Dynamically updated quick searches and strategies

• US 7,039,635 B1
• Filed: 08/22/2002
• Issued: 05/02/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 06/11/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Morgan, Bruce A., Senzel, Keith D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Choules, Jack M.
• Application Number:
  US10/226,506
• Time in Patent Office: 1,349 Days
• Field of Search: 707/3, 707/4, 707/5, 707/10
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/332 Query formulation
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99934 Query formulation, input preparation, or translation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99935 Query augmenting and refining, e.g. inexact access

Abstract

In response to characters entered within a Find dialog box, a minifind window is dynamically updated to provide corresponding search strategies and quick matches from content search data that are being searched. The search strategies and quick matches that are listed are dynamically updated as the user inputs additional characters in the Find dialog box. At any time, the user can initiate a full text search to populate a search results pane, based upon the characters input, by selecting a Go control or pressing the Enter key. Alternatively, the user can select one of the quick matches or search strategies, to populate the search results pane with corresponding items obtained from the content search data, which are most likely to relate to the information desired by the user. This approach is applicable to finding information in almost any data accessed locally, or over a network.

Claims

1. A method for efficiently accessing search results in response to input of text characters into a computing device, comprising the steps of:

(a) enabling a user to input text characters indicative of a search topic for which search results are desired;

(b) determining lists of proposed search strategies and proposed quick matches and populating a display with at least one of the lists based on the text characters that are input, each list with which the display is populated being dynamically updated as successive text characters are input, so that the list of proposed search strategies and the list of proposed quick matches change to correspond to the text characters that have been input, key words included in each list beginning with said text characters;

(c) if a list of proposed search strategies is used to populate the display, then;

(i) breaking the text characters input by the user into parts of speech and tokens;

(ii) finding a match between data types, aliases, and tokens of data available to be searched and the parts of speech and tokens of the text characters input by the user; and

(iii) creating a search strategy corresponding to the match for inclusion in the list of proposed search strategies;

(d) if at least said one of the list of proposed search strategies and the list of proposed quick matches is displayed, enabling the user to make a selection from at least said one thereof that appears most likely to provide the search results desired; and

(e) displaying search results from the selection made by the user.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of prioritizing the list of proposed search strategies so that search strategies that more closely match the text characters input and are thus more likely to provide the search results desired by the user precede search strategies in the list that less closely match the text characters input.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein a search strategy having a highest priority is automatically highlighted, further comprising the step of implementing the search strategy having the highest priority that is highlighted, in response to an action by the user.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of prioritizing the list of proposed quick matches so that quick matches that more closely match the text characters input and are thus more likely to provide the search results desired by the user precede quick matches in the list that less closely match the text characters input.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of prioritizing the search results, so that search results displayed that more closely correspond to the text characters input and are thus more likely to correspond to the search results desired by the user precede search results displayed that less closely correspond to the text characters input.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the list of proposed search strategies indicate at least one of different data sources and different data categories in which to search for search results corresponding to the text characters input by the user.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of the proposed search strategies comprises a network search for the text characters input by the user, further comprising the steps of:

(a) enabling the user to select said one of the proposed search strategies, and in response, connecting to a network site;

(b) carrying out a search for the search results desired by the user, using resources at the network site, based upon the text characters that were input by the user; and

(c) transmitting results of said search that was carried out with the resources at the network site, back over the network for display to the user.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein if no match is found, further comprising the step of displaying a default set of search strategies in the list of proposed search strategies.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein if a list of proposed quick matches is used to populate the display, further comprising the steps of:

(a) determining a count of text characters entered by the user; and

(b) if the count is less than a predefined minimum;

(i) populating the display with a list of all searchable content; and

(ii) automatically scrolling to a first prefix in the list that matches the text characters input by the user;

else,

(c) if the count is not less than the predefined minimum;

(i) populating the display with a list of proposed quick matches comprising a subset of the list of all searchable data, where said subset has words that start with the text characters entered by the user; and

(ii) automatically scrolling to a first prefix in the subset that matches the text characters input by the user.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of populating the display only dynamically updates said at least one of the list of proposed search strategies and the list of proposed quick matches in response to the text characters input by the user if at least a predefined time interval has elapsed since a last text character was input by the user, to avoid interrupting and delaying the input of successive text characters by dynamically updating after every successive text character is input.

