# US 10,769,219 B1 · System and method for graphically building weighted search queries > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,769,219 B1 - Document ID: US10769219B1 - Status: Granted - Kind: B1 - Application number: 16/160,631 - Filed: 2018-10-15 - Granted: 2020-09-08 - Earliest claimed: 2013-06-25 - Assignees: Overstock.com, Inc. - Applicants: Overstock.com, Inc. - Inventors: James Martin - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10769219B1 ## CPC - G06F 16/9538: Presentation of query results - G06F 3/04817: using icons (graphical or visual programming using iconic symbols G06F8/34) - G06F 3/0482: Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus - G06F 3/0486: Drag-and-drop - G06F 16/2428: {Query predicate definition using graphical user interfaces, including menus and forms (G06F16/2423 takes precedence)} - G06F 16/903: Querying (for retrieval from the web G06F16/953) - G06F 16/951: Indexing; Web crawling techniques - G06Q 30/0254: {based on statistics} - G06Q 30/0625: {by formulating product or service queries, e.g. using keywords or predefined options} - G06Q 30/0641: {utilising user interfaces specially adapted for shopping} - G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N) - G06Q: INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR ## Abstract A system and method allow a user to define a search request by selecting and weighting graphical icons provided on a search creation interface. The graphical icons may be selected by using an icon selection feature provided on the search creation interface. The graphical icons may further be assigned relative search weights using an icon weighting feature provided on the search creation interface. The system and method generate search results based on metadata associated with the selected ones of the graphical icons and the search weights assigned to each of the selected ones of the graphical icons. The search results may comprise a ranked list of items, such as products listed for sale on an e-commerce server. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method of performing an electronic search of a database and generating a combined ranked item list, said method comprising: generating 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; processing 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; processing 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; processing the at least two selected ones of the graphical icons to generate a ranked item list for each of 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 return 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; processing 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 at least two selected ones of the graphical icons; processing the weighted ranked item lists for the at least two selected ones of the graphical icons to form a combined ranked item list; and displaying the combined ranked item list on the display of the user electronic device. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the icon selection tool provides a drag and drop feature such that the user interaction with the icon selection tool comprises a user dragging and dropping at least two selected ones of the graphical icons into a search creation workspace provided by the search creation interface. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the user interaction with the search weighting tool defines a user preference ratio of the at least two selected ones of the graphical icons with respect to each other, and wherein the method further comprises defining the search weighting preferences based on the user preference ratio of the ate least two selected ones of the graphical icons with respect to each other. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the user interaction with the search weighting tool adjusts proportional display sizes of the at least two selected ones of the graphical icons, and wherein the method further comprises defining the search weighting preferences based on the proportional display sizes of the at least two selected ones of the graphical icons. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the search weighting tool provides a click and drag feature such that the user interaction with the search weighting tool comprises a user clicking and dragging a virtual slider to adjust user preference ratios of the at least two selected ones of the graphical icons with respect to each other, and wherein the method further comprises defining the search weighting preferences based on the user preference ratios of the at least two selected ones of the graphical icons. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the search weighting tool provides a click and drag feature such that the user interaction with the search weighting tool comprises a user clicking and dragging virtual sliders to adjust relative display sizes of the at least two selected ones of the graphical icons, and wherein the method further comprises defining the search weighting preferences based on the relative display sizes of the at least two selected ones of the graphical icons. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the items are products offered for sale on an e-commerce website. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the graphical icons comprise avatars. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising associating metadata to each of the graphical icons in a computer database and processing the metadata to generate a ranked item list for each of the at least two selected ones of the graphical icons. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9, wherein the metadata comprise keywords. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9, wherein the metadata comprise seed products. ### Claim 12 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9, wherein the metadata comprise categories of a product taxonomy. ### Claim 13 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. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The system of claim 13, wherein the icon selection tool provides a drag and drop feature such that the user interaction with the icon selection tool comprises a user dragging and dropping at least two selected ones of the graphical icons into a search creation workspace provided by the search creation interface. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The system of claim 14, wherein the user interaction with the search weighting tool defines a user preference ratio of the at least two selected ones of the graphical icons with respect to each other, and wherein the set of computer readable instructions, when executed by the processor, causes the processor to define the search weighting preferences based on the user preference ratio of the at least two selected ones of the graphical icons with respect to each other. ### Claim 16 (depends on 13) The system of claim 13, wherein the user interaction with the search weighting tool adjusts proportional display sizes of the at least two selected ones of the graphical icons, and wherein the set of computer readable instructions, when executed by the processor, causes the processor to define the search weighting preferences based on the proportional display sizes of the at least two selected ones of the graphical icons. ### Claim 17 (depends on 13) The system of claim 13, wherein the search weighting tool provides a click and drag feature such that the user interaction with the search weighting tool comprises a user clicking and dragging a virtual slider to adjust user preference ratios of the at least two selected ones of the graphical icons with respect to each other, and wherein the set of computer readable instructions, when executed by the processor, causes the processor to define the search weighting preferences based on the user preference ratios of the at least two selected ones of the graphical icons. ### Claim 18 (depends on 13) The system of claim 13, wherein the search weighting tool provides a click and drag feature such that the user interaction with the search weighting tool comprises a user clicking and dragging virtual sliders to adjust relative display sizes of the at least two selected ones of the graphical icons, and wherein the set of computer readable instructions, when executed by the processor, causes the processor to define the search weighting preferences based on the relative display sizes of the at least two selected ones of the graphical icons. ### Claim 19 (depends on 13) The system of claim 13, wherein the items are products offered for sale on an e-commerce website. ### Claim 20 (depends on 13) The system of claim 13, wherein the graphical icons comprise avatars. ### Claim 21 (depends on 13) The system of claim 13, wherein the set of computer readable instructions, when executed by the processor, further causes the processor to process metadata associated with the at least two selected ones of the graphical icons to generate the ranked item list for each of the selected ones of the graphical icons. ### Claim 22 (depends on 21) The system of claim 21, wherein the metadata comprise keywords. ### Claim 23 (depends on 21) The system of claim 21, wherein the metadata comprise seed products. ### Claim 24 (depends on 21) The system of claim 21, wherein the metadata comprise categories of a product taxonomy. ### Claim 25 (depends on 21) The system of claim 21, wherein the graphical icons are images. ### Claim 26 (depends on 21) The system of claim 21, wherein the graphical icons represent archetypes.