Multi-dimensional hierarchical browsing
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method for accessing information using multiple hierarchies, comprising:
- displaying a branching structure for a first hierarchy and a second hierarchy in a user interface by expanding the branching structure for the first hierarchy and the branching structure for the second hierarchy, wherein the branching structures for the first hierarchy and the second hierarchy comprise separate bread crumb trails that each represent a path to a given location through other locations in the corresponding hierarchy;
receiving, from a user, a specifier for a first location in the first hierarchy and a specifier for a second location in the second hierarchy;
retrieving information, if such information exists, from an intersection between the first location in the first hierarchy and the second location in the second hierarchy;
using browsing histories for users that have browsed the hierarchy to determine a set of the users that have each browsed to at least one of the first location and the second location, wherein the set of the users comprises at least one of the users that is different from the user;
determining a ranking for the information by using rankings from the set of the users, wherein determining the ranking comprises using a given ranking in the rankings, wherein the given ranking corresponds to a given user in the set of the users that has browsed to a browsed location, and wherein the given ranking is determined based on at least one of an indication whether or not the given user saved the browsed location and an indication whether or not the browsed location was an endpoint of a browsing session for the given user; and
presenting the retrieved information to the user in a rank order based on the ranking.
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Abstract
Some embodiments of the present invention provide a system that accesses information using multiple hierarchies. During operation, the system receives a specifier for a first location in a first hierarchy and a specifier for a second location in a second hierarchy. Next, the system retrieves information, if such information exists, from an intersection between the first location in the first hierarchy and the second location in the second hierarchy. Finally, the system presents the retrieved information to a user.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method for accessing information using multiple hierarchies, comprising:
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displaying a branching structure for a first hierarchy and a second hierarchy in a user interface by expanding the branching structure for the first hierarchy and the branching structure for the second hierarchy, wherein the branching structures for the first hierarchy and the second hierarchy comprise separate bread crumb trails that each represent a path to a given location through other locations in the corresponding hierarchy; receiving, from a user, a specifier for a first location in the first hierarchy and a specifier for a second location in the second hierarchy; retrieving information, if such information exists, from an intersection between the first location in the first hierarchy and the second location in the second hierarchy; using browsing histories for users that have browsed the hierarchy to determine a set of the users that have each browsed to at least one of the first location and the second location, wherein the set of the users comprises at least one of the users that is different from the user; determining a ranking for the information by using rankings from the set of the users, wherein determining the ranking comprises using a given ranking in the rankings, wherein the given ranking corresponds to a given user in the set of the users that has browsed to a browsed location, and wherein the given ranking is determined based on at least one of an indication whether or not the given user saved the browsed location and an indication whether or not the browsed location was an endpoint of a browsing session for the given user; and presenting the retrieved information to the user in a rank order based on the ranking. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method for accessing information, comprising:
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presenting a user interface to a user, wherein presenting the user interface comprises displaying a branching structure for a first hierarchy and a second hierarchy in a user interface by expanding the branching structure for the first hierarchy and the branching structure for the second hierarchy, and wherein the user interface includes a two-way bread crumb trail which presents a path to a location through higher-level locations in a hierarchy, and also presents one or more lower-level locations, which branch from the location; navigating to the higher-level location when the user selects the higher-level location on the path; navigating to a lower-level location when the user selects the lower-level location which branches from the location; receiving, from a user, a specifier for a first location in the first hierarchy and a specifier for a second location in the second hierarchy; retrieving information, if such information exists, from an intersection between the first location in the first hierarchy and the second location in the second hierarchy; using browsing histories for users that have browsed the hierarchy to determine a set of the users that have each browsed to at least one of the first location and the second location, wherein the set of the users comprises at least one of the users that is different from the user; determining a ranking for the information by using rankings from the set of the users, wherein determining the ranking comprises using a given ranking in the rankings, wherein the given ranking corresponds to a given user in the set of the users that has browsed to a browsed location, and wherein the given ranking is determined based on at least one of an indication whether or not the given user saved the browsed location and an indication whether or not the browsed location was an endpoint of a browsing session for the given user; and
,presenting the retrieved information to the user in a rank order based on the ranking.
