Patent Publication Number: US-7908289-B2

Title: System and method for providing an improved graphical user interface for search

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a continuation of prior Application No. 10/783,862, filed Feb. 20, 2004 now U.S. Pat. No. 7,337,185, which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/466,999, filed Apr. 30, 2003, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates generally to providing search results in response to search criteria entered by a user through a Graphical User Interface (GUI) and, more particularly, to a system and method for presenting a GUI that visually associates a search region containing search criteria with a search category. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The Internet was initially developed to facilitate the electronic sharing of information between academic institutions and government organizations. The information available was limited and access to it was restricted to those companies and institutions that were directly connected to the network. While the information was available electronically, it was not easy to search and retrieve relevant documents. Eventually, programmers developed search engines to automate much of the search process. The search engine permits a user to input certain search criteria and obtain the appropriate documents without knowing where the documents are located. 
     One such example of a search engine is disclosed in  FIG. 1 .  FIG. 1  shows a GUI implemented search results screen  10  containing various information including a search field  20  wherein a user enters a search term  30 . Once search term  30  is entered, the user depresses a search button  40  to begin the search. When the search is complete, the search engine returns a plurality of search results  50  corresponding to a plurality of search categories  60  that are generally hot links to the specific search category listed (e.g., News, Web, etc.). The user is free to select any one of the search categories  60  to display corresponding search results  50 . The total number of hits (results)  70  is also displayed. 
     Currently, search engines textually display a confirmation of search criteria  38  for each of the search categories  60 . This confirmation of search criteria  38  textually indicates what search term was used for each search category  60 . Unfortunately, given the large amount of textual data present on a screen, i.e. both content and advertising, users may not associate the search criteria recitation  38  with the appropriate search category  60 . In addition, the search criteria  38  separates the plurality of search results  50  from the search category  60 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 2 , there is shown an enlargement of section “A” of  FIG. 1 . The search categories  60  are separated into a plurality of tabs  80  which resemble the index tabs on a standard paper file folder, wherein one of the tabs  80  is a selected tab  90 . Selected tab  90  is highlighted to reflect that search results  50  correspond to the search category  60  selected by the user, (e.g., in the example shown, the WorldWideWeb, or the “Web”). However, the search criteria  38  separate the plurality of search results  50  from the search category  60 . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 3 , there is shown a continuation of search result screen  10  of  FIG. 1  containing the plurality of search results  50 . In order to facilitate searching by the user, search field  20  and search button  40  are duplicated at both the top and bottom of search result screen  10 . In addition, a plurality of additional results page links  95  are displayed to retrieve additional search results  50 . There are no search categories  60  present at the end of page  10 . Similarly, there is no association between the search term  30  contained in the search field  20  and the search category  60  selected by the user. 
     Referring to  FIG. 4 , there is shown search results screen  10  of  FIG. 1  corresponding to selected tab  90 . In this instance, selected tab  90  refers to the search category “directory” and the corresponding search results  50 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 5 and 6 , there is shown an alternate search results screen  15  and a continuation of screen  15  of  FIG. 5 , respectively. Screen  15  contains search field  20 , search term  30 , search button  40 , and search results  50  with various search categories  60 . In addition, selected tab  90  is highlighted to indicate that a particular search category  60  is selected.  FIG. 6  is a continuation of screen  15  of  FIG. 5  and depicts the remainder of search results  50 . In addition, screen  15  contains additional results page links  95  located on the bottom of screen  15 . There are no search categories  60  present at the end of page  15 . Similarly, there is no visual association between the search term  30  contained in the search field  20  and the search category  60 . Likewise, the search field separates the search categories  60  from the search results  50 . 
