Patent ID: 7054870
Filing Date: 2006-05-30
Classification: G06F,G06Q,Y10S

Abstract:
1. A computer-implemented method of allowing navigation of and access to a plurality of data elements residing within a category-tree database, the category-tree database being structured with a plurality of parent categories and at least one plurality of subcategories, the plurality of subcategories directly below the parent categories in the category tree being first level subcategories, any subcategories directly below the first level subcategories in the category tree being second level subcategories, and so on, each data element having a category path that includes a parent category and at least one subcategory, each data element residing within the category-tree database at a subcategory included in its category path, the computer-implemented method comprising: providing a distinct parent category symbol on a single primary web page for each parent category in the category paths of the plurality of data elements; providing a distinct data element symbol for each data element of the plurality of data elements, each data element symbol including a link to the data element it represents; on the primary web page, for each data element, associating its corresponding data element symbol with the parent category symbol of the parent category in its category path; for each parent category represented on the primary web page, providing a distinct first level web page that includes a first level subcategory symbol for each first level subcategory in each category path of the at least one data element associated with that parent category and the data element symbol for each such at least one data element, such at least one data element symbol being shown associated with its respective first level subcategory symbol; and for each depicted first level subcategory having at least one associated data element that includes a second level subcategory in its category path, providing a distinct second level web page that includes a second level subcategory symbol for each such second level subcategory and the data element symbol for each such at least one associated data element, such at least one data element symbol being shown associated with its respective second level subcategory symbol, whereby each data element is accessible from all web pages that depict the parent category or any subcategory in the category path of such data element.