EP0851368A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Self-teaching advanced search specification
Assignee: Sun Microsystems Inc
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Filing: 1997-12-16
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2017-12-16
Abstract
Abstract A graphical user interface (GUI) for a text search system includes text entry fields and menus of operators from which a search query is composed. The actual search query submitted to a search engine is a single string of text and operators arranged in accordance with the search syntax in use. The actual search query is also displayed on the GUI and permits a user to learn how the system interprets the entries in the fields and selections from the menus as they are entered or changed. The displayed search query is also editable and changes in the overall search query are reflected back into the text entry fields and operators from which it was composed. Thus a user can compose a search query using either form fill out or text editing.
Inventors
- 👤 Jakob Nielsen
- 👤 Donald R. Genter
- 👤 Martin E. Hardee
- 👤 Leif Samuelsson
- 👤 Meghan R. Ede
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 02:48
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F16/00; G06F16/30; G06F16/33; G06F16/332
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim
78 words
Apparatus for carrying out a search of a database,
comprising: a. a computer, having a search process for
searching said database, configured to
send a graphical user interface to a user
device, said graphical user interface
including text entry and/or operator
components and a single string
interpretation of a text query
formulated using said components of said
graphical user interface; and b. a user device, including a display,
connected to said computer for displaying
said graphical user interface.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
26 words
Apparatus of claim 1 in which said user device is a
computer and the graphical user interface is sent to said
user device as an applet.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
27 words
Apparatus of claim 1 in which said user device is a
computer and the graphical user interface is sent to said
user device as an html document.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
19 words
Apparatus of claim 3 in which said html document
implements text entry using an html <FORM> or
<FRAME> command.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
48 words
Apparatus of claim 1 in which said user device is a
computer configured to edit said single string
interpretation of a text query and to reflect changes in
the single string interpretation back to the components
of the graphical user interface which resulted in the
single string interpretation.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
18 words
Apparatus of claim 1 in which said graphical user
interface includes a scope of search pull down menu.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
27 words
Apparatus of claim 1 in which said graphical user
interface includes a pull down menu containing a list
of single string interpretations previously submitted
to said computer.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
38 words
Apparatus of claim 7 in which selection of a single
string interpretation from said list results in
display of that interpretation and the contents of
that interpretation are used to change the
components which resulted in that interpretation.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
67 words
A computer implemented method of composing a search
query, comprising the steps of: a. displaying a graphical user interface
containing text entry fields and operator
selection menus; b. converting contents of the text entry fields
and operators selected from said operator
selection menus into a system interpretation
for display to a user of how the system
interprets any entries in the text entry
fields and operator selections.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 9 in which the system
interpretation displayed can be edited.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 10 in which editing of the system
interpretation results in corresponding changes in the
contents of the text entry fields.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 10 in which editing of the system
interpretation results in corresponding changes in the
operators selected.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
85 words
In a system for providing text searches over a
network, having at least one search computer providing
search services, connected to the network and at least
one user terminal connected to said network and
configured to connect to a search computer, the method
comprising the steps of : a. downloading a graphical user search
interface from a search computer to a
user terminal; and b. using the graphical user search interface
to initiate searches on said search
computer and receive results from said
search computer.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
56 words
A system for providing text searches over a
network, comprising: a. a search computer connected to said network,
configured to download a graphical user search
interface to a user terminal, and b. at least one user terminal configured to
receive said graphical user search interface
and to use it to initiate searches on said
search computer.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
31 words
The system of claim 14, in which the graphical user
interface includes a single string interpretation of a
text query formulated using text and operator components
of said graphical user interface.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
73 words
A computer program product comprising: a. a memory medium; and b. a computer program, stored on said memory
medium, said computer program comprising
instructions for displaying a graphical user
interface containing text entry fields and
operator selection menus, and converting
contents of the text entry fields and
operators selected into a system
interpretation for display to a user of how
the system interprets any entries in the text
entry fields and operator selections
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
32 words
A computer program product of claim 16 in which
said computer program comprises instructions for editing
a system interpretation and for reflecting changes from
editing into the text entry fields and operators.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
103 words
In a system for providing text searches over a
network, having at least one search computer providing
search services, connected to the network and at least
one user terminal connected to said network and
configured to connect to a search computer, a program
product comprising: a. a memory medium; and b. a computer program, stored on said memory
medium, said computer program comprising
instructions for downloading a graphical user
search interface from a search computer to a
user terminal and instructions for executing
said graphical user search interface at said
user terminal to initiate searches at said
search computer from said user terminal.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
90 words
Use of a client computer system displaying a
graphical user interface (GUI) downloaded from a server,
to carry out a search, wherein the GUI includes search
word entry regions (200) and programming controls
(210,230) for selecting logical search combinations of
the search words entered in the word entry regions
(200), and is characterised by means responsive to the
settings of the programming controls to provide a
display (270) of the system's interpretation of the
selected logical search combinations in respect of
search words entered in the search word entry regions.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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