information-search channel,

said logical circle is graphically presented as an edge-on view of a carousel interface within an associated computing application, in order to minimize the amount of user-screen area taken-up by said carousel interface to maximize the user-screen area available for other computing-application functionality,

said carousel interface is adapted such that a subset of said plurality of icons is displayed at any one time, and each of said displayed icons is user-selectable,

said carousel interface is adapted to allow a user to scroll said carousel in either direction to display and/or select additional icons, and

each of said plurality of icons, when selected by a user, is adapted to provide added predetermined functionality and information to a user via the balance of an associated computing application.

46. The computer-readable medium of claim 41, wherein said premium channel results from a given commercial entity paying consideration to the provider of an associated computing application in order to reserve a channel that is associated with one or more key search terms.

59. The computer-readable medium of claim 41, wherein said computing device is a mobile computing device selected from the group consisting of mobile smart phones, tablet computers, and laptop computers.

60. The computer-readable medium of claim 59, wherein said user-input pointing means is selected from the group comprising a touch screen, a touch pad, and a trackball pointer.

66. The method of claim 59, wherein said premium channel results from a given commercial entity paying consideration to the provider of an associated computing application in order to reserve a channel that is associated with one or more key search terms.

67. The method of claim 60, wherein said commercial entity reserves said one or more key search terms and said associated premium channel by a means selected from the group consisting of renting and purchasing.

61. A method of making a computer-readable medium containing a software-development kit (SDK) that defines an application-programming interface (API) for a software-based graphical toolbar used in conjunction with an associated computing application operating on a computing device, said computing device having a user display and a user-input pointing means for selecting areas and/or items on said graphical display, the method comprising the steps of:

providing a computer-readable medium; and

storing computer-readable code on said computer-readable medium, said code comprised of an API that defines a toolbar comprising the following features;

a plurality of icons that are logically linked such that a logical circle of icons is formed, wherein;

each of said plurality of icons represents a discrete functional capability associated with a different information-search channel,

said logical circle is graphically presented as an edge-on view of a carousel interface within an associated computing application, in order to minimize the amount of user-screen area taken-up by said carousel interface to maximize the user-screen area available for other computing-application functionality,

said carousel interface is adapted such that a subset of said plurality of icons is displayed at any one time, and each of said displayed icons is user-selectable,

said carousel interface is adapted to allow a user to scroll said carousel in either direction to display and/or select additional icons, and

each of said plurality of icons, when selected by a user, is adapted to provide added predetermined functionality and information to a user via the balance of an associated computing application.

79. The method of claim 61, wherein said computing device is a mobile computing device selected from the group consisting of mobile smart phones, tablet computers, and laptop computers.

80. The method of claim 79, wherein said user-input pointing means is selected from the group comprising a touch screen, a touch pad, and a trackball pointer.