     While the current search engines facilitate searching the vast amount of information present on the internet, users tend to be overwhelmed with the sheer volume of textual information contained on the search results screen. Accordingly, users tend to disregard most of the textual information and instead focus their attention on visual information and non-textual icons. While the current search engines provide a textual reference to the search criteria entered by the user for each of the category of results or change the color of the selected tab, such information tends to be overlooked by the user. In addition, there is no visual association between the search term  30  contained in the search field  20  and the search category  60  located at the beginning or at the end of each results screen  10  and  15 . Accordingly, there remains a need in the art for a system and method for visually and reliably associating a search region having a search term with a category of result. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention provides a system and method for providing an improved graphical user interface for web search. According to an embodiment of the present invention, a connection indicator is provided to visually associate the search criteria contained in the search field with the category of searchable information from which the results of the search were obtained. 
     In an alternate embodiment, a connection indicator is provided to visually associate a search field having a search term with a search category at the end of each search page. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       These and other objects and features of embodiments of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description considered in connection with the accompanying drawings which are attached hereto and form a part hereof It should be understood, however, that the drawings are designed for the purpose of illustration only and not as a definition of the limits of the invention. 
       In the drawings, wherein similar reference characters denote similar elements throughout the several views: 
         FIG. 1  is a screen shot of a search results screen, according to the prior art; 
         FIG. 2  is an enlargement of section “A” of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is a screen shot of a continuation of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 4  is a screen shot of the search results screen according to  FIG. 1  where the “directory” tab is selected; 
         FIG. 5  is a screen shot of an additional search results screen, according to the prior art; 
         FIG. 6  is a screen shot of a continuation of  FIG. 5 ; 
         FIG. 7  is a screen shot of a retrieved results page embodying a preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 8  is a continuation of retrieved results page according to  FIG. 7 ; 
         FIG. 9  is a screen shot of a news retrieved results page according to  FIG. 7  where the “news” tab is selected; 
         FIG. 10  is a diagram of an exemplary system for implementing a preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 11  is a screen shot of an exemplary home search page for entering search terms into search field; 
         FIG. 12  is a screen shot of an exemplary phone directory retrieved results page according to one embodiment of the present invention; and 
         FIG. 13  is a continuation of results page of  FIG. 12 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF CERTAIN EMBODIMENTS 
     Turning now to the drawings,  FIG. 7  shows a screen shot of a GUI showing retrieved results page  100  embodying one embodiment of the present invention. In order to perform a search for information located on the Internet, a user enters search term  30  into search field  20  and presses search button  40 . After a short period of time, the plurality of search results  50  appear as well as a presentation of indicia of a plurality of search categories  60 . Search categories  60  may be represented by any indicia, for example, text labels, icons, and the like, that is associated with the search category. The initial search category with which the search is conducted, known as the default category, is generally searched first. The present invention provides a connection indicator that visually depicts, and establishes, a connection between a search region containing a search term  30  and the desired category of search represented by the indicia of the search category. In a preferred embodiment, the connection indicator is presented in the GUI  100  as a search pointer  110  having a first end and a second end that visually connects and associates search term  30  in search field  20  with a selected one  90  of search category  60 . In an alternate embodiment, the connection indicator is presented in the GUI  100  as a search pointer  110  having a first end and a second end that visually connects and associates search term  30  in search field  20  with a selected one of an indicia of search category  60 . 
     In a preferred embodiment, the first end of search pointer  110  is integrally formed with a search control region  130 . Search control region  130  preferably comprises search field  20  and search button  40 . In addition, region  130  may contain a plurality of search navigation links  140 . The second end of search pointer  110  is proximately associated with the appropriate search category which, in the preferred embodiment, is contained within selected tab  90 . Selected tab  90  contains a text description of the search category  60  of searchable information from which search results  50  are obtained. A results region contains a plurality of search results and indicia of a plurality of search categories and is located adjacent to search region  130 . By way of example,  FIG. 7  describes the situation where the selected category, represented by a link displayed as a style of index tab  90 , contains a search category  60  bearing the label “Web”, meaning the search term was searched in the Web search category. This tab may be the default tab after the user presses search button  40 , or may have been purposefully selected by selecting the desired category on a previously displayed web page (not shown). Tab  90  reflects that search results  50  are for this search category  60 . Through the use of pointer  110 , the user is quickly and easily in a visual, non-textual way, made cognitive of the linkage between the search category  60  of selected tab  90  and the search term  30  contained in search field  20 . In fact, in performing user preference studies, the assignee of the present invention noted significantly improved recognition of the association between search terms and search categories when employing the present invention during the testing and development, as opposed to prior art methods which did not incorporate the present invention. 
