Search/retrieval system
DCFirst Claim
1. In an interactive data entry computer system .[.wherein.]. .Iadd.including .Iaddend.a .[.user is presented with a.]. data .[.entry.]. display screen.[., a data string.]. .Iadd.for displaying data in horizontal lines, an .Iaddend.input device, a processor, .Iadd.and .Iaddend.a storage device for storing .[.Sn .]. .Iadd.n .Iaddend.independent strings of data elements .[.each string Sk of variable length less than t.]. .Iadd.comprised of alphanumeric characters where n is a positive integer greater than one.Iaddend., each .[.string Sk having at least one data field fi and an output device, said independent strings S1 through Sn classifiable into groups, each group having strings with at least one similar filed, a data retrieval and display system comprising:
- processing means for locating each stored independent string of data;
control means for preselecting and simultaneously displaying on the data entry display screen or output device portions of a first independent string S1 of data and portions of a second independent string of data S2 said first string preselected portions having a displayed.]. .Iadd.said string Sk of .Iaddend.length .[.l1 .]. .Iadd.less than t characters where t is a positive integer, k is a positive integer less than or equal to n, each said string Sk having data fields fi where I is a positive integer less than or equal to F and F, the number of fields, is a positive integer greater than or equal to two, said independent strings S1 through Sn classified into groups, each said group having strings with at least one similar data field, a display screen comprising;
.[.less than t;
said second string preselected portions having a displayed length l2 less than or equal to l1, and said first and second strings being in the same group, whereby the user is simultaneously presented with two or more portions of different.]. .Iadd.fetching means in communication with said storage device for locating each stored independent string Sk .Iaddend.;
display means operative in a first mode for displaying said strings in a certain display area on said data .[.strings.]. .Iadd.display screen, said certain display area including a first display area of length l1 characters less than t, said first display area providing for the display of a plurality of lines, and a second display area of length l2 characters less than or equal to l1, said display means in response to an input from the input device for actuating said fetching means and said display screen for simultaneously displaying on the data display screen within said first display area portions of a plurality of fields of a first independent string S1 each in a specified position on said lines within said first display area so that portions of a plurality of said fields of said string S1 can be displayed on one line of said first display area, further wherein only one instance of each portion of a field is displayed within said certain display area in said first mode, and portions of fields of a second independent string S2 within said second display area wherein said display means removes at least one character from one of said fields of said string S1, said display means including full field display means operative in a second mode of said display means responsive to an input received from said input device for displaying all the characters of the field from which said at least one character was removed within said certain display area while maintaining the display of at least some of said portions of said string S1 displayed in said first mode and at least some of said portions of said string S2 displayed in said first mode with said displayed portions of strings S1 and S2 displayed in the same positions as displayed in said first mode whereby a user is simultaneously presented with portions of two or more different data strings.Iaddend..
2 Assignments
Litigations
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A computer program provides for the display of selected portions of two or more records on a display screen where the portions selected are from different records, and may be from different files. Provision is made for scrolling of the full text of the displayed records, which may be grouped by common subject matter.
Alternatively one of the two or more records may be displayed on the full screen with the capability for selectively switching between the single record and two or more records or a display showing portions of more than one record from more than one file.
58 Citations
37 Claims
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1. In an interactive data entry computer system .[.wherein.]. .Iadd.including .Iaddend.a .[.user is presented with a.]. data .[.entry.]. display screen.[., a data string.]. .Iadd.for displaying data in horizontal lines, an .Iaddend.input device, a processor, .Iadd.and .Iaddend.a storage device for storing .[.Sn .]. .Iadd.n .Iaddend.independent strings of data elements .[.each string Sk of variable length less than t.]. .Iadd.comprised of alphanumeric characters where n is a positive integer greater than one.Iaddend., each .[.string Sk having at least one data field fi and an output device, said independent strings S1 through Sn classifiable into groups, each group having strings with at least one similar filed, a data retrieval and display system comprising:
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processing means for locating each stored independent string of data; control means for preselecting and simultaneously displaying on the data entry display screen or output device portions of a first independent string S1 of data and portions of a second independent string of data S2 said first string preselected portions having a displayed.]. .Iadd.said string Sk of .Iaddend.length .[.l1 .]. .Iadd.less than t characters where t is a positive integer, k is a positive integer less than or equal to n, each said string Sk having data fields fi where I is a positive integer less than or equal to F and F, the number of fields, is a positive integer greater than or equal to two, said independent strings S1 through Sn classified into groups, each said group having strings with at least one similar data field, a display screen comprising; .[.less than t;
said second string preselected portions having a displayed length l2 less than or equal to l1, and said first and second strings being in the same group, whereby the user is simultaneously presented with two or more portions of different.]. .Iadd.fetching means in communication with said storage device for locating each stored independent string Sk .Iaddend.;display means operative in a first mode for displaying said strings in a certain display area on said data .[.strings.]. .Iadd.display screen, said certain display area including a first display area of length l1 characters less than t, said first display area providing for the display of a plurality of lines, and a second display area of length l2 characters less than or equal to l1, said display means in response to an input from the input device for actuating said fetching means and said display screen for simultaneously displaying on the data display screen within said first display area portions of a plurality of fields of a first independent string S1 each in a specified position on said lines within said first display area so that portions of a plurality of said fields of said string S1 can be displayed on one line of said first display area, further wherein only one instance of each portion of a field is displayed within said certain display area in said first mode, and portions of fields of a second independent string S2 within said second display area wherein said display means removes at least one character from one of said fields of said string S1, said display means including full field display means operative in a second mode of said display means responsive to an input received from said input device for displaying all the characters of the field from which said at least one character was removed within said certain display area while maintaining the display of at least some of said portions of said string S1 displayed in said first mode and at least some of said portions of said string S2 displayed in said first mode with said displayed portions of strings S1 and S2 displayed in the same positions as displayed in said first mode whereby a user is simultaneously presented with portions of two or more different data strings.Iaddend.. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 15, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37)
