System and method for creating a search query using movable elements in a graphical user interface

A system and method for creating a Boolean search query. The system includes a field determining object which determines searchable fields of a database. The fields may be arranged as selectable tiles in a view for selection by a user. A user may select a particular tile for including in a search query using a field selecting object. A field arranging object may be used to arrange the tiles selected as blocks in a graphical display of a search query. The relative position of the blocks determines any Boolean logical operation(s) to be performed. Boolean operators may also be displayed in the view for selection by the user.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to information systems, and more particularly to a system for formulating a search query using a graphical user interface that enables a user to selectively position tiles corresponding to searchable fields, where relative positions of the tiles represent logic operations between the searchable fields.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Data search and retrieval systems for searching collections of data are known. Generally, these collections are stored in one or more databases. Databases typically include records containing one or more fields. Separate databases may be connected via one or more networks. Network users may desire to obtain information related to a particular topic from one or more of the databases. A data search and retrieval system operating on, for example, a client/server architecture, may be used to search the databases or specific fields to retrieve certain information. Some existing data search and retrieval systems enable a user to search using Boolean logic. Such logic is generally known and involves using search terms, one or more logical operators, and text string delimiters to perform a search. Typically, a particular syntax must be used.

Boolean logic is a logical combinatorial system that represents relationships between entities. For example, Boolean logic may be used to represent a relationship between two or more text strings (e.g., keywords). Boolean logic uses logical operators (e.g., AND, NOT, OR) and delimiters (e.g., quotation marks, parenthesis) to represent the relationship. Text strings separated by logical operators and within particular delimiters represent different relationships. Accordingly, a proper format must be used to determine the appropriate logic to be applied. For example, if the text string computer and (screen or display), is used in a search of a database, the search will yield all objects having computer and either screen or display located in the database. If, however, the text string is entered as, (computer and screen) or display, the search will result in objects having both computer and screen or objects containing display. Thus, the proper format must be used to obtain desired results.

Some systems also are designed for use with a only particular database. The system is programmed for use with a particular database and the searchable fields within the database are hard-coded into the system. These systems may not be used with other databases.

Additionally, in some systems, a predetermined number (e.g., two or more) of input blocks are fixed in location in a graphical user interface permitting a user to input search terms. A pull-down menu displaying a plurality of operators may be provided. One drawback with this type of system is the limited number of search terms that may be used.

These and other drawbacks exist in prior search and retrieval systems.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An object of the invention is to overcome these and other drawbacks in existing systems.

Another object of the invention is to provide a system and method that assist users with creating Boolean search queries.

Another object of the invention is to provide a system and method that display the searchable fields of a database as selectable tiles within a view.

Another object of the invention is to provide a system and method that permit users to perform a Boolean search based on the relative position of search terms within a search display.

Another object of the invention is to provide a system and method that permit users to edit the search by altering the relative position of search terms within a search display.

Another object of the invention is to provide a system and method that permits users to save and retrieve search definitions.

According to one embodiment of the invention, a system and method are provided that present users with a graphical user interface (GUI) for creating a Boolean search query for searching data or objects stored within a database. The GUI comprises a search display which may comprise one or more blocks, each block comprising one or more sub-blocks, and each sub-block comprising one or more input boxes. Each sub-block may comprise selectable search criteria. Logical operators may be located between the blocks and sub-blocks. The GUI may also comprise selectable tiles that identify searchable fields within a database. The selectable tiles may be displayed as field specific sub-blocks within the display.

The GUI permits a system user to create a Boolean search query by entering search terms in one or more input boxes of a sub-block within a block and adding blocks and sub-blocks. The relative position of search terms within a block, the blocks themselves, and the logical operator associated with the blocks and sub-blocks identifies the logical operation to be performed using the search terms.

