User interface and search system for internet and other applications

• US 7,627,598 B1
• Filed: 01/12/2006
• Issued: 12/01/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 06/26/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: III Holdings 2, LLC
• Original Assignee: Electronic System & Networks LLC
• Inventors: Burke, Alexander James
• Primary Examiner(s): Le, Miranda
• Application Number:
  US11/330,498
• Time in Patent Office: 1,419 Days
• Field of Search: 715/810, 715/764, 715/825, 707/1, 707 3- 5, 707/7, 707/10, 707100-102, 707/104.1, 707200-201
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/951 Indexing; Web crawling techniques
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4722 for requesting additional data associated with the content
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4782 Web browsing , e.g. WebTV
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4786 e-mailing message switching systems, e.g. electronic mail systems H04L51/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4821 using a grid, e.g. sorted out by channel and broadcast time
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4828 for searching program descriptors retrieval of video data G06F16/739
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8126 involving additional data, e.g. news, sports, stocks, weather forecasts
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8173 End-user applications, e.g. Web browser, game
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8193 dedicated tools, e.g. video decoder software or IPMP tool
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99931 Database or file accessing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99933 Query processing, i.e. searching
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99937 Sorting
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99943 Generating database or data structure, e.g. via user interface
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99945 Object-oriented database structure processing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99948 Application of database or data structure, e.g. distributed, multimedia, or image

Abstract

A user interface provides historical and hierarchical search and navigation modes through previously selected and hierarchically linked multimedia applications, documents and directories. The system permits a search for information through hierarchically linked documents accessible via the Internet in which an individual document contains a reference link to a succeeding document. The systems includes an input processor for receiving a user entered search information item identifying an object associated with at least one of the hierarchically linked documents. An Internet processor for searching and identifying a plurality of child documents hierarchically linked to a parent document identified by the object and excluding non-hierarchically associated documents in response to user initiation of a hierarchical search. An output processor processes data identifying the plurality of child documents for communication to a reproduction device.

Claims

1. A system operating in response to instructions embodied in computer readable media, permitting a search for information in a repository in a computer and through documents accessible via the Internet, comprising:

in a computer,

a display menu generator for initiating generation of data representing menu items permitting user entry of text search information items;

an Internet processor for initiating an Internet search to acquire results of a search of content of a plurality of text searchable multimedia documents at a remote information source, remote from said computer, via the Internet to provide first search results derived from said remote information source and identifying web pages, in response to a user entered text search information item;

a database processor for generating indexed information in at least one local repository including searchable text content of a plurality of different types of indexed text searchable multimedia documents including text data files, email messages and web pages, the generated information in said at least one local repository including data identifying said indexed text searchable multimedia documents; and

a search processor for searching said information in said at least one local repository and for searching said content of said indexed text searchable multimedia documents including text data files, email messages and web pages in said at least one local repository to provide second search results derived from said at least one local repository identifying a plurality of multimedia documents in response to a user entered text search information item,

said at least one local repository comprising at least one database, said content of said indexed text searchable multimedia documents is stored in said at least one repository and

said content of said plurality of text searchable multimedia documents at said remote information source comprising web page text content stored in at least one remote repository.

2. A system according to claim 1, wherein

said display menu generator initiates generation of data representing at least one display image enabling a user to select at least one of a plurality of different search sources to be searched in said at least one local repository, said search sources including a plurality of different types of text searchable multimedia documents including text file data type, web page type and email message type,

said at least one display image enables a user to select at least one type of text searchable multimedia document to be available for search from said plurality of different types of text searchable multimedia documents including at least two of, (a) contact information in an address book, (b) files from a file directory and (c) documents representing video and

said at least one display image enables a user to enter data to limit a search by said search processor to content of text searchable multimedia documents from a search source including at least one of, (i) a particular file directory, and (ii) a particular storage directory.

