MULTIPLE PARAMETER DATA MEDIA SEARCH IN A DISTRIBUTED NETWORK

• US 20080228717A1
• Filed: 03/13/2007
• Published: 09/18/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 03/13/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Xylon LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: Intellectual Ventures Holding 32 LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Inventors: Merritt, Edward, Fein, Gene S.
• Granted Patent: US 7,849,096 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 707/3
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/2425 Iterative querying; Query formulation based on the results of a preceding query
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/2428 Query predicate definition using graphical user interfaces, including menus and forms G06F16/2423 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/248 Presentation of query results

Abstract

Disclosed is a method and system directed to a management of distributed database data and file access and retrieval by providing multiple parameter data media search. Conventional model generate search results based upon the text entered into the search box by the user. Unfortunately, the existing conventional models have certain limitations in use, distribution, and deployment. The present invention relates to the creation of multi-parameter search tools that allow for searched materials to be quantified by numerous logical searching parameters. An example embodiment (i) provides a plurality of parameters, each of the plurality of parameters having a respective range of terms; (ii) displays the plurality of parameters; (iii) displays the respective ranges of terms; (iv) solicits from the user at least one search selection from the displayed ranges of terms; (v) performs a search from the at least one search selection; and (vi) returns a search result to the user.

Claims

1. A computer system directed to a management of distributed database data and file access and retrieval by providing multiple parameter data media search, the system comprising:

a plurality of parameters, each of the plurality of parameters being associated with a respective range of terms;

a first display unit configured to display the plurality of parameters;

a second display unit configured to display the respective ranges of terms;

a search engine configured to perform a search based on soliciting from a user at least one search selection from the respective ranges of terms for a parameter; and

an output module rendering results of the search to the user.

2. The computer system according to claim 1 further including:

an interface configured to supplement the plurality of parameters with a plurality of refined parameters in response to the at least one search selection, each of the plurality of refined parameters associating with a respective range of refined terms;

the first display unit configured to display the plurality of refined parameters;

the second display unit configured to display the respective ranges of refined terms;

the search engine configured to perform a refined search based on soliciting from the user another search selection from the respective ranges of refined terms; and

the output module rendering results of the refined search to the user including rendering a summary of the search results and a summary of the refined search results.

3. The computer system according to claim 2 wherein the first and second display units are further configured to display the respective ranges of terms and refined terms as the user traverses a pointer across each of the parameters and refined parameters.

4. The computer system according to claim 3 wherein the pointer is a cursor.

5. The computer system according to claim 2 wherein the summary of the search results and the summary of the refined search results each indicate a number of match results.

6. The computer system according to claim 2 wherein the plurality of parameters and the plurality of refined parameters are displayed in a graphical format.

7. The computer system according to claim 2 wherein the plurality of parameters and the plurality of refined parameters include numeric ranges, file formats, usage rights, or other parameters.

8. The computer system according to claim 2 wherein the plurality of parameters and the plurality of refined parameters are being displayed in a horizontal bar, circle, concentric ring, or any other graphical representations that are capable of displaying a range of data.

9. The computer system according to claim 2 wherein the plurality of parameters and the plurality of refined parameters are in a textual, alphanumeric, or graphical form.

10. The computer system according to claim 2 wherein the respective ranges of terms and respective ranges of refined terms are categorized by subjects.

11. The computer system according to claim 10 wherein the subjects include any of time, biological species, geographical locations, shapes, things, moods, people, traits, sounds, colleges, celebrities, vacations, matchmaking, sports, videos, communities, music, films, and recipes.

12. The computer system according to claim 1 wherein the first and second display units are on a touch screen.

13. The computer system according to claim 2 further including a search bar configured to receive the at least one search selection and the another search selection inputted from the user.

14. The computer system according to claim 1 wherein the first display unit and the second display unit are the same display unit.

15. A computer implemented method directed to a management of distributed database data and file access and retrieval by providing multiple parameter data media search, the method comprising:

providing a plurality of parameters, each of the plurality of parameters associated with a respective range of terms;

displaying the plurality of parameters;

displaying the respective ranges of terms;

soliciting from a user at least one search selection from the displayed respective ranges of terms;

performing a search from the at least one search selection; and

returning a search result to the user.

