US 7,797,635 B1 · Electronic search interface technology

Abstract

Techniques are described for displaying a representation of a list of electronic search results while a user is reviewing content linked to by electronic search results included in the list. While the user is reviewing the search results, the user may jump between content linked to by different search results using the representation of the list of electronic search results displayed. The displayed representation of the list of search results may be updated based on the user's browsing activities in reviewing the search results, user input manipulating the list of search results, and supplemental information added to the list of search results by the user.

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Drawings

Claims20

Dependent claims

An electronic search system comprising:

at least one processor;
and
at least one computer-readable storage medium encoded with executable instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, causes the at least one processor to perform operations comprising:
causing display of at least a portion of an interface that includes an input field configured to enable a user to enter one or more terms that define a search query and that includes a search control configured to, when selected based on user input, initiate a search using a search query entered in the input field at a time of selection of the search control;
receiving user input selecting the search control included in the interface at a time when one or more terms have been entered in the input field included in the interface to define a first search query;
in response to the selection of the search control included in the interface at the time when one or more terms have been entered in the input field included in the interface to define the first search query:
accessing the first search query that was entered in the input field included in the interface at a time of selection of the search control;
initiating a search using the first search query that was entered in the input field included in the interface at the time of selection of the search control to identify search results that are responsive to the first search query;
based on the search using the first search query, accessing a first list of search results that are responsive to the first search query, the first list of search results including at least a first search result that is responsive to the first search query and that links to first electronic content;
and
causing display of the first list of search results accessed based on the search using the first search query, the display of the first list of search results having a representation of the first search result that includes description information that is descriptive of the first search result and a first link that links to the first electronic content;
after causing display of the first list of search results identified based on performing the search using the first search query, detecting user input selecting the first link of the first search result included in the display of the first list of search results, the selection of the first link of the first search result causing display of the first electronic content linked to by the first link of the first search result;
and
in response to the detection of user input selecting the first link of the first search result included in the display of the first list of search results, automatically, by at least one processor and without additional user input after the user input selecting the first link of the first search result, including the first search result in a second list of search results that is different from the first list of search results, that, when displayed, includes a reformatted representation of the first search result that has reduced description information of the first search result as compared to the description information included in the representation of the first search result in the display of the first list of search results, and that, when displayed, includes at least one interface control that enables a user to add, to the first search result included in the second list of search results, a comment that is displayed in the second list of search results in association with the reformatted representation of the first search result.

11 more elements

A method comprising:

causing display of at least a portion of an interface that includes an input field configured to enable a user to enter one or more terms that define a search query and that includes a search control configured to, when selected based on user input, initiate a search using a search query entered in the input field at a time of selection of the search control;
receiving user input selecting the search control included in the interface at a time when one or more terms have been entered in the input field included in the interface to define a first search query;
in response to the selection of the search control included in the interface at the time when one or more terms have been entered in the input field included in the interface to define the first search query:
accessing the first search query that was entered in the input field included in the interface at a time of selection of the search control;
initiating a search using the first search query that was entered in the input field included in the interface at the time of selection of the search control to identify search results that are responsive to the first search query;
based on the search using the first search query, accessing a first list of search results that are responsive to the first search query, the first list of search results including at least a first search result that is responsive to the first search query and that links to first electronic content;
and
causing display of the first list of search results accessed based on the search using the first search query, the display of the first list of search results having a representation of the first search result that includes description information that is descriptive of the first search result and a first link that links to the first electronic content;
after causing display of the first list of search results identified based on performing the search using the first search query, detecting user input selecting the first link of the first search result included in the display of the first list of search results, the selection of the first link of the first search result causing display of the first electronic content linked to by the first link of the first search result;
and
in response to the detection of user input selecting the first link of the first search result included in the display of the first list of search results, automatically, by at least one processor and without additional user input after the user input selecting the first link of the first search result, including the first search result in a second list of search results that is different from the first list of search results, that, when displayed, includes a reformatted representation of the first search result that has reduced description information of the first search result as compared to the description information included in the representation of the first search result in the display of the first list of search results, and that, when displayed, includes at least one interface control that enables a user to add, to the first search result included in the second list of search results, a comment that is displayed in the second list of search results in association with the reformatted representation of the first search result.