According to another embodiment, the system identifies searchable fields within a database and presents these fields as selectable tiles within the GUI. The system user may select one or more tiles and position these tiles in one or more sub-blocks within one or more blocks. The sub-blocks and blocks may be auto-expandable to display additional sub-blocks or blocks when another is added or reduce the size or number of blocks when a sub-block is removed. The relative position of the blocks and sub-blocks and the logical operator located therebetween determines the Boolean logic to be applied to the search. The GUI may display the Boolean logic operators to be applied as selectable options. The system user is permitted to view a search query in an intuitive, graphical format to determine the results that will be produced.

The system user may edit a search query by rearranging sub-blocks and blocks within the view, adding or deleting search terms, selecting another logical operator, etc. Performing any of these editing functions alters the search to be performed and yields results that conform to the query edited. Initial and edited search queries may be saved for later retrieval.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

According to one embodiment of the invention, a system, method, and computer readable medium comprising computer readable program code embodied therein are provided for enabling a user to create a Boolean search query. By inserting text strings (e.g., keywords) into blocks of a display and arranging the blocks in a particular arrangement, a Boolean search query may be constructed in a graphical format.

FIG. 1 illustrates an example of a graphical user interface (GUI) 200 in accordance with one embodiment of the invention. GUI 200 comprises input boxes 202 a - 202 i, display 204 , sub-blocks 206 a - 206 n, selectable search criteria 208 a - 208 d and blocks 210 a - 210 n. Blocks 210 a - 210 n may comprise one or more sub-blocks 206 a - 206 n. Sub-blocks 206 a - 206 n may comprise one or more input boxes 202 a - 202 i and selectable search criteria 208 a - 208 d. Logical operators 212 a - 212 b and 214 a - 214 b may be provided between sub-blocks 206 a - 206 n and blocks 210 a - 210 n, respectively. GUI 200 may also comprise selectable tiles 218 a - 218 n identifying searchable fields within a database. Selectable tiles 218 a - 218 n may be displayed as field specific sub-blocks 206 a - 206 n within display 204 .

Tiles 218 a - 218 n may be displayed in GUI 200 after a search is invoked by a user and a searchable fields determination is made. A searchable fields determination may be performed by the system by submitting a request for searchable fields to a database (e.g., a document, file, data warehouse, etc.) identified by the user. After receiving a response from the database, tiles 218 a - 218 n may then be presented. Tiles 218 a - 218 n may display the searchable fields (e.g., content, author, title, date, etc.) identified by the database (or databases).

A user may construct a search query by selectively positioning one or more tiles 218 a - 218 n as field specific sub-blocks 206 a - 206 n in one or more blocks 210 a - 210 n of display 204 . Tiles 218 a - 218 n may be moved, for example, by clicking-and-dragging tiles 218 a - 218 n using a conventional computer mouse. After positioning one or more tiles 218 a - 218 n within display 204 , tiles 218 a - 218 n may be displayed as field specific sub-blocks 206 a - 206 n within blocks 210 a - 210 n. Additional sub-blocks 206 a - 206 n or blocks 210 a - 210 n provide a graphical representation of another logical operation to be performed based on a logical operator positioned therebetween. A user may insert search parameters (e.g., keywords) for a particular field(s) into sub-blocks 206 a - 206 n. Sub-blocks 206 a - 206 n may contain search criteria 208 a - 208 d. Search criteria 208 a - 208 d may include user selectable options (e.g., contains any of, is exactly, starts with, ends with, between, etc.). Search criteria 208 a - 208 d may be displayed in a pull-down menu or other known format.