16. The computer implemented method according to claim 15 further including:

providing a plurality of refined parameters in response to the at least one search selection, each of the plurality of refined parameters having a respective range of refined terms;

displaying the plurality of refined parameters;

displaying the respective ranges of refined terms;

soliciting from the user another search selection from the respective ranges of refined terms;

performing a refined search based on the another search selection;

returning a refined search result to the user; and

displaying a summary of the search result and the refined search result, the summary including indication of a number of matches in each search result.

17. The computer implemented method according to claim 16 wherein displaying the respective ranges of terms and refined terms as the user traverses a pointer across each of the plurality of parameters and refined parameters.

18. The computer implemented method according to claim 16 further including inputting the at least one search selection and the another search selection by the user into a search bar.

19. The computer implemented according to claim 16 wherein displaying the plurality of parameters and refined parameters is in a graphical format.

20. The computer implemented method according to claim 16 wherein soliciting from the user the at least one search selection and the another search selection includes pressing a touch screen by the user to choose one or more of the terms from the respective ranges of terms and respective ranges of refined terms.

21. The computer implemented method according to claim 16 wherein the respective ranges of terms and respective ranges of refined terms are categorized by subjects.

22. The computer implemented method according to claim 21 wherein the subjects include time, species, geographical locations, shapes, things, moods, people, traits, sounds, colleges, celebrities, vacations, matchmaking, sports, videos, communities, music, films, and recipes.

23. The computer implemented method according to claim 16 wherein the respective ranges of terms and respective ranges of refined terms are in a textual, alphanumeric, or graphical form.

24. The computer implemented method according to claim 16 wherein the plurality of parameters and plurality of refined parameters include numeric ranges, file formats, usage rights, or other parameters.

25. The computer implemented method according to claim 16 wherein displaying the plurality of parameters and plurality of refined parameters are in a horizontal bar, circle, concentric ring, or any other graphical representations that are capable of displaying a range of data.

26. A computer apparatus, comprising:

means for providing a plurality of parameters, each of the plurality of parameters associated with a respective range of terms;

means for displaying the plurality of parameters;

means for displaying the respective associated ranges of terms;

means for soliciting from a user at least one search selection from the displayed respective ranges of terms;

means for performing at least one search from the at least one search selection;

means for returning a search result to the user;

means for optionally replacing the plurality of parameters with a plurality of refined parameters in response to the at least one search selection, each of the refined parameters associated with a respective range of refined terms;

means for displaying the plurality of refined parameters;

means for displaying the respective ranges of refined terms;

means for soliciting from the user another search selection from the respective ranges of refined terms;

means for performing a refined search based on the another search selection;

means for returning a refined search result to the user;

means for inputting the at least one search selection and the another search selection by the user into a search bar; and

means for displaying a summary of the search result and the refined search result, the summary indicates a number of matches in each search result.

27. The apparatus according to claim 26 wherein the means for displaying the respective ranges of terms and the respective ranges of refined terms is in response to the user traverses a pointer across each of the plurality of parameters and the plurality of refined parameters.

28. The apparatus according to claim 26 wherein the plurality of parameters and the plurality of refined parameters are displayed in a graphical format.

29. The apparatus according to claim 26 wherein the plurality of parameters and the plurality of refined parameters include numeric ranges, file formats, usage rights, or other parameters.

30. The apparatus according to claim 26 wherein the plurality of parameters and the plurality of refined parameters are displayed in a horizontal bar, circle, concentric ring, or any other graphical representations that are capable of displaying a range of data.

31. The apparatus according to claim 26 wherein the plurality of parameters and the plurality of refined parameters are in a textual, alphanumeric, or graphical form.

32. The apparatus according to claim 26 wherein the respective ranges of terms and the respective ranges of refined terms are categorized by subjects.

33. The apparatus according to claim 32 wherein the subjects include time, species, geographical locations, shapes, things, moods, people, traits, sounds, colleges, celebrities, vacations, matchmaking, sports, videos, communities, music, films, and recipes.

34. A computer program product directed to a management of distributed database data and file access and retrieval by providing multiple parameter data media search, comprising:

a computer useable medium having a computer readable program, wherein the computer readable program when executed on a digital processor causes the processor to;

provide a plurality of parameters, each of the plurality of parameters being associated with a respective range of terms;

display the plurality of parameters;

display the respective ranges of terms as a user traverses a pointer across each of the plurality of parameters;

solicit from the user at least one search selection from the displayed respective ranges of terms;

perform at least one search from the at least one search selection; and

return a search result to the user.

35. The computer program product of claim 34, wherein the computer useable medium is any of a CD-ROM, floppy disk, tape, flash memory, system memory, and hard drive.