Graphical user interface for building Boolean queries and viewing search results

• US 8,543,936 B2
• Filed: 05/14/2009
• Issued: 09/24/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 07/05/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Data Access Incorporated, Kendyl A. Roman
• Original Assignee: Data Access Incorporated, Kendyl A. Roman
• Inventors: Neale, Richard S., Hart, Loren L., Rose, Charlton D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Pham, Linh K
• Application Number:
  US12/454,324
• Publication Number:
  US 20090228481A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,594 Days
• Field of Search: 715/716, 715/721, 715734-736, 715762-763, 715/853, 707/706, 707/763, 707/799, 707/829
• US Class Current: 715/780
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/332 Query formulation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99933 Query processing, i.e. searching
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99934 Query formulation, input preparation, or translation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99935 Query augmenting and refining, e.g. inexact access
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 715/967 Visual or iconic programming

Abstract

Graphical user interfaces and method for building Boolean queries and viewing search results using search cells, combination cells, toolbar, and menu bar. Search cells are movable within a workspace and contain a text field, facet type designation, advanced button, and hit count. Categories are chosen using a category walker. Combination cells, a Boolean combination of two or more selected search cells, are also movable and contain a combine icon, hit count, and an expression field. The Boolean query is depicted in a folder tree hierarchy, where search folders are shown within combination folders, which are represented as logical AND, OR, or MINUS folder icons. An applet in a browser accesses a server through the Internet.

Claims

1. A computing device for building Boolean queries and viewing search results in a computing system, the computing device comprising:

a processor; and

a memory storing computer executable instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to implement a graphical user interface including;

a) a window defined to have a workspace;

b) a first button programmed with instructions for inserting search cells into the workspace using a folder tree hierarchy upon selection of the first button, each search cell configured to display a search by type icon, a text field, and a hit count;

c) a second button programmed with instructions for inserting combination cells into the workspace using the folder tree hierarchy upon selection of the second button, each combination cell configured to display a combine icon, wherein the combine icon is selected from a group including a logical AND icon, a logical OR icon and a logical MINUS icon,

wherein, after at least two search cells are inserted into the workspace, the second button is selected;

d) a user selection device programmed with instructions for selecting and moving search cells and combination cells within the folder tree hierarchy and for selecting and deleting search cells and combination cells from the workspace; and

e) at least one tab defined within the workspace for displaying search results of search cells and combination cells in the workspace.

2. The computing device for building Boolean queries and viewing search results as in claim 1, wherein:

a) an applet running on a client computer controls insertion, selection, movement, and deletion of the search cells and the combination cells; and

b) a server computer executes queries received over an internet connection from the client computer and delivers search results back to the client computer over the internet.

3. The computing device for building Boolean queries and viewing search results as in claim 2 wherein the client computer is local and the server computer is remote.

4. The computing device for building Boolean queries and viewing search results as in claim 1, wherein content of the text field is configured to be selected using a category walker.

5. The computing device for building Boolean queries and viewing search results as in claim 1, wherein information displayed in the tab includes a title, a media type, and a location for each search result.

6. The computing device for building Boolean queries and viewing search results as in claim 5, wherein the location is a URL address.

7. The computing device for building Boolean queries and viewing search results as in claim 1, wherein search parameters displayed in the workspace are treated as a session.

8. The computing device for building Boolean queries and viewing search results as in claim 7, wherein a user has ability to save, open and close the session.

9. The computing device for building Boolean queries and viewing search results as in claim 1, wherein the search results are treated as a collection.

10. The computing device for building Boolean queries and viewing search results as in claim 9, wherein a user has ability to save, open and close the collection.

11. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having computer-executable program instructions for implementing a graphical user interface for building Boolean queries and viewing search results including:

a) a window defined to have a workspace;

b) a first button programmed with instructions for inserting search cells into the workspace using a folder tree hierarchy upon selection of the first button, each search cell configured to display a search by type icon, a text field, and a hit count;

c) a second button programmed with instructions for inserting combination cells into the workspace using the folder tree hierarchy upon selection of the second button, each combination cell configured to display a combine icon, wherein the combine icon is selected from a group including a logical AND icon, a logical OR icon and a logical MINUS icon,

wherein, after at least two search cells are inserted into the workspace, the second button is selected;

d) a user selection device programmed with instructions for selecting and moving search cells and combination cells within the folder tree hierarchy and for selecting and deleting search cells and combination cells from the workspace; and

e) at least one tab defined within the workspace for displaying search results of search cells and combination cells in the workspace.

12. A method for building a Boolean query and viewing the query results using a graphical user interface as part of a computing system, comprising the steps of:

displaying a window on a display device, the window configured to include a workspace;

receiving a first button input causing insertion of one or more search cells into the workspace using a folder tree hierarchy, each search cell configured to include a search-by-type icon, a text field, and a hit count field;

after at least two search cells are inserted into the workspace using the folder tree hierarchy, receiving a second button input causing insertion of one or more combination cells into the workspace, each combination cell configured to display a combine icon, wherein the combine icon is selected from a group including a logical AND icon, a logical OR icon and a logical MINUS icon;

receiving input in the text field of each search cell specifying search terms;

receiving input causing the search terms in each cell to be executed;

displaying search results for each cell in a new tab in the workspace, and updating the hit count field for each cell.

13. The method for building Boolean queries and viewing search results using a graphical user interface as in claim 12, further comprising:

a) running an applet on a client to control insertion, selection, movement, and deletion of the search cells and the combination cells; and

b) executing queries on a server, said queries received over an internet connection from the client, and said server delivering search results back to the client over the internet connection.

14. The method for building Boolean queries and viewing search results using a graphical user interface as in claim 13, wherein the client is local and the server is remote.

15. The method for building Boolean queries and viewing search results using a graphical user interface as in claim 12, further comprising receiving a selection of content for the text field using a category walker.

16. The method for building Boolean queries and viewing search results using a graphical user interface as in claim 12 further comprising the step of displaying each search result, including a title, a media type, and a location.

17. The method for building Boolean queries and viewing search results using a graphical user interface as in claim 16 wherein the location is a URL address.

18. The method for building Boolean queries and viewing search results using a graphical user interface as in claim 12, wherein search parameters displayed in the workspace are treated as a session.

19. The method for building Boolean queries and viewing search results using a graphical user interface as in claim 12 wherein the search results are treated as a collection.

20. The method for building Boolean queries and viewing search results using a graphical user interface as in claim 19, further comprising receiving user input specifying an operation to save, open or close the collection.

21. The method of claim 12, further comprising a step of selecting and moving search cells and combination cells within the folder tree hierarchy.

22. The method of claim 12, further comprising a step of selecting and deleting search cells and combination cells from the workspace.