Apparatus and methods for locating data

• US 7,496,559 B2
• Filed: 09/03/2003
• Issued: 02/24/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 09/03/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: X1 Discovery, Inc.
• Original Assignee: X1 Technologies Incorporated
• Inventors: Colwell, Steven Lee, Gross, William
• Primary Examiner(s): Wong, Don
• Assistant Examiner(s): Ho, Binh V
• Application Number:
  US10/654,595
• Publication Number:
  US 20040143569A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,001 Days
• Field of Search: 707/3
• 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: G06F 16/332 Query formulation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/338 Presentation of query results
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/107 Computer-aided management of electronic mailing [e-mailing]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99933 Query processing, i.e. searching
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99934 Query formulation, input preparation, or translation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99935 Query augmenting and refining, e.g. inexact access
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99936 Pattern matching access
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99939 Privileged access
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99952 Coherency, e.g. same view to multiple users
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99953 Recoverability

Abstract

The present invention provides for quick and efficient searches. In one embodiment, a search system, comprises an email search interface having at least a first email-specific attribute search field, a file search interface having at least a first file-specific attribute search field, a Web history search interface having at least a first Web-specific attribute search field, and an apparatus configured to perform incremental searching as the user enters characters into one or more attribute search fields.

Claims

1. A search apparatus comprising:

a single search interface configured for display on a display device, the single search interface comprising a plurality of user selectable search mode interfaces, including at least;

an email search mode interface having email-specific attribute search fields including at least a date field, a from field, and a sender field;

a file search mode interface having file-specific attribute search fields including at least a file name field, a file type field, a date field, a file size field, and a path field;

a favorites search mode interface used to search Web pages designated by a user as a favorite Web page;

a Web history search mode interface having a date field, a title field, a size field, and a search term field;

an email attachment search mode interface having a name field, a date field, a size field, and an extension field;

wherein each of the email search mode interface, the file search mode interface, the favorites search mode interface, the Web history search mode interface, and the email attachment search mode interface further comprises a list pane, used to display a list of search result items, and a view pane, used to display the contents of a selected search result item;

an index module configured to generate;

an email index;

a file index;

a Web page index;

one or more memories configured to store the email index, the file index and the Web page index; and

a search module configured to perform incremental searching of at least one of the email index, the file index, and the Web page index in response to the user entering characters into at least one search mode interface field.

2. The search apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein the email index comprises email attributes including, sender information, addressee information, date information, folder path information, client information, cc information, and bcc information.

3. The search apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein the file index includes file attributes including file name information, file type information, date information, file size information, and path information.

4. The search apparatus as defined in claim 1, further comprising an auto-hide control bar including a plurality of search mode interface tabs that displayed in response to a user moving a cursor to a first area.

5. The search apparatus as defined in claim 1, further comprising the email index, the file index, and the Web page index.

6. The search apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein the email search mode interface, the file search mode interface, the favorites search mode interface, and the Web history search mode interface are selectable using tabs displayed at the same time.

7. The search apparatus as defined in claim 1, further comprising an Internet search interface configured to access a search engine separated from the search apparatus by a network.

8. The search apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein the favorites search mode interface comprises:

an address field configured to accept an address from a user; and

a control used to add the address to a favorites set of addresses.

9. The search apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein the favorites search mode interface comprises:

a first navigation control configured to navigate to a previously viewed favorites Web page; and

a second navigation control configured to navigate to a next favorites Web page.

10. A search apparatus, comprising:

a single search interface configured for display on a display device, the single search interface comprising a plurality of user selectable search mode interfaces having attribute fields, including at least;

an email search mode interface having email-specific attribute search fields including at least a date field, a from field, and a sender field;

an email attachment search mode interface including one or more of a name field, a date field, a size field, and an extension field;

a file search mode interface having file-specific attribute search fields including one or more of a file name field, a file type field, a date field, a file size field, and a path field;

a Web history search mode interface having Web page-specific attribute search fields, including one or more of a date field, a title field, a size field, and a search term field;

an email attachment search mode interface having email attachment-specific attribute search fields including one or more of a name field, a date field, a size field, and an extension field;

a favorites search mode interface used to search Web pages designated by a user as favorite Web pages;

an index module configured to generate at least a first index, including one or more indexes of email, files, and Web pages;

one or more memories configured to store the first index, including one or more indexes of emails, files, and Web pages; and

a search module configured to perform incremental searching of the first index as the user enters characters into at least a first attribute search field.

