Apparatus and a method for facilitatingsearching

• US 20020087535A1
• Filed: 10/26/2001
• Published: 07/04/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 10/27/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Kotcheff, Aaron, Rose, Tony
• Granted Patent: US 7,165,080 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 707/5
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/338 Presentation of query results
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/58 Retrieval characterised by using metadata, e.g. metadata not derived from the content or metadata generated manually
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/78 Retrieval characterised by using metadata, e.g. metadata not derived from the content or metadata generated manually
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/951 Indexing; Web crawling techniques
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9538 Presentation of query results
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99937 Sorting
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99954 Version management

Abstract

A receiver (2b) receives from a search engine (3) search results consisting of at least one search item associated with at least one context item relating to the search item;

a modifier (2b) modifies the search results by associating at least one context item with data for enabling the user to cause the search results to be filtered in accordance with that context item by selecting that context item; and

a supplier (2b) supplies the modified search results to the user.

Claims

1. Apparatus for presenting search results to a user to facilitate refinement of the search, the apparatus comprising:

a receiver operable to receive from a search engine search results consisting of at least one search item associated with at least one context item relating to the search item;

a modifier operable to modify the search results by associating at least one context item with data for enabling the user to cause the search results to be filtered in accordance with that context item by selecting that context item; and

A supplier operable to supply the modified search results to the user.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a determiner operable to determine when a user has selected a context item, and a search controller operable to cause the search results to be filtered in accordance with the selected context item.

3. Apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the search controller comprises a filter operable to filter the search results in accordance with the selected context item.

4. Apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the search controller means comprises a search instructor operable to cause the search engine to repeat the search and a filter operable to filter the search results in accordance with the selected context item.

5. Apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the filter is arranged to filter the search results by selecting only those search items associated with the selected context item.

6. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the supplier is arranged to supply to a display display instructions for causing the modified search results to be displayed on the display.

7. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the supplier comprises a communicator operable to supply the modified search results to a user over a network.

8. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the modifier means is operable to associate a context item with a hyper ink.

9. Apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising the search engine.

10. Apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the search engine comprises a context extractor operable to extract context from search items to provide context items.

11. Apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the context extractor comprises a natural language processor operable to extract context items from text forming or associated with search items.

12. Apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a data store containing a database of search items.

13. Apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the database contains as said search items images each associated with caption data related to the image.

14. Apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a search receiver means operable to receive search instructions from a user, and a search instructor operable to instruct the search engine to carry out a search in accordance with the received search instructions.

16. Apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the processor is operable to receive search instructions from a user and to cause the search engine to carry out a search in accordance with the search instructions.

17. Apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the processor is operable to determine when a user has selected a context item and then to cause the search results to be filtered in accordance with the filter data associated with the selected context item.

18. Apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the processor is operable to filter the search results in accordance with the selected context item.

19. Apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the processor is operable to cause the search engine to repeat the search and then to filter the search results in accordance with a selected context item.

20. Apparatus according to claim 18, wherein the processor is operable to filter the search results by selecting only those search items associated with the selected context item.

15. Apparatus for presenting search results to a user, the apparatus comprising a processor operable to:

receive from a search engine search results consisting of search items associated with context items relating to the search items;

associate context items with filter data for enabling a user to cause the search results to be filtered in accordance with a particular context when the corresponding context item is selected by the user;

supply display instructions to a display to cause the search results to be displayed to the user in accordance with the context items so that each context item is shown with the search item or items associated with that context item for enabling the user to instruct filtering of the search results in accordance with the filter data associated with a context item by selecting that context item.

21. Search interface apparatus for providing an interface between a user and a search engine, which apparatus comprises:

a search screen supplier operable to cause a display to display to a user a screen requesting input of a search word or words;

a search instructor operable to cause the search engine to carry out a search through at least one database to locate database items stored in the database including or associated with text corresponding to the search word or words;

a search receiver operable to receive from the search engine search results consisting of search items each comprising or related to a database item and each associated with at least one context item derived from the text included in or associated with the database item;

an associater operable to associate context items with filter instructions;

a search results supplier operable to cause the display to display the search results to the user such that each context item is associated with the search items including or associated with that context data;

a filter instruction determiner operable to determine filter instructions associated with a context item when that context item is selected by a user;

a search filter operable to cause the search results to be filtered in accordance with the filter instructions determined by the filter instruction determiner to produce modified search results; and

a modified search results supplier operable to cause the modified search results to be displayed on the display such that each search item in the modified search results is associated with any corresponding context item or items.

22. Apparatus according to claim 21, wherein the search screen supplier is arranged to cause the search input search screen to enable a user to select whether the search results are to be displayed in a context mode or a search result mode and, when the search result mode is selected, the search results supplier is arranged to supply the search results without the context items.

