Method and system for transporting and displaying search results and information hierarchies

A graphical user interface method for displaying search results downloaded from a search server, said search results including a set of location information and match quality information, said method including:

• generating a list of said location information and a control interface located at each list item for manipulating said list item on a graphical display;
• receiving a user input at a particular control interface for manipulating an associated list item;
• and
• in response to said receiving, modifying a display of said particular list item in conformity with said user input without generating another request to said search server.

A graphical user interface method comprising:

• generating a hierarchical view wherein graphical figures corresponding to a set of categories is generated within a first area of a graphical display, and wherein said hierarchical view is adapted for user input for selecting a state of said hierarchical view;
• interpreting a set of search results in conformity with a selected state of said hierarchical view;
• and
• generating a search result display from said interpreted search results in a second area of said graphical display.

A computer network comprising:

• a search server for providing search database information in response to search requests;
• a client computer system coupled to said search server via said network, said computer system comprising a memory for storing program instructions and data coupled to a processor for executing said program instructions, and wherein said program instructions comprise:
• program instructions for requesting and presenting a result of said search request;
• transmitting information specifying said search request to said search server;
• downloading binary search result data from said search server, said search request result comprising location information and match quality information;
• interpreting said location information and match quality information for display of said location information on a graphical display of said client computer, whereby said location information is formatted for presentation on said graphical display by said program;
• and
• generating said graphical display in conformity a result of said interpreting.

A computer system comprising a memory for storing program instructions and data, a processor coupled to said memory for executing said program instructions, a graphical display device coupled to said processor for displaying a graphical user interface (GUI) and an input device coupled to said processor for providing user input, wherein said program instructions comprise program instructions for:

• receiving search results including a set of location information;
• generating a hierarchical view wherein graphical figures corresponding to a set of categories is generated within a first area of a graphical display, and wherein said hierarchical view is adapted for user input for selecting a state of said hierarchical view;
• interpreting a set of search results in conformity with a selected state of said hierarchical view;
• and
• generating a search result display from said interpreted search results in a second area of said graphical display.

A computer program product comprising signal-bearing media encoding program instructions for execution within a general-purpose computer coupled to a search server via a network, wherein said program instructions comprise program instructions for:

• instantiating a program for requesting a search and presenting a result of said search request;
• transmitting information specifying said search request to said search server;
• downloading binary search result data from said search server, said search request result comprising location information and match quality information;
• interpreting said location information and match quality information for display of said location information on a graphical display of said computer, whereby said location information is formatted for presentation on said graphical display by said program;
• and
• generating said graphical display in conformity with a result of said interpreting.

A computer program product comprising signal-bearing media encoding program instructions for execution within a general-purpose computer system, wherein said program instructions comprise program instructions for:

• receiving search results including a set of location information;
• generating a hierarchical view wherein graphical figures corresponding to a set of categories is generated within a first area of a graphical display, and wherein said hierarchical view is adapted for user input for selecting a state of said hierarchical view;
• interpreting a set of search results in conformity with a selected state of said hierarchical view;
• and
• generating a search result display from said interpreted search results in a second area of said graphical display.