Database search facility having improved user interface
First Claim
1. A method of searching a database stored on a computer system having a display, comprising the steps of:
- concurrently displaying, in respective first, second and third windows of the display;
a first query statement;
a first set of results from a database search of the first query statement;
a symbolic representation of one or more query statements entered during a current query session involving multiple queries including the first query statement; and
linking the respective first, second and third windows such that alteration of given information in one of the windows alters the display of information in at least one of the other windows, wherein the linking step includes the steps ofmarking a section of the first set of results in response to user input;
creating a second query statement according to the first query statement and the marked section;
displaying a second set of results from a database search of the second query statement; and
modifying the symbolic representation to include a representation of the second query statement.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A search facility having a user interface including three windows: a query window, a graph window and a history window. Each of the windows is presented simultaneously in the graphical user interface. The query window displays the text of the most recently input query statement which is searched in a database stored in a computer system. The graph window graphically displays the current results of the most recent query statement. The history window presents the query statements and their results during the current query session. In one preferred embodiment, the query statements and their results are graphically presented as a tree, wherein the query statements and query results are nodes and each query statement result is a child of the query statement which was run to create it. Input to any of the windows will change the presentation of data within the other two windows.
321 Citations
21 Claims
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1. A method of searching a database stored on a computer system having a display, comprising the steps of:
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concurrently displaying, in respective first, second and third windows of the display; a first query statement; a first set of results from a database search of the first query statement; a symbolic representation of one or more query statements entered during a current query session involving multiple queries including the first query statement; and linking the respective first, second and third windows such that alteration of given information in one of the windows alters the display of information in at least one of the other windows, wherein the linking step includes the steps of marking a section of the first set of results in response to user input; creating a second query statement according to the first query statement and the marked section; displaying a second set of results from a database search of the second query statement; and modifying the symbolic representation to include a representation of the second query statement. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A computer program product in a computer readable memory for controlling a processor to search a database stored on a computer system, the product comprising:
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means for concurrently displaying, in respective first, second and third windows of a display of the computer system; a first query statement; a first set of results from a database search of the first query statement; and a symbolic representation of one or more query statements entered during a current query session involving multiple queries including the first query statement; and
;means for linking the respective first, second and third windows such that alteration of given information in one of the windows alters the display of information in at least one of the other windows, wherein the means for linking comprises; means for marking a section of the first set of results in response to user input; means for creating a second query statement according to the first query statement and the marked section; means for displaying a second set of results from a database search of the second query statement; and means for modifying the symbolic representation to include a representation of the second query statement. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A system including processor, memory, display and input device for searching a computer stored database, comprising:
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means for concurrently displaying, in respective first, second and third windows of a display of the computer system; a first query statement; first set of results from a database search of the first query statement; and a symbolic representation of one or more query statements entered during a current query session involving multiple queries including the first query statement; and
;means for linking the respective first, second and third windows such that alteration of given information in one of the windows alters the display of information in at least one of the other windows, wherein the means for linking comprises; means for marking a section of the first set of results in response to user input; means for creating a second query statement according to the first query statement and the marked section; means for displaying a second set of results from a database search of the second query statement; and means for modifying the symbolic representation to include a representation of the second query statement and a representation of the second set of results. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A method of editing a database of stored video data stored on a computer system having a display, comprising the steps of:
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opening on the display a query window, a history window and a video window; searching for a first segment of video data in response to the user input of a first query statement, the first query statement displayed in the query window; displaying a symbolic representation including a first symbol representative of the first query statement in the history window; displaying the first segment in the video window; and linking the respective query, history and video windows such that alteration of given information in one of the windows alters the display of information in at least one of the other windows, wherein the linking step includes the steps of; taking a given action in response to user input in the video window; creating a second query statement according to the first query statement and the given action; displaying a second video segment from a database search of the second query statement; and modifying the symbolic representation to include a representation of the second query statement.
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20. A video data editing system including processor, memory, display and input device, comprising:
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means for opening on the display a query window, a history window and a video window; means for searching for a first segment of video data in response to the user input of a first query statement, the first query statement displayed in the query window; means for displaying a symbolic representation including a first symbol representative of the first query statement in the history window; means for displaying the first segment in the video window; and means for linking the respective query, history and video windows such that alteration of given information in one of the windows alters the display of information in at least one of the other windows, wherein the means for linking step comprises; means responsive to user input causing a given action in the video window for creating a second query statement according to the first query statement and the given action; means for displaying a second video segment from a database search of the second query statement; and means for modifying the symbolic representation to include a representation of the second query statement.
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21. A computer program product on a computer readable memory executable by a computer system for editing stored video data, comprising:
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means for opening on the display a query window, a history window and a video window; means for searching for a first segment of video data in a computer memory in response to the user input of a first query statement, the first query statement displayed in the query window; means for displaying a symbolic representation including a first symbol representative of the first query statement in the history window; means for displaying the first segment in the video window on the display; and means for linking the respective query, history and video windows such that alteration of given information in one of the windows alters the display of information in at least one of the other windows, wherein the means for linking step comprises; means responsive to user input causing a given action in the video window for creating a second query statement according to the first query statement and the given action; means for displaying a second video segment from a database search of the second query statement; and means for modifying the symbolic representation to include a representation of the second query statement.
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Specification