Methods and apparatus for interactive searching techniques
First Claim
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1. A search method, comprising:
- A) causing a first information set to be generated, comprising a first plurality of items, wherein each item of the first plurality of items is associated with at least one characteristic;
B) representing at least some of the first information set in a first presentation;
C) receiving a first feedback based upon the first presentation from a user;
D) applying an evolutionary algorithm to a plurality of characteristics associated with the first plurality of items to generate a first search query, wherein the evolutionary algorithm is based on the first feedback;
E) causing the first search query to be executed to generate a second information set comprising a second plurality of items, wherein each item of the second plurality of items is associated with at least one characteristic;
F) representing at least some of the second information set in a second presentation;
G) in response to a user input, repeating step B and representing at least some of the first information set in the first presentation;
H) receiving a second feedback based upon the second presentation from a user;
I) applying an evolutionary algorithm to a plurality of characteristics associated with the second plurality of items to generate a second search query, wherein the evolutionary algorithm is based on the second feedback;
J) causing the second search query to be executed to generate a third information set comprising a third plurality of items, wherein each item of the third plurality of items is associated with at least one characteristic; and
K) representing at least some of the third information set in a third presentation;
wherein at least one characteristic associated with each item is chosen from a group comprising;
at least one descriptor made available by a search engine or web directory service;
at least one tag;
at least one keyword;
at least one classification-oriented identifier;
at least one categorization-oriented identifier; and
at least one semantic web-oriented identifier; and
wherein at least one characteristic associated with each item is not a word or phrase selected from text displayed as part of the item.
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Abstract
Methods and systems for searching comprise presenting a first information set to a user, receiving feedback, applying an evolutionary algorithm based on the feedback to generate a search query, causing the search query to be executed to generate a second information set, and presenting the second information set to the user. Then, in response to user input, the first information set is again presented to the user; feedback is again received, an evolutionary algorithm is again applied based on the feedback to generate a search query, and the new search query is caused to be executed to generate a third information set which is presented to the user.
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Citations
51 Claims
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1. A search method, comprising:
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A) causing a first information set to be generated, comprising a first plurality of items, wherein each item of the first plurality of items is associated with at least one characteristic; B) representing at least some of the first information set in a first presentation; C) receiving a first feedback based upon the first presentation from a user; D) applying an evolutionary algorithm to a plurality of characteristics associated with the first plurality of items to generate a first search query, wherein the evolutionary algorithm is based on the first feedback; E) causing the first search query to be executed to generate a second information set comprising a second plurality of items, wherein each item of the second plurality of items is associated with at least one characteristic; F) representing at least some of the second information set in a second presentation; G) in response to a user input, repeating step B and representing at least some of the first information set in the first presentation; H) receiving a second feedback based upon the second presentation from a user; I) applying an evolutionary algorithm to a plurality of characteristics associated with the second plurality of items to generate a second search query, wherein the evolutionary algorithm is based on the second feedback; J) causing the second search query to be executed to generate a third information set comprising a third plurality of items, wherein each item of the third plurality of items is associated with at least one characteristic; and K) representing at least some of the third information set in a third presentation;
wherein at least one characteristic associated with each item is chosen from a group comprising;
at least one descriptor made available by a search engine or web directory service;
at least one tag;
at least one keyword;
at least one classification-oriented identifier;
at least one categorization-oriented identifier; and
at least one semantic web-oriented identifier; andwherein at least one characteristic associated with each item is not a word or phrase selected from text displayed as part of the item. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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29. A computer-readable medium having computer-readable signals stored thereon that define instructions which, as a result of being executed by a computer, instruct the computer to perform a search method comprising:
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A) causing a first information set to be generated, comprising a first plurality of items, wherein each item of the first plurality of items is associated with at least one characteristic; B) representing at least some of the first information set in a first presentation; C) receiving a first feedback based upon the first presentation from a user; D) applying an evolutionary algorithm to a plurality of characteristics associated with the first plurality of items to generate a first search query, wherein the evolutionary algorithm is based on the first feedback; E) causing the first search query to be executed to generate a second information set comprising a second plurality of items, wherein each item of the second plurality of items is associated with at least one characteristic; F) representing at least some of the second information set in a second presentation; G) in response to a user input, repeating step B and representing at least some of the first information set in the first presentation; H) receiving a second feedback based upon the second presentation from a user; I) applying an evolutionary algorithm to a plurality of characteristics associated with the second plurality of items to generate a second search query, wherein the evolutionary algorithm is based on the second feedback; J) causing the second search query to be executed to generate a third information set comprising a third plurality of items, wherein each item of the third plurality of items is associated with at least one characteristic; and K) representing at least some of the third information set in a third presentation; wherein at least one characteristic associated with each item is chosen from a group comprising;
at least one descriptor made available by a search engine or web directory service;
at least one tag;
at least one keyword;
at least one classification-oriented identifier;
at least one categorization-oriented identifier; and
at least one semantic web-oriented identifier; andwherein at least one characteristic associated with each item is not a word or phrase selected from text displayed as part of the item.
