Multiple parameter data media search in a distributed network

• US 7,849,096 B2
• Filed: 03/13/2007
• Issued: 12/07/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 03/13/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Xylon LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: Intellectual Ventures Holding 32 LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Inventors: Merritt, Edward, Fein, Gene S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kim; Charles
• Assistant Examiner(s): HOLLAND, SHERYL L
• Application Number:
  US11/685,536
• Publication Number:
  US 20080228717A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,365 Days
• Field of Search: 707 1- 10, 707/759
• US Class Current: 707/765
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/2425 Iterative querying; Query formulation based on the results of a preceding query
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/2428 Query predicate definition using graphical user interfaces, including menus and forms G06F16/2423 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/248 Presentation of query results

Abstract

Disclosed is a method and system directed to a management of distributed database data and file access and retrieval by providing a multiple parameter data media search. Conventional models generate search results based upon the text entered into the search box by the user. Unfortunately, the existing conventional models have certain limitations in use, distribution, and deployment. The present invention relates to the creation of multi-parameter search tools that allow for searched materials to be quantified by numerous logical searching parameters. An example embodiment (i) provides a plurality of parameters, each of the plurality of parameters having a respective range of terms; (ii) displays the plurality of parameters; (iii) displays the respective ranges of terms; (iv) solicits from the user at least one search selection from the displayed ranges of terms; (v) performs a search from the at least one search selection; and (vi) returns a search result to the user.

Claims

1. A system, comprising:

a display device configured to display a plurality of searchable fields, wherein the plurality of searchable fields comprises a user-input text field and a plurality of search parameters, wherein the plurality of search parameters further defines a search associated with text input into the user-input text field, wherein the plurality of search parameters comprise a respective range of terms, wherein the range of terms comprises a computer generated user selectable range of terms, and wherein the range of terms narrows the search associated with the input text according to a selection from the range of terms for each search parameter;

means for requesting a first set of search results for the search associated with the text input based on both the input text and the selection from the range of terms; and

an interface configured to replace at least a portion of the plurality of search parameters with a plurality of refined search parameters that are automatically generated based on shared characteristics identified from the first set of search results, wherein the plurality of refined search parameters are associated with a respective range of refined terms that is dynamically populated based on the generation of the plurality of refined search parameters, wherein the range of refined terms comprises a user-selectable range of multiple refined terms, wherein the display device is further configured to display the plurality of refined search parameters as a series of concentric rings, wherein the series of concentric rings corresponds in number to the plurality of refined search parameters, and wherein the requesting means is further configured to request a refined search based on the first set of search results and a plurality of refined terms selected from the range of refined terms for each refined search parameter to generate a second set of search results.

2. The system according to claim 1, further comprising a display pointer, wherein the range of terms is displayed as the display pointer traverses across at least one of the plurality of search parameters.

3. The system according to claim 2, wherein the display pointer comprises a cursor.

4. The system according to claim 1, further comprising an output module, wherein the output module is configured to display a summary of the first set of search results by indicating a number of match results.

5. The system according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of search parameters are displayed in a graphical format.

6. The system according to claim 5, wherein the graphical format comprises a plurality of horizontal bars corresponding in number to the plurality of search parameters, and wherein the selection from the range of terms is made via one of the plurality of horizontal bars.

7. The system according to claim 1, wherein the selection of the plurality of refined terms is made via one or more of the concentric rings.

8. The system according to claim 1, wherein the range of terms comprises a numeric range.

9. The system according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of search parameters are categorized by subject, and wherein the range of terms comprises different types of the subject.

10. The system according to claim 9, wherein the subject comprises any of time, biological species, geographical locations, shapes, things, moods, people, traits, sounds, colleges, celebrities, vacations, matchmaking, sports, videos, communities, music, films, or recipes.

11. The system according to claim 1, wherein the display device comprises a touch screen.

12. The system according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the plurality of refined search parameters comprises a subset of one of the plurality of search parameters.

13. A method, comprising:

causing display of a plurality of parameters, wherein the plurality of parameters is associated with a respective range of terms, wherein the range of terms comprises a computer generated user-selectable range of multiple terms;

causing display of the range of terms;

receiving representations of a selection of at least one term in the range of terms;

receiving representations of user-input text;

requesting that a database search engine perform a first search of both the user-input text and the at least one term in the range of terms;

receiving from the database search engine a preliminary search result comprising a plurality of results;

analyzing the plurality of results for shared characteristics;

automatically generating a plurality of refined parameters based on the shared characteristics, wherein the plurality of refined parameters are computer generated, and wherein the plurality of refined parameters replaces at least one of the plurality of parameters on display;

causing display of respective ranges of refined terms associated with the plurality of refined parameters based on the preliminary search result, wherein the respective ranges of refined terms comprise multiple user-selectable terms that are dynamically populated based on the generation of the plurality of refined parameters, wherein the plurality of refined parameters are displayed as a series of concentric rings, and wherein the series of concentric rings corresponds in number to the plurality of refined parameters;

requesting that the database search engine perform a second search based on the preliminary search result and at least one refined term selected from the respective ranges of refined terms; and

receiving a refined search result from the database engine.

