Document Search Navigation with Start Location Return
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing document viewing and editing applications, such as Adobe Acrobat and Microsoft Word, do not allow users to automatically return to the initial search location after performing a 'FIND' operation, limiting navigation among search results.
Innovation Solution
A method and apparatus that store the initial search location and allow users to navigate through search results using 'NEXT' and 'PREVIOUS' commands, while enabling a 'START' command to return to the initial location, facilitating efficient navigation within documents.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the cursor is moved to the next matching text string during a FIND operation, then navigation among search results is enabled, but the ability to return to the start location is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The system stores the start location in memory before the search operation begins. This preliminary action preserves the original position information, enabling quick return to the start location without requiring re-searching or manual navigation back through the document.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention creates a copy of the start location information and stores it separately in memory. This copied position data can be retrieved and used to return to the original location independently of the current search position, solving the problem of losing track of the start location during navigation.
2Reliability
If the start location is updated to the current text string location during search, then the search state is maintained, but automatic return to the original start position becomes impossible
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the location information into two distinct components: the current search position (which updates as the user navigates through results) and the original start location (which remains fixed). This segmentation allows the search state to be maintained while preserving the ability to return to the original position independently.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention applies different properties to different location data: the current position is dynamic and updates with each search result, while the start location is static and preserved. This local differentiation in data properties enables both search state maintenance and flexible navigation including return to start.
3Device complexity
If manual navigation through the document is required to return to the start location, then no additional storage is needed, but navigation efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs a preliminary storage of the start location in memory before the search operation begins. This simple storage action enables rapid return to the start location by directly jumping to the stored position, dramatically improving navigation efficiency without requiring complex mechanisms or extensive additional storage resources.
Data Source
AI summary
A method and apparatus for navigating amongst search results. In one embodiment, the method receives a item to search within a document and stores a start location representing the position within the document at the time the item is received. The method searches the document for instances of the item and stores, as an index, at least one item location within the document for each instance of the item. A search result representing a match between the item and content in the document is displayed and, upon selecting to return to the start location at any time while displaying the search result, returning to the start location to display at least a portion of the document at the start location.