     While  FIG. 7  denotes search pointer  110  as a protruding extension from search control region  130  in the shape of a shadowed triangle where the first end is wider than the second end, it is understood that the search pointer may be any shape or size including, but not limited to, an arrow or even a straight line, or any shape or icon, provided it performs the function of visually, non-textually associating the search term  30  located in the search field  20  with the search category  60  contained in selected tab  90 . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 8 , there is shown a continuation of retrieved results page  100  of  FIG. 7 . In order to facilitate searching for documents and for accessing the retrieved search results, a plurality of alternate search categories  160  are displayed at the end of the retrieved results page  100 . In addition, an alternate selected tab  190  containing the alternate search category  160  selected by a user is associated with the search results  50 . 
     In an additional embodiment of the present invention, an alternate connection indicator  120  visually associates search term  30  in an alternate search field  220  with the alternate search category  160 . The alternate connection indicator  120  may be a search pointer having a first end and a second end visually associates search term  30  in alternate search field  220  with the alternate search category  160 . The first end of alternate search pointer  120  is integrally formed with an alternate search control region  135 . Region  135  also comprises search field  220  and search button  40 . In addition, region  135  may contain search navigation links  140 . The second end of pointer  120  is associated with alternate selected tab  190  containing search category  60  located within selected tab  190 . By providing the visual connection indicator of the present invention at both the top and bottom of the page, the user need not navigate back to the top of the page to determine the category of search selected. In addition, the alternate search category  160  can be selected to further conduct or narrow the search. If, for example, the user were to desire news stories about the selected search term, the user could select, or click on the “news” search category  60  at the top of the page or the “news” alternate search category  160  at the bottom of the page. 
       FIG. 9  is a screen shot of a retrieved results page  200  according to  FIG. 7  where the “news” category is the search category selected by the user to perform a further search, as indicated by selected tab  90 . Whenever the user selects a particular search category  60 , that category becomes highlighted within the selected tab  90  and the present invention then relocates the pointer  110  and/or  120  to be located proximate to the selected tab  90  or tab  190 , respectively, indicating the connection between the search term in the search field with the newly selected search category. 
     While current search engines may change the color of selected tab  90 , the present invention associates the search category  60  located within selected tab  90  with the search control region  130  by moving search pointer  110  such that a first end is associated with search control region  130  and the search term situated therein and the second end is associated with the search category  60  contained within selected tab  90 . This visual link between the search term  30  contained in search field  20  and the search category  60  contained within selected tab  90  not only reduces the amount of textual data on the screen, but it also rapidly and intuitively draws the users attention to the link between what was searched and the category of search from which the results were obtained and currently displayed on the screen. 
     In  FIG. 9 , the selected tab  90  contains the search category  60  bearing the label “news”. When the user selected “news”, selected tab  90  shifts to the “news” category and search pointer  110  shifts from its previous location “web” and associates search term  30  contained in search field  20  with the search category  60  contained within selected tab  90 . That is, the first end of pointer  1   10  is connected to search control region  130  and the second end of pointer  110  is connected to the selected search category  60  contained in selected tab  90 . While the exemplary GUI  100  of the preferred embodiment depicts the link or text description of search category  60  as being contained in an index tab type indicia, tab  90 , search category  60  may be depicted in any way desired as a matter of application specific design choice. 
