System and method for organizing search criteria match results

• US 6,594,670 B1
• Filed: 12/22/2000
• Issued: 07/15/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 12/22/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Mathias Genser
• Original Assignee: Mathias Genser
• Inventors: Genser, Mathias
• Primary Examiner(s): Metjahic, Safet
• Assistant Examiner(s): AL HASHEMI, SANA A
• Application Number:
  US09/747,334
• Time in Patent Office: 935 Days
• Field of Search: 707/1, 707/10, 707/100, 707/104.1, 707/201
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/338 Presentation of query results
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99943 Generating database or data structure, e.g. via user interface
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99945 Object-oriented database structure processing

Abstract

In a system and method for organizing database search criteria match results which are generated through a search engine adapted to generate system databases upon the processing of search criteria established and submitted by a system user, the system is adapted to define and group the search criteria match results for presentation to the user based upon the relative emphasis or de-emphasis of such results. The system includes a context software module, for enabling the generating of a context database consisting of content, links, and layouts organized for presentation to the user, which module is adapted to determine and specify the context database based on a current context and settings. The system also includes a criteria software module for enabling the generating of a comparison database, adapted to enable criteria to be submitted, modified, and input by the user to generate comparison database information. It also includes a resolution software module for enabling the establishing of a relationship between a context database and a comparison database without modifying the context organized for presentation to the user. It further may include an argument software module for enabling an argument consisting of an expression constructed for a specific purpose to be formed and submitted. The system may also include a display axis software module for generating axes consisting of distinct search submissions to enable the display of search criteria matches.

Claims

1. A system for organizing database matches generated by processing search criteria established and submitted by a user through a search engine adapted to generate databases for the system, wherein the system is adapted to define and group search criteria match results on the basis of the relative emphasis or de-emphasis thereof for presentation to the user, comprising:

context software means for enabling a context database to be generated, adapted to determine and specify the context database based on a current context and settings;

criteria software means for enabling a comparison database to be generated, adapted to enable criteria to be submitted and modified, and to enable the user to input criteria for generating comparison database information; and

results resolution software means for enabling a relationship to be established between the context database and the comparison database, without modifying the context as organized for presentation to the user.

2. The system of claim 1, further adapted to define and group search criteria match results so as to present the content, layout, and functionality of links to search criteria match result hits and links to search criteria match result non-hits, while conveying the distinctions therebetween.

3. The system of claim 1, further comprising axes for the display of search criteria matches.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein a context in the context database comprises a collection of links which reference contexts and information.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the context database comprises the current context database.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the context database comprises links to World Wide Web pages.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the context database comprises links adapted to be accessible within the current context.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the comparison database comprises the current comparison database.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the comparison database comprises links adapted to access context.

10. The system of claim 1, further comprising interacting means for enabling the context software means, the criteria software means, and the results resolution software means to interact with each other.

11. The system of claim 1, further comprising control means for enabling the user to manipulate the system.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the context software means are adapted to generate the context database based on static values.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein the context software means are adapted to generate the context database based on process submissions.

14. The system of claim 1, wherein the criteria software means are adapted to enable the user to input criteria for generating information for the comparison database.

15. The system of claim 1, wherein the context software means comprise a context software module.

16. The system of claim 1, wherein the criteria software means comprise a criteria software module.

17. The system of claim 1, wherein the results resolution software means comprise a results resolution software module.

18. The system of claim 1, wherein the results resolution software means are adapted to compare each context database link to each comparison database link.

19. The system of claim 1, further comprising display axis software means for defining the relative emphasis or de-emphasis of the search criteria matches and for grouping thereof, for presentation to the user.

20. The system of claim 1, further comprising argument software means for enabling the forming and submission of an argument.

21. The system of claim 1, further comprising axes for the display of search criteria matches, and wherein the results resolution software means are adapted to interact with the display axes.

22. The system of claim 1, wherein the context links include display properties, and the results resolution software means are further adapted to adjust the context link display properties for each match of a comparison link to that of a context link.

23. The system of claim 1, wherein the results resolution software means are further adapted to evaluate the context database against each comparison database.

24. The system of claim 1, further comprising control state software means for providing feedback to the user regarding the progress of the operation tied to the control.