11. The search apparatus as defined in claim 10, further comprising data columns corresponding to the attribute fields.

12. The search apparatus as defined in claim 10, further comprising data columns corresponding to the attribute fields, wherein the widths of the data columns can be adjusted by a user.

13. The search apparatus as defined in claim 10, further comprising data columns corresponding to the attribute fields, wherein data displayed in the data columns are sorted in response to a user command.

14. The search apparatus as defined in claim 10, wherein the first index includes information corresponding to:

the email specific attribute search fields;

the file-specific attribute search fields;

the Web page-specific attribute search fields; and

the email attachment-specific attribute search fields.

15. The search apparatus as defined in claim 10, wherein the email search mode interface, the file search mode interface, the Web page search mode interface, and the email search mode interface each further comprise a list area used to display a list of search result items, and a view area used to display the contents of a selected search result item.

16. The search apparatus as defined in claim 10, wherein the email search mode interface further comprises a search field used to search across a plurality of the attribute fields.

17. The search apparatus as defined in claim 10, wherein the email-specific attribute search fields include at least:

a date field;

a from field; and

a sender field.

18. The search apparatus as defined in claim 10, wherein the file-specific attribute search fields includes at least:

a file name field;

a file type field;

a date field;

a file size field; and

a path field.

19. The search apparatus as defined in claim 10, wherein the Web history attribute search fields include:

a date field;

a title field;

a size field; and

a search term field.

20. The search apparatus as defined in claim 10, wherein the email attachment-specific attribute search fields include:

a name field;

a date field;

a size field;

a Multipurpose Internet Mail Extensions tag field; and

an extension field.

21. The search apparatus as defined in claim 10, wherein the at least first index includes at least:

an email index;

a file index; and

a Web page index.

22. The search apparatus as defined in claim 10, wherein the email search mode interface, the file search mode interface, the Web history search mode interface, and the email attachment search mode interface are selectable using corresponding tabs presented to the user at the same time.

23. The search apparatus as defined in claim 10, wherein the email search mode interface, the file search mode interface, the Web history search mode interface, and the email attachment search mode interface are provided by the same application.

24. The search apparatus as defined in claim 10, wherein the search module is configured to treat at least a first search string as a prefix.

25. The search apparatus as defined in claim 10, further comprising a networked remote search application configured to search the Internet.

26. A computerized search system, comprising:

at least one processor configured to generate for display;

a single search interface configured for display on a display device, the single search interface comprising at least;

an email search interface having at least a first email-specific attribute search field selected from the group comprising a date field, a from field, and a sender field; and

a file search interface having at least a first file-specific attribute search field selected from the group comprising a file name field, a file type field, a date field, a file size field, and a path field;

a Web history search interface having Web page-specific attribute search fields, including one or more of a date field, a title field, a size field, and a search term field;

an email attachment search interface having email attachment-specific attribute search fields including one or more of a name field, a date field, a size field, and an extension field;

a favorites search interface used to search Web pages designated by a user as favorite Web pages;

at least one index comprising data regarding emails and files;

one or more memories configured to store the at least one index; and

an apparatus configured to access the at least one index in order to perform incremental searching of the emails and files as the user enters characters into at least one of the email-specific search fields and the file-specific search fields, wherein the processor executes the apparatus.

27. The computerized search system as defined in claim 26, further comprising a Web history search interface having at least a first Web-specific attribute search field.

28. The computerized search system as defined in claim 26, further comprising an index apparatus configured to incrementally generate at least a first index including email, file, and Web page entries.

29. The computerized search system as defined in claim 26, further comprising an index apparatus configured to generate at least a first index, the first index including at least an attribute data file, an occurrence file, and a deletions file.

30. The computerized search system as defined in claim 26, further comprising an index apparatus configured to incrementally generate an index include a fixed index stored in non-volatile memory and an index stored in volatile memory.

31. The computerized search system as defined in claim 26, further comprising an index apparatus configured to merge a plurality of indexes.

32. The computerized search system as defined in claim 26, wherein the email search interface and the file search interface are separately displayed.

33. The computerized search system as defined in claim 26, further comprising columns corresponding to the attribute fields, wherein the attribute fields are positioned at the top portion of the columns.

34. The computerized search system as defined in claim 26, further comprising an email attachment search interface having email attachment specific attribute fields.

35. The computerized search system as defined in claim 26, wherein the email search interface further comprises a search field used to search across a plurality of the attribute fields.

36. The computerized search system as defined in claim 26, wherein the file search interface further comprises a search field used to search across a plurality of the attribute fields.

