Customer self service iconic interface for portal entry and search specification
DC CAFCFirst Claim
1. A graphical user interface for a customer self service system that performs resource search and selection comprising:
- a first visual workspace comprising entry field enabling entry of a query for a resource and, one or more selectable graphical user context elements, each element representing a context associated with the current user state and having context attributes and attribute values associated therewith;
a second visual workspace for visualizing the set of resources that the customer self service system has determined to match the user'"'"'s query, said system indicating a degree of fit of said determined resources with said query;
a third visual workspace for enabling said user to select and modify context attribute values to enable increased specificity and accuracy of a query'"'"'s search parameters, said third visual workspace further enabling said user to specify resource selection parameters and relevant resource evaluation criteria utilized by a search mechanism in said system, said degree of fit indication based on said user'"'"'s context, and said associated resource selection parameters and relevant resource evaluation criteria; and
, a mechanism enabling said user to navigate among said first, second and third visual workspaces to thereby identify and improve selection logic and response sets fitted to said query.
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Abstract
A graphical user interface for a customer self service system that performs resource search and selection. The interface comprises an entry field enabling entry of a query for a resource and selection of one or more user context icons, each representing a context associated with the current user situation, and having context attributes associated therewith; a first visual workspace is provided for visualizing and exploring the set of resources that the customer self service system has determined to match the user'"'"'s query, the system indicating a degree of fit of the determined resources with the query, based on the user'"'"'s context, associated resource selection parameters and associated relevant resource evaluation criteria utilized by a search mechanism in the system; and, a second visual workspace including detail specification workspace for enabling user to select and modify user context attribute values and further relevant resource evaluation criteria; and a mechanism for enabling the user to continuously navigate among the first and second visual workspaces to enable increased specificity and accuracy of query'"'"'s search parameters and resource evaluation criteria and thereby identify and improve selection logic and response sets fitted to a query. The graphical user interface permits user interactivity for querying a customer self service system and enhancing response set results for a variety of self service domains including education, real estate and travel.
154 Citations
17 Claims
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1. A graphical user interface for a customer self service system that performs resource search and selection comprising:
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a first visual workspace comprising entry field enabling entry of a query for a resource and, one or more selectable graphical user context elements, each element representing a context associated with the current user state and having context attributes and attribute values associated therewith;
a second visual workspace for visualizing the set of resources that the customer self service system has determined to match the user'"'"'s query, said system indicating a degree of fit of said determined resources with said query;
a third visual workspace for enabling said user to select and modify context attribute values to enable increased specificity and accuracy of a query'"'"'s search parameters, said third visual workspace further enabling said user to specify resource selection parameters and relevant resource evaluation criteria utilized by a search mechanism in said system, said degree of fit indication based on said user'"'"'s context, and said associated resource selection parameters and relevant resource evaluation criteria; and
, amechanism enabling said user to navigate among said first, second and third visual workspaces to thereby identify and improve selection logic and response sets fitted to said query. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. An interactive method for querying a customer self service system that performs resource search and selection, said method comprising the steps of:
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a) enabling via a graphic interface, entry of a query and selection of one or more user context icons, each representing a context associated with the current user situation and having context attribute parameters associated therewith;
b) enabling, via a first visual workspace provided in said graphic interface, user specification of relevant resource selection criteria for enabling expression of relevance of resource results in terms of user context and, user specification of relevant resource evaluation criteria;
c) generating a resource response set for best matching a users query based upon user input context attributes and user defined relevant resource selection criteria, and enabling user visualization of said response set via a second visual workspace provided in said graphic interface, said step further indicating a degree of fit of said determined resources with said query based on said user'"'"'s context, and said associated resource selection parameters and relevant resource evaluation criteria; and
,d) navigating between said first and second visual workspaces to thereby identify and improve selection logic and response sets fitted to said query. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A program storage device readable by machine, tangibly embodying a program of instructions executable by the machine to perform interactive method steps for querying a customer self service system that performs resource search and selection, said interactive method comprising the steps of:
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a) enabling via a graphic interface, entry of a query and selection of one or more user context icons, each representing a context associated with the current user situation and having context attribute parameters associated therewith;
b) enabling, via a first visual workspace provided in said graphic interface, user specification of relevant resource selection criteria for enabling expression of relevance of resource results in terms of user context and user specification of relevant resource evaluation criteria;
c) generating a resource response set for best matching a user'"'"'s query based upon user input context attribute values and user defined relevant resource selection criteria, and enabling user visualization of said response set via a second visual workspace in said graphic interface;
said step further including the step of indicating a degree of fit of said determined resources with said query based on said user'"'"'s context, and said associated resource selection parameters and relevant resource evaluation criteria; and
d) navigating between said first and second workspaces visual workspaces to thereby identify and improve selection logic and response sets fitted to said query. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17)
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Specification