Patent Document ID: 9251279
Application ID: 12237983

Base Claim:
1. A database search method comprising the computer implemented steps of: providing access to a database having a plurality of records in respective categories of information, each record having one or more facets to the respective category of information; receiving user input of a first search term formed of a first parameter indicative of at least one category of information of the database; searching the database for records of the at least one category of information; in response to the user input of the first search term, simultaneously displaying both in a same screen view: (a) a set of search results, including records from the database of the at least one category of information, and (b) a listing of any one or combination of facets and facet values of the records in the set of search results, the listing serving as suggested additional parameters for further refining the first search term upon user selection of the any one or combination of facets and facet values; enabling user input of a second search term formed of a second parameter; and in response to user selection of any one or combination of facets and facet values from the listing or user input of the second search term, refining the first search term based on the user selection of the any one or combination of facets and facet values from the listing or user input of the second search term, resulting in (i) a refined search term formed of the first parameter plus the user-selected any one or combination of facets and facet values or user-inputted second search term, and (ii) a search of the database using the refined search term, wherein at least one of the any one or combination of facets and facet values is defined by a community of users and corresponds to content generated by the community of users.

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Claim 34:
34. A method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein facet value display is limited by any one or combination of facet value count and number of facet values and where a user can request, receive, and select from a complete list of available facet values.