One or more sub-blocks 206 a - 206 n may be displayed in blocks 210 a - 210 n and one or more blocks 210 a - 210 n may be displayed in display 204 . Sub-blocks 206 a - 206 n and blocks 210 a - 210 n may be auto-expandable and auto-collapsible. For example, GUI 200 may present a single sub-block 206 a within a single block 210 a. When additional tiles 218 a - 218 n are inserted into blocks 210 a - 210 n, blocks 210 a - 210 n may expand to display an additional sub-block 206 n. Similarly, when tiles 218 a - 218 n are inserted into display 204 and separated from blocks 210 a - 210 b by logical operators 214 a - 214 b, an additional block 210 n may also be displayed. Empty sub-blocks 206 n and blocks 210 n may be displayed to provide a visual indication of the ability of display 204 to receive additional search terms. When tiles 218 a - 218 n are removed from blocks 210 a - 210 n, blocks 210 a - 210 n may collapse to accommodate remaining tiles 218 a - 218 n. As additional sub-blocks 206 a - 206 n and blocks 210 a - 210 n are inserted into display 204 , logical operators 212 a - 212 b and 214 a - 214 b may also be displayed between sub-blocks 206 a - 206 n and blocks 210 a - 210 n, respectively. Sub-blocks 206 a - 206 n within a single block 210 a - 210 n may be separated by a logical operator 212 a - 212 b (e.g., OR ). Therefore, when a search is performed, search parameters displayed within a single block 210 a - 210 n are applied to the search. Logical operators 212 a - 212 b may be provided with user selectable options (e.g., a pull-down menu) for changing the logical operation to be performed within or between blocks 210 a - 210 n.

According to another embodiment, the logical operation to be performed on sub-blocks 206 a - 206 n and blocks 210 a - 210 n may be coded into the system. The system may be coded to perform particular logical operations based on the orientation of sub-blocks 206 a - 206 n and blocks 210 a - 210 n. For example, the system may be coded to apply an AND operator to all horizontal blocks 210 a - 210 and an OR operation to all vertical sub-blocks 206 a - 206 n. In this embodiment, logical operators 212 a - 212 b and 214 a - 214 b may be displayed without providing a mechanism to enable the user to select the logical operation to be performed.

Multiple blocks 210 a - 210 n within display 204 may be separated by, for example, AND or NOT operators 214 a - 214 b. Accordingly, search parameters for multiple blocks 210 a - 210 n are ANDed or NOTed together as indicated. A user may select whether an AND or NOT (or other) logical operator is used by, for example, using selectors 216 a - 216 b. Selectors 216 a - 216 b may, for example, display a (plus) sign if an AND operator is selected, and a (minus) sign if a NOT operator is selected. Additionally, other known graphical representations may also be included in GUI 200 . For example, an OK button may be displayed to submit a search, a cancel button may be displayed to interrupt a search, or other Windows related functions may be displayed.

A Boolean search is performed in accordance with the arrangement of display 204 . For example, search parameters located within a single vertical block 210 a - 210 n may be ORed together, and may be ANDed with additional blocks 210 a - 210 n that are arranged in a horizontal manner. A user may change the search performed by changing the relative position of search criteria 208 a - 208 b, adding or deleting keywords, or other manner.

FIG. 2 illustrates a search system 14 in accordance with one embodiment of the invention. Search system 14 may include a search requesting object 22 for enabling a user to request a search of a database. After requesting a search, a field determining object 24 may be used to determine the searchable fields within the database. Search system 14 preferably includes a field presenting object 26 which may, for example, present the searchable fields as selectable tiles within a GUI. A field selecting object 28 may be used to select tiles chosen by a user. After one or more tiles have been chosen, a field arranging object 30 may be used to arrange the tiles as blocks within the GUI.

Field presenting object 26 , field selecting object 28 , and field arranging object 30 preferably operate to allow a user to construct a Boolean search query. These objects permit search system 14 to display a GUI that allows users to construct a Boolean query that may be understood by a user who may be unfamiliar with Boolean logic. The arrangement of fields within the display are presented such that a Boolean search is displayed in a graphical format. The arrangement may be altered to represent various Boolean search queries.

