Patent ID: 6279016
Filing Date: 2001-08-21
Classification: G06F,Y10S

Abstract:
In a first computer system, a method for standardized filtering of data from an arbitrary data provider, the method comprising:receiving a first set of data from the arbitrary data provider, said first set of data including a plurality of data objects and a plurality of attributes associated with the data objects, wherein the data objects are constituents of the data set, and wherein the attributes describe the data objects;displaying the first set of data, together with a plurality of labels and a plurality of filter input areas for receiving from a user of the computer system filter input that is responsive to an attribute of the first set of data, wherein:each of the plurality of labels describes an attribute of the first data set; andeach of the plurality of filter input areas is associated with a different attribute of the first set of data; the method further including:receiving, from the user, filter input into one or more of the plurality of filter input areas, wherein a first filter input area accepts filter input responsive to a first attribute associated with the first filter input area;sending the filter input to the arbitrary data provider;receiving from the arbitrary data provider a second set of data, wherein said second set of data is derived by filtering the first data set according to the first attribute with the filter input from the user for the first attribute; anddisplaying the second set of data with said plurality of labels and filter input areas.