25. The system of claim 1, further comprising means for connecting the system to a search engine, comprising a data bus.

26. The system of claim 1, further comprising search axes which comprise distinct search submissions.

27. The system of claim 1, further comprising a user interface display in a browser window.

28. The system of claim 3, wherein each display axis is adapted to communicate variations in intensity for conveying the intensity of a search criteria match.

29. The system of claim 3, wherein a display axis is adapted to convey respective matches so as distinguish results derived through one comparison database from results derived through another comparison database.

30. The system of claim 3, wherein the display axes are adapted to define and group the emphasis and de-emphasis for conveying matches to the user.

31. The system of claim 3, wherein each display axis is adapted to display the relationship between the source criteria in the criteria queue and the results generated by the criteria.

32. The system of claim 3, wherein the display axes are adapted to be combined in a plurality of ways.

33. The system of claim 6, wherein the links comprise Uniform Resource Locators (URLs), wherein each URL comprises an absolute address of a context in the World Wide Web.

34. The system of claim 7, wherein each link is adapted to access subordinated contexts, links, and content.

35. The system of claim 7, wherein the context database further comprises links associated with the accessible links.

36. The system of claim 10, wherein the interacting means comprise a database for interconnecting and transmitting information among the context software means, the criteria software means, and the results resolution software means.

37. The system of claim 14, wherein the criteria software means include criteria modification software means for enabling the user to modify the input criteria term and the processing thereof.

38. The system of claim 19, wherein the display axis software means are further adapted to consider each display axis and its designated presentation parameters, updating the display, and generating settings based thereon.

39. The system of claim 19, wherein the display axis software means comprise a display axis software module.

40. The system of claim 20, wherein the argument software means comprise an argument software module.

41. The system of claim 20, wherein the construction of an argument is adapted to be specific to a specific submission destination.

42. The system of claim 20, further adapted to enable the context to be changed whereupon the arguments are applied within the changed context.

43. The system of claim 20, wherein the argument software means are further adapted to determine whether the context database needs to be updated.

44. The system of claim 20, wherein the argument software means are further adapted to notify the results resolution software means upon updating of the context and comparison databases.

45. The system of claim 20, wherein the argument software means are adapted to accept a current criteria queue, an associated setting, and a current context setting, and to determine the need for context database updating responsive to the settings and the status of an existing context database and a comparison database, and wherein a criteria queue includes criteria used to form arguments.

46. The system of claim 20, wherein a comparison database and a related argument each include corresponding axis, and the corresponding axis are adapted to maintain the relationship between the comparison database and the argument.

47. The system of claim 22, wherein the results resolution software means are adapted to display substantially immediately the context link display properties adjustments.

48. The system of claim 22, wherein the results resolution software means are adapted to accumulate the context link display properties adjustments for subsequent display.

49. The system of claim 22, wherein the results resolution software means are further adapted to adjust each display axis to emphasize increment.

50. The system of claim 22, wherein the results resolution software means are further adapted to adjust each display axis to de-emphasize increment and emphasize decrement.

51. The system of claim 22, wherein the results resolution software means are further adapted to adjust each display axis to emphasize maximum.

52. The system of claim 22, wherein the results resolution software means are further adapted to adjust each display axis to de-emphasize maximum and emphasize minimum.

53. The system of claim 24, wherein the control state software means comprise a control state software module.

54. The system of claim 24, wherein the control state software means are adapted to indicate that control has been activated by the user.

55. The system of claim 24, wherein the control state software means are adapted to indicate that control has contacted the associated process.

56. The system of claim 24, wherein the control state software means are adapted to indicate the progress of a process.

57. The system of claim 24, wherein the control state software means are adapted to indicate that a process is complete.

58. The system of claim 24, wherein the control state software means are adapted to indicate that control is available to be activated.

59. The system of claim 24, wherein the control state software means are adapted to indicate that control is not available to be activated by the user.

60. The system of claim 24, wherein the control state software means are adapted to enable the user to perform other actions without awaiting completion of a process.

61. The system of claim 24, wherein the control state software means are adapted to be used for controls accessible to the user.

62. The system of claim 25, wherein the search engine connecting means are further adapted to connect to a search engine optimized for searching context and returning results in a specific format.

