Patent ID: 8250056

Claim:
A computer implemented, web-based, decision matrix display method using search engines comprising: entering a data query into a first user display; parsing the data query to identify relevant data fields and stored operators which are pertinent to computing a desired outcome to the data query; communicating the relevant data fields to a search engine; selecting websites, located by the search engine, which have mineable data pertinent to the relevant data fields and the desired outcome of the data query; assigning the mineable data from the selected websites to the relevant data fields as field data; displaying onto a second user display, a decision matrix, populated with cells corresponding to the relevant data fields containing the field data and a cell for the corresponding desired outcome; providing the relevant stored operators to the decision matrix; and interacting with the decision matrix to obtain desired decision information by engaging in at least one of: (a) interactively changing the field data in one or more cells of the decision matrix and displaying on the decision matrix the field data in the cells, whether changed or unchanged, and by use of the relevant stored operators, determining and displaying the corresponding desired outcome, wherein when interactively changing field data in one or more cells of the decision matrix, a user designates which other cells of the decision matrix are to remain unchanged and designates whether the desired outcome is to remain unchanged, all other cells not designated by the user being changeable as a result of interactively changing the field data; and (b) interactively changing the desired outcome on the decision matrix and displaying on the decision matrix the changed desired outcome and, by use of the relevant stored operators, determining and displaying the field data in the cells whether changed or unchanged.