Method and system for executing a guided parametric search

• US 5,983,219 A
• Filed: 10/03/1997
• Issued: 11/09/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 10/14/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Kelora Systems LLC
• Original Assignee: Saggara Systems Incorporated
• Inventors: Danish, Mohamed Sherif, Kimbrough, Kris Walter
• Primary Examiner(s): Choules, Jack M.
• Application Number:
  US08/943,573
• Time in Patent Office: 767 Days
• Field of Search: 707/1, 707/3, 707/4
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/2425 Iterative querying; Query formulation based on the results of a preceding query
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/2428 Query predicate definition using graphical user interfaces, including menus and forms G06F16/2423 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/2457 with adaptation to user needs
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/248 Presentation of query results
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/34 Browsing; Visualisation therefor
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9032 Query formulation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/954 Navigation, e.g. using categorised browsing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99933 Query processing, i.e. searching
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99934 Query formulation, input preparation, or translation

Abstract

A process for identifying a single item from a family of items presents a user with a feature screen having a series of groupings. Each grouping represents a feature having a set of alternatives from which to select. Selected alternatives are used as a selection criteria in a search operation. Results of the search operation is a revised feature screen indicating alternatives that remain available to the user for further selection and searching. The feature screen and search process, therefore, presents the user with a guided nonhierarchical parametric search to identify matching items based upon user specified criteria and priorities. Also disclosed is an adaptation of the claimed method and system appropriate in an Internet environment.

Claims

1. A method of allowing a selection of a subset of items from a set of items using a server and a database, the server being coupled to the database, the method comprising:

(a) responsive to receiving a first request, accessing the database, the database defining a set of groups, each group in the set of groups having a corresponding set of alternatives, the database defining at least one alternative for each item in the set of items, and wherein the set of groups includes at least one group having more than one alternative;

(b) transmitting a first response, the first response including first formatting information to display the set of groups and a first corresponding sets of alternatives, the first formatting information including instructions to simultaneously display at least two alternatives from the at least one group;

(c) responsive to receiving a second request, accessing the database to determine the subset of items, the second request corresponding to a selection of at least an alternative from the set of groups, the subset of items all including the selected alternative; and

(d) transmitting a second response, the second response including second formatting information to display the set of groups and a second corresponding sets of alternatives, the second corresponding sets of alternatives being determined from the subset of items and including at least one unavailable alternative, the second formatting information including instructions to display the unavailable alternative and any available alternatives in the second set of alternatives.

2. The method according to claim 1 wherein the first and second requests correspond to an Internet protocol formatted request, and wherein the first and second responses correspond to an Internet protocol formatted response.

3. The method according to claim 1 wherein the first formatting information includes HTML formatted text wherein at least one alternative of the set of alternatives is shown as a hypertext link.

4. The method according to claim 3 wherein the first formatting information includes a name for each group in the set of groups, and wherein each name is not a link.

5. The method according to claim 1 wherein the transmitting the second information includes HTML formatted text wherein each available alternative is shown as a hypertext link and wherein each unavailable alternative is shown as text but is not a hypertext link.

6. The method according to claim 1 further comprising reducing the number of items in the subset of items by repeating the steps of accessing the database in response to the second request and transmitting the second response.

7. The method according to claim 6 further comprising increasing the number of items in the subset of items by deselecting a selected alternative if the subset of items comprises zero items.

8. The method according to claim 1 wherein the second information includes the information about the number of items in the subset of items.

9. A system for assisting a user in identifying a subfamily of items within a family of items, comprising the steps of:

(a) means for providing a computer readable data file of stored information representing at least one family of items, wherein the family has features associated therewith and each said feature has alternatives associated therewith, the family comprising a plurality of items wherein each said item has one said alternative associated with each said feature,

(b) means for displaying said features and said alternatives on a feature screen;

(c) means for accepting at least one selected alternative;

(d) means for determining the subfamily wherein each item in the subfamily satisfies said selected alternatives;

(e) means for determining available alternatives and unavailable alternatives represented by the subfamily; and

(f) means for revising said feature screen to reflect said available alternatives as distinct from said unavailable alternatives.

10. The system according to claim 9 wherein, each said available alternative is displayed in a first format, each said unavailable alternative is displayed in a second format, and each said selected alternative is displayed in a third format.

11. The system according to claim 9 wherein, said first format is a grey shaded font, and said second format is a bold font.

12. The system according to claim 9 and further comprising means for displaying at least one grouping, each said grouping comprising one of said features visually related to respective alternatives.

13. The system according to claim 12 wherein, if said grouping does not contain at least one available alternative, said grouping is not displayed.

14. The system according to claim 9 further comprising means for displaying a plurality of pictures, each said picture representing one family and being selectable by a user to identify one family.

15. The system according to claim 9 further comprising means for displaying an alphanumeric list of entries, each said entry representing one family and being selectable by a user to identify one family.

16. The system of claim 9 further comprising means for:

(a) providing a user selector for each item of said subfamily,

(b) receiving a signal identifying a single item within said subfamily, and

(c) displaying additional information about said item.

17. The system of claim 16 wherein said additional information comprises detailed specifications concerning said item.

18. The system of claim 16 wherein said additional information comprises a pictorial representation of said single member.

19. A system for assisting a user in identifying a subfamily of items within a family of items, comprising:

(a) a database, the database representing at least one family of items and identifying at least one alternative for each item;

(a) a computer system, being coupled to the database, having a first program to display available alternatives represented in the family, the computer system having an input to receive selected alternatives, the computer system further having a second program to determine a subfamily of items wherein each said item in said subfamily contains the selected alternatives, and wherein the first program revises the display to display said available alternatives represented in the subfamily as distinct from unavailable alternatives unrepresented in the subfamily.

20. The system according to claim 19 wherein, the computer system has a server computer coupled to a client computer, the server computer having the second program and the client computer having the first program.