24. Apparatus according to claim 23, wherein the processor is programmed to cause the search input search screen to enable a user to select whether the search results are to be displayed in a context mode or a search result mode and, when the search result mode is selected, to supply the search results without the context items.

25. Apparatus according to claim 23, wherein the processor is operable to communicate with the user'"'"'s computer over a network and to provide the filter data in network address data.

26. Apparatus according to claim 23, wherein the processor is operable to communicate with the user'"'"'s computer over a network and to provide the filter data as hyperlink data.

27. Apparatus according to claim 23, wherein the processor is operable to communicate with the user'"'"'s computer over the Internet and to cause the user'"'"'s computer to incorporate the search word or words and any filter data in a URL defining the address of the apparatus.

28. Apparatus according to claim 25, wherein the processor is operable to communicate with the user'"'"'s computer using HTML and to instruct the search engine by generating an XML document incorporating the search word or words provided by the user.

29. Apparatus according to claim 23, wherein the processor is operable to instruct the search engine to conduct a search through a database of images each associated with a caption providing the data for the corresponding context item or items and to cause the search results to be presented to the user as thumbnail representations of the corresponding images.

23. Search interface apparatus for providing an interface between a user'"'"'s computer and a search engine, which apparatus comprises a processor programmed by processor implementable instructions to:

cause a display to display to a user a screen requesting input of a search word or words;

instruct the search engine to carry out a search through at least one database to locate database items stored in the database including or associated with text corresponding to the search word or words;

receive from the search engine search results consisting of search items each comprising or related to a database item and each associated with at least one context item derived from the text included in or associated with the database item;

associate a context item with filter data when at least one image associated with that context item is associated with at least one other context item;

provide the search results to the user'"'"'s computer such that each context item is associated with any corresponding filter data;

cause the display to display the search results to the user so that each context item and the search item or items associated with that context item can be displayed in association with one another;

determine the filter data associated with a context item when that context item is selected by a user;

cause the search results to be filtered in accordance with the determined filter data to produce modified search results including only those search items associated with the selected context item; and

cause the modified search results to be displayed on the display such that each search item in the modified search results is associated with any corresponding context item or items and the context item or items are associated with any corresponding filter data.

30. In a processing apparatus, a method of presenting search results to a user to facilitate refinement of the search, the method comprising the steps of:

receiving from a search engine search results consisting of at least one search item associated with at least one context item relating to the search item;

modifying the search results by associating at least one context item with data for enabling the user to cause the search results to be filtered in accordance with that context item by selecting that context item; and

supplying the modified search results to the user.

31. A method according to claim 30, further comprising the steps of determining when a user has selected a context item, and filtering the search results in accordance with the selected context item.

32. A method according to claim 31, wherein the filtering step comprises filtering the search results in accordance with the selected context item.

33. A method according to claim 31, which comprises carrying out the filtering step by causing the search engine to repeat the search and filtering the search results in accordance with the selected context item.

34. A method according to claim 32, wherein the filtering step filters the search results by selecting only those search items associated with the selected context item.

35. A method according to claim 30, wherein the supplying step supplies to a display display instructions for causing the modified search results to be displayed on the display.

36. A method according to claim 30, wherein the supplying step comprises supplying the modified search results to a user over a network.

37. A method according to claim 30, wherein the modifying step associates a context item with a hyperlink.

38. A method according to claim 30, further comprising the step of conducting the search using the search engine.

39. A method according to claim 38, wherein the search conducting step includes a context extracting step of extracting context from information comprising or associated with search items to provide context items.

40. A method according to claim 39, wherein the context extracting step comprises using natural language processing means to extract context items from text information forming or associated with search items.

41. A method according to claim 30, further comprising the steps of receiving search instructions from a user and instructing the search engine to carry out a search in accordance with the received search instructions.

57. A signal comprising processor instructions for causing a processor to carry out a method in accordance with claim 30.

58. A storage medium carrying processor instructions for causing a processor to carry out a method in accordance with claim 30.

42. In a computer processing apparatus, a method of presenting search results to a user, the method comprising the steps of:

receiving from a search engine search results consisting of search items associated with context items relating to the search items;

associating context items with filter data for enabling a user to cause the search results to be filtered in accordance with a particular context when the corresponding context item is selected by the user;

providing a signal for supplying display instructions to a display to cause the search results to be displayed to the user in accordance with the context items so that each context item is shown with the search item or items associated with that context item for enabling the user to instruct filtering of the search results in accordance with the filter data associated with a context item by selecting that context item.

43. A method according to claim 42, further comprising the steps of receiving search instructions from a user and causing the search engine to carry out a search in accordance with the search instructions.

44. A method according to claim 42, comprising the steps of determining when a user has selected a context item and causing the search results to be filtered in accordance with the filter data associated with the selected context item.

45. A method according to claim 44, comprising the step of filtering the search results in accordance with the selected context item.

46. A method according to claim 44, comprising the steps of causing the search engine to repeat the search and then filtering the search results in accordance with a selected context item.