11. A computer readable memory medium having machine executable instructions for carrying out a plurality of functions, including:

(a) enabling a user to input text characters indicative of a search topic for which search results are desired;

(b) Determining lists of proposed search strategies and proposed quick matches and displaying at least one of the lists based on the text characters that are input, each list that is displayed being dynamically updated as successive text characters are input, so that the list of proposed search strategies and the list of proposed quick matches change in response to the text characters that have been input, key words included in each list beginning with said text characters;

(c) if a list of proposed search strategies is used to populate the display, then;

(i) breaking the text characters input by the user into parts of speech and tokens;

(ii) finding a match between data types, aliases, and tokens of data available to be searched and the parts of speech and tokens of the text characters input by the user; and

(iii) creating a search strategy corresponding to the match for inclusion in the list of proposed search strategies;

(d) if at least said one of the list of proposed search strategies and the list of proposed quick matches is displayed, enabling the user to make a selection from at least said one thereof that appears most likely to provide the search results desired; and

(e) displaying search results from the selection made by the user.

12. A method implemented by a computing device, for efficiently accessing search results in a data source in response to input of text characters by a user, comprising the steps of:

(a) enabling a user to input text characters that are indicative of a search topic for which search results are desired;

(b) in response to the text characters that are input, displaying both a list of proposed search strategies and a list of proposed quick matches;

(c) if a list of proposed search strategies is used to populate the display, then;

(i) breaking the text characters input by the user into parts of speech and tokens;

(ii) finding a match between data types, aliases, and tokens of data available to be searched and the parts of speech and tokens of the text characters input by the user; and

(iii) creating a search strategy corresponding to the match for inclusion in the list of proposed search strategies;

(d) dynamically updating each list as successive text characters are input, so that content in the list of proposed search strategies and content in the list of proposed quick matches change to correspond to the text characters that have been input, key words included in the content of each list beginning with said text characters;

(e) enabling the user to make a selection from one of the list of proposed search strategies and the list of proposed quick matches that appears most relevant to accessing the search results desired; and

(f) displaying search results from the selection made by the user.

13. A computer readable memory medium having machine executable instructions for carrying out a plurality of functions, including:

(a) enabling a user to input text characters that are indicative of a search topic for which search results are desired;

(b) in response to the text characters that are input, displaying both a list of proposed search strategies and a list of proposed quick matches;

(c) if a list of proposed search strategies is used to populate the display, then;

(i) breaking the text characters input by the user into parts of speech and tokens;

(ii) finding a match between data types, aliases, and tokens of data available to be searched and the parts of speech and tokens of the text characters input by the user; and

(iii) creating a search strategy corresponding to the match for inclusion in the list of proposed search strategies;

(d) dynamically updating each list as successive text characters are input, so that content in the list of proposed search strategies and content in the list of proposed quick matches change to correspond to the text characters that have been input, key words included in the content of each list beginning with said text characters;

(e) enabling the user to make a selection from one of the list of proposed search strategies and the list of proposed quick matches that appears most relevant to accessing the search results desired; and

(f) displaying search results from the selection made by the user.

14. A system for efficiently accessing search results in response to input of text characters, comprising:

(a) a user input device enabling input of text characters;

(b) a display;

(c) a data content that is searchable;

(d) a memory in which machine instructions are stored; and

(e) a processor that is coupled to the user input device, to the display, to the data content, and to the memory, said processor executing the machine instructions to carry out a plurality of functions, including;

(i) enabling a user to input text characters on the user input device that are indicative of a search topic for which search results are desired;

(ii) Determining lists of proposed search strategies and proposed quick matches and populating the display with at least one of the lists based on the text characters that are input, each list with which the display is populated being dynamically updated as successive text characters are input, so that the list of proposed search strategies and the list of proposed quick matches change to correspond to the text characters that have been input, key words included in each list beginning with said text characters;

(iii) if a list of proposed search strategies is used to populate the display, then;

(1) breaking the text characters input by the user into parts of speech and tokens;

(2) finding a match between data types, aliases, and tokens of data available to be searched and the parts of speech and tokens of the text characters input by the user; and

(3) creating a search strategy corresponding to the match for inclusion in the list of proposed search strategies;

(iv) if at least said one of the list of proposed search strategies and the list of proposed quick matches is displayed, enabling the user to make a selection from at least said one thereof that appears most likely to provide the search results desired;

(v) searching the data content using the selection; and

(vi) displaying search results on the display that are from the data content and are based upon the selection made by the user.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein execution of the machine instructions by the processor further causes the processor to prioritize the list of proposed search strategies so that search strategies that more closely match the text characters input and are thus more likely to provide the search results desired by the user precede search strategies in the list that less closely match the text characters input.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein execution of the machine instructions by the processor further causes the processor to automatically highlight a search strategy having a highest priority, and to implement the search strategy having the highest priority that is highlighted, in response to an action by the user to initiate a search.

