Customizable filter interface

• US 7,092,935 B2
• Filed: 02/21/2001
• Issued: 08/15/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 02/25/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Chamley, Cathryn Anne, Yourlo, Zhenya Alexander, Newman, Andrew Timothy Robert
• Primary Examiner(s): Corrielus, Jean
• Assistant Examiner(s): Ly, Anh
• Application Number:
  US09/788,398
• Publication Number:
  US 20010025278A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,001 Days
• Field of Search: 707 1- 10, 345/810, 345/835, 345/968, 235/380, 235/492, 705/9, 705/10, 705/26
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/2428 Query predicate definition using graphical user interfaces, including menus and forms G06F16/2423 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99932 Access augmentation or optimizing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99933 Query processing, i.e. searching
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99934 Query formulation, input preparation, or translation

Abstract

A customizable data filter system is disclosed, that is adapted to reduce the dimension of a searchable data base (100), and to enable performance of a database search and/or a data item selection, in relation to the reduced search space. The system comprises a Portable Customizable data Filter and Interface (PCFI) (204) storing at least a base data filter parameter, and able to provide a user interface by means of user selectable icons. The system also comprises a reader (210) for the PCFI (204), and database processing means (214) responsive to the data filter parameter and a user icon selection, wherein the reduced search space is defined by the filter parameter, and the database search and/or the data item selection is performed using the selectable icons.

Claims

1. A customisable data filter system adapted to reduce a dimension of, a searchable data base and to perform one or more of a database search and a data item selection, in relation to the correspondingly reduced search space, said system comprising:

a Portable Customisable data Filter and Interface (PCFM) comprising a programmable smartcard adapted to store at least a data filter parameter, and further adapted to provide a user interface comprising spatially distributed user selectable icons made visible on a surface of the smartcard;

a reader means adapted to interface with the inserted PCFI'"'"'s smartcard, the reader means having a touch screen adapted to allow user viewing and selection of said icons of the inserted smartcard, the reader being adapted to identify an icon selected by a user on the inserted smartcard in user interaction with said touch screen; and

database processing means adapted to interface with the reader means, said database processing means being adapted to (a) establish the correspondingly reduced search space dependent upon the filter parameter of the inserted smartcard, and (b) to perform one or more of the database search and the data item selection dependent upon icons selected from the inserted smartcard;

wherein said data filter parameter comprises a base filter parameter, and wherein the PCFI is adaptable to store another filter parameter which is combinable with said base filter parameter to thereby enable further reduction of the dimension of the searchable data base.

2. A customisable data filter system according to claim 1, wherein said data filter parameter is a reference to said data filter parameter.

3. A method of customising a Portable Customisable data Filter and Interface (PCFII adapted to reduce a database search space, using a Portable Customisable User Interface (PCUI), wherein the PCFI and the PCUI respectively comprise a programmable smartcard providing a user interface including spatially distributed user selectable icons made visible on a surface of the smartcard, wherein the user selectable icons are operable using a smartcard reader into which the smartcard is inserted, wherein the reader has a touch screen adapted to allow user viewing and selection of said icons of the inserted smartcard;

said method comprising steps of;

interfacing a customising system to the PCFI and the PCUI using respective said smartcard readers;

identifying in user interaction with the touch screen of the smartcard reader into which the PCUI has been inserted, an icon selected by a user on the inserted smartcard, said selected icon being associated with a corresponding user instruction; and

programming the PCFI by means of said user instruction being input to the customising system using the user interface of the PCUI.

4. A method according to claim 3, wherein said programmable smartcard of said PCUI stores a data filter, and

said programming step programs said programmable smartcard of said PCFI on the basis of the data filter.

5. A method of customising a Portable Customisable data Filter and Interface (PCFM comprising a programmable smartcard providing a user interface including spatially distributed user selectable icon made visible on a surface of the smartcard, wherein the user selectable icons are operable using a smartcard reader into which the smartcard is inserted, wherein the reader has a touch screen adapted to allow user viewing and selection of said icons of the inserted smartcard, the PCFI being adapted to reduce a database search space;

the method comprising the steps of;

interfacing a customising system to the PCFI using said smartcard reader;

identifying in user interaction with the touch screen of the smartcard reader into which the PCFI has been inserted, an icon selected by a user on the inserted smartcard, said selected icon being associated with a corresponding user instruction; and

programming the PCFI by means of said user instruction being input to the customising system using the user interface of the PCFI.

6. A method according to claim 5, further comprising the steps of:

displaying customisation interface display on a screen of the customising system on the basis of data filter stored in the PCFI; and

modifying the customisation interface display by the user selection,

wherein when the predetermined icon displayed in the customisation interface display is instructed by the user, said programming step is performed.

7. A method according to claim 6, wherein the customisation interface display includes map information, and

the database search space is reduced on the basis of the map information.

