Patent ID: 7231384
Filing Date: 2007-06-12
Classification: G06F,G06Q,Y10S

Abstract:
1. A computer-implemented method comprising: providing a search input visual display on a display device, the search input visual display comprising a search query area and a concept navigation area that is separate from the search query area, the concept navigation area comprising a first section and a second section separate from the first section; receiving a search query that is entered by a user and displayed within the search query area; performing a first search to identify any documents stored in a knowledge base that match the search query; identifying any predefined concepts, from a predefined model of concepts, that are mentioned in at least one of any documents identified in the first search, wherein each of the predefined concepts from the model is a term or a phrase, and wherein the predefined model defines associations between different ones of the predefined concepts; displaying, in the first section of the concept navigation area, any of the predefined concepts that were identified as being mentioned in any documents identified in the first search; displaying, in the second section of the concept navigation area, any predefined concepts that the predefined model defines to be associated with at least one of any predefined concepts displayed in the first section of the concept navigation area; receiving a user selection of one of the associated concepts displayed in the second section of the concept navigation area; performing a second search to identify any documents stored in the knowledge base that match the search query and that mention the selected associated concept; and displaying, in a search results display area, a list of any documents identified in the second search.