17. The system of claim 14, wherein execution of the machine instructions by the processor further causes the processor to prioritize the list of proposed quick matches so that quick matches that more closely match the text characters input and are thus more likely to provide the search results desired by the user precede quick matches in the list that less closely match the text characters input.

18. The system of claim 14, wherein execution of the machine instructions by the processor further causes the processor to prioritize the search results, so that search results displayed that more closely correspond to the text characters input and are thus more likely to correspond to the search results desired by the user precede search results displayed that less closely correspond to the text characters input.

19. The system of claim 14, wherein the list of proposed search strategies indicate at least one of different data sources and different data categories in which to search for search results corresponding to the text characters input by the user.

20. The system of claim 14, further comprising a network interface coupling the processor in communication with a network site, wherein at least one of the proposed search strategies comprises a network search for the text characters input by the user, and wherein execution of the machine instructions by the processor further causes the processor to:

(a) enable the user to select said one of the proposed search strategies, and in response, connect the processor in communication with the network site;

(b) carry out a search for the search results desired by the user, using resources at the network site, based upon the text characters that were input by the user; and

(c) transmit results of said search that was carried out with the resources at the network site, back to the processor for display to the user on the display.

21. The system of claim 14, wherein if no match is found, execution of the machine instructions by the processor further causes the processor to display a default set of search strategies in the list of proposed search strategies.

22. The system of claim 14, wherein if a list of proposed quick matches is used to populate the display, execution of the machine instructions by the processor further causes the processor to:

(a) determine a count of text characters entered by the user; and

(b) if the count is less than a predefined minimum;

(i) populate the display with a list of all searchable content; and

(ii) automatically scroll to a first prefix in the list that matches the text characters input by the user;

else,

(c) if the count is not less than the predefined minimum;

(i) populate the display with a list of proposed quick matches comprising a subset of the list of all searchable data, where said subset has words that start with the text characters entered by the user; and

(ii) automatically scroll to a first prefix in the subset that matches the text characters input by the user.

23. The system of claim 14, wherein execution of the machine instructions by the processor further causes the processor to dynamically update said at least one of the list of proposed search strategies and the list of proposed quick matches in response to the text characters input by the user, only if at least a predefined time interval has elapsed since a last text character was input by the user, to avoid interrupting and delaying the input of successive text characters by dynamically updating after every successive text character is input.

24. A system for efficiently accessing search results in response to input of text characters, comprising:

(a) a user input device enabling input of text characters;

(b) a display;

(c) a data content that is searchable;

(d) a memory in which machine instructions are stored; and

(e) a processor that is coupled to the user input device, to the display, to the data content, and to the memory, said processor executing the machine instructions to carry out a plurality of functions, including;

(i) enabling a user to input text characters into the computing device using the user input device that are indicative of a search topic for which search results are desired;

(ii) in response to the text characters that are input, displaying both a list of proposed search strategies and a list of proposed quick matches on the display;

(iii) if a list of proposed search strategies is used to populate the display, then;

(1) breaking the text characters input by the user into parts of speech and tokens,

(2) finding a match between data types, aliases, and tokens of data available to be searched and the parts of speech and tokens of the text characters input by the user; and

(3) creating a search strategy corresponding to the match for inclusion in the list of proposed search strategies;

(iv) dynamically updating each list on the display as successive text characters are input, so that entries in the list of proposed search strategies and entries in the list of proposed quick matches change to correspond to the text characters that have been input, key words included in the entries of each list beginning with said text characters;

(v) enabling the user to make a selection from one of the list of proposed search strategies and the list of proposed quick matches that appears most relevant to accessing the search results desired;

(vi) searching the data content using the selection; and

(vii) displaying search results from the data content that are based on the selection made by the user.