Computer-implemented method, system, apparatus for generating user's insight selection by showing an indication of popularity, displaying one or more materialized insight associated with specified item class within the database that potentially match the search

• US 7,243,099 B2
• Filed: 12/23/2003
• Issued: 07/10/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 12/23/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: ProClarity Corp. (Microsoft Corporation)
• Inventors: Lokken, Robert C.
• Primary Examiner(s): CHANNAVAJJALA, SRIRAMA T
• Application Number:
  US10/744,270
• Publication Number:
  US 20050138043A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,295 Days
• Field of Search: 707 1- 6, 707/10, 707/100, 707102-103 R, 707/200, 715/501.1, 715/513, 715/526, 715/968, 705 1- 3, 705/10, 705 26- 27, 705/14, 705/80, 706 45- 50, 706/21
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99933 Query processing, i.e. searching
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99935 Query augmenting and refining, e.g. inexact access
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99943 Generating database or data structure, e.g. via user interface
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 715/968 interface for database querying and retrieval

Abstract

A database access component provides access to a database comprising a plurality of searchable items, one or more of the items being registered with one or more item classes, each item class being associated with at least one insight pertaining to items registered to that item class. An item matching component receives a user-specified search term and item class. In response, the item matching component lists one or more items of the specified item class within the database having names that potentially match the search term. An insight selection component automatically reveals one or more insights associated with the specified item class, after which the insight selection component receives a user selection of a listed item and one or more of the revealed insights. An insight materialization component then materializes the one or more selected insights using the selected item.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for generating and displaying insights, the method comprising:

registering one or more searchable items in a database with one or more item classes, wherein each item class is associated with at least one insight pertaining to items registered to that item class, wherein the insight includes at least one from a set of;

customized reports, views, and analyses;

receiving a user-specified search term and a user-specified item class, wherein the item class is associated with one or more searchable items in the database, the searchable items having names that potentially match the search term;

listing one or more items of the specified item class within the database having names that potentially match the search term;

in response to receiving the item class, automatically revealing one or more insights associated with the specified item class;

compiling statistics concerning which of the one or more insights were historically selected for the specified item class;

guiding a user'"'"'s insight selection by showing an indication of popularity for at least one displayed insight based on prior selections of insights associated with the specified item class;

obtaining a user selection of a listed item and one or more of the revealed insights;

materializing the one or more selected insights using the selected item by generating at least one of a parameterized view, a parameterized report, and a parameterized analysis using the selected item as a parameter; and

displaying the one or more materialized insight associated with the specified item class.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising allowing the user to select at least one different insight within a same screen in which the selected insight is materialized.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein generating comprises constructing a parameterized uniform resource locator (URL) comprising identifiers of the selected insight and the selected item.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein showing an indication of popularity comprises ordering a listing of two or more insights according to popularity.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein showing an indication of popularity comprises pre-selecting the most popular insight.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein showing an indication of popularity comprises showing a numerical or symbolic popularity indicator for at least one insight.

7. A computer-implemented method for generating and displaying insights, the method comprising:

accessing a database comprising a plurality of searchable items, one or more of the items being registered with one or more item classes, each item class being associated with at least one insight pertaining to items registered to that item class, wherein the item class is associated with one or more searchable items in the database, the searchable items having names that potentially match the search term;

receiving a user-specified search term;

listing one or more items within the database having names that potentially match the search term;

receiving a user selection of a listed item;

identifying an item class associated with the selected item, wherein identifying comprises receiving a user selection of the item class;

in response to identifying the item class, automatically revealing one or more insights associated with the identified item class, wherein the insight includes at least one from a set of;

customized reports, views, and analyses;

compiling statistics concerning which of the one or more insights were historically selected for the specified item class;

guiding a user'"'"'s insight selection by showing an indication of popularity for at least one displayed insight based on prior selections of insights associated with the specified item class;

obtaining a user selection of one or more of the revealed insights;

materializing the one or more selected insights using the selected item by generating at least one of a parameterized view, a parameterized report, and a parameterized analysis using the selected item as a parameter; and

displaying the one or more materialized insight associated with the specified item class.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein listing comprises:

grouping each of the listed items according to item class; and

displaying an indication of an item class in conjunction with each corresponding group of items.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein showing an indication of popularity comprises ordering a listing of two or more insights according to popularity.

10. The method of claim 7, wherein showing an indication of popularity comprises pre-selecting the most popular insight.

11. The method of claim 7, wherein showing an indication of popularity comprises showing a numerical or symbolic popularity indicator for at least one insight.

