Process and apparatus for selecting an item from a database
First Claim
1. A method of selecting an item from a database containing a plurality of items, the method comprising:
- associating each of the plurality of items with a corresponding item identifier;
generating a first display, the first display comprising;
a part of an item identifier for at least a first set of items and a second set of items in the database; and
an option to display more parts of item identifiers;
enabling selection of one of the at least two parts of the item identifiers by a user;
generating, in response to the selection of the one of the at least two parts, a further display;
the further display comprising;
an additional part of an item identifier for at least a third set of items and a fourth set of items;
the selected part of the item identifier; and
an option to display more additional parts of item identifiers;
enabling selection of one of the at least two additional parts of the item identifiers by a user;
combining the selected part of the item identifier with the selected additional part of the item identifier to create a larger part of the item identifier; and
displaying the larger part of the item identifier;
wherein the parts of item identifiers and the additional parts of the item identifiers are alphanumeric symbols and the additional parts of the item identifiers are longer than a single alphanumeric symbol but shorter than the complete item identifier; and
wherein the first set of items and the second set of items are mutually exclusive and the third set of items and the fourth set of items are mutually exclusive subsets of the first set of items or the second set of items.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for selecting database items from a database, where the database items are indexed by a list of item identifiers. The item identifiers may be in the form of text. An initial display is generated which includes one or more parts of the item identifiers. Selection of the one or more parts may be made and results in the generation of a display of a further one or more parts for selection. The further one or more parts may be selected in order to add to the selected one or more parts to build a larger part or whole of an item identifier. Selection from a large list of item identifiers may be carried out in a relatively short time period.
90 Citations
22 Claims
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1. A method of selecting an item from a database containing a plurality of items, the method comprising:
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associating each of the plurality of items with a corresponding item identifier; generating a first display, the first display comprising; a part of an item identifier for at least a first set of items and a second set of items in the database; and an option to display more parts of item identifiers; enabling selection of one of the at least two parts of the item identifiers by a user; generating, in response to the selection of the one of the at least two parts, a further display;
the further display comprising;an additional part of an item identifier for at least a third set of items and a fourth set of items; the selected part of the item identifier; and an option to display more additional parts of item identifiers; enabling selection of one of the at least two additional parts of the item identifiers by a user; combining the selected part of the item identifier with the selected additional part of the item identifier to create a larger part of the item identifier; and displaying the larger part of the item identifier; wherein the parts of item identifiers and the additional parts of the item identifiers are alphanumeric symbols and the additional parts of the item identifiers are longer than a single alphanumeric symbol but shorter than the complete item identifier; and wherein the first set of items and the second set of items are mutually exclusive and the third set of items and the fourth set of items are mutually exclusive subsets of the first set of items or the second set of items. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. An apparatus for selecting database items from a database, the apparatus comprising:
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a display; an input; and a processor configured to execute the method comprising; associating each of the plurality of items with a corresponding item identifier; generating a first display, the first display comprising; a part of an item identifier for at least a first set of items and a second set of items in the database; and an option to display more parts of item identifiers; enabling selection of one of the at least two parts of the item identifiers by a user; generating, in response to the selection of the one of the at least two parts, a further display;
the further display comprising;an additional part of an item identifier for at least a third set of items and a fourth set of items; the selected part of the item identifier; and an option to display more additional parts of item identifiers; enabling selection of one of the at least two additional parts of the item identifiers by a user; combining the selected part of the item identifier with the selected additional part of the item identifier to create a larger part of the item identifier; and displaying the larger part of the item identifier; wherein the parts of item identifiers and the additional parts of the item identifiers are alphanumeric symbols and the additional parts of the item identifiers are longer than a single alphanumeric symbol but shorter than the complete item identifier; and wherein the first set of items and the second set of items are mutually exclusive and the third set of items and the fourth set of items are mutually exclusive subsets of the first set of items or the second set of items. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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Specification