37. The computerized search system as defined in claim 26, wherein the email-specific attribute search fields include at least:

a date field;

a from field; and

a sender field.

38. The computerized search system as defined in claim 26, wherein the file-specific attribute search fields includes at least:

a file name field,

a file type field;

a date field;

a file size field; and

a path field.

39. The computerized search system as defined in claim 26, further comprising a Web history search interface having Web history attribute search fields including:

a date field;

a title field;

a size field; and

a search term field.

40. The computerized search system as defined in claim 26, further comprising an email attachment search interface having email attachment-specific attribute search fields including:

a name field;

a date field;

a size field;

a Multipurpose Internet Mail Extensions tag field; and

an extension field.

41. The computerized search system as defined in claim 26, further comprising an index including information corresponding to:

the email-specific attribute search fields;

the file-specific attribute search fields; and

the Web-specific attribute search fields.

42. The computerized search system as defined in claim 26, further comprising an index including at least:

an email index;

a file index; and

a Web page index.

43. The computerized search system as defined in claim 26, wherein the email search interface and the file search interface are selectable using corresponding tabs presented to the user at the same time.

44. The computerized search system as defined in claim 26, wherein the email search interface, the file search interface, and a Web history search interface are provided by the same application.

45. The computerized search system as defined in claim 26, further comprising:

a first user control with which the user can selectively specify that indexing is to be performed while a computer hosting the search system is idle;

a second user control with which the user can selectively specify that indexing is to be immediately performed; and

a third user control with which the user can selectively specify that indexing is to be performed at a selected time of day.

46. The computerized search system as defined in claim 26, further comprising a first user control configured to clear a first search field entry in response to a single user action.

47. The computerized search system as defined in claim 26, wherein the user can specify what email application the search system is to operate in conjunction with.

48. The computerized search system as defined in claim 26, wherein the search system is downloadable from a web site.

49. The computerized search system as defined in claim 26, wherein the search system is stored on computer readable media.

50. A computerized search system, comprising:

a single search interface configured for display on a display device, the single search interface comprising at least an email search interface, an email attachment search interface, a Web history search interface, a favorites search interface, and a file search interface, wherein the interfaces are configured for alternate display within the single search interface;

a first target search interface including;

a plurality of target-specific attribute search fields that are displayed at the same time, the target-specific attribute search fields comprising one or more of a date field, a from field, and a sender field that are displayed at the same time when searching a plurality of emails and the target-specific attribute search fields comprising one or more of a file name field, a file type field, a date field, a file size field, and a path field that are displayed at the same time when searching a plurality of files;

a view area;

a list area; and

at least one processor configured to access at least one index comprising data regarding at least one of a plurality of emails and a plurality of files in order to perform incremental searching of at least one of the plurality of emails and the plurality of files as the user enters characters into one or more of the target-specific attribute search fields and outputs a list of search results in the list area and content of a selected search result in the view area.

51. The computerized search system as defined in claim 50, further comprising a search field used to search across a plurality of the attribute fields.

52. The computerized search system as defined in claim 50, further comprising a Web search mode interface having a category attribute search field for locating Web pages that are categorized as at least one of a personal web page, a commercial web page, and a directory web page.

53. The computerized search system as defined in claim 50, further comprising a Web search mode interface having a category attribute search field for locating Web pages that are categorized based on at least key words and links in the Web pages.

54. The computerized search system as defined in claim 50, further comprising a Web search mode interface having a category attribute search field for searching Web pages that are categorized based on at least links in the Web pages and the sophistication of code used to generate the Web pages.

55. The computerized search system as defined in claim 50, further comprising a Web search mode interface having a category attribute search field for locating Web pages, wherein a least a plurality of Web pages are categorized based at least in part on the quantity and quality of links in the Web pages.

56. The computerized search system as defined in claim 50, further comprising a Web search mode interface having a category attribute search field for locating Web pages, wherein a least a plurality of Web pages are categorized based at least in part on the number of links on the Web pages and whether the links are alive.

57. The computerized search system as defined in claim 50, further comprising a Web search mode interface having a category attribute search field.

58. The computerized search system as defined in claim 50, further comprising:

an email search mode interface having email-specific attribute search fields including at least a date field, a from field, and a sender field;

a file search mode interface having file-specific attribute search fields including at least a file name field, a file type field, a date field, a file size field, and a path field;

a Web history search mode interface having a date field, a title field, a size field, and a search term field; and

an email attachment search mode interface having a name field, a date field, a size field, a Multipurpose Internet Mail Extensions tag field, and an extension field.

