US 6,925,608 B1 · Graphical user interface for building Boolean queries and viewing search results

Abstract

Graphical user interfaces and methods for building Boolean queries and viewing search results using search cells, combination cells, toolbar, and menu bar. Search cells are movable within a workspace and contain a text field, facet type designation, advanced button, and hit count. Categories are chosen using a category walker. Combination cells, a Boolean combination of two or more selected search cells, are also movable and contain a combine icon, hit count, and an expression field. Boolean logic can be graphically depicted with the use of combination brackets. Contents of combination brackets are controllable through use of movable graphical pins between search cells. Alternatively, the Boolean query is depicted in a folder tree hierarchy, where search folders are shown within combination folders, which are represented as logical AND, OR, or MINUS folder icons. An applet in a browser accesses a server through the Internet.

Claims24

Dependent claims

A graphical user interface for building Boolean queries and viewing search results comprising:

a) a workspace capable of enclosing:
i. search cells stacked in a first column, each search cell having a search by type icon, a text field and a hit count;
ii. one or more pins graphically displayed between each pair of adjacent search cells, each pin having a shaft and a pinhead;
and
iii. one or more combination brackets arranged in a Boolean hierarchy within a second column adjacent to the first column, each combination bracket displayed adjacent to at least two search cells and having a combine icon and a combination bracket flag;
and
b) means for inserting search cells into the workspace;
c) means for graphically sliding pins horizontally within the second column:
i. to generate and manipulate combination brackets;
and
ii. to alter Boolean hierarchy of the combination brackets;
d) means for moving selected search cells;
e) means for deleting selected search cells from the workspace;
and
f) means for viewing search results corresponding to a Boolean query.

12 more elements

A method for building Boolean queries and viewing search results using a graphical user interface comprising the steps of:

a) opening a window including a workspace and a toolbar;
b) stacking two or more search cells into a first column of the workspace:
i. each search cell having a search by type icon, a text field and a hit count;
and
ii. each pair of adjacent search cells having a pin graphically displayed there between, each pin having a shaft and a pinhead;
and
c) entering text in the text fields of the search cells;
d) graphically sliding pins horizontally within a second column adjacent to the first column:
i. to generate and manipulate a plurality of combination brackets, each combination bracket adjacent to at least two search cells and each combination bracket having a combine icon;
and
ii. to alter a Boolean hierarchy of the combination brackets;
e) arranging placement of search cells and combination brackets to generate the Boolean query;
f) executing the Boolean query represented within the workspace;
and
g) viewing search results in the workspace.

12 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Graphical user interface for building Boolean queries and viewing search results

Life of this patent

Graphical user interface for building Boolean queries and viewing search results

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims24