System and method for graphically building weighted search queries

摘要

A system and method allows a user to define a search request by selecting and weighting graphical icons provided on a search creation interface. The graphical icons may be selected by using an icon selection feature provided on the search creation interface. The graphical icons may further be assigned relative search weights using an icon weighting feature provided on the search creation interface. The system and method generates search results based on metadata associated with the selected ones of the graphical icons and the search weights assigned to each of the selected ones of the graphical icons. The search results may comprise a ranked list of items, such as products listed for sale on an e-commerce server.

主权项

1. A method of performing an electronic search of a database, said method comprising:
associating metadata with each of a set of graphical icons in a database; generating a search creation interface on a display of a user electronic device, the search creation interface providing the set of graphical icons, an icon selection tool, and an icon weighting tool; processing user input acquired through user interaction with the icon selection tool to define at least two selected ones of the graphical icons from the set of graphical icons; processing user input acquired through user interaction with the icon weighting tool to define a search weighting preference for each of the at least two selected ones of the graphical icons; processing the at least two selected ones of the graphical icons to generate a ranked item list for each of the at least two selected ones of the graphical icons based on the metadata, wherein the ranked item lists each comprise: items having an associated numerical ranking relative to other items in the ranked item list, wherein the metadata include seed products associated with corresponding graphical icons, such that the seed products are actual products offered for sale on the database, and the metadata also include at least one of click count, purchase count, and pricing margins, and wherein the seed products are weighted, using keywords, and combined into a single ranked list for each corresponding graphical icon, wherein the single ranked list is also used to generate the ranked item list; processing the search weighting preferences and the ranked item lists for the at least two selected ones of the graphical icons to generate a weighted ranked item list for each of the at least two selected ones of the graphical icons, the weighted ranked item lists being generated by applying each of the search weighting preferences to the numerical rankings of the items in its associated ranked item list; processing the weighted ranked item lists for the at least two selected ones of the graphical icons to form a combined ranked item list, the combined ranked item list being formed by grouping the items from each of the weighted rank item lists into the combined ranked item list; and displaying the combined ranked item list on the display of the user.