Patent ID: 7325201

Claim:
A computer-implemented method for executing a rule for manipulating the content of a response to a query in a computer-implemented search and navigation system for a set of materials, comprising: storing a plurality of attribute-value pairs associated with the materials, wherein each of a plurality of values has an association with at least one of the attributes characterizing the materials; computing a plurality of navigation states, each navigation state corresponding to a particular expression of attribute-value pairs and to a particular subset of the materials, wherein for each navigation state the particular subset of the materials corresponding to the navigation state consists of those materials that are each described in accordance with the particular expression by every attribute-value pair in the particular expression of attribute-value pairs corresponding to that navigation state, wherein within the plurality of navigation states, at least a first navigation state includes a first attribute-value pair having a first attribute, in which the first attribute-value pair does not describe all the materials that the first attribute characterizes and a second navigation state includes at least the first attribute-value pair and a second attribute-value pair having a second attribute, which is not the same as the first attribute, in which the second attribute-value pair does not describe all the materials that second attribute characterizes; obtaining a query; identifying a current navigation state associated with the query, the current navigation state corresponding to a current particular expression of attribute-value pairs and a current particular subset of materials; obtaining a rule including a trigger and an action, the rule including a trigger defined in terms of a third attribute-value pair and an action for manipulating the content of a response to the query by providing a first alternate subset of materials; determining whether the trigger is satisfied by the current navigation state; performing the action by substituting the first alternate subset of materials instead of the current particular subset of materials if the trigger is satisfied; and displaying a response to the query, the response to the query including a representation of the current particular subset of materials if the trigger is not satisfied by the current navigation state and including a representation of the first alternate subset of materials if the trigger is satisfied by the current navigation state.