63. The system of claim 26, wherein a search axis includes a comparison database associated therewith.

64. The system of claim 27, wherein the user interface display includes a title bar.

65. The system of claim 34, wherein each link is adapted to access subordinate links through a link path comprising a sequence of links leading from context to context in a continuous path.

66. The system of claim 35, wherein the associated links comprise a plurality of links appearing within a sub-context accessed through a link located within the current context, wherein a sub-context comprises a context accessed through a link which exists within another context.

67. The system of claim 36, wherein the database includes data bus structures internal in a computer.

68. The system of claim 36, wherein the database includes data bus structures external to a computer.

69. The system of claim 37, wherein the criteria modification software means are adapted to attribute designation of a criteria term.

70. The system of claim 37, wherein the criteria modification software means are adapted to change the criteria term.

71. The system of claim 37, wherein the criteria modification software means are adapted to flag the criteria term for exclusion of the criteria term from consideration.

72. The system of claim 37, wherein the criteria modification software means are adapted to adjust a boolean operator flag of the criteria term.

73. The system of claim 37, wherein the criteria modification software means are adapted to adjust a display axis flag of the criteria term.

74. The system of claim 37, wherein the criteria modification software means are adapted to adjust placement of the criteria term in a submission order.

75. The system of claim 39, wherein the display axis software means are adapted to assign a display property based upon the settings.

76. A system for organizing database matches generated by processing search criteria established and submitted by a user through a search engine adapted to generate databases for the system, wherein the system is adapted to define and group search criteria match results on the basis of the relative emphasis or de-emphasis thereof for presentation to the user, comprising:

a context software module for enabling a context database to be generated, adapted to determine and specify the context database based on a current context and settings;

a criteria software module for enabling a comparison database to be generated, adapted to enable criteria to be submitted and modified, and to enable the userto input criteria for generating comparison database information; and

a results resolution software module for enabling a relationship to be established between the context database and the comparison database, without modifying the context as organized for presentation to the user.

77. The system of claim 76, further adapted to define and group search criteria match results so as to present the content, layout, and functionality of links to search criteria match result hits and links to search criteria match result non-hits, while conveying the distinctions therebetween.

78. The system of claim 76, further comprising axes for the display of search criteria matches.

79. The system of claim 76, wherein a context in the context database comprises a collection of links which reference contexts and information.

80. The system of claim 76, wherein the context database comprises the current context database.

81. The system of claim 76, wherein the context database comprises links to World Wide Web pages.

82. The system of claim 76, wherein the context database comprises links adapted to be accessible within the current context.

83. The system of claim 76, wherein the comparison database comprises the current comparison database.

84. The system of claim 76, wherein the comparison database comprises links adapted to access context.

85. The system of claim 76, further comprising an interacting module for enabling the context software module, the criteria software module, and the results resolution software module to interact with each other.

86. The system of claim 76, further comprising a control module for enabling the user to manipulate the system.

87. The system of claim 76, wherein the context software module is adapted to generate the context database based on static values.

88. The system of claim 76, wherein the context software module is adapted to generate the context database based on process submissions.

89. The system of claim 76, wherein the criteria software module is adapted to enable the user to input criteria for generating information for the comparison database.

90. The system of claim 76, wherein the results resolution software module is adapted to compare each context database link to each comparison database link.

91. The system of claim 76, further comprising a display axis software module for defining the relative emphasis or de-emphasis of the search criteria matches and for grouping thereof, for presentation to the user.

92. The system of claim 76, further comprising an argument software module for enabling the forming and submission of an argument.

93. The system of claim 76, further comprising axes for the display of search criteria matches, and wherein the results resolution software means are adapted to interact with the display axes.

94. The system of claim 76, wherein the context links include display properties, and the results resolution software module is further adapted to adjust the context link display properties for each match of a comparison link to that of a context link.

95. The system of claim 76, wherein the results resolution software module is further adapted to evaluate the context database against each comparison database.

96. The system of claim 76, further comprising a control state software module for providing feedback to the user regarding the progress of the operation tied to the control.

97. The system of claim 76, further comprising an element for connecting the system to a search engine, comprising a data bus.

98. The system of claim 76, further comprising search axes which comprise distinct search submissions.

99. The system of claim 76, further comprising a user interface display in a browser window.