12. A system for generating and displaying insights, the system comprising:

a processor that includes;

a database access component to provide access to a database comprising a plurality of searchable items, one or more of the items being registered with one or more item classes, each item class being associated with at least one insight pertaining to items registered to that item class, wherein the item class is associated with one or more searchable items in the database, the searchable items having names that potentially match the search term and wherein the insight includes at least one from a set of;

customized reports, views, and analyses;

an item matching component to receive a user-specified search term and item class and to list one or more items of the specified item class within the database having names that potentially match the search term;

an insight guidance component to compile statistics concerning which of the one or more insights were selected for the specified item class and to guide a user'"'"'s selection of an insight by showing an indication of popularity for at least one displayed insight based on prior selections of insights associated with the specified item class;

an insight selection component to automatically reveal one or more insights associated with the specified item class in response to the item matching component receiving the user-specified item class and to receive a user selection of a listed item and one or more of the revealed insights;

an insight materialization component to materialize the one or more selected insights using the selected item by generating at least one of a parameterized view, a parameterized report, and a parameterized analysis using the selected item as a parameter; and

a presentation component to display the one or more materialized insight associated with the specified item class.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the insight materialization component is to allow the user to select at least one different insight within a same screen in which the selected insight is materialized.

14. The system of claim 12, wherein the insight materialization component is to construct a parameterized uniform resource locator (URL) comprising identifiers of the selected insight and the selected item.

15. The system of claim 12, wherein the insight guidance component is to show an indication of popularity by ordering a listing of two or more insights according to popularity.

16. The system of claim 12, wherein the insight guidance component is to show an indication of popularity by pre-selecting the most popular insight.

17. The system of claim 12, wherein the insight guidance component is to show an indication of popularity by showing a numerical or symbolic popularity indicator for at least one insight.

18. A system for generating and displaying insights, the system comprising:

a processor that includes;

a database access component to access a database comprising a plurality of searchable items, one or more of the items being registered with one or more item classes, each item class being associated with at least one insight pertaining to items registered to that item class, wherein the item class is associated with one or more searchable items in the database, the searchable items having names that potentially match the search term and wherein the insight includes at least one from a set of;

customized reports, views, and analyses;

an item matching component to receive a user-specified search term and to list one or more items within the database having names that potentially match the search term;

an insight guidance component to compile statistics concerning which of the one or more insights were selected for the specified item class and to guide a user'"'"'s selection of an insight by showing an indication of popularity for at least one displayed insight based on prior selections of insights associated with the specified item class;

an insight selection component to receive a user selection of a listed item, identify an item class associated with the selected item, automatically reveal one or more insights associated with the identified item class in response to identifying the item class, and receive a user selection of one or more of the revealed insights, wherein the insight selection component is configured to identify the item class by receiving a user selection of the item class;

an insight materialization component to materialize the one or more selected insights using the selected item by generating at least one of a parameterized view, a parameterized report, and a parameterized analysis using the selected item as a parameter; and

a presentation component to display the one or more materialized insight associated with the specified item class.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the item matching component is to group each of the listed items according to item class and display an indication of an item class in conjunction with each corresponding group of items.

20. The system of claim 18, wherein the insight guidance component is to show an indication of popularity by ordering a listing of two or more insights according to popularity.

21. The system of claim 18, wherein the insight guidance component is to show an indication of popularity by pre-selecting the most popular insight.

22. The system of claim 18, wherein the insight guidance component is to show an indication of popularity by showing a numerical or symbolic popularity indicator for at least one insight.

23. A computer-readable medium having stored therein program instructions for generating and displaying insights, the instructions comprising:

registering one or more searchable items in a database with one or more item classes, wherein each item class is associated with at least one insight pertaining to items registered to that item class, wherein the insight includes at least one from a set of;

customized reports, views, and analyses;

receiving a user-specified search term and item class, wherein the item class is associated with one or more searchable items in the database, the searchable items having names that potentially match the search term;

listing one or more items of the specified item class within the database having names that potentially match the search term;

automatically revealing one or more insights associated with the specified item class in response to receiving the item class;

compiling statistics concerning which of the one or more insights were historically selected for the specified item class;

guiding a user'"'"'s insight selection by showing an indication of popularity for at least one displayed insight based on prior selections of insights associated with the specified item class;

obtaining a user selection of a listed item and one or more of the revealed insights;

materializing the one or more selected insights using the selected item by generating at least one of a parameterized view, a parameterized report, and a parameterized analysis using the selected item as a parameter; and

displaying the one or more materialized insight associated with the specified item class.

24. The computer-readable medium of claim 23, the instructions further comprising allowing the user to select at least one different insight within a same screen in which the selected insight is materialized.

25. The computer-readable medium of claim 23, the instructions further comprising constructing a parameterized uniform resource locator (URL) comprising identifiers of the selected insight and the selected item.

