Patent ID: 7840589

Claim:
A method for identifying a query element suitable for use in search refinement and navigation in connection with an information system of interest, the method comprising the steps of: receiving a query element on a character-by-character basis entered by a user at a client computing device; upon receipt of each entered character of the query element, searching for one or more alternative query elements contained in a first computer-based database, the first database being separate from the information system of interest, the one or more alternative query elements having a predetermined lexical relationship to a received portion of the query element; for each entered character of the query element resulting in the location of one or more alternative query elements, presenting the one or more alternative query elements to the user via a visual display operably connected to the client computing device and wherein the one or more alternative query elements are presented to the user in a manner that complies with at least one predefined preference; receiving an alternative query element selected by the user; and optionally navigating the information system in accordance with the selected alternative query element.