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30. A method, comprising:
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A) causing a first search query to be executed to generate a first information set comprising a first plurality of items, wherein each item of the first plurality of items is associated with at least one characteristic; B) representing at least some of the first information set in a first presentation; C) causing a second search query to be executed to generate a second information set comprising a second plurality of items, wherein each item of the second plurality of items is associated with at least one characteristic; D) representing at least some of the second information set in a second presentation; E) receiving from a user a selection of a first desired item from the first plurality items; F) receiving from a user a selection of a second desired item from the second plurality of items; and G) generating a third search query based on the combination of the first desired item and the second desired item; wherein generating a third search query based on the first desired item and the second desired item comprises applying an evolutionary algorithm to a genetic string comprising a plurality of characteristics associated with the first desired item and applying an evolutionary algorithm to a genetic string comprising a plurality of characteristics associated with the second desired item; wherein at least one characteristic associated with each item is chosen from a group comprising;
at least one descriptor made available by a search engine or web directory service;
at least one tag;
at least one keyword;
at least one classification-oriented identifier;
at least one categorization-oriented identifier; and
at least one semantic web-oriented identifier; andwherein at least one characteristic associated with each item is not a word or phrase selected from text displayed as part of the item. - View Dependent Claims (31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39)
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40. A computer-readable medium having computer-readable signals stored thereon that define instructions which, as a result of being executed by a computer, instruct the computer to perform a method comprising:
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A) causing a first search query to be executed to generate a first information set comprising a first plurality of items, wherein each item of the first plurality of items is associated with at least one characteristic; B) representing at least some of the first information set in a first presentation; C) causing a second search query to be executed to generate a second information set comprising a second plurality of items, wherein each item of the second plurality of items is associated with at least one characteristic; D) representing at least some of the second information set in a second presentation. E) receiving from a user a selection of a first desired item from the first plurality items; F) receiving from a user a selection of a second desired item from the second plurality of items; and G) generating a third search query based on the combination of the first desired item and the second desired item; wherein generating a third search query based on the first desired item and the second desired item comprises applying an evolutionary algorithm to a genetic string comprising a plurality of characteristics associated with the first desired item and applying an evolutionary algorithm to a genetic string comprising a plurality of characteristics associated with the second desired item; wherein at least one characteristic associated with each item is chosen from a group comprising;
at least one descriptor made available by a search engine or web directory service;
at least one tag;
at least one keyword;
at least one classification-oriented identifier;
at least one categorization-oriented identifier; and
at least one semantic web-oriented identifier; andwherein at least one characteristic associated with each item is not a word or phrase selected from text displayed as part of the item.
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41. A method, comprising:
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A) causing a first search query to be executed to generate a first information set comprising a first plurality of items, wherein each item of the first plurality of items is associated with at least one characteristic; B) representing at least some of the first information set in a first presentation; C) in response to a user input, saving at least one item of the first plurality of items in a location specified by the user; D) causing a second search query to be executed to generate a second information set comprising a second plurality of items, wherein each item of the second plurality of items is associated with at least one characteristic; E) representing at least some of the second information set in a second presentation; F) in response to a user input, retrieving at least one saved item of the first plurality of items; and G) generating a third search query based on a combination of the at least one saved item of the first plurality of items and at least one of the second plurality of items; wherein generating a third search query based on the combination of the at least one saved item and the at least one of the second plurality of items comprises applying an evolutionary algorithm to a genetic string comprising a plurality of characteristics associated with the at least one saved item and applying an evolutionary algorithm to a genetic string comprising a plurality of characteristics associated with the at least one of the second plurality of items; wherein at least one characteristic associated with each item is chosen from a group comprising;
at least one descriptor made available by a search engine or web directory service;
at least one tag;
at least one keyword;
at least one classification-oriented identifier;
at least one categorization-oriented identifier; and
at least one semantic web-oriented identifier; andwherein at least one characteristic associated with each item is not a word or phrase selected from text displayed as part of the item. - View Dependent Claims (42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50)
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51. A computer-readable medium having computer-readable signals stored thereon that define instructions which, as a result of being executed by a computer, instruct the computer to perform a method comprising:
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A) causing a first search query to be executed to generate a first information set comprising a first plurality of items, wherein each item of the first plurality of items is associated with at least one characteristic; B) representing at least some of the first information set in a first presentation; C) in response to a user input, saving at least one item of the first plurality of items in a location specified by the user; D) causing a second search query to be executed to generate a second information set comprising a second plurality of items, wherein each item of the second plurality of items is associated with at least one characteristic; E) representing at least some of the second information set in a second presentation; F) in response to a user input, retrieving at least one saved item of the first plurality of items; and G) generating a third search query based on a combination of the at least one saved item of the first plurality of items and at least one of the second plurality of items; wherein generating a third search query based on the combination of the at least one saved item and the at least one of the second plurality of items comprises applying an evolutionary algorithm to a genetic string comprising a plurality of characteristics associated with the at least one saved item and applying an evolutionary algorithm to a genetic string comprising a plurality of characteristics associated with the at least one of the second plurality of items; wherein at least one characteristic associated with each item is chosen from a group comprising;
at least one descriptor made available by a search engine or web directory service;
at least one tag;
at least one keyword;
at least one classification-oriented identifier;
at least one categorization-oriented identifier; and
at least one semantic web-oriented identifier; andwherein at least one characteristic associated with each item is not a word or phrase selected from text displayed as part of the item.
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Specification