An input receiving object 32 receives search parameters (e.g., keywords, files, images) to search for in the database. Search parameters may include, for example, words that may be found in a title or body of an object, dates, etc. The search parameters may be positioned within boxes in the display. The boxes may be arranged in a horizontal, vertical, or other manner. Search parameters in boxes in a horizontal arrangement, for example, may indicate a bound phrase, whereas search parameters in boxes in a vertical arrangement may indicate an unbound phrase. This format does not require a user to use text string delimiters (e.g., quotation marks, parenthesis) to indicate bound phrases.

After receiving user input, a search submitting object 34 may be used to submit the search to the database. Search system 14 preferably includes a search saving object 36 which stores the search in, for example, the database for later access. A search performing object 38 performs the search in accordance with the arrangement of the blocks within the display and the logical operations located therebetween. A search results retrieving object 40 retrieves the search results and a search results presenting object 42 presents the results to the user.

It should be understood that although multiple objects are described as being part of search system 14 , such objects may be independent of search system 14 and reside on a different portion of a computer system. Also, the functions performed by one or more objects as described herein may be performed by other objects within a computer system.

Additionally, search system 14 may be provided on a computer readable storage medium and loaded onto a client. Other objects of search system 14 may also be provided on computer readable storage medium.

A method of formulating a search in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated in FIG. 3 . According to this embodiment, a search method 100 formulates a search query in step 102 . Step 102 requests a search of one or more databases for objects containing one or more fields. Step 104 may be included to determine the searchable fields within the databases. If step 104 is performed, the searchable fields may be displayed, for example, as selectable tiles in step 106 . After the tiles are presented, a user may select desired tiles to be searched. Step 108 may be used for selecting the tiles chosen by the user. A user may select a tile in a variety of methods. For example, a user may select one or more tiles using a conventional computer mouse, a computer keyboard, voice activation, or by various other known manners.

Step 110 may be used to arrange the tiles as blocks within a display. Step 110 is preferably used to arrange the blocks in a Boolean equivalent format. For example, if the blocks are arranged in a horizontal sequence, search parameters may be ANDed together, and if the blocks are arranged in a vertical sequence, search parameters may be ORed together.

Step 112 permits users to enter search parameters into the blocks of the display. Search parameters input by a user form the contents of the blocks to which a logical operation is applied. The search parameters, however, may be searched in particular fields depending upon the block in which the search parameter is input. For example, a display may have left and right blocks. The left block may be an Inventor block selected from an Inventor tile and the right block may be an Abstract block selected from an Abstract tile. A user may input Jones into the Inventor block and Telecommunications into the Abstract block. If a search is performed for this display, the search will yield all objects in which Jones appears in the Inventor field and Telecommunications appears in the Abstract field of those objects. Keywords may be input, for example, by using a computer keyboard, voice, pasting copied text, or by various other known methods.

After a user has input one or more search parameters and positioned the blocks in a desired arrangement, a search may be submitted. Step 114 may be used to initiate the search. A user may submit a search in a number of methods. For example, the display may have an OK button which the user may select using a conventional computer mouse, keyboard, touch-pen, etc. Once a search has been submitted, step 116 may be used to store the search in, for example, a database, for later access. Step 118 may be used to locate objects within a database satisfying the search criteria of the display.

Upon completion of the search, step 120 may be used to retrieve the results of the search. Step 122 may then be used to display the search results (e.g., on a computer monitor).

An example of a search in accordance with one embodiment of the invention may be described with reference to FIG. 1 . FIG. 1 illustrates a GUI 200 for searching a database for objects containing Lionel Trains as a bound phrase in a content field, either Lionel or Trains in a title field, an author field ending with greenburg, and a date not between 1990 and 1997.