8 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Description31,628 words

Summary129 words

#This document relates to electronic search interface technology.

#An electronic search provider may enable a user to submit a search query related to information in which the user is interested. In response to the submitted search query, the electronic search provider identifies electronic documents that match the submitted search query and displays the matching electronic document as a list of search results.

#Implementations of the described techniques may include hardware, a method or process implemented at least partially in hardware, or a computer-readable storage medium encoded with executable instructions that, when executed by a processor, perform operations.

Brief description of the drawings4 figures

#FIGS. 1-4, 7, 8, 10, 12, 13, 15, 17, 19, 20, 22-24, 26-28, 30, 32, 34, 35, 38, 40, 42, 44, and 46 illustrate examples of user interfaces.

#FIGS. 5 and 50 depict examples of electronic search systems.

#FIGS. 6, 9, 11, 14, 16, 18, 21, 25, 29, 31, 33, 36, 37, 39, 41, 43, 45, 47, and 48 are flowcharts of example processes.

Detailed description31,425 words

#Techniques are described for displaying a representation of a list of electronic search results while a user is reviewing content linked to by electronic search results included in the list. While the user is reviewing the search results, the user may jump between content linked to by different search results using the representation of the list of electronic search results displayed. The displayed representation of the list of search results may be updated based on the user's browsing activities in reviewing the search results, user input manipulating the list of search results, and supplemental information added to the list of search results by the user.

#Referring to FIG. 1, an interface 100 of a search system includes an input field 110 and a search control 120. The input field 110 enables a user to enter a search query that includes one or more terms and parameters (e.g., logical operators) defining the desired analysis of the search query. When a user selects the search control 120 using, for example, an input device 130, the search system performs a search using the search query entered in the input field 110 and displays results of the search to the user.

#FIG. 2 illustrates an interface 200 that displays search results identified in response to a search query entered by a user. The interface 200 includes a list of search results 205. Each search result included in the list 205 links to electronic content associated with the search result and enables the user to view or link to the associated electronic content upon selection of the search result. Each search result also includes description information that is descriptive of the search result and its relevancy to the entered search query. The description information may include a summary, related links, relevancy ratings, a uniform resource locator (URL), etc.

Facts

Application

12/767,780Filed 26 Apr 2010 · continuation

Priority

9 Dec 2008

Granted

14 Sep 2010

Term ends

9 Dec 2028

Estimated · how

20 years from earliest known nonprovisional domestic filing plus recorded patent term adjustment. Maintenance-fee lapses, terminal disclaimers and statutory extensions have not been checked. The continuity chain may be incomplete; this is not an enforceability determination.

Classification4 codes

G06F 16/9538
Querying, e.g. by the use of web search engines: presentation of query results
G06F 16/9038
Querying: presentation of query results
G06F 16/951
Retrieval from the web: indexing; Web crawling techniques
G06F
Computing and data processing

Timeline

9 Dec 2008Priority claimedParent application 12/331,406
26 Apr 2010Application filedUS 12/767,780
14 Sep 2010GrantedUS 7,797,635 B1
25 Apr 2012Assigned to Shutterstock Images LLCassignment of assignor's interest
23 Oct 2012Assigned to Shutterstock, Inc.merger
12 Oct 2026TodayWithin its term
9 Dec 2028Term endsEstimated

Electronic search interface technology

Life of this patent

Electronic search interface technology

Life of this patent

Life of this patent

Abstract

Drawings

Drawings

Claims20

Description31,628 words

Drawings

Classification4 codes

Life of this patent

Description31,628 words