Search and presentation engine
First Claim
1. A computerized method for searching for objects comprising the steps of:
- (a) assigning a plurality of Attributes to each of a plurality of objects in a collection;
(b) assigning each of the Attributes to a Kind;
(c) receiving a search query including at least one Attribute specified by a user;
(d) displaying a list of Kinds associated with Attributes specified by the user if a number of objects having Attributes specified by the user is greater than a predetermined object list length;
(e) receiving a specification of a Kind from the list of Kinds displayed in the previous step from the user;
(f) displaying a list of Attributes assigned to the Kind specified by the user;
(g) repeating steps (d)–
(f) until the number of objects having Attributes specified by the user is less than the predetermined object list length; and
(h) displaying a list of objects having Attributes specified by the user.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A contents display and search system for navigating and searching and exploring a collection of objects includes a database of Attributes; each of the Attributes being associated with one or more objects, and a database of Kinds, each Kind being associated with one or more Attributes. When a user enters a search query including at least one Attribute, an object is tested to determine whether it has Attributes of the Kind corresponding to the Kind of the at least one specified Attribute before function testing is performed. Search and contents investigation results are presented in a hierarchical format in which Kinds and Attributes rather than objects, are displayed until the search or content type is further specified by selecting additional Kinds and/or Attributes such that the number of objects satisfying the specified search is below a threshold. User interaction modifies the hierarchical order of Kinds and Attributes in the display.
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Citations
38 Claims
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1. A computerized method for searching for objects comprising the steps of:
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(a) assigning a plurality of Attributes to each of a plurality of objects in a collection; (b) assigning each of the Attributes to a Kind; (c) receiving a search query including at least one Attribute specified by a user; (d) displaying a list of Kinds associated with Attributes specified by the user if a number of objects having Attributes specified by the user is greater than a predetermined object list length; (e) receiving a specification of a Kind from the list of Kinds displayed in the previous step from the user; (f) displaying a list of Attributes assigned to the Kind specified by the user; (g) repeating steps (d)–
(f) until the number of objects having Attributes specified by the user is less than the predetermined object list length; and(h) displaying a list of objects having Attributes specified by the user. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A computerized search system comprising:
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a memory for storing a database of Attributes and Kinds, each of the Attributes being associated with one or more objects, and each of the Kinds being associated with one or more Attributes; a processor connected to the memory; a display connected to the processor; and an input device connected to the processor; wherein the processor is programmed to perform the following steps; inputting a search query specified by a user with the input device, said search query including at least one parameter selected from a group consisting of an Attribute and a Kind; displaying the at least one parameter on the display together with at least one other Attribute or Kind in a search result display hierarchy; rearranging the hierarchy upon a command from the user; accepting a selection of a displayed Kind or Attribute from the user and, in response to the selection, displaying a list of Kinds if the user selects an Attribute, and displaying a list of Attributes if the user selects a Kind. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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29. A computerized method of searching a database of objects in which each object is associated with a plurality of Attributes, each Attribute is associated with one Kind, and each Kind is associated with a plurality of Attributes, comprising the steps of
inputting a search including at least one search Attribute; -
identifying all objects having the at least one Attribute; identifying all Attributes associated with the objects identified in the previous step; identifying all Kinds associated with the Attributes in the previous step; displaying at least a portion of the Kinds and at least a portion of the Attributes in a search result hierarchical display; rearranging the search result hierarchical display upon a command from a user; and accepting a selection of a displayed Kind or Attribute from the user and, in response to the selection, displaying a list of Kinds if the user selects an Attribute, and displaying a list of Attributes if the user selects a Kind. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37)
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38. A computerized search and presentation system comprising:
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a memory for storing a database of Attributes, Kinds, and implications, each of the Attributes being associated with a single Kind, each of the Attributes being associated with at least one object in a collection of objects, each of the implications being associated with an Attribute and indicating that an object that has such an Attribute also has another Attribute; a processor connected to the memory, the processor being connectable to the collection of objects; a search result hierarchical display connected to the processor; and an input device connected to the processor; wherein the processor is configured to perform the steps of displaying a default hierarchical diagram, the default hierarchical diagram including at least one Attribute that is not associated with any implication and at least one Kind associated with the Attribute; and extending the diagram upon a selection by a user of an Attribute or a Kind; when the user selects a Kind to extend the diagram, displaying a list of a plurality of Attributes associated with the Kind selected by the user, each of the Attributes on the list being selected on the basis of divisiveness, none of the Attributes on the list being implied by any other Attribute on the list.
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Specification