47. A method according to claim 45, comprising carrying out the filtering step by selecting only those search items associated with the selected context item.

49. A method according to claim 48, wherein the step of causing the display to display the search screen causes a search screen to be displayed that enables a user to select whether the search results are to be displayed in a context mode or a search results mode and wherein, when the search results mode is selected, the search results are displayed without the context items.

59. A storage medium carrying processor instructions for causing a processor to carry out a method in accordance with claim 42.

60. A storage medium carrying processor instructions for causing a processor to carry out a method in accordance with claim 48.

48. In a computer processing apparatus, a method of providing an interface between a user and a search engine the method comprising the steps of:

causing a display to display to a user a screen requesting input of a search word or words;

causing the search engine to carry out a search through at least one database to locate database items stored in the database including or associated with text corresponding to the search word or words;

receiving from the search engine search results consisting of search items each comprising or related to a database item and each associated with at least one context item derived from the text included in or associated with the database item;

associating context items with filter instructions;

cause the display to display the search results to the user such that each context item is associated with the search item or items including or associated with that context item;

determining filter instructions associated with a context item when that context item is selected by a user;

filtering the search results in accordance with the determined filter instructions to provide modified search results including only search items including or associated with the selected context item; and

providing a signal for causing the modified search results to be displayed on the display such that each search item in the modified search data is associated with any corresponding context item or items.

50. A method of operating a processor to provide an interface between a user'"'"'s computer and a search engine, which method comprises causing the processor to carry out the steps of:

causing a display to display to a user a screen requesting input of a search word or word;

instructing the search engine to carry out a search through at least one database to locate database items stored in the database including or associated with text corresponding to the search word or words input by the user;

receiving from the search engine search results consisting of search items each comprising or related to a database item and each associated with at least one context item derived from the text included in or associated with the database item;

associating a context item with filter data when at least one image associated with that context item is associated with at least one other context item;

providing the search results to the user'"'"'s computer such that each context item is associated with any corresponding filter data;

causing the display to display the search results to the user so that each context item and the search items associated with that context item can be displayed in association with one another;

determining the filter data associated with a context item when that context item is selected by a user;

causing the search results to be filtered in accordance with the determined filter data to produce modified search results including only those search items associated with the selected context item; and

providing a signal for causing the modified search results to be displayed on the display such that each search item in the modified search data is associated with any corresponding context item or items.

51. A method according to claim 50, which comprises causing the display to display a search input search screen to enable a user to select whether the search results are to be displayed in a context mode or a search results mode and, when the search results mode is selected, causing the display to display the search results without the context items.

52. A method according to claim 50, which comprises communicating with the user'"'"'s computer over a network and providing the filter data in network address data.

53. A method according to claim 50, which comprises communicating with the user'"'"'s computer over a network and providing the filter data as hyperlink data.

54. A method according to claim 50, which comprises communicating with the user'"'"'s computer over the Internet and causing the user'"'"'s computer to incorporate the search word or words and any filter data in a URL defining the Internet address of the computer processing apparatus.

55. A method according to claim 52, which comprises communicating with the user'"'"'s computer using HTML and instructing the search engine by generating an XML document incorporating the search word or words provided by the user.

56. A method according to claims 50, which comprises, in response to a search request comprising a search word or words input by a user, instructing the search engine to conduct a search through a database of images each associated with a caption providing the data for the corresponding context item or items and causing the search results to be presented to the user as thumbnail representations of the corresponding images.

61. A storage medium carrying processor instructions for causing a processor to carry out a method in accordance with claim 50.

62. Apparatus for presenting search results to a user to facilitate refinement of the search, the apparatus comprising:

receiving means for receiving from a search engine search results consisting of at least one search item associated with at least one context item relating to the search item;

modifying means for modifying the search results by associating at least one context item with data for enabling the user to cause the search results to be filtered in accordance with that context item by selecting that context item; and

supplying means for supplying the modified search results to the user.

63. Search interface apparatus for providing an interface between a user and a search engine, which apparatus comprises:

search screen supply means for causing a display to display to a user a screen requesting input of a search word or words;

search instructing means for causing the search engine to carry out a search through at least one database to locate database items stored in the database including or associated with text corresponding to the search word or words;

search receiving means for receiving from the search engine search results consisting of search items each comprising or related to a database item and each associated with at least one context item derived from the text included in or associated with the database item;

associating means for associating context items with filter instructions;

search results supply means for causing the display to display the search results to the user such that each context item is associated with the search items including or associated with that context data;

filter instruction determining means for determining filter instructions associated with a context item when that context item is selected by a user;

search filtering means for causing the search results to be filtered in accordance with the filter instructions determined by the filter instruction determining means to produce modified search results; and

modified search results supplying means for causing the modified search results to be displayed on the display such that each search item in the modified search results is associated with any corresponding context item or items.