Method and apparatus for displaying a record from a structured database with minimum keystrokes
US6370518B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Oct 5, 1998 |
| Grant date | Apr 9, 2002 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Oct 5, 2018 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10S707/99935
- WIPO fieldComputer technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
An improved query input technique is disclosed in which a user supplies a few character-based queries and is able to retrieve and display at least as portion of a record from a structured database. For every character the user enters, a progressively reduced list of indexes that start with the entered characters is displayed. When a desired index identifying the record is among those indexes being displayed, the user may cease the character entry and scroll a zoom window upon the desired index to explore the full record. Various visual feedback indicators can also be displayed for the benefit of the user. Consequently, the user can access and display pertinent information of a certain record from a database quickly and efficiently with a reduced number keystrokes.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.