Methods and apparatus for displaying real-time search trends in graphical search specification and result interfaces

A method to perform operations for controlling a graphical user interface, the operations comprising:

• displaying an interactive graphical user interface for performing searches, the interactive graphical user interface comprising:
• a search input component for entering a text-based search argument;
• a graphical search argument representation component for visually representing the text-based search argument and for visually modifying the text-based search argument, the graphical search argument representation component further comprising:
• a search argument display area for visually representing the text-based search argument;
• and
• at least one interactive control for modifying the text-based search argument using a visual metaphor;
• a search results display area;
• and
• a graphical search trend indicator for visually depicting an effect on search results of a change made to the text-based search argument using the at least one interactive control;
• receiving a text-based search argument entered using the search input component;
• performing a search using the text-based search argument;
• graphically depicting the text-based search argument in the search display area;
• depicting search results located in response to the search performed using the text-based search argument in the search results display area;
• receiving a modification of the text-based search argument, wherein the modification was made using the at least one interactive control;
• and
• using the graphical search trend indicator to visually depict an effect on the search results of the modification made to the text-based search argument using the at least one interactive control.

A computer system for displaying a graphical user interface for use in performing searches, the computer system comprising:

• at least one memory to store at least one program of machine-readable instructions, where the at least one program performs operations to display an interactive graphical user interface for performing searches when executed;
• a display for displaying the graphical user interface for performing searches;
• and
• at least one processor coupled to the at least one memory and display, wherein the at least one processor performs at least the following operations when the at least one program is executed:
• displaying an interactive graphical user interface for performing searches, the interactive graphical user interface comprising:
• a search input component for entering a text-based search argument;
• a graphical search argument representation component for visually representing the text-based search argument and for visually modifying the text-based search argument, the graphical search argument representation component further comprising:
• a search argument display area for visually representing the text-based search argument;
• and
• at least one interactive control for modifying the text-based search argument using a visual metaphor;
• a search results display area;
• and
• a graphical search trend indicator for visually depicting an effect on search results of a change made to the text-based search argument using the at least one interactive control;
• receiving a text-based search argument entered using the search input component;
• performing a search using the text-based search argument;
• graphically depicting the text-based search argument in the search display area;
• depicting search results located in response to the search performed using the text-based search argument in the search results display area;
• receiving a modification of the text-based search argument, wherein the modification was made using the at least one interactive control;
• and
• using the graphical search trend indicator to visually depict an effect on the search results of the modification made to the text-based search argument using the at least one interactive control.