Patent ID: 8051068

Claim:
A method for trail-based exploration by a user of a repository of documents, comprising the computer-executed steps of: receiving trail definition data that specifies a trail, wherein the trail includes an ordered series of waypoints and wherein the ordered series of waypoints include: a trailhead, zero or more intermediate waypoints; and one or more trailends; wherein each intermediate waypoint is associated with corresponding matching criteria; wherein each trailend is associated with matching criteria; wherein the ordered series includes a first waypoint and a second waypoint that immediately follows the first waypoint; wherein the second waypoint is either an intermediate waypoint or a trailend; wherein the second waypoint corresponds to a particular set of matching criteria and to a particular action; establishing the first waypoint in the ordered series of waypoints as a current waypoint; while the first waypoint is the current waypoint, performing the steps of: when a user performs a search based on user-entered search terms against said repository, performing the steps of: (a) comparing the user-entered search terms against contents of items in the repository to generate search results for the search based, at least in part, on which items within the repository match the user-entered search terms; and (b) determining whether the search satisfies the particular set of matching criteria associated with the second waypoint; in response to determining that the search satisfies the particular set of matching criteria associated with the second waypoint, establishing the second waypoint as the current waypoint and performing the particular action; wherein at least the steps of comparing and determining are performed by one or more computing devices.