System, method, and user interface for organizing and searching information

• US 8,019,749 B2
• Filed: 04/30/2009
• Issued: 09/13/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 03/17/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Zetta Research and Development LLC - FORC Series
• Original Assignee: Roy Leban
• Inventors: Leban, Roy
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, CAM LINH T
• Application Number:
  US12/433,596
• Publication Number:
  US 20100082634A1
• Time in Patent Office: 866 Days
• Field of Search: 707705-709, 707/713, 707722-725, 707732-734
• US Class Current: 707/713
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9038 Presentation of query results

Abstract

A computer-implemented system, method, and user interface for searching and organizing information, particularly large information sets such as those found on the Internet and World Wide Web. Information is organized and searched according to content, and this organization is reflected directly in the user interface provided to users for searching as well as the search results they are shown.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method of providing web search results, the method comprising:

receiving, by a search server, a search request from a client device, said search request comprising at least one search term;

determining, by said search server, a multiplicity of search results according to said search request;

categorizing, by said search server, said multiplicity of search results into at least a first categorical subset and a second categorical subset, said first categorical subset grouping together a first plurality of search results characterized according to a first category, said second categorical subset grouping together a second plurality of search results characterized according to a second category;

determining an intersection subset comprising an intersection plurality of search results that are included in both of said first and said second categorical subsets;

providing, by said search server for display on said client device, a first results user interface comprising;

said first categorical subset of search results, arranged into a first visually distinct group;

said second categorical subset of search results, arranged into a second visually distinct group; and

said intersection subset of search results, arranged into a third visually distinct group;

said results user interface further including a plurality of controls for respectively specifying at least an interesting one of said first categorical subset, said second categorical subset, and said intersection subset;

receiving, by said search server, an indication from said client device to drill down into an indicated one of said first categorical subset, said second categorical subset, and said intersection subset; and

in response to receiving said indication, providing, by said search server for display on said client device, a second results user interface comprising at least some search results of said indicated subset;

wherein receiving said search request comprises;

receiving a partial search term from said client device; and

prior to receiving a completion search term to complete said partial search term;

predicting a first set of relevant categories associated with said partial search term;

providing said first set of relevant categories for display on said client device;

receiving a modification to said partial search term from said client device;

predicting a second set of relevant categories associated with said modified partial search term, said second set of relevant categories differing from said first set of relevant categories; and

providing said second set of relevant categories for display on said client device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said first category comprises a first date range of at least one day, and wherein said first plurality of search results are grouped together in said first categorical subset according to said first date range.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein said second category comprises a conceptual category associated with a concept, and wherein said second plurality of search results are grouped together in said second categorical subset according to said concept.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising categorizing said multiplicity of search results into a third categorical subset, said third categorical subset grouping together a third plurality of search results characterized according to a third category, said third categorical subset having no intersection with either of said first and second categorical subsets.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said first results user interface further comprises a control for requesting a third plurality of search results selected from said multiplicity of search results, said third plurality of search results being selected to be more like at least one of said first category and said second category.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein said first results user interface further comprises a control for requesting a third plurality of search results selected from said multiplicity of search results, said third plurality of search results being selected to be less like at least one of said first category and said second category.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein said first category is associated with a geographical area, and wherein said first plurality of search results are grouped together in said first categorical subset according to said geographical area.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising determining a local geographical location associated with said search request from said client device.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein said first results user interface further comprises at least one of a second and a third control for respectively requesting a second and a third plurality of search results selected from said multiplicity of search results, said second plurality of search results being selected to be more relevant to said local geographical location, said third plurality of search results being selected to be less relevant to said local geographical location.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining a synonymic set of search terms equivalent to said at least one search term.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein determining said multiplicity of search results comprises searching an index according to said at least one search term and each of said synonymic set of search terms.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein said synonymic set of search terms includes at least one of a group consisting of:

a misspelling of said at least one search term, and an alternate spelling of said at least one search term.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising identifying a concept associated with said at least one search term, and wherein determining said multiplicity of search results comprises searching an index according to said concept.

14. The method of claim 1, further comprising identifying a concept associated with said at least one search term, and wherein determining said multiplicity of search results comprises searching an index according to said concept rather than according to said at least one search term.

15. The method of claim 1, further comprising separating said at least one search term into a conceptual portion and a literal keyword portion, and wherein determining said multiplicity of search results comprises concept-searching an index for search results conceptually related to said conceptual portion, and keyword-searching said index for search results including said literal keyword portion.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein:

said first visually distinct group comprises a first regular boundary, depicted in said first results user interface, and within which at least some of said first plurality of search results are displayed;

said second visually distinct group of said first results user interface comprises a second regular boundary, depicted partially overlapping said first regular boundary in said first results user interface, and within which at least some of said second plurality of search results are displayed; and

said third visually distinct group comprises a partially overlapping portion of said first and said second regular boundaries, within which at least some of said intersection plurality of search results are displayed.

17. A server apparatus including a processor and a memory storing instructions that, when executed by the processor, configure the server apparatus to perform the method of claim 1.

18. A non-transient computer-readable storage medium having stored thereon instructions that, when executed by a processor, configure the processor to perform the method of claim 1.