Graphic user interface for database system
First Claim
1. A graphic user interface method for representing a search of a database, comprising the steps of:
- receiving at least three search selections, each for selecting records from the database;
providing at least one graphic icon, each graphic icon representing a composite set inclusion property of two selections;
receiving from the user a selection of graphic icons representative of at least two composite set inclusion properties and linkages therebetween, defining an output data set; and
presenting the selected graphic icons and linkages therebetween as a graphic image on the graphic user interface, in a manner indicative of the selections and linkages.
6 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A graphic user interface method for representing a search of a database, providing a plurality of stylized Venn diagrams each representing an intersection of at least two sets; receiving from the user, for each generic graphic icon, a selection of at least one region, defining an output data set; presenting the generic graphic icons on the graphic user interface as modified graphic icons, each having graphic indication of the selections; and receiving linkage information from the user for the modified graphic icons to represent a composite set inclusion property, based on the output data sets and the linkage information. Once a search is defined, it may be translated, as necessary, for execution by a typical database search engine. Retrieved results may be quantified and ranked by the interface system for optimal presentation to the user.
-
Citations
65 Claims
-
1. A graphic user interface method for representing a search of a database, comprising the steps of:
-
receiving at least three search selections, each for selecting records from the database; providing at least one graphic icon, each graphic icon representing a composite set inclusion property of two selections; receiving from the user a selection of graphic icons representative of at least two composite set inclusion properties and linkages therebetween, defining an output data set; and presenting the selected graphic icons and linkages therebetween as a graphic image on the graphic user interface, in a manner indicative of the selections and linkages. - View Dependent Claims (2, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48)
-
-
3. A graphic user interface method for representing a search of a database, comprising the steps of:
-
providing a plurality of generic graphic icon types, each icon type being a graphically associated with a set inclusion property; receiving from the user, at least three set inclusion properties, said at least three set inclusion properties being associated with at least two icons, each said associated icon representing a composite set inclusion property of two set inclusion properties and having an icon type associated with a respective logical relation between said two set inclusion properties; receiving from the user linkage information representing a relationship between at least two icons representing a logical relation between the set inclusion properties associated with each icon; and representing said set inclusion properties and linkage information graphically on a graphic user interface. - View Dependent Claims (4, 5)
-
-
6. A graphic user interface method for representing a search of a database, comprising the steps of:
-
providing a plurality of generic graphic icons, each having an exterior boundary and two interior areas within the exterior boundary, each area having a boundary and representing a data set, with each generic graphic icon having a plurality of regions, selected from one or more members of the group consisting of;
an intersecting region of the areas representing a conjunction of the data sets, two non-intersecting regions of the areas, and a region outside the areas, a set inclusion property being defined for each data set;receiving from the user, for each generic graphic icon, a selection of at least one region defining an output data set; presenting the generic graphic icons on the graphic user interface as modified graphic icons, each having graphic indication of the selections; and receiving linkage information from the user for at least two of the modified graphic icons to represent a composite set inclusion property, based on the output data sets and the linkage information. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65)
-
-
49. A graphic interface system for control by a user of data sets in a database, comprising:
-
(a) a graphic output; (b) a user input having at least one degree of freedom corresponding to said graphic output; (c) a processor, for receiving said user input and generating said graphic output; and (d) a database, comprising a plurality of data records each having at least two characteristics; (e) said processor; (i) providing a plurality of generic graphic icons, each having an exterior boundary and two interior areas within the exterior boundary, each area having a boundary and representing a data set, with each generic graphic icon having a plurality of regions, selected from one or more members of the group consisting of;
an intersecting region of the areas representing a conjunction of the data sets, two non-intersecting regions of the areas, and a region outside the areas, a set inclusion property being defined for each data set;(ii) receiving from the user, for each generic graphic icon, a selection of at least one region defining an output data set; (iii) presenting the generic graphic icons on the graphic user interface as modified graphic icons, each having graphic indication of the selections; and (iv) receiving linkage information from the user for at least two of the modified graphic icons to represent a composite set inclusion property, based on the output data sets and the linkage information. - View Dependent Claims (50)
-
Specification