3. A system according to claim 1, wherein

said plurality of different types of indexed text searchable multimedia documents comprises previously accessed multimedia documents accessed in at least one of, (i) a historical mode and (ii) hierarchical mode,

said at least one local repository comprises at least one database and associates a file data type and category information with said plurality of different types of indexed text searchable multimedia documents,

said information identifies characteristics common to different types of text searchable multimedia documents and is searchable by said search processor to provide search results identifying a plurality of multimedia documents in response to a user entered text search information item and

said category information comprises at least one of, (a) an Internet URL and (b) a filename.

4. A system according to claim 1, wherein at least one of, (a) said first search results identify web pages indicated in said second search results and (b) said second search results identify web pages indicated in said first search results and

a document comprises at least one of, a) a web page, b) web page representative image data, c) an HTML/SGML file, d) an Internet compatible language file and (e) a file.

5. A system according to claim 1, wherein

at least one of, (a) said first search results identify multimedia documents indicated in said second search results and (b) said second search results identify web pages indicated in said first search results and

said Internet processor performs a search by performing a text/character comparison and examining URLs for matching characters.

6. A system according to claim 1, wherein

said Internet processor performs a search by performing a text/character comparison for similar subject matter text determined from a text or search subject mapping database and

said content of said indexed text searchable multimedia documents comprises at least one of, (a) web page text content cached in said at least one local repository and (b) category information comprising multimedia document content text strings.

7. A system according to claim 1, wherein

said display menu generator initiates generation of data representing a composite display image including,

a first window showing a historical navigation menu identifying multimedia documents previously accessed from at least one remote information source in a historical mode and

a second window comprising an application screen area containing contents of one of the identified multimedia documents in said first window associated with a historical navigation menu item in said first window.

8. A system according to claim 1, wherein

said at least one local repository comprises at least one database,

said content of said indexed text searchable multimedia documents is cached in said at least one local repository and

said content of said plurality of text searchable multimedia documents at said remote information source comprises web page text content stored in at least one remote repository.

9. A system according to claim 8, wherein

said Internet processor, in response to a user entered text search information item, excludes at least one of, (a) web pages from countries other than a particular country and (b) non-video representative web pages from being indicated in said first search results and

said Internet processor, in response to a user entered text search information item, finds said first search results including web pages limited to at least one of, i) an area associated with an area code and ii) an area associated with a zip code.

10. A system according to claim 1, wherein

said at least one local repository comprises at least one database,

said Internet processor performs a search by searching for specific Internet compatible language tags,

said content of said indexed text searchable multimedia documents comprises multimedia document content text strings and

said indexed text searchable multimedia documents are indexed using an index value comprising a base value enabling indexed addressing of individual records and individual items comprising individual records.

11. A system according to claim 1, wherein

said indexed text searchable multimedia documents are indexed using an index value comprising a base value enabling indexed addressing of individual records and individual items comprising individual records and

said index value includes database index records comprising a backindex and forwardindex.

12. A system according to claim 1, wherein

said display menu generator initiates generation of data representing at least one display image enabling a user,

to select at least one of a plurality of different search sources to be searched, said search sources including a plurality of different types of text searchable multimedia documents including text file data type, web page type and email message type,

to select at least one type of text searchable multimedia document to be searched from a plurality of different types of text searchable multimedia documents including contact information in an address book and at least one of, (a) files from a file directory and (b) documents representing video and

to enter data to limit a search by said search processor to content of text searchable multimedia documents from a search source including at least one of, (i) a particular file directory, and (ii) a particular storage directory.

13. A system according to claim 1, wherein

said information in said at least one local repository includes searchable characteristics associated with said indexed text searchable multimedia documents including a file data type identifier and category information comprising searchable characteristics supporting identification and classification of said indexed text searchable multimedia documents,

said search processor searches said searchable characteristics to provide said second search results and

said Internet processor, in response to a user entered text search information item, restricts child web pages to web pages from a particular directory including one or more of a) a telephone number directory, b) a fax number directory, c) an Email directory, d) a videophone/Internet-phone directory, e) an Internet URL directory, and f) a directory of currently available on-line Internet users.

14. A method operating in response to instructions embodied in computer readable media, for searching for information in a repository in a computer and through documents at a remote information source accessible via the Internet, comprising the activities of:

in a computer,

initiating generation of data representing menu items permitting user entry of text search information items;

initiating an Internet search to acquire results of a search of content of text searchable multimedia documents at a remote information source, remote from said computer, via the Internet to provide first search results derived from said remote information source and identifying web pages;

generating indexed information in at least one local repository including searchable text content of a plurality of different types of text searchable multimedia documents including web pages, text data files and email messages, the generated information in said at least one local repository including data identifying said text searchable multimedia documents; and

searching said information in said at least one local repository including searchable characteristics of said text searchable multimedia documents including a function identifier identifying at least one application function associated with a document and category information comprising searchable characteristics supporting identification and classification of text data files, email messages and web pages to provide second search results derived from said at least one local repository identifying a plurality of multimedia documents including text data files, email messages and web pages, in response to a user entered text search information item,

said at least one local repository comprising at least one database, said content of said plurality of different types of text searchable multimedia documents is stored in said at least one repository and

said content of said text searchable multimedia documents at said remote information source comprising web page text content stored in at least one remote repository.

15. A method permitting a search for information in a repository in a computer and through documents accessible via the Internet, comprising the activities of:

in a computer,

initiating generation of data representing menu items permitting user entry of text search information items;

initiating an Internet search to acquire results of a search of content of a plurality of text searchable multimedia documents at a remote information source, remote from said computer, via the Internet to provide second search results derived from said remote information source and identifying web pages, in response to a user entered text search information item;

generating indexed information in at least one local repository including searchable text content of a plurality of different types of indexed text searchable multimedia documents including text data files, email messages and web pages, the generated information in said at least one local repository including data identifying said indexed text searchable multimedia documents; and

searching said information in said at least one local repository and searching said content of said indexed text searchable multimedia documents including text data files, email messages and web pages in said at least one local repository to provide first search results derived from said at least one local repository identifying a plurality of multimedia documents in response to a user entered text search information item wherein

said at least one local repository comprises at least one database, said content of said plurality of different types of indexed text searchable multimedia documents is stored in said at least one repository and

said content of said text searchable multimedia documents at said remote information source is stored in at least one remote repository.

16. A method according to claim 15, including the activity of

initiating generation of data representing at least one display image enabling a user to select at least one of a plurality of different search sources to be searched in said at least one local repository, said search sources including a plurality of different types of text searchable multimedia documents including text file data type, web page type and email message type,

said at least one display image enables a user to select at least one type of text searchable multimedia document to be available for search from said plurality of different types of text searchable multimedia documents including at least two of, (a) contact information in an address book, (b) files from a file directory and (c) documents representing video and

said at least one display image enables a user to enter data to limit a search to content of text searchable multimedia documents from a search source including at least one of, (i) a particular file directory, and (ii) a particular storage directory.

17. A method according to claim 15, wherein

said plurality of different types of indexed text searchable multimedia documents comprises previously accessed multimedia documents accessed in at least one of, (i) a historical mode and (ii) hierarchical mode,

said at least one local repository comprises at least one database and associates a file data type and category information with said plurality of different types of indexed text searchable multimedia documents,

said information identifies characteristics common to different types of text searchable multimedia documents and is searchable to provide search results identifying a plurality of multimedia documents in response to a user entered text search information item and

said category information comprises at least one of, (a) an Internet URL and (b) a filename.

18. A method according to claim 15, wherein

at least one of, (a) said second search results identify web pages indicated in said first search results and (b) said first search results identify web pages indicated in said second search results and

a document comprises at least one of, a) a web page, b) web page representative image data, c) an HTML/SGML file, d) an Internet compatible language file and (e) a file.

