US5982370A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Highlighting tool for search specification in a user interface of a computer system
Assignee: International Business Machines Corp
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Filing: 1997-07-18
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Granted: 1999-11-09
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Expires: 2017-07-18
Abstract
Abstract A search interface is provided that is easy to use and understand. A unique visual metaphor in the form of a "highlight" tool is used for this purpose. The highlighting tool is used to identify search terms. In one embodiment, a user uses the tool to mark text on a document, such as an HTML document displayed in a Web browser. Upon selection of this text, and preferably following a time delay, a pop-up menu appears that offers the user the option of searching for this text. After searching and receiving the results, the user can again use the highlighting tool to mark one or more words/terms (or other information, such as a URL) within the results listed.
Inventors
- 👤 Robert J. Kamper
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 12:30
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F3/00; G06F3/01; G06F3/048; G06F3/0481; G06F16/00; G06F16/30; G06F16/33; G06F16/332; G06F16/90; G06F16/903; G06F16/9032; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S707/00; Y10S707/99931; Y10S707/99933
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 28
Claim 1
Independent Claim
94 words
A method for identifying information for input to a search engine supported on a data processing system having a graphical user interface and a graphical pointing device that controls a graphical pointer on the graphical user interface, comprising the steps of: displaying a document on the graphical user interface; converting the graphical pointer to a predetermined graphic device; and in response to a manipulation of the graphical pointing device and without keystroke entry, associating the graphic device with a text portion in the document to thereby identify information for input to the search engine.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
94 words
A method for identifying information for input to a search engine supported on a data processing system having a graphical user interface and a graphical pointing device that controls a graphical pointer on the graphical user interface, comprising the steps of: displaying a document on the graphical user interface; converting the graphical pointer to a predetermined graphic device; and in response to a manipulation of the graphical pointing device and without keystroke entry, associating the graphic device with a text portion in the document to thereby identify information for input to the search engine.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method as described in claim 1 wherein the graphical user interface includes a Web browser.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method as described in claim 2 wherein the document is formatted according to a Hypertext Markup Language (HTML).
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
47 words
The method as described in claim 3 wherein the search engine is an Internet search engine having an indexer for retrieving web sites, an index for storing the web sites retrieved, and a search engine for identifying web sites having the information input to the search engine.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method as described in claim 1 further including the step of displaying a menu of search options to the user after the user identifies the information for input to the search engine.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method as described in claim 5 further including the step of delaying the display of the menu for a predetermined time period.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method as described in claim 1 wherein the graphic device represents a highlight marker.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method as described in claim 7 wherein the graphical pointer device is converted to the highlight marker using a bitmap.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
116 words
A method for searching the World Wide Web of the Internet using one of a plurality of Internet search engines accessible through a Web browser, the Web browser supported on a data processing system having a graphical user interface (GUI) and a mouse that controls a cursor, the method comprising the steps of: selecting one of the plurality of Internet search engines for performing a search; converting the cursor to a predetermined graphic device representing a highlighting tool; and in response to a manipulation of the mouse, associating the highlighting tool with a text portion in a hypertext document being displayed by the Web browser to thereby identify information for input to the selected search engine.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
116 words
A method for searching the World Wide Web of the Internet using one of a plurality of Internet search engines accessible through a Web browser, the Web browser supported on a data processing system having a graphical user interface (GUI) and a mouse that controls a cursor, the method comprising the steps of: selecting one of the plurality of Internet search engines for performing a search; converting the cursor to a predetermined graphic device representing a highlighting tool; and in response to a manipulation of the mouse, associating the highlighting tool with a text portion in a hypertext document being displayed by the Web browser to thereby identify information for input to the selected search engine.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method as described in claim 9 further including the step of searching the Internet according to the information input to the selected search engine.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method as described in claim 10 further including the step of returning results of the search to the browser and displaying the results in a given format.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method as described in claim 11 further including the step of associating the highlighting tool with a given portion of the results displayed in the given format to identify a new search.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method as described in claim 12 wherein the given portion of the results comprises a set of Uniform Resource Locators (URLS).
