Method, system and controller for searching a database contaning data items

摘要

A method, system and controller is provided for searching a database containing data items with a user via a user interface, the method comprising the steps of specifying an initial search subset of some or all of the data items in the database (1201); identifying representatives of each of a number of data categories in the search subset (1203); displaying the representatives on the user interface (1204); selecting one or more of the representatives (1205); specifying a refined search subset of data items in the search subset within the data categories corresponding to the selected representatives (1207); and repeating the steps of identifying and displaying representatives for the refined search subset.

主权项

1. A method of searching a database containing data items with a user via a user interface wherein the user interface comprising a left pane and a right pane, the method comprising the steps of:
specifying an initial search subset of some or all of the data items in the database; identifying representatives of each of a number data categories in the initial search subset, the number of categories being chosen so that all the initial search subset representatives can be displayed to the user at once; displaying the initial search subset representatives in the left pane on the user interface; selecting one or more of the displayed initial search subset representatives; specifying a refined search subset of data items in the initial search subset within the data categories corresponding to the representatives selected; identifying representatives of each of a number data categories in the refined search subset, the number of categories being chosen so that all the refined search subset representatives can be displayed to the user at once; displaying the refined search subset representatives on the user interface, wherein plural refined search subset representatives items are displayed (i) in the right pane and to one side of the initial search subset representatives, and (ii) at a larger size than the initial search subset representatives; selecting one or more of the displayed refined search subset representatives; specifying a further refined search subset of data items in the refined search subset within the data categories corresponding to the refined search subset representatives selected; identifying representatives of each of a number data categories in the further refined search subset, the number of further refined search subset categories being chosen so that all the further refined search subset representatives can be displayed to the user at once; displaying the refined search subset representative in the left pane of the user interface; displaying the further refined search subset representatives on the user interface, wherein plural further refined search subset representatives are displayed (i) in the right pane and to one side of the refined search subset representatives simultaneously, and (ii) at a larger size than the refined search subset representatives.