Patent ID: 8005857

Claim:
A search-result navigation system that includes a processor coupled to computer storage media and that facilitates viewing of search results, the system comprising: a search component that receives search input, which is used to return a plurality of thumbnails representing search results; a display component that presents the plurality of thumbnails in a first display space that is one page in length regardless of the number of search results, wherein the length of the page is dynamically determined to include each of the plurality of thumbnails and wherein the length of the page dynamically changes depending on a quantity of thumbnails identified in response to the search input; and navigational components that facilitate navigation and manipulation of the plurality of thumbnails, wherein the navigational components comprise: (1) an infinite-scroll component that dynamically determines an amount of scroll space necessary to view the plurality of thumbnails; (2) a zoom control that selectively zooms in or out on the plurality of thumbnails; and (3) an object-overlay component that, upon selection of a thumbnail from the first display space, displays a webpage in a second display space, wherein the webpage includes a presentation of the thumbnail that was selected, and wherein the object-overlay component persistently displays the thumbnail in a third display space, such that the system simultaneously displays the plurality of thumbnails, the webpage that includes the presentation of the thumbnail, and the thumbnail.