Patent ID: 8924371

Claim:
A method, performed by a processor, for facilitating access to desired data, the method comprising: displaying, using the processor, a graphical user interface (GUI) including a search criteria/sort criteria display area, an input field, located in the search criteria/sort criteria display area, to accept search and sort criteria from a user input device, a toggle control display area, a toggle control, in the toggle control display area, where the toggle control controls the input field type of the input field to accept search or sort criteria from the user input device, wherein if the toggle control is set to a first input field type, the input field accepts only search criteria and if the toggle control is set to a second input field type, the same input field accepts only sort criteria, and wherein the input field which accepts the search criteria and sort criteria is the same input field in the search criteria/sort criteria display area, an enter control, located in an enter control area, that accepts input from a user input device and a results display area not included in the search criteria/sort criteria display area; obtaining search results, using the processor and in response to input accepted by the enter control, where the search results are based on one or more search criteria accepted by the input field; displaying, using the processor, obtained search results in the results display area of the GUI, while simultaneously allowing one or more sort criteria to be displayed in the input field to preserve context to allow viewing of search results while selecting sort criteria; and obtaining sorted search results, using the processor and in response input accepted by the enter control, where the sorted search results are based on a selected sort criteria accepted by the input field.