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Visually oriented, easily navigable search facility

  • US 6,272,489 B1
  • Filed: 05/12/1998
  • Issued: 08/07/2001
  • Est. Priority Date: 05/12/1998
  • Status: Expired due to Fees
First Claim
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1. In a computing environment, computer readable code for providing a visually oriented, easily navigable search facility, said computer readable code comprising:

  • a subprocess for displaying a visual model for using said search facility;

    a subprocess for accessing a plurality of search templates, each of said search templates comprising a collection of one or more search fields;

    a subprocess for enabling a user of said search facility to enter search criteria into said collection of search fields of a selected one of said search templates which is accessed and displayed using said visual model, wherein said entered search criteria comprise at least one of (1) one or more data values and (2) one or more data patterns;

    a subprocess for retaining said entered search criteria pertaining to said collection of search fields;

    a subprocess for performing a first search using said entered search criteria; and

    a subprocess for automatically copying one or more of said retained search criteria into selected search fields of a second subsequently-accessed and subsequently-displayed one of said search templates, wherein said selected search fields are those which are also present in said collection of search fields for which said search criteria were retained, even though said second search template may have a different collection of search fields than said selected search template and said selected search fields may be differently arranged on said second search template than on said selected search template, thereby pre-filling said second search template for performing a second search.

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