Patent ID: 8572111

Claim:
A computer-implemented method of displaying search results in a search and display window, the method comprising: a) receiving a primary search query from a user; b) determining a primary search result using a processor executing the primary search query; c) displaying a plurality of primary electronic representations representing at least a subset of data in the primary search result, the plurality of primary electronic representations being displayed in a primary search results portion of the search and display window, wherein each primary electronic representation represents a corresponding data item in the primary search result; d) receiving a secondary search query, wherein the secondary search query comprises a user selection of one of the primary electronic representations; e) determining a secondary search result using the processor executing the secondary search query, wherein at least a portion of the data in the primary search result is different from the data in the secondary search result, wherein the secondary search result is determined by one of: (i) a visual similarity search on the data item represented by the selected primary electronic representation, and (ii) a metadata similarity search based on metadata associated with the data item represented by the selected primary electronic representation; and f) displaying a plurality of secondary electronic representations representing at least a subset of data in the secondary search result, the plurality of secondary electronic representations being displayed in a secondary search results portion of the search and display window, wherein each secondary electronic representation represents a corresponding data item in the secondary search result; wherein the plurality of primary electronic representations and the plurality of secondary electronic representations are visible at the same time; and wherein the data in the primary search result is unchanged by display of the secondary search result.