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method as described in claim 9 further including the step of displaying a menu of search options to the user after the user identifies the information for input to the selected search engine.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method as described in claim 14 further including the step of delaying the display of the menu for a predetermined time period.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
100 words
A method for searching the World Wide Web of the Internet using one of a plurality of Internet search engines accessible through a Web browser, the Web browser supported on a data processing system having a graphical user interface (GUI), the method comprising the steps of: selecting one of the plurality of Internet search engines for performing a search; highlighting a text portion in a hypertext document being displayed by the Web browser to identify information for input to the selected search engine; and executing a search of the Internet according to the information input to the selected search engine.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
100 words
A method for searching the World Wide Web of the Internet using one of a plurality of Internet search engines accessible through a Web browser, the Web browser supported on a data processing system having a graphical user interface (GUI), the method comprising the steps of: selecting one of the plurality of Internet search engines for performing a search; highlighting a text portion in a hypertext document being displayed by the Web browser to identify information for input to the selected search engine; and executing a search of the Internet according to the information input to the selected search engine.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method as described in claim 16 wherein the text portion is highlighted using a graphic device that is manipulated over the text portion.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method as described in claim 16 wherein the graphic device is manipulated over the text portion by activating and moving a graphical pointing device.
Claim 22
Independent Claim
88 words
A method for highlighting given text displayed in a document on a display of a data processing system having a graphical pointing device, comprising the steps of: outputting a widget on the display, the widget representing a highlighting tool; correlating manipulation of the graphical pointing device and movement of the widget over the given text; highlighting the given text as the widget moves over the given text; and providing a user with an option to use the given text, or a portion thereof, to drive a search engine.
Claim 23
Independent Claim
88 words
A method for highlighting given text displayed in a document on a display of a data processing system having a graphical pointing device, comprising the steps of: outputting a widget on the display, the widget representing a highlighting tool; correlating manipulation of the graphical pointing device and movement of the widget over the given text; highlighting the given text as the widget moves over the given text; and providing a user with an option to use the given text, or a portion thereof, to drive a search engine.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
100 words
A computer program product in a computer readable media for identifying information to be input to a search engine supported on a data processing system, the data processing system having a graphical user interface and a graphical pointing device that controls a graphical pointer on the graphical user interface, the computer program product comprising: means for converting the graphical pointer to a predetermined graphic device representing a highlighting tool; and means responsive to manipulation of the graphical pointing device for associating the graphic device with a text portion in the document to identify information for input to the search engine.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
100 words
A computer program product in a computer readable media for identifying information to be input to a search engine supported on a data processing system, the data processing system having a graphical user interface and a graphical pointing device that controls a graphical pointer on the graphical user interface, the computer program product comprising: means for converting the graphical pointer to a predetermined graphic device representing a highlighting tool; and means responsive to manipulation of the graphical pointing device for associating the graphic device with a text portion in the document to identify information for input to the search engine.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
34 words
The computer program product as described in claim 20 further including means for displaying a menu of search options to the user after the user identifies the information for input to the search engine.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
90 words
A computer connected to the World Wide Web of the Internet, comprising: a processor; an operating system; a graphical user interface (GUI); a graphical pointing device that controls a graphical pointer on the graphical user interface; a Web browser; a search specification tool, comprising: means for converting the graphical pointer to a predetermined graphic device representing a highlighting tool; and means responsive to manipulation of the graphical pointing device for associating the graphic device with a text portion in the document to identify information for input to the search engine.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
90 words
A computer connected to the World Wide Web of the Internet, comprising: a processor; an operating system; a graphical user interface (GUI); a graphical pointing device that controls a graphical pointer on the graphical user interface; a Web browser; a search specification tool, comprising: means for converting the graphical pointer to a predetermined graphic device representing a highlighting tool; and means responsive to manipulation of the graphical pointing device for associating the graphic device with a text portion in the document to identify information for input to the search engine.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2002-11-08 | 2003-05-10 | 2003-11-09 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2006-11-08 | 2007-05-10 | 2007-11-09 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2010-11-08 | 2011-05-10 | 2011-11-09 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |