System and method for determining categories associated with searches of electronic catalogs and displaying category information with search results

A computer-implemented method designed to use category information from searches to facilitate access to a catalog, comprising:

• operating, using a processor, a database module configured to store an electronic catalog of products, wherein the catalog comprises a taxonomy of products categories and products within the categories, the catalog further comprising attributes which describe products in a category and at least one value for said attributes;
• operating, using a processor, a user interface module configured to display, using a display device, information about the contents of the catalog, in response to input by the user;
• operating, using a processor, a search engine module configured to accept a query from a user, wherein at least part of said query corresponds with at least one of the categories, query the catalog, and present a subset of products in the catalog corresponding to the user's query to said user interface module for display to said at least one user;
• operating, using a processor, a query association module configured to monitor queries, and analyze the contents of each query to identify if part or all of a query corresponds with a category;
• and
• when part or all of said query corresponds with a category, said user interface module provides the user with access to the catalog via the user interface module in a manner that includes simultaneous and segregated display of information about the category and information about products which satisfy the query.

An apparatus designed to use category information from searches to facilitate access to a catalog, comprising:

• means for operating, using a processor, a database module configured to store an electronic catalog of products, wherein the catalog comprises a taxonomy of products categories and products within the categories, the catalog further comprising attributes which describe products in a category and at least one value for said attributes;
• means for operating, using a processor, a user interface module configured to display, using a display device, information about the contents of the catalog, in response to input by the user;
• means for operating, using a processor, a search engine module configured to accept a query from a user, wherein at least part of said query corresponds with at least one of the categories, query the catalog, and present a subset of products in the catalog corresponding to the user's query to said user interface module for display to said at least one user;
• means for operating, using a processor, a query association module configured to monitor queries, and analyze the contents of each query to identify if part or all of a query corresponds with a category;
• and
• when part or all of said query corresponds with a category, said user interface module provides the user with access to the catalog via the user interface module in a manner that includes simultaneous and segregated display of information about the category and information about products which satisfy the query.

Computer readable media, having instructions stored thereon, wherein the instructions, when executed by a processor, perform computing functions designed to use category information from searches to facilitate access to a catalog stored on a computer, comprising:

• instructions for operating, using a processor, a database module configured to store an electronic catalog of products, wherein the catalog comprises a taxonomy of products categories and products within the categories, the catalog further comprising attributes which describe products in a category and at least one value for said attributes;
• instructions for operating, using a processor, a user interface module configured to display, using a display device, information about the contents of the catalog, in response to input by the user;
• instructions for operating, using a processor, a search engine module configured to accept a query from a user, wherein at least part of said query corresponds with at least one of the categories, query the catalog, and present a subset of products in the catalog corresponding to the user's query to said user interface module for display to said at least one user;
• instructions for operating, using a processor, a query association module configured to monitor queries, and analyze the contents of each query to identify if part or all of a query corresponds with a category;
• and
• when part or all of said query corresponds with a category, said user interface module provides the user with access to the catalog via the user interface module in a manner that includes simultaneous and segregated display of information about the category and information about products which satisfy the query.