14. The method according to claim 13, wherein receiving the refined search result comprises receiving a smaller number of matches than the preliminary search result.

15. The method according to claim 13, further comprising enabling selection of the range of refined terms from a touch screen.

16. The method according to claim 13, further comprising categorizing the range of terms by one or more types of subjects, wherein the plurality of parameters identify the subjects.

17. The method according to claim 13, further comprising causing the selected refined term to be displayed in graphical form.

18. The method according to claim 13, wherein causing display of the range of terms comprises causing display of different file formats.

19. The method according to claim 13, wherein the series of concentric rings provides for a selection of the at least one refined term.

20. The method according to claim 13, wherein the user-input text is not displayed in the range of terms.

21. The method according to claim 13, further comprising:

causing a graphic display of the plurality of refined parameters to be arranged as a plurality of horizontal bars corresponding in number to the plurality of refined parameters; and

receiving an indication that the at least one refined term has been selected via one of the plurality of horizontal bars.

22. An apparatus, comprising:

means for displaying a plurality of parameters, wherein the plurality of parameters are associated with respective ranges of search terms;

means for displaying the associated ranges of search terms;

means for receiving user-input text;

means for requesting a preliminary search for both the user-input text and at least one term selected from the associated ranges of search terms;

means for receiving a preliminary search result comprising a plurality of search results that is returned in response to the preliminary search;

means for receiving a plurality of refined parameters based on shared characteristics of the plurality of search results, wherein the plurality of refined parameters replace at least part of the displayed plurality of parameters;

means for displaying a range of refined search terms for one or more of the plurality of refined parameters, wherein the range of refined search terms comprises multiple user-selectable terms that are dynamically populated based on the plurality of refined parameters, wherein the means for receiving is further configured to display the plurality of refined parameters as a series of concentric rings, and wherein the series of concentric rings corresponds in number to the plurality of refined parameters; and

means for requesting a refined search based on both the preliminary search result and one or more terms selected from the range of refined search terms.

23. The apparatus according to claim 22, wherein the means for displaying the associated ranges of search terms is configured to display the search terms in response to a pointer passing across one of the plurality of parameters.

24. The apparatus according to claim 23, further comprising means for displaying a different range of search terms in response to the pointer passing across at least one of the plurality of parameters.

25. The apparatus according to claim 22, wherein the means for displaying a range of refined search terms is configured to display the series of concentric rings in a graphical format.

26. The apparatus according to claim 22, wherein the associated ranges of search terms comprise usage rights.

27. The apparatus according to claim 22, wherein the series of concentric rings are configured to provide for a user-selection of the one or more terms from the range of refined search terms.

28. The apparatus according to claim 22, wherein the means for displaying a plurality of parameters is configured to display the parameters in a textual form.

29. The apparatus according to claim 22, further comprising:

means for receiving a selection of the one or more terms via the series of concentric rings.

30. A tangible memory device having stored thereon computer executable instructions that, in response to execution by a computing device, cause the computing device to perform operations comprising:

causing display of a search parameter, wherein the search parameter is associated with a range of search terms;

causing display of the range of search terms as a pointer traverses across the search parameter;

receiving representations of user-input text;

requesting a preliminary search based on both the user-input text and at least one term selected from the range of search terms;

receiving a preliminary search result comprising a plurality of search results;

analyzing the plurality of search results for a shared characteristic;

identifying a refined search parameter based on the shared characteristic, wherein the refined search parameter is computer generated, and wherein the refined search parameter replaces the search parameter on display;

causing display of a range of refined search terms associated with the refined search parameter, wherein the range of refined search terms comprises multiple user-selectable terms are dynamically populated based on the generation of the refined search parameter, wherein a plurality of refined search parameters are displayed as a series of concentric rings, and wherein the series of concentric rings corresponds in number to the plurality of refined search parameters; and

requesting a refined search based on the preliminary search result and at least one refined term selected from the range of refined search terms.

31. The tangible memory device according to claim 30, wherein the range of refined search terms comprises a subset of the range of search terms.

32. The tangible memory device according to claim 30, wherein the search parameter identifies a category of subjects, and wherein the range of search terms identifies the subjects within the category.

33. The tangible memory device according to claim 30, wherein the operations further comprise requesting both the preliminary search and the refined search to be performed by a database search engine.