US6751611B2
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and system for creating improved search queries
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 2003-02-28
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Granted: 2004-06-15
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Expires: 2023-02-28
Abstract
Abstract A method and system for creating improved search queries using pre-arranged controlled vocabularies, word groups, and word types. The invention is called a search builder. The search builder is a server-based program, which houses numerous individual topic oriented search builder modules. Each module is focused on a special topic of interest. Each search builder module leads users through a series of word groups, where a user may select words to be added to a query, which will ultimately be sent to a search engine or searchable database.
Inventors
- 👤 Paul Jeffrey Krupin
- 👤 Donald Roy Short
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 17:11
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F16/00; G06F16/30; G06F16/33; G06F16/332; G06F16/3322; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S707/00; Y10S707/99931; Y10S707/99932; Y10S707/99933; Y10S707/99934; Y10S707/99935
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
277 words
A method for creating a search string using a computer system, the computer system having a processor, a display, and a browser, the computer system programmed with a server-based program called a search builder, the method comprising the steps of: selecting a search topic; defining a plurality of word categories related to the search topic; forming a word group for each word category; populating each word group with a plurality of preselected words within the word category, each of the plurality of words within each word group selected to vary the scope of a search relative to the remaining words in the word group; generating a first search string by selecting a first word from each of a plurality of the word groups to create a search string; transmitting the first search string to a search engine; receiving a first data set from the search engine; graphically displaying an analysis of the first search string based on the number of words in the search string, the number of word groups selected, the number of word types selected, and an index of the targeting of the search words selected; creating a second search string by replacing the first word of a first word group of the first search string with second word from the first word group; transmitting the second search string to the search engine; receiving a second data set from the search engine; and, graphically displaying an analysis of the second search string based on the number of words in the search string, the number of word groups selected, the number of word types selected, and an index of the targeting of the search words selected.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
277 words
A method for creating a search string using a computer system, the computer system having a processor, a display, and a browser, the computer system programmed with a server-based program called a search builder, the method comprising the steps of: selecting a search topic; defining a plurality of word categories related to the search topic; forming a word group for each word category; populating each word group with a plurality of preselected words within the word category, each of the plurality of words within each word group selected to vary the scope of a search relative to the remaining words in the word group; generating a first search string by selecting a first word from each of a plurality of the word groups to create a search string; transmitting the first search string to a search engine; receiving a first data set from the search engine; graphically displaying an analysis of the first search string based on the number of words in the search string, the number of word groups selected, the number of word types selected, and an index of the targeting of the search words selected; creating a second search string by replacing the first word of a first word group of the first search string with second word from the first word group; transmitting the second search string to the search engine; receiving a second data set from the search engine; and, graphically displaying an analysis of the second search string based on the number of words in the search string, the number of word groups selected, the number of word types selected, and an index of the targeting of the search words selected.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
57 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the step of selecting a search topic includes the steps of: depicting on the display at least one search topic; the user selecting the search topic from the at least one search topic; and, responsive to selection by the user of the search topic displaying a plurality of pre-selected word groups.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
133 words
The method of claim 2 wherein the step of generating a first search string comprises the steps of: displaying a plurality of word group headings to the user; the user selecting a first word group heading; displaying the pre-selected words populating the first word group to the user; the user selecting a first word from the first word group; entering the first word from the first word group into a first search string; displaying the plurality of word group headings to the user; the user selecting a second word group heading from the plurality of displayed word groups; displaying the pre-selected words populating the second word group; the user selecting a first word from the second word group; and, adding the first word from the second word group to the first search string.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
27 words
The search builder display method described in claim 1 which further comprises the step of displaying the search word types in selected color codes and in text.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
42 words
The search builder display method described in claim 4 where the step of displaying the word types includes displaying standardized terms identifying each word type, the terms selected from the group consisting of a subject, action, feature, knowledge, location, date and domain.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
37 words
The search builder display method described in claim 4 wherein the the step of displaying the search word types in selected color codes and in text includes displaying the search groups color coded to the word types.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
35 words
The search builder display method described in claim 1 wherein the step of displaying the pre-selected words in a group to the user includes displaying pre-arranged controlled vocabulary drop down menus for each word group.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
40 words
The search builder display method described in claim 1 wherein the step of entering the first word from the first word group includes displaying the first word in a text box and in the display associated with the word group.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
36 words
The search builder display method described in claim 1 wherein the step of selecting a first word from the first word group includes selecting an accept button which enters the first word into a search string.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
28 words
The search builder display method described in claim 1 which further comprises the step of displaying a clear button which when clicked deletes words in the text box.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
47 words
The search builder display method described in claim 1 which further comprises the step of displaying a selected search word includes displaying the selected search word in a sequence of words color coded to correspond to the word group from which the selected search word was selected.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
26 words
The search builder display method according to claim 1 further comprises displaying a topics button that when selected displays a list of the available search topics.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
45 words
The search builder display method described in claim 1 which further comprises the step of displaying a search button which when clicked displays a color coded search string comprised of at least one selected word and a list of pre-selected search engines or searchable databases.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
35 words
The search builder display method described in claim 1 which further comprises the step of displaying a clear and start over button which when selected displays a list of pre-arranged search engines or searchable databases.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
30 words
The search builder display method described in claim 1 which further comprises displaying a Save Search button which when selected saves a search string builder configuration and search word query.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
43 words
The search builder display method described in claim 15 which further comprises displaying a Load Last Saved Search button and a text box containing Saved Searches, the Load Last Search button operable to enter a saved search word query into a text box.
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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) | 2007-06-15 | 2007-12-15 | 2008-06-15 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2011-06-15 | 2011-12-15 | 2012-06-15 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2015-06-15 | 2015-12-15 | 2016-06-15 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |