Method for filtering search results with a graphical squeegee
US5886698A · kind A · utility
Assignees
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Apr 21, 1997 |
| Grant date | Mar 23, 1999 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Apr 21, 2017 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10S715/974
- WIPO fieldComputer technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
Images representing search results are displayed on a screen of a computer system. The search results are responsive to a search in a database initiated by a user by entering a keyword or keywords via an input device. The images are displayed in such a way that an image corresponding to the highest matching value is the largest is size, while remaining matches are represented by images in direct proportion to their relevance to the keyword. In addition, the relevance of an image is indicated by its proximity to the keyword displayed on the screen: the closer the displayed image to the keyword, the more relevant the match represented by that image is to that keyword. This display operation is equivalent to two simultaneous searches with boolean operators "OR" and "AND". A graphical squeegee may be dragged across images representing search results in order to filter the results based on a keyword. The squeegee is displayed as a vertical bar and is associated with a keyword. As the squeegee is moved across the screen, images relevant to the keyword are moved while remaining images are not moved.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.