System and method for dynamically and interactively searching media data

• US 8,364,673 B2
• Filed: 12/15/2010
• Issued: 01/29/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 06/17/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Trustees Of Columbia University In The City Of New York (Columbia University)
• Original Assignee: Trustees Of Columbia University In The City Of New York (Columbia University)
• Inventors: Chang, Shih-Fu, Zavesky, Eric
• Primary Examiner(s): Le, Uyen T.
• Application Number:
  US12/969,101
• Publication Number:
  US 20110145232A1
• Time in Patent Office: 776 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 707/728
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/532 Query formulation, e.g. graphical querying
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/54 Browsing; Visualisation therefor
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9032 Query formulation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/904 Browsing; Visualisation therefor for navigating the web G06F16/954; browsing optimisation for the web G06F16/957

Abstract

Systems and methods for searching a database of media content wherein the user can dynamically and interactively perform searches and navigate search results. One or more search anchors are received, and at least one of the search anchors is associated with an anchor cell on a navigation map. One or more documents assigned to at least one cell on the navigation map can be determined, and the cells are populated with search results based at least in part on the search anchors. At least one of the documents is then displayed to a user.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for dynamically and interactively searching a media database, comprising:

(a) receiving one or more search anchors;

(b) associating, using a processor, at least one of said one or more search anchors with at least one anchor cell on a navigation map;

(c) populating at least one cell on the navigation map with one or more documents based at least in part on said associated search anchors wherein said populating comprises

(i) computing, using one or more processors, a concept relevance weight for said at least one cell on said navigation map, said concept relevance weight being based at least in part on said associated search anchors; and

(ii) populating said at least one cell with one or more documents from a database according to said concept relevance weight; and

(d) outputting at least one of said documents assigned to said at least one cell on the navigation map.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein said outputting comprises displaying said at least one of said documents assigned to a selected cell on a display.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein said outputting comprises transmitting said at least one of said documents to a second computing device.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein said populating comprises:

(a) populating said at least one cell with a first set of one or more documents according to a first concept relevance weight;

(b) receiving an indication that at least one of said associated search anchors have been altered;

(c) computing a second concept relevance weight for said at least one cell based on said altered search anchors; and

(d) re-populating said at least one cell with a second set of one or more documents according to said second concept relevance weight only if a cumulative weight change of said at least one cell exceeds a pre-determined stability threshold.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein said receiving comprises:

(a) receiving a text query;

(b) outputting a plurality of concepts based on said text query; and

(c) receiving a selection of a concept from said plurality of concepts.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein said computing comprises:

(a) positioning said associated search anchors on said navigation map; and

(b) computing said concept relevance weight for said at least one cell on said navigation map based at least in part on the position of said associated search anchors on said navigation map.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein said populating comprises:

(a) computing a total relevance score for each of a plurality of documents according to said concept relevance weight and a document relevance score;

(b) prioritizing a pre-determined number of said plurality of documents for said at least one cell;

(c) identifying a remainder group of documents comprising a subsection of said plurality of documents not included in said pre-determined number of prioritized documents; and

(d) populating said cell with an ordered plurality of documents, wherein said pre-determined number of prioritized documents are followed by said remainder group of documents.

8. A non-transitory computer-readable medium, encoded with a computer program that includes computer executable instructions for dynamically and interactively searching a media database, which when executed causes a processor to:

(a) receive one or more search anchors;

(b) associate at least one of said one or more search anchors with anchor cells on a navigation map;

(c) populate at least one cell on the navigation map with one or more documents based at least in part on said associated search anchors; and

(d) output at least one of said documents assigned to at least one cell on the navigation map,

wherein the computer program further causes the processor to store said at least one cell in memory as a super-anchor.

9. A computer-implemented method, for dynamically and interactively searching a media database, comprising:

(a) receiving one or more search anchors;

(b) associating, using a processor, at least one of said one or more search anchors with at least one anchor cell on a navigation map;

(c) populating at least one cell on the navigation map with one or more documents based at least in part on said associated search anchors;

(d) outputting at least one of said documents assigned to said at least one cell on the navigation map; and

(e) storing a selected cell in memory as a super-anchor.

10. A computer-implemented method, for dynamically and interactively searching a media database, comprising:

(a) receiving one or more search anchors;

(b) associating, using a processor, at least one of said one or more search anchors with at least one anchor cell on a navigation map;

(c) populating at least one cell on the navigation map with one or more documents based at least in part on said associated search anchors; and

(d) transmitting said at least one of said documents to a second computing device, wherein said at least one of said documents is transmitted for each cell on said navigation map according to a cell priority list.

11. A system for dynamically and interactively searching a media database, comprising:

(a) an interface for receiving one or more search anchors;

(b) one or more processors, coupled to said interface, for associating at least one of said one or more search anchors with at least one anchor cell on a navigation map and for populating at least one cell with one or more documents based at least in part on said associated search anchors; and

(c) a display, coupled to said one or more processors, for displaying at least one of said documents assigned to said at least one cell on the navigation map,

wherein said one or more processors are configured to compute a concept relevance weight for said at least one cell based at least in part on said associated search anchors and populate said at least one cell with said one or more documents from a database according to said concept relevance weight.

12. The system of claim 11 wherein said interface is configured to receive a search trigger and a selected cell, and wherein said display is configured to display said at least one of said documents assigned to said selected cell.

13. The system of claim 11 wherein said interface is configured to receive a text query and receive a selection of a concept from a plurality of concepts, and said display is configured to display said plurality of concepts based on said text query.

14. The system of claim 11, wherein said one or more processors are configured to position said associated search anchors on said navigation map and compute said concept relevance weight for said at least one cell based at least in part on the position of said associated search anchors on said navigation map.

15. The system of claim 11 wherein said one or more processors are configured to compute a total relevance score for each of a plurality of documents according to said concept relevance weight and a document relevance score, prioritize a pre-determined number of said plurality of documents for said at least one cell, identify a remainder group of documents comprising a subsection of said plurality of documents not included in said pre-determined number of prioritized documents, and populate said at least one cell with an ordered plurality of documents, wherein said pre-determined number of prioritized documents are followed by said remainder group of documents.

16. A system of for dynamically and interactively searching a media database, comprising:

(a) an interface for receiving one or more search anchors;

(b) one or more processors, coupled to said interface, for associating at least one of said one or more search anchors with at least one anchor cell on a navigation map and for populating at least one cell with one or more documents based at least in part on said associated search anchors;

(c) a display, coupled to said one or more processors, for displaying at least one of said documents assigned to said at least one cell on the navigation map; and

(d) a memory device for storing said at least one cell as a super-anchor.

17. A non-transitory computer-readable medium encoded with a computer program that includes computer executable instructions for dynamically and interactively searching a media database, which when executed causes a processor to:

(a) receive one or more search anchors;

(b) associate at least one of said one or more search anchors with anchor cells on a navigation map;

(c) populate at least one cell on the navigation map with one or more documents based at least in part on said associated search anchors, comprising;

(i) compute a concept relevance weight for said at least one cell on said navigation map, said concept relevance weight being based at least in part on said associated search anchors; and

(ii) populate said at least one cell with one or more documents from a database according to said concept relevance weight; and

(d) output at least one of said documents assigned to at least one cell on the navigation map.

18. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 17, wherein the computer program causes the processor to:

(e) receive a search trigger;

(f) receive a selected cell; and

(g) output said at least one of said documents assigned to said selected cell.

19. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 17, wherein the computer program causes the processor to display said at least one of said documents assigned to a selected cell on a display screen.

20. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 17, wherein the computer program causes the processor to transmit said at least one of said documents to a second computing device.

21. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 17, wherein the computer program causes the processor to:

(g) compute a total relevance score for each of a plurality of documents according to said concept relevance weight and a document relevance score;

(h) prioritize a pre-determined number of said plurality of documents for said at least one cell;

(i) identify a remainder group of documents comprising a subsection of said plurality of documents not included in said pre-determined number of prioritized documents; and

(j) populate said at least one cell with an ordered plurality of documents, wherein said pre-determined number of prioritized documents are followed by said remainder group of documents.

22. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 17, wherein the computer program causes the processor to:

(e) receive a text query;

(f) output a plurality of concepts based on said text query; and

(g) receive a selection of a concept from said plurality of concepts.

23. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 17, wherein the computer program causes the processor to:

(g) position said associated search anchors on said navigation map; and

(h) compute said concept relevance weight for said at least one cell on said navigation map based at least in part on the position of said associated search anchors on said navigation map.