Methods and apparatus for mouse-over preview of contextually relevant information

Abstract

Challenges to the analysis of search results may be mitigated by offering preview information when users navigate a computer-pointing device over pre-designated areas of a search result page. A separate icon in the pre-designated area enhances the advantages by providing intuitive preview ability with seamless and natural control over a variety of preview options, such as the type of preview information and the manner in which it is presented. In addition, while operating a preview-enabled search result page, users' behavior provides data and attributes, which may be re-incorporated into the searching algorithm to improve the relevancy of search results.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] This is a continuation of prior U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09 / 961,465, filed on Sep. 24, 2001 which incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. [0002] This application is related to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09 / 961,466 entitled “METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR MOUSE-OVER PREVIEW OF CONTEXTUALLY RELEVANT INFORMATION,” by John Petropoulos, et al., filed on Sep. 24, 2001, which is hereby incorporated herein by reference.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0003] 1). Field of the Invention [0004] The invention relates to searching large amounts of information and analyzing the results of such a search. In one broad application of the invention, it relates to the area of web page searching either on the Internet or on Intranets. Furthermore, in the web context, the invention relates to improving the efficiency of analyzing search results and using the data gathered from efficient analysis to refine and improve the search process. [0005]...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0012] The inventions described here propose to mitigate the problems and challenges of analyzing the results of a database query or Internet or intranet search. In general, the inventions achieve this result by displaying preview information associated with each item on a list of results. In a very general sense, the preview information is a “preview window” containing some relevant preview information, such as a readable size image of the actual page or document associated with an item in the results list. Moreover, the ease of search-result navigation and analysis is further improved by opening the preview window when the user navigates over an intuitively connected place on the results page. The navigation takes place using any pointing or navigation device on the client system, for example, the mouse pointer, a touch screen or a sequential or moving highlight caused by a keystroke or combination of keystrokes. The invention further contemplates that a dedicated preview icon is beneficial and that such an icon can function as a menu for controlling previewing or that the icon could transform into such a menu. In addition to improving search result analysis the invention proposes improved search algorithms based upon attribute data from users' use of preview search results.

Problems solved by technology

For example, if a cook is looking for a recipe, the existence of that recipe in an unidentified book of unknown whereabouts is not at all useful.

Furthermore, even the book's identity and location would not be useful if it were not somehow readily accessible.

Moreover, even if the cook were in possession of the correct book, without an index or table of contents, the process of finding and using the recipe would not be very efficient.

Lastly, even an index and table of contents do not allow a cook to efficiently scan a large offering of recipes as compared to other techniques such as an index of pictures of the prepared foods.

Few in our world, however, understand the methods and systems for finding information that is ultimately digitized or managed by machines such as computers.

As databases and the records within them become larger, the reorganizing task can become larger and impede the ability to quickly and easily find relevant results.

The problem is greatly increased when the exact form or nature of the records is inconsistent and not fully predictable.

These options are unwieldy and time consuming and may not even ensure success.

An obviously large manifestation of this problem is in searching the world-wide-web or any web-like information collection (such as an intranet).

However, given (i) the size and nature of the Internet and most intranets, and (ii) the skill level of most users, there is only a small likelihood of returning a single and perfect match for the search terms or query.

This is clearly far less than ideal.

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