System and method for graphically building weighted search queries

A system for performing an electronic search of a database, said system comprising:

• a processor;
• and
• a memory coupled to the processor;
• wherein the memory has a set of computer readable instructions stored therein, that when executed by the processor, cause the processor to:
• (i) generate a search creation interface on a display of a user electronic device, the search creation interface providing a set of graphical icons, an icon selection tool, an interface feature that allows users to select preferred ones from the set of graphical icons, and an icon weighting tool, (ii) process user input acquired through user interaction with the icon selection tool and the interface feature to define at least two selected ones of the graphical icons from the set of graphical icons, (iii) process user input acquired through user interaction with the icon weighting tool to define a search weighting preference for each of the at least two selected ones of the graphical icons, (iii) process the at least two selected ones of the graphical icons by conducting a search of a database using keywords associated with each of the set of graphical icons to generate a ranked item list for each of the at least two selected ones of the graphical icons, wherein the ranked item lists each comprise items having an associated numerical ranking relative to other items in the ranked item list;
• (iv) process the search weighting preferences and the ranked item lists for the at least two selected ones of the graphical icons to generate a weighted ranked item list for each of the selected ones of the graphical icons, (v) process the weighted ranked item lists for the at least two selected ones of the graphical icons to form a combined ranked item list, and (vi) display the combined ranked item list on the display of the user electronic device.