59. The computerized search system as defined in claim 50, further comprising an index apparatus configured to incrementally generate at least a first index, including email, file, and Web page entries.

60. The computerized search system as defined in claim 50, further comprising a pre-computed sort list configured to be presented in response to a user sort instruction.

61. The computerized search system as defined in claim 50, further comprising an index apparatus that is user configurable to update a first index for a first target type in response to a first trigger condition and to update a second index for a second target type in response to a second trigger condition, wherein the second trigger condition is different than the first trigger condition.

62. The computerized search system as defined in claim 50, further comprising an index apparatus configured to merge a plurality of indexes.

63. The computerized search system as defined in claim 50, further comprising an index apparatus configured to generate at least a first index, the first index including prefix entries.

64. The computerized search system as defined in claim 50, further comprising an index apparatus configured to incrementally generate at least a first index including attribute information, content occurrence information, and file deletion information.

65. The computerized search system as defined in claim 50, further comprising a computer and an index apparatus configured to incrementally update an index at least partly in response to detecting that the computer is idle.

66. The computerized search system as defined in claim 50, further comprising an index apparatus configured to incrementally update an index at a user specified recurring period.

67. The computerized search system as defined in claim 50, further comprising a computer and an index apparatus configured to generate a first change identifier for a first target based at least in part on at least a first attribute selected from a group including at least one of a subject attribute and a sender name attribute, wherein the index apparatus is configured to store the first change identifier in association with the first target and to compare the first change identifier with a second change identifier to determine whether the first target is to be indexed.

68. The computerized search system as defined in claim 50, further comprising an apparatus configured to cache sort files in RAM.

69. The computerized search system as defined in claim 50, wherein at least a portion of the first target search interface is configured to be displayed on a display in response to a user moving a cursor to a predetermined portion of the display.

70. The computerized search system as defined in claim 50, wherein at least a portion of the first target search interface is configured to be docked.

71. The computerized search system as defined in claim 50, further comprising a personal computer.

72. The computerized search system as defined in claim 50, further comprising a suggestion button located on the first target search interface.

73. The computerized search system as defined in claim 50, wherein the search system automatically displays the first occurrence of a search string and a plurality of lines before and after the first occurrence of the search string.

74. The computerized search system as defined in claim 50, wherein the search system automatically displays the first occurrence of a search string.

75. A computer readable medium having instructions stored therein that are configured for execution by a computing device, the instructions comprising:

instructions configured to generate a single search interface configured for display on a display device, the single search interface comprising a plurality of user selectable search mode interfaces, including at least;

an email search mode interface having email-specific attribute search fields including at least a date field, a from field, and a sender field;

a file search mode interface having file-specific attribute search fields including at least a file name field, a file type field, a date field, a file size field, and a path field;

an email attachment search mode interface having a name field, a date field, a size field, and an extension field;

a Web history search mode interface having Web page-specific attribute search fields, including one or more of a date field, a title field, a size field, and a search term field;

a favorites search mode interface used to search Web pages designated by a user as a favorite Web page;

wherein each of the email search mode interface, the file search mode interface, and the email attachment search mode interface further comprises a list pane, used to display a list of search result items, and a view pane, used to display the contents of a selected search result item;

an index module that, when executed by the computing device, generates at least an email index, a file index, and an email attachment index; and

a search module that, when executed by the computing device, performs incremental searching of at least one of the email index, the file index, and the email attachment index in response to the user entering characters into at least one search mode interface field.

76. A computer readable medium having instructions stored therein that are configured for execution by a computing device, the instructions comprising:

instructions configured to generate a single search interface configured for display on a display device, the single search interface comprising a plurality of user selectable search mode interfaces, including at least;

an email search mode interface having email-specific attribute search fields including at least a date field, a from field, and a sender field;

a file search mode interface having file-specific attribute search fields including at least a file name field, a file type field, a date field, a file size field, and a path field;

a favorites search mode interface used to search Web pages designated by a user as a favorite Web page;

a Web history search mode interface having a date field, a title field, a size field, and a search term field;

an email attachment search mode interface having a name field, a date field, a size field, and an extension field;

wherein each of the email search mode interface, the file search mode interface, the favorites search mode interface, the Web history search mode interface, and the email attachment search mode interface further comprises a list pane, used to display a list of search result items, and a view pane, used to display the contents of a selected search result item; and

an index module that, when executed by the computing device, generates;

an email index;

a file index;

a Web page index; and

a search module that, when executed by the computing device, performs incremental searching of at least one of the email index, the file index, and the Web page index in response to the user entering characters into at least one search mode interface field.