19. A method according to claim 15, wherein

at least one of, (a) said second search results identify multimedia documents indicated in said first search results and (b) said first search results identify web pages indicated in said second search results and including the activity of

performing a search by performing a text/character comparison and examining URLs for matching characters.

20. A method according to claim 15, including the activity of

performing a search by performing a text/character comparison for similar subject matter text determined from a text or search subject mapping database and

said content of said indexed text searchable multimedia documents comprises at least one of, (a) web page text content cached in said at least one local repository and (b) category information comprising multimedia document content text strings.

21. A method according to claim 15, wherein

said at least one local repository comprises at least one database,

said information in said at least one local repository includes searchable characteristics of said indexed text searchable multimedia documents including a function identifier and category information comprising searchable characteristics supporting identification and classification of text data files, email messages and web pages,

said function identifier comprises a file data type identifier and identifies at least one application function associated with a document from functions including, (a) a word processing function, (b) an email function and (c) an Internet access function,

said category information comprises at least two of, (i) an Email address, (ii) an Internet URL and (iii) a name of a person or corporation or other entity and

said category information also comprises, (i) multimedia document content text strings and (ii) a multimedia document filename.

22. A method according to claim 21, wherein

said searchable characteristics include text content of said text searchable multimedia documents comprising at least one of, (a) web page text content cached in a local repository and (b) category information comprising multimedia document content text strings.

23. A method according to claim 15, including the activity of

initiating generation of data representing a composite display image including,

a first window showing a historical navigation menu identifying multimedia documents previously accessed from at least one remote information source in a historical mode and

a second window comprising an application screen area containing contents of one of the identified multimedia documents in said first window associated with a historical navigation menu item in said first window.

24. A method according to claim 15, wherein

said content of said indexed text searchable multimedia documents is cached in said at least one local repository.

25. A method according to claim 24, including the activity of

in response to a user entered text search information item, excluding at least one of, (a) web pages from countries other than a particular country and (b) non-video representative web pages from being indicated in said first search results and

in response to a user entered text search information item, finding said first search results including web pages limited to at least one of, i) an area associated with an area code and ii) an area associated with a zip code.

26. A method according to claim 15, including the activity of performing a search by searching for specific Internet compatible language tags, wherein

said at least one local repository comprises at least one database,

said content of said indexed text searchable multimedia documents comprises multimedia document content text strings and

said indexed text searchable multimedia documents are indexed using an index value comprising a base value enabling indexed addressing of individual records and individual items comprising individual records.

27. A method according to claim 15, wherein

said indexed text searchable multimedia documents are indexed using an index value comprising a base value enabling indexed addressing of individual records and individual items comprising individual records and

said index value includes database index records comprising a backindex and forwardindex.

28. A method according to claim 15, including the activity of

initiating generation of data representing at least one display image enabling a user,

to select at least one of a plurality of different search sources to be searched, said search sources including a plurality of different types of text searchable multimedia documents including text file data type, web page type and email message type,

to select at least one type of text searchable multimedia document to be searched from a plurality of different types of text searchable multimedia documents including contact information in an address book and at least one of, (a) files from a file directory and (b) documents representing video and

to enter data to limit a search to content of text searchable multimedia documents from a search source including at least one of, (i) a particular file directory, and (ii) a particular storage directory.

29. A method according to claim 15, wherein

said information in said at least one local repository includes searchable characteristics associated with said indexed text searchable multimedia documents including a file data type identifier and category information comprising searchable characteristics supporting identification and classification of said indexed text searchable multimedia documents and including the activities of,

searching said searchable characteristics to provide said first search results and

in response to a user entered text search information item, restricting web pages to web pages from a particular directory including one or more of a) a telephone number directory, b) a fax number directory, c) an Email directory, d) a videophone/Internet-phone directory, e) an Internet URL directory, and f) a directory of currently available on-line Internet users.