GUI 200 may comprise blocks 210 a - 210 n. Block 210 a may comprise a Content sub-block 206 a, and Title sub-block 206 b, and an additional sub-block 206 n. Sub-blocks 206 a and 206 b may be inserted into block 210 a by clicking-and-dragging Content tile 218 a and Title tile 218 b into block 210 a. Block 210 b may include an Author sub-block 206 c and an additional sub-block 206 n. Block 210 n may comprise a Date sub-block 206 d and an additional sub-block 206 n. Each sub-block 206 a - 206 d may include boxes 202 a - 202 i. Boxes 202 a - 202 d may be used to input search parameters. For example, Content sub-block 206 a may include Lionel Trains in box 202 a and an empty box 202 b, Title sub-block 206 b may include Lionel in box 202 c and Trains in box 202 d, Author sub-block 206 c may comprise greenburg in box 202 e and an empty box 202 f, and Date sub-block 206 d may include 1990 in box 202 g, and in box 202 h, and 1997 in box 202 i as search parameters. Additional boxes may be located in each sub-block 206 a - 206 n for enabling a user to insert additional search parameters. OR operators 212 a - 212 n are located between each sub-block 206 a - 206 n within each block 210 a - 210 n. Search criteria 208 a - 208 d may also be displayed in subblocks 206 a - 206 d.

Search criteria 208 a - 208 d may focus a search by identifying additional parameters to be applied to a search. For example, Content sub-block 206 a includes an is exactly search criteria 208 a. Therefore, only objects containing a bound phrase including Lionel Trains in the Content field match the criteria specified in Content sub-block 206 a. Title sub-block 206 b includes a contains any of search criteria 208 b. Thus, an object having either Lionel or Trains in the title field matches search criteria 208 b. Similarly, Author sub-block 206 c includes an ends with search criteria 208 c. Only objects that have an Author field ending with greenburg match search criteria 208 c. Finally, Date sub-block 206 d includes a between search criteria 208 d. Therefore, only objects having a date field in which the date field is between 1990 and 1997 match search criteria 208 d. Logical operators 214 a - 214 b are provided between blocks 210 a - 210 n. Specifically, an AND ALSO logical operator 214 a is located between block 210 a and 210 b and a BUT NOT logical operator 214 b is located between blocks 210 b and 210 n.

Applying the above search parameters and criteria to a search of a database yields all objects within the database in which greenburg is the author, the title contains either Lionel or Trains, Lionel Trains is in the content field, and the object date is not between 1990 and 1997. Other search criteria may also be used.

Additionally, sub-blocks 206 a - 206 d may be rearranged to alter the logical operations performed for the search. For example, Title sub-block 206 b may be removed from block 210 a by, for example, clicking-and-dragging to another portion of display 204 to create a new block. This modification alters the search by retrieving not objects that contain Lionel Trains in the content field or Lionel or Trains in the title field, but objects that contain both Lionel Trains in the content field and Lionel or Trains in the title field (and matching additional criteria).

FIG. 4 is a schematic block diagram of a method for performing a Boolean search using a stored search according to one embodiment of the invention. According to this embodiment, a search method 150 may include a request storage step 152 . Step 152 may be used to request one or more searches stored by a user. Step 154 may then be used to access one or more object stores that store the one or more searches requested by the user in step 152 . Step 156 may retrieve the one or more requested searches. Step 158 may be used to present the one or more requested searches to the user.

The user may request that a search be performed using a stored search or the user may modify the stored search by inputting information. Step 160 may determine whether the user has input information. If the user has input information, step 162 may be used to receive the information. If the user has not input information or after step 162 receives the information, method 150 may proceed to step 164 . Step 164 may be used to submit the search desired by the user. Step 166 may then be used to perform the search submitted. The search results may be retrieved using step 168 and presented to the user using step 170 .

Other embodiments and uses of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art from consideration of the specification and practice of the invention disclosed herein. For example, database as used herein is intended to include any collection of searchable content (e.g., an object store, data warehouse, file, etc.) that contains text, graphics, or other information. According to one specific embodiment of the invention, the interface may be used with Lotus Notes and operated on a Microsoft Windows operating system. The specification and examples should be considered exemplary only. The scope of the invention is only limited by the claims appended hereto.