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12. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing instructions that when executed by a computer cause the computer to perform a method for accessing information using multiple hierarchies, the method comprising:
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displaying a branching structure for a first hierarchy and a second hierarchy in a user interface by expanding the branching structure for the first hierarchy and the branching structure for the second hierarchy, wherein the branching structures for the first hierarchy and the second hierarchy comprise separate bread crumb trails that each represent a path to a given location through other locations in the corresponding hierarchy; receiving, from a user, a specifier for a first location in the first hierarchy and a specifier for a second location in the second hierarchy; retrieving information, if such information exists, from an intersection between the first location in the first hierarchy and the second location in the second hierarchy; using browsing histories for users that have browsed the hierarchy to determine a set of the users that have each browsed to at least one of the first location and the second location, wherein the set of the users comprises at least one of the users that is different from the user; determining a ranking for the information by using rankings from the set of the users, wherein determining the ranking comprises using a given ranking in the rankings, wherein the given ranking corresponds to a given user in the set of the users that has browsed to a browsed location, and wherein the given ranking is determined based on at least one of an indication whether or not the given user saved the browsed location and an indication whether or not the browsed location was an endpoint of a browsing session for the given user; and
,presenting the retrieved information to the user in a rank order based on the ranking. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15)
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16. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing instructions that when executed by a computer cause the computer to perform a method for accessing information, the method comprising:
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presenting a user interface to a user, wherein presenting the user interface comprises displaying a branching structure for a first hierarchy and a second hierarchy in a user interface by expanding the branching structure for the first hierarchy and the branching structure for the second hierarchy, and wherein the user interface includes a two-way bread crumb trail which presents a path to a location through higher-level locations in a hierarchy, and also presents one or more lower-level locations, which branch from the location; navigating to the higher-level location when the user selects the higher-level location on the path; navigating to a lower-level location when the user selects the lower-level location which branches from the location; receiving, from a user, a specifier for a first location in the first hierarchy and a specifier for a second location in the second hierarchy; retrieving information, if such information exists, from an intersection between the first location in the first hierarchy and the second location in the second hierarchy; using browsing histories for users that have browsed the hierarchy to determine a set of the users that have each browsed to at least one of the first location and the second location, wherein the set of the users comprises at least one of the users that is different from the user; determining a ranking for the information by using rankings from the set of the users, wherein determining the ranking comprises using a given ranking in the rankings, wherein the given ranking corresponds to a given user in the set of the users that has browsed to a browsed location, and wherein the given ranking is determined based on at least one of an indication whether or not the given user saved the browsed location and an indication whether or not the browsed location was an endpoint of a browsing session for the given user; and
,presenting the retrieved information to the user in a rank order based on the ranking.
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17. An apparatus that facilitates accessing information using multiple hierarchies, comprising:
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a processor; a user interface configured to, display a branching structure for a first hierarchy and a second hierarchy by expanding the branching structure for the first hierarchy and the branching structure for the second hierarchy in different dimensions, wherein the branching structures for the first hierarchy and the second hierarchy comprise separate bread crumb trails that each represent a path to a given location through other locations in the corresponding hierarchy; receive, from a user, a specifier for a first location in the first and a specifier for a second location in the second hierarchy; and a retrieval mechanism configured to; retrieve information, if such information exists, from an intersection between the first location in the first hierarchy and the second location in the second hierarchy; use browsing histories for users that have browsed the hierarchy to determine a set of the users that have each browsed to at least one of the first location and the second location, wherein the set of the users comprises at least one of the users that is different from the user; and determine a ranking for the information by using rankings from the set of the users, wherein determining the ranking comprises using a given ranking in the rankings, wherein the given ranking corresponds to a given user in the set of the users that has browsed to a browsed location, and wherein the given ranking is determined based on at least one of an indication whether or not the given user saved the browsed location and an indication whether or not the browsed location was an endpoint of a browsing session for the given user; wherein the user interface is configured to present the retrieved information to the user in a rank order based on the ranking. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19)
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20. An apparatus that facilitates accessing information, comprising:
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a processor; a user interface, wherein the user interface comprises a branching structure for a first hierarchy and a second hierarchy in a user interface by expanding the branching structure for the first hierarchy and the branching structure for the second hierarchy; a two-way bread crumb trail within the user interface that presents a path to a location through higher-level locations in a hierarchy, and also presents one or more lower-level locations, which branch from the location; wherein the two-way bread crumb trail includes a navigation mechanism which is configured to; navigate to the higher-level location when the user selects the higher-level location on the path; and navigate to a lower-level location when the user selects the lower-level location which branches from the location; and wherein the apparatus is further comprises a mechanism configured to; receive, from a user, a specifier for a first location in the first hierarchy and a specifier for a second location in the second hierarchy; retrieve information, if such information exists, from an intersection between the first location in the first hierarchy and the second location in the second hierarchy; use browsing histories for users that have browsed the hierarchy to determine a set of the users that have each browsed to at least one of the first location and the second location, wherein the set of the users comprises at least one of the users that is different from the user; and determine a ranking for the information by using rankings from the set of the users, wherein determining the ranking comprises using a given ranking in the rankings, wherein the given ranking corresponds to a given user in the set of the users that has browsed to a browsed location, and wherein the given ranking is determined based on at least one of an indication whether or not the given user saved the browsed location and an indication whether or not the browsed location was an endpoint of a browsing session for the given user; and wherein the user interface is configured to present the retrieved information to the user in a rank order based on the ranking.
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Specification