Patent ID: 6493703
Filing Date: 2002-12-10
Classification: G06F,G06Q,Y10S

Abstract:
An electronic message board system for use by a community of users, which system operates in part on an online server, said system comprising:a first routine running on the server for storing message data; and a second routine running on the server for processing said message data at predetermined intervals to construct searchable collections of said message data, said searchable collections being based on a set of predefined query parameters such that at least some of said message data is accessible to at least some of the community of users; and a third routine running on the server for interacting with a web browser program executing at user computer systems remote from the online server, said third routine being adapted for handling user queries to said message data, said queries being based on said predefined query parameters so that said third routine uses said searchable collections for responding to said user queries; and a fourth routine executing within said web browser program for generating said user queries, said fourth routine including an integrated interface for permitting said user to formulate said queries, said integrated interface including: i) a first display region for providing a visible display of a message list of at least some of any message entries retrieved in response to said queries, said list including at least some identifying parameters for each of said message entries; and ii) a second display region for providing a visible display of at least some substantive information for a user-selected one of said message entries, said substantive information being simultaneously visible with said message list displayed in said first display region, wherein the user can perform searching, listing and reviewing operations associated with said message entries simultaneously within a single window of said integrated interface, said reviewing operation including a presentation to the user of all substantive information for at least one of said message entries.