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16. data strings having identical data fields..].20. In an interactive data entry computer system .[.where.]. .Iadd.including a data display screen, an input device, a processor, and a storage device for storing n independent strings of data elements comprised of alphanumeric characters, where n is a positive integer greater than one, each said string Sk of length less than t characters where t is a positive integer, k is a positive integer less than or equal to n, each said string Sk having data fields fi, where I is a positive integer less than or equal to F and F, .Iaddend.the .[.user is presented with a data entry display screen, a data string input device, a processor, a storage device for storing Sn independent strings of data elements each string Sk of variable length less than t, each string Sk having at least one data field fi, and an output device, said independent strings S1 through Sn classifiable into groups, each group having strings with at least one similar field, a data retrieval and display system comprising;
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processing means for locating each stored independent string of data; first control means for preselecting and simultaneously displaying.]. .Iadd.maximum number of fields, is a positive integer greater than or equal to two, said independent strings S1 through Sn classified into groups, a display system comprising; fetching means in communication with said processor and said storage device for locating each said stored independent string Sk ; display means operative in a rack mode for displaying said strings .Iaddend.on .[.the output device portions of a first independent string S1 of data and portions of a second independent string of data S2, said first string preselected portions having a displayed length l1 less than t;
said second string preselected portions having a displayed length l2 less than or equal to l1, said first and second string from the same group; andsecond control means for alternatively only displaying preselected portions of data string S1, whereby the user is simultaneously presented with two or more portions of different data strings.]. .Iadd.said data display screen, said display means operative in said rack mode in response to an input from the input device for actuating said fetching means and for simultaneously displaying a portion of at least one preselected field of a first string S1 within a first display area within a certain display area of said display screen said certain display area having a plurality of lines, and a portion of at least one preselected field of a second string S2 within a second display area within said certain display area; said display means including means operative in said rack mode for arranging said displayed portions of said preselected fields of strings S1 and S2 in accordance with a display format; said display means operative in a first card mode in response to an input from the input device for actuating said fetching means and for only displaying expanded portions of said string S1 within said certain display area said expanded portions comprising a plurality of fields each of said fields in a specified position on said lines of said certain display area so that portions of at least two of said plurality of fields can be displayed on one line of said certain display area and further wherein only one instance of each said portion of a field is displayed within said certain display area in said first card mode, wherein said display means includes means operative in the first card mode of display for removing at least one character from at least one of said fields of said string S1 said display means further including full field display means operative in a second card mode of said display means, responsive to an input received from said input device, for displaying within said certain display area all the characters of said one of said fields from which a character was removed within said certain display area while maintaining the display of portions of other fields of said string S1 displayed in said first card mode with said displayed portions of string S1 displayed in the same positions as displayed in said first card mode of display, whereby additional characters of said string S1 not displayed in said rack mode are displayed in said first card mode, and additional characters of said string S1 not displayed in said first card mode are displayed in said second card mode; and means for switching between the card mode and rack mode of said display means without changing said display format for the rack mode - View Dependent Claims (14)
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- 26. Iaddend..Iadd. The method of claim 26 further including the steps of responding to a single command entered into the computer by a user and displaying additional portions of the first string on said display screen, and thereafter restoring the display of the prior portions of the first and second strings. .Iaddend..Iadd.59. The method of claim 26 wherein the displayed portions of said preselected fields of the first and second strings occupy a portion of the data display screen and further including the step of alternatively displaying said portions of the first string on the data display screen while suppressing the display of the second string
- 27. upon a command entered into the computer by a user. .Iaddend..Iadd.60. The method of claim 27 further including the step of expanding an area of display for a portion of a field of the first string so that the expanded area suppresses the display of another portion of the first string.
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29. in the first mode of display. .Iaddend..Iadd.68. The method according to claim 67 further wherein the expanded portions of the first string displayed in the second display mode are portions of at least three preselected fields fa, fb and fc of the first string so that some character of field fc is displayed on the same horizontal line as some character of field fb and vertically aligned with some character of field fa displayed on a different line from said some character of field fc, and including the step of removing at least one character from the first string to generate said expanded portions of said preselected fields of said first string S1. .Iaddend..Iadd.69. The method according to claim 68 further including the steps of enabling editing, within the card display area, of the first string while in the second mode, and redisplaying an edited string in the second mode. .Iaddend..Iadd.70. The method according to claim 69 wherein said rack display area and said card display area occupy the same area of the data display screen at different instances in time. .Iaddend..Iadd.71. The method of claim 66 further including the step of displaying at least portions of each of a plurality of fields of each said first second and
Specification