# US 7,612,778 B2 · Graphical user interface graphics-based interpolated animation performance

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- Number: US 7,612,778 B2
- Document ID: US7612778B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 12/122,168
- Filed: 2008-05-16
- Published: 2008-09-11
- Granted: 2009-11-03
- Earliest claimed: 2000-09-28
- Assignees: AT&T Intellectual Property II, L.P.
- Inventors: Robert E. Coyne
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US7612778B2

## CPC

- G06T 13/00: Animation
- G06T 2200/24: involving graphical user interfaces [GUIs]
- G06T: IMAGE DATA PROCESSING OR GENERATION, IN GENERAL

## Abstract

A computer-implemented method provides for receiving via a processor a query of at least two terms, presenting a node for each term in a graphical display, positioning a cursor in the graphical display, displaying a list of results, repositioning a cursor in the graphical display based on a user input, and displaying a new list of results based on the relative weightings of at least one term associated with its node in a new processing of the query. The method also provides for receiving via a processor a query, presenting a plurality of nodes in a graphical display where each node is associated with a search engine, displaying results from processing the query using the search engine associated with the nodes, repositioning a cursor in the graphical display, and displaying a new list of results where repositioning the cursor changes the relative weightings of the search engine associated with its node.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A computer-implemented method of searching, the method comprising:
receiving via a processor a query having at least two terms;
presenting in a graphical display a node for each received term;
positioning a cursor in the graphical display;
displaying a list of results from a processing of the query;
repositioning a cursor in the graphical display based on a user input; and
displaying a new list of results in which the repositioning of the cursor causes a change in relative weightings of at least one term associated with its node in a new processing of the query.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the nodes are arranged in a simulated three dimensional display.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein terms having no semantic association are arranged near one another.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the closer the cursor is to a respective node, the stronger the relative weighting is for that term in processing the query.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the change in relative weightings is based on a distance between the cursor and each respective node.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, further comprising:
modifying a position of a respective node in the graphical display based on received user input.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the existence of a node is manipulated by receiving a chosen factor from a list of factors by the user.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein when the cursor is positioned on a node, the term associated with that node receives a strongest respective weighting in processing the query.

### Claim 9

A computer-implemented method of searching, the method comprising:
receiving via a processor a query;
presenting in a graphical display a plurality of nodes, wherein each node is associated with a search engine;
positioning a cursor in the graphical display;
displaying a list of results from a processing of the query using the search engine associated with the plurality of nodes;
repositioning a cursor in the graphical display; and
displaying a new list of results in which the repositioning of the cursor causes a change in relative weightings of at least one search engine associated with its node in a new processing of the query.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The method of claim 9, wherein the nodes are arranged in a simulated three dimensional display.

### Claim 11 (depends on 9)

The method of claim 9, wherein the closer the cursor is to a respective node, the stronger the relative weighting is for that search engine in processing the query.

### Claim 12 (depends on 9)

The method of claim 9, wherein the change in relative weightings is based on a distance between the cursor and each respective node.

### Claim 13 (depends on 9)

The method of claim 9, further comprising:
modifying a position of a respective node in the graphical display based on received user input.

### Claim 14 (depends on 9)

The method of claim 9, wherein the existence of a node is manipulated by receiving a chosen factor from a list of factors by the user.

### Claim 15 (depends on 9)

The method of claim 9, wherein when the cursor is positioned on a node, the search engine associated with that node receives a strongest respective weighting in processing the query.