Apparatus and Method for Displaying Records Responsive to a Database Query

Abstract

An apparatus and method for simultaneously displaying both record names and the associated files responsive to a user's search over a database. A user conducts a routine search query over a database or group of databases of records containing, for example, text documents, or alphabetical concordances thereof. The search engine returns a list of records responsive to the user's query. In contrast to the standard list of record identifiers, the apparatus displays both the identifiers and selected portions of those