Methods and apparatus for mouse-over preview of contextually relevant information
AssigneeAsk Jeeves, Inc.
InventorsJohn Petropoulos, Clay A. Johnson
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Challenges to the analysis of search results may be mitigated by offering preview information when users navigate a computer-pointing device over pre-designated areas of a search result page. A separate icon in the pre-designated area enhances the advantages by providing intuitive preview ability with seamless and natural control over a variety of preview options, such as the type of preview information and the manner in which it is presented. In addition, while operating a preview-enabled search result page, users' behavior provides data and attributes, which may be re-incorporated into the searching algorithm to improve the relevancy of search results. ng algorithm to improve the relevancy of search results.
Claims20
In a system having a display device and user input mechanisms including a pointer, a query result page comprising:
- a plurality of results, each associated with an item in a data store of information;
- a plurality of defined areas, each associated with at least one such result;
- a first defined area arranged to intuitively imply a relation with respect to a first result;
- a first data item in said data store, referred by and associated with said first result;
- and
- at least one preview window associated with said result page and displaying preview information regarding said first result when said pointer navigates over said first defined area.
A method for previewing query results, comprising the steps of:
- providing a query result page comprising a plurality of results, each associated with an item in a data store of information;
- providing one or more display windows upon a mouse-over of a defined area;
- and
- displaying in one or more of said display windows, preview information intuitively related to text, graphics or hyperlinks that are at least partially co-located with said defined area.
A method of providing preview information comprising the steps of:
- providing a preview icon, in textual, graphic or combined form, that contextually indicates the availability of preview information;
- providing a search result associated with said preview icon;
- providing one or more defined areas, each that is at least partially co-located with said preview;
- providing one or more display windows;
- and
- displaying in one or more of said display windows, preview information intuitively related to said search result.
In a system having a display device and mouse-pointer, a query result page comprising:
- a result associated with an item in a data store of information;
- a defined area associated with said result;
- a first preview window displaying a first type of preview information upon a mouse-over of said defined area;
- and
- a second preview window displaying a second type of preview information upon a mouse-over of said defined area.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.