8. A Portable Customisable data Filter and Interface (PCFI) adapted to reduce a database search space, said PCFI comprising:

a programmable smartcard providing a user interface including at least one icon made visible on a surface of the smartcard, wherein the at least one icon is operable using a smartcard reader into which the smartcard is inserted, wherein the reader has a touch screen adapted to allow user viewing a selection of said at least one icon of the inserted smartcard, the reader being adapted to identify said at least one icon selected by a user on the inserted smartcard in user interaction with said touch screen;

a first data filter parameter adapted to define the reduced said search space; and

a first rule adapted to define a second data filter parameter dependent upon the first data filter parameter.

9. A PCFI according to claim 8, wherein the first data filter parameter is a reference to the first data filter parameter.

10. A PCFI according to claim 8, wherein said first rule comprises at least one of:

a boolean relationship applicable to said first data filter parameter; and

a learning function operable upon the first data filter parameter in conjunction with a baseline parameter.

11. A PCFI according to claim 10, wherein the first data filter parameter comprises first and second data filter parameters.

12. A method of reducing a dimension of a searchable data base, and performing at least one of a database search and a data item selection, in relation to a correspondingly reduced search space, said method comprising steps of:

configuring a Portable Customisable data Filter and Interface (PCFI) comprising a programmable smartcard adapted to store at least a data filter parameter, and further adapted to provide a user interface by means of spatially distributed user selectable icons made visible on a surface of the smartcard, wherein said icons are operable using a smartcard reader into which the smartcard is inserted, wherein the reader has a touch screen adapted to allow user viewing and selection of said icons of the inserted smartcard, the reader being adapted to identify an icon selected by a user on the inserted smartcard in user interaction with said touch screen;

interconnecting the PCFI to a searchable database;

selecting one or more of said user selectable icons;

defining the reduced search space dependent upon said filter parameter;

performing at least one of a database search and a data item selection, in relation to said reduced search space, dependent upon said selection, wherein said defining step comprises sub-steps of;

reading the filter parameter, being a base filter parameter, from the PCFI;

applying the base filter parameter to the searchable database thereby to define the reduced search space; and

wherein the step of performing one or more of a database search and a data item selection is followed, if further search space reduction is desired, by further step of;

reading another filter parameter from the PCFI;

combining said other filter parameter with said base filter parameter; and

applying the combined filter parameters to the reduced search space thereby to define a further reduced search space.

13. A method of reducing a dimension of a searchable database according to claim 12, whereby said data filter parameter is a reference to said data filter parameter.

14. A computer readable medium for storing a program for apparatus which reduces a dimension of a searchable data base and performs one or more of a database search and a data item selection, in relation to a correspondingly reduced search space, said program comprising:

code for a configuring step for configuring a Portable Customisable data Filter and Interface (PCFI) comprising a programmable smartcard adapted to store at least a data filter parameter, and further adapted to provide a user interface by means of spatially distributed user selectable icons made visible on a surface of the smartcard,

wherein the icons are operable using a smartcard reader into which the smartcard is inserted, wherein the reader has a touch screen adapted to allow user viewing and selection of said icons of the inserted smartcard, the reader being adapted to identify an icon selected by a user on the inserted smartcard in user interaction with said touch screen;

code for an interconnecting step for interconnecting the PCFI to a searchable database;

code for a selection step responsive to selection of one or more of said user selectable icons;

code for a defining step for defining the reduced search space dependent upon said filter parameter; and

code for a database searching step and code for a data item selection step for performing at least one of a database search and a data item selection, in relation to said reduced search space, dependent upon said selection.

15. A computer readable medium according to claim 14, wherein said data filter parameter is a reference to said data filter parameter.

16. A Portable Customisable data Filter and Interface (PCFI) adapted to reduce a database search space, the PCFI comprising:

a programmable smartcard that is operable using a smartcard reader to which the smartcard is connected, the smartcard being adapted to provide a user-interface by means of spatially distributed user selectable icons made visible on a surface of the smartcard, wherein the icons are operable using a smartcard reader into which the smartcard is inserted, wherein the reader has a touch screen adapted to allow user viewing and selection of said icons of the inserted smartcard, the reader being adapted to identify an icon selected by a user on the inserted smartcard in user interaction with said-touch screen;

a base data filter parameter stored in a memory of the smartcard;

wherein when the PCFI is coupled to a database using the reader the search space of the database is reduced to a reduced search space according to the base data filter parameter;

said PCFI further comprising;

a user interface including an icon made visible on a surface of the smartcard, wherein the icon is operable using the smartcard reader; and

a second data filter parameter associated with the icon and stored in the memory;

wherein selection of the icon associated with the second data filter parameter causes the reduced search space established by the base data filter parameter to be further reduced in accordance with to the second data filter parameter.