Integrated user interface mechanism for recursive searching and selecting of items

• US 7,519,576 B2
• Filed: 09/13/2001
• Issued: 04/14/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 09/13/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kyndryl Incorporated (Kyndryl Holdings, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Rahn, Michael D., Martinez, Anthony Edward
• Primary Examiner(s): Wong; Don
• Assistant Examiner(s): DANG, THANH HA T
• Application Number:
  US09/951,958
• Publication Number:
  US 20030050773A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,770 Days
• Field of Search: 707/3, 707/1, 707/5, 707/6
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/248 Presentation of query results
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99931 Database or file accessing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99933 Query processing, i.e. searching
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99935 Query augmenting and refining, e.g. inexact access
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99936 Pattern matching access

Abstract

The present invention is a graphical user interface and method of operation for searching, and selecting items from, a database. The invention provides a convenient mechanism to thoroughly search a database for useful items. The invention runs in the background, dynamically annotating the active part of a main application'"'"'s user interface with an indicator, to show a user of a main application that useful items may be available in a database. The trigger for initially activating the mechanism for searching and selecting in a main application is the same as the trigger for activating another round of searching the database, thus minimizing the diversion of a user'"'"'s attention away from the main application. A user may select an item from the database for use in the main application. This might involve inserting a word into text with a word processor; the items may be words, and the database may be a thesaurus or dictionary, for example. Other examples are utilizing an image with a graphics application, or placing an order to buy an item with a purchasing application. One aspect of the present invention is a method for searching, and selecting items from, a database. Another aspect of the present invention is a system for executing the method of the present invention. A third aspect of the present invention is as a set of instructions on a computer-usable medium, or resident in a computer system, for executing the method of the present invention.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method of providing access to a database, said method comprising:

providing a recursive search process that includes a-d below;

a. responsive to a cursor'"'"'s position, identifying a target item;

b. searching a database for items similar to said target item;

c. providing an indicator, near said target item'"'"'s position, to show the existence of similar items in said database; and

d. responsive to a command for access, providing access to said similar items;

applying, to a first item in a main application, said recursive search process, wherein any one of said similar items may become said target item for said recursive search process; and

responsive to a command for replacement, replacing said first item with an item from said database.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein:

said items are words; and

said database is a thesaurus.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein:

said items are words; and

said database is a dictionary.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein said items are non-textual graphical images.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein said indicator provides a display of a numerical total of a number of said similar items that exist in said database.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein said providing an indicator further comprises providing an icon for sending said command for access.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein said providing an indicator further comprises changing the appearance of said cursor.

8. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising:

dynamically analyzing a context in which said first item appears; and

based on said context, displaying said similar items so that the similar items displayed first are those most appropriate to replace said first item.

9. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the recursive search process including a-d is provided as a background application that is applied to the first item in the main application prior to a selection of the target item by a user via an input device.

10. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the indicator is a graphical indicator representative of similar items being present, but does not display any details of any of the similar items prior to selection of the indicator by a user via an input device.

11. A method of providing access to a database, said method comprising:

applying a recursive annotation function to a first item in a main application;

with said recursive annotation function,

responsive to a cursor'"'"'s position, identifying a target item;

searching a database for items similar to said target item;

providing an indicator, near said target item'"'"'s position, to show that similar items from said database may be displayed; and

providing, near said target item'"'"'s position, an icon for sending a command for display to a recursive pop-up display function;

with said recursive pop-up display function,

responsive to said command for display, displaying said similar items in a pop-up window, near said target item'"'"'s position;

applying said recursive annotation function to said similar items, wherein any one of said similar items may become said target item for said recursive annotation function; and

responsive to a command for replacement, replacing said first item with an item from said database.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein:

said items are words; and

said database is a thesaurus.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein:

said items are words; and

said database is a dictionary.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein said items are non-textual graphical images.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein said indicator provides a display of a numerical total of a number of said similar items that exist in said database.

16. The method of claim 11, wherein said providing an indicator further comprises changing the appearance of said cursor.

17. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

dynamically analyzing a context in which said first item appears; and

based on said context, displaying said similar items so that the similar items displayed first are those most appropriate to replace said first item.

18. A system for providing access to a database, said system comprising:

a processor;

a memory having instructions contained therein, wherein the instructions, when executed by the processor, provide;

recursive search means, including a-d below;

a. means for identifying a target item in response to a cursor'"'"'s position;

b. means for searching a database for items similar to said target item;

c. means for providing an indicator, near said target item'"'"'s position, to show the existence of similar items in said database; and

d. means to a command for providing access to said similar items in response to a command for access; and

means for replacing said first item with an item from said database in response to a command for replacement, wherein;

said recursive search means operates on a first item in a main application, and

any one of said similar items may become said target item for said recursive search means.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein:

said items are words; and

said database is a thesaurus.

20. The system of claim 18, wherein:

said items are words; and

said database is a dictionary.

21. The system of claim 18, wherein said items are non-textual graphical images.

22. The system of claim 18, wherein said indicator provides a display of a numerical total of a number of said similar items that exist in said database.

23. The system of claim 18, wherein said means for providing an indicator further comprises means for providing an icon for sending said command for access.

24. The system of claim 18, wherein said means for providing an indicator further comprises means for changing the appearance of said cursor.

25. The system of claim 18, further comprising:

means for dynamically analyzing a context in which said first item appears; and

means for displaying said similar items, based on said context, so that the similar items displayed first are those most appropriate to replace said first item.

26. The system of claim 18, wherein the recursive search means including a-d is provided as a background application that is applied to the first item in the main application prior to a selection of the target item by a user via an input device.

27. The system of claim 18, wherein the indicator is a graphical indicator representative of similar items being present, but does not display any details of any of the similar items prior to selection of the indicator by a user via an input device.

28. A computer readable storage medium having computer-executable instructions for providing access to a database, said computer-executable instructions comprising:

recursive search means, including a-d below;

a. means for identifying a target item in response to a cursor'"'"'s position;

b. means for searching a database for items similar to said target item;

c. means for providing an indicator, near said target item'"'"'s position, to show the existence of similar items in said database; and

d. means for providing access to said similar items in response to a command for access; and

means for replacing said first item with an item from said database in response to a command for replacement, wherein;

said recursive search means operates on a first item in a main application, and

any one of said similar items may become said target item for said recursive search means.

29. The computer readable storage medium of claim 28, wherein:

said items are words; and

said database is a thesaurus.

30. The computer readable storage medium of claim 28, wherein:

said items are words; and

said database is a dictionary.

31. The computer readable storage medium of claim 28, wherein said items are non-textual graphical images.

32. The computer readable storage medium of claim 28, wherein said indicator provides a display of a numerical total of a number of said similar items that exist in said database.

33. The computer readable storage medium of claim 28, wherein said means for providing an indicator further comprises means for providing an icon for sending said command for access.

34. The computer readable storage medium of claim 28, wherein said means for providing an indicator further comprises means for changing the appearance of said cursor.

35. The computer readable storage medium of claim 28, further comprising:

means for dynamically analyzing a context in which said first item appears; and

means for displaying said similar items, based on said context, so that the similar items displayed first are those most appropriate to replace said first item.

36. The computer readable storage medium of claim 28, wherein the recursive search means including a-d is provided as a background application that is applied to the first item in the main application prior to a selection of the target item by a user via an input device.

37. The computer readable storage medium of claim 28, wherein the indicator is a graphical indicator representative of similar items being present, but does not display any details of any of the similar items prior to selection of the indicator by a user via an input device.