US 6,487,553 B1 · Method for reducing search results by manually or automatically excluding previously presented search results

Abstract

A method and apparatus which enables a user to streamline the number of results presented to the user during a search session most typically performed over the Internet. The present invention allows the user to select specific results from a search result set which are to be excluded and are not to reappear in a subsequent result set in the search session. The present invention is capable of automatically excluding results from a search result set unless the user specifically flags the specific search results they want to keep and have reappear in a subsequent result set in the search session. This allows a user to save time during a search session by not having to view repeated results, and allows the user to focus on more relevant and related results.

Claims22

Dependent claims

A method for streamlining the results of an Internet search by excluding at least one prior search result from a current set of search results, the method comprising the steps of:

conducting a first search;
displaying a first set of search results from said first search;
excluding at least one result of said displayed first set of search results from at least one second search by a user selecting said at least one result;
conducting said at least one second search, said second search generating a second set of search results comprising at least another search result from said first set of search results not selected to be excluded, said second search related to said first search;
and:
displaying said second set of search results comprising said at least another search result from said first set of search results not selected to be excluded thereby enabling said user to eliminate redundant results from said second set of search results unless the result is specifically selected to reappear in subsequent result sets.

3 more elements

An article of manufacture comprising:

a computer usable medium having computer readable program code means embodied therein for causing a search result set to be streamlined by excluding at least one prior search result from a current set of search results, the computer readable program code means in said article of manufacture comprising:
computer readable program code means for causing a computer to exclude at least one result of a displayed first set of search results of a first search from at least one second search by allowing a user to select said at least one result;
computer readable program code means for causing a computer to conduct said at least one second search, said second search generating a second set of search results comprising at least another search result from said first set of search results not selected to be excluded, said second search related to said first search;
computer readable program code means for causing a computer to display said second set of search results comprising said at least another search result from said first set of search results not selected to be excluded thereby enabling said user to eliminate redundant results from said second set of search results unless the result is specifically selected to reappear in subsequent result sets.

1 more element

A computer program product for use with a search device, said computer program product comprising:

a computer usable medium having computer readable program code means embodied in said medium for causing a search result set to be streamlined by excluding at least one prior search result from a current set of search results, said computer program product having:
computer readable program code means for causing a computer to exclude at least one result of a displayed first set of search results of a first search from at least one second search by allowing a user to select said at least one result;
computer readable program code means for causing a computer to conduct said at least one second search, said second search generating a second set of search results comprising at least another search result from said first set of search results not selected to be excluded, said second search related to said first search;
computer readable program code means for causing a computer to display said second set of search results thereby enabling said user to eliminate redundant results from said second set of search results unless the result is specifically selected to reappear in subsequent result sets.