     The method for providing an improved graphical user interface for web search is performed by first obtaining a search term, then performing a search limited to that search term and then obtaining a plurality of results pertaining to the search term. Once the results are obtained, a plurality of search categories are displayed and the search term is visually associated with one of the plurality of search categories using a connection indicator. The connection indicator may be a pointer or any other indicia that visually and non-textually links the search category with the search term. In a preferred embodiment, the pointer has a first end and a second end where the first end is visually associated with the search term and the second end is visually associated with one of the search categories. 
     Note that in  FIG. 9 , both search pointer  110  and alternate search pointer  120  are displayed on the same screen as there are no search results  50  pertaining to the “news” search category  60 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 10 , there is shown a diagram of an exemplary system  705  for implementing the present invention. System  705  is comprised of a network  707 , a query server  710  connected to network  707 , a database  700  connected to network  707  and a plurality of query terminals  760  connected to the network. Query server  710  is comprised of a microprocessor  715 , a memory device  720 , a storage device  725  and an internal database  730  located on storage device  725  wherein each device is interconnected via a system bus (not shown). Each plurality of query terminals  760  is comprised of a microprocessor  703 , a memory device  702  and an I/O device  740  wherein each device is interconnected via a system bus (not shown). 
     In a preferred embodiment, the pointer is relocated using hypertext markup language (HTML) and GUI coding techniques. When a user clicks on or selects a search category  60 , that information is passed back to the system  705 , either at the user&#39;s computer  760  or under the control of the search service provider or some combination thereof, to adjust the GUI interface in accordance with the selected link to relocate, or initially locate, the connection indicator  110  or  120  proximate the selected search category  90  and the search term  30  within search field  20 . Of course it will be recognized that any software programming techniques now know or yet to become known can be used to carry out the present invention. 
     In practice, query server  710  could be any computer or device connected to network  707  that is capable of storing a database or other file system, accessing that database or other file system and determining whether any portion of a search term is contained therein. Network  707  may be the Internet or any other network of devices. In addition, network  707  may be an internal intranet. Terminals  760  could also be any computer or device capable of connecting to network  707 , for example, a personal computer, a handheld device, a server, or any combination thereof. The connection to the network could be through any means known including, but not limited to, broadband access, DSL, dial up modem or a wireless connection such as a Wi-Fi connection or a Bluetooth transceiver. 
     Turning to  FIGS. 11 and 12 , there is shown a screen shot of a home search page  105  for entering search terms  30  into search field  20  and a corresponding phone directory retrieved results page  300 . In this example, the user is looking for flowers in San Jose, Calif. Once the user enter the desired search term and presses the search button  40 , a search is performed and the phone directory search results  150 , if any, are displayed on phone directory retrieved results page  300 . The results  150  are visually linked to search category  60  of selected tab  90  using the connection indicator, for example pointer  110  or  120 .  FIG. 12  is representative of the instance where selected tab  90  bears a label “yellow pages” indicating that a phone directory search was performed. In this instance, the phone directory search automatically directs the user from home search page  105  directly to phone directory retrieved results page  300  of  FIG. 12 . 
     In an additional embodiment of the present invention, the user may enter the search terms, i.e. flowers in San Jose, Calif., depress search button  40  and be directed to a default search category such as “web”. If the user wanted to select the phone directory category for this search term, the user would select, or click on, the phone directory search category “Yellow Pages”. At this point, a search is performed to obtain search results and then phone directory search category is visually associated with the search terms. Accordingly, the search may be performed from the home search page  105  and have the search terms linked directly to the phone directory search category or performed from a default search category page by selecting the phone directory search category, for example “Yellow Pages”. 
     Referring to  FIG. 13 , there is shown a continuation of phone directory retrieved results page  300  of  FIG. 12 . As an additional service to the user, alternate search control region  135  is located at the end of results page  300 . Alternate pointer  120  is physically connected to region  135  and to alternate search category  160  contained in alternate selected tab  190 . By providing the visual connector of the present invention at both the top and bottom of the page, the user need not navigate back to the top of the page to determine the category of search selected, and also which search category can be selected to further conduct or narrow the search. 
     While several embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, it is to be understood that many changes and modifications may be made thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.