# US 8,543,936 B2 · Graphical user interface for building Boolean queries and viewing search results > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,543,936 B2 - Document ID: US8543936B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 12/454,324 - Filed: 2009-05-14 - Published: 2009-09-10 - Granted: 2013-09-24 - Earliest claimed: 2000-07-05 - Assignees: Kendyl A. Román; Data Ace, Inc. - Applicants: Richard S. Neale; Loren L. Hart; Charlton D. Rose - Inventors: Richard S. Neale; Loren L. Hart; Charlton D. Rose - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8543936B2 ## CPC - G06F 16/332: Query formulation - Y10S 707/99933: Query processing, i.e. searching - Y10S 707/99934: Query formulation, input preparation, or translation - Y10S 707/99935: Query augmenting and refining, e.g. inexact access - Y10S 715/967: Visual or iconic programming - G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N) - Y10S: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS ## Abstract Graphical user interfaces and method 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. 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. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A computing device for building Boolean queries and viewing search results in a computing system, the computing device comprising: a processor; and a memory storing computer executable instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to implement a graphical user interface including: a) a window defined to have a workspace; b) a first button programmed with instructions for inserting search cells into the workspace using a folder tree hierarchy upon selection of the first button, each search cell configured to display a search by type icon, a text field, and a hit count; c) a second button programmed with instructions for inserting combination cells into the workspace using the folder tree hierarchy upon selection of the second button, each combination cell configured to display a combine icon, wherein the combine icon is selected from a group including a logical AND icon, a logical OR icon and a logical MINUS icon, wherein, after at least two search cells are inserted into the workspace, the second button is selected; d) a user selection device programmed with instructions for selecting and moving search cells and combination cells within the folder tree hierarchy and for selecting and deleting search cells and combination cells from the workspace; and e) at least one tab defined within the workspace for displaying search results of search cells and combination cells in the workspace. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The computing device for building Boolean queries and viewing search results as in claim 1, wherein: a) an applet running on a client computer controls insertion, selection, movement, and deletion of the search cells and the combination cells; and b) a server computer executes queries received over an internet connection from the client computer and delivers search results back to the client computer over the internet. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The computing device for building Boolean queries and viewing search results as in claim 2 wherein the client computer is local and the server computer is remote. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The computing device for building Boolean queries and viewing search results as in claim 1, wherein content of the text field is configured to be selected using a category walker. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The computing device for building Boolean queries and viewing search results as in claim 1, wherein information displayed in the tab includes a title, a media type, and a location for each search result. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The computing device for building Boolean queries and viewing search results as in claim 5, wherein the location is a URL address. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The computing device for building Boolean queries and viewing search results as in claim 1, wherein search parameters displayed in the workspace are treated as a session. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The computing device for building Boolean queries and viewing search results as in claim 7, wherein a user has ability to save, open and close the session. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The computing device for building Boolean queries and viewing search results as in claim 1, wherein the search results are treated as a collection. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The computing device for building Boolean queries and viewing search results as in claim 9, wherein a user has ability to save, open and close the collection. ### Claim 11 A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having computer-executable program instructions for implementing a graphical user interface for building Boolean queries and viewing search results including: a) a window defined to have a workspace; b) a first button programmed with instructions for inserting search cells into the workspace using a folder tree hierarchy upon selection of the first button, each search cell configured to display a search by type icon, a text field, and a hit count; c) a second button programmed with instructions for inserting combination cells into the workspace using the folder tree hierarchy upon selection of the second button, each combination cell configured to display a combine icon, wherein the combine icon is selected from a group including a logical AND icon, a logical OR icon and a logical MINUS icon, wherein, after at least two search cells are inserted into the workspace, the second button is selected; d) a user selection device programmed with instructions for selecting and moving search cells and combination cells within the folder tree hierarchy and for selecting and deleting search cells and combination cells from the workspace; and e) at least one tab defined within the workspace for displaying search results of search cells and combination cells in the workspace. ### Claim 12 A method for building a Boolean query and viewing the query results using a graphical user interface as part of a computing system, comprising the steps of: displaying a window on a display device, the window configured to include a workspace; receiving a first button input causing insertion of one or more search cells into the workspace using a folder tree hierarchy, each search cell configured to include a search-by-type icon, a text field, and a hit count field; after at least two search cells are inserted into the workspace using the folder tree hierarchy, receiving a second button input causing insertion of one or more combination cells into the workspace, each combination cell configured to display a combine icon, wherein the combine icon is selected from a group including a logical AND icon, a logical OR icon and a logical MINUS icon; receiving input in the text field of each search cell specifying search terms; receiving input causing the search terms in each cell to be executed; displaying search results for each cell in a new tab in the workspace, and updating the hit count field for each cell. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The method for building Boolean queries and viewing search results using a graphical user interface as in claim 12, further comprising: a) running an applet on a client to control insertion, selection, movement, and deletion of the search cells and the combination cells; and b) executing queries on a server, said queries received over an internet connection from the client, and said server delivering search results back to the client over the internet connection. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The method for building Boolean queries and viewing search results using a graphical user interface as in claim 13, wherein the client is local and the server is remote. ### Claim 15 (depends on 12) The method for building Boolean queries and viewing search results using a graphical user interface as in claim 12, further comprising receiving a selection of content for the text field using a category walker. ### Claim 16 (depends on 12) The method for building Boolean queries and viewing search results using a graphical user interface as in claim 12 further comprising the step of displaying each search result, including a title, a media type, and a location. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The method for building Boolean queries and viewing search results using a graphical user interface as in claim 16 wherein the location is a URL address. ### Claim 18 (depends on 12) The method for building Boolean queries and viewing search results using a graphical user interface as in claim 12, wherein search parameters displayed in the workspace are treated as a session. ### Claim 19 (depends on 12) The method for building Boolean queries and viewing search results using a graphical user interface as in claim 12 wherein the search results are treated as a collection. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The method for building Boolean queries and viewing search results using a graphical user interface as in claim 19, further comprising receiving user input specifying an operation to save, open or close the collection. ### Claim 21 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, further comprising a step of selecting and moving search cells and combination cells within the folder tree hierarchy. ### Claim 22 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, further comprising a step of selecting and deleting search cells and combination cells from the workspace.