26. The computer-readable medium of claim 23, the instructions further comprising guiding a user'"'"'s insight selection comprise program instructions for ordering a listing of two or more insights according to popularity.

27. The computer-readable medium of claim 23, the instructions further comprising guiding a user'"'"'s insight selection comprise program instructions for pre-selecting the most popular insight.

28. The computer-readable medium of claim 23, the instructions further comprising guiding a user'"'"'s insight selection comprise program instructions for showing a numerical or symbolic popularity indicator for at least one insight.

29. A computer-readable medium having stored therein program instructions for generating and displaying insights, the program instructions comprising:

accessing a database comprising a plurality of searchable items, one or more of the items being registered with one or more item classes, each item class being associated with at least one insight pertaining to items registered to that item class;

receiving a user-specified search term, wherein the item class is associated with one or more searchable items in the database, the searchable items having names that potentially match the search term;

listing one or more items within the database having names that potentially match the search term;

receiving a user selection of a listed item;

identifying an item class associated with the selected item, wherein identifying comprises receiving a user selection of the item class;

automatically revealing one or more insights associated with the identified item class in response to identifying the item class, wherein the insights include at least one from a set of;

customized reports, views, and analyses;

compiling statistics concerning which of the one or more insights were historically selected for the specified item class;

guiding a user'"'"'s insight selection by showing an indication of popularity for at least one displayed insight based on prior selections of insights associated with the specified item class;

obtaining a user selection of one or more of the revealed insights;

materializing the one or more selected insights using the selected item by generating at least one of a parameterized view, a parameterized report, and a parameterized analysis using the selected item as a parameter; and

displaying the one or more materialized insight associated with the specified item class.

30. The computer-readable medium of claim 29, wherein the program instructions further comprise:

grouping each of the listed items according to item class; and

displaying an indication of an item class in conjunction with each corresponding group of items.

31. The computer-readable medium of claim 29, the instructions further comprising ordering a listing of two or more insights according to popularity.

32. The computer-readable medium of claim 29, the instructions further comprising pre-selecting the most popular insight.

33. The computer-readable medium of claim 29, the instructions further comprising showing a numerical or symbolic popularity indicator for at least one insight.

34. An apparatus for generating and displaying insights, the apparatus comprising:

means for accessing a database comprising a plurality of searchable items, one or more of the items being registered with one or more item classes, each item class being associated with at least one insight pertaining to items registered to that item class, wherein the item class is associated with one or more searchable items in the database, the searchable items having names that potentially match the search term;

means for receiving a user-specified search term;

means for listing one or more items within the database having names that potentially match the search term;

means for receiving a user selection of a listed item;

means for identifying an item class associated with the selected item, wherein identifying comprises receiving a user selection of the item class;

means for automatically revealing one or more insights associated with the identified item class, in response to identifying the item class, wherein the insight includes at least one from a set of;

customized reports, views, and analyses;

means for compiling statistics concerning which of the one or more insights were historically selected for the specified item class;

means for guiding a user'"'"'s insight selection by showing an indication of popularity for at least one displayed insight based on prior selections of insights associated with the specified item class;

means for obtaining a user selection of one or more of the revealed insights;

means for materializing the one or more selected insights using the selected item by generating at least one of a parameterized view, a parameterized report, and a parameterized analysis using the selected item as a parameter; and

means for displaying the one or more materialized insight associated with the specified item class.

35. A computer-readable medium having stored therein code segments for generating and displaying insights, comprising:

a code segment for causing a computer to access a database comprising a plurality of searchable items, one or more of the items being registered with one or more item classes, each item class being associated with at least one insight pertaining to items registered to that item class;

a code segment for causing a computer to receive a user-specified search term, wherein the item class is associated with one or more searchable items in the database, the searchable items having names that potentially match the search term;

a code segment for causing a computer to list one or more items within the database having names that potentially match the search term;

a code segment for causing a computer to receive a user selection of a listed item;

a code segment for causing a computer to identify an item class associated with the selected item, wherein identifying comprises receiving a user selection of the item class;

a code segment for causing a computer to automatically reveal one or more insights associated with the identified item class in response to the computer identifying the item class, wherein the insights include at least one from a set of;

customized reports, views, and analyses;

a code segment for compiling statistics concerning which of the one or more insights were historically selected for the specified item class;

a code segment for causing a computer to guide a user'"'"'s insight selection by showing an indication of popularity for at least one displayed insight based on prior selections of insights associated with the specified item class;

a code segment for causing a computer to obtain a user selection of one or more of the revealed insights;

a code segment for causing a computer to materialize the one or more selected insights using the selected item by generating at least one of a parameterized view, a parameterized report, and a parameterized analysis using the selected item as a parameter; and

a code segment for causing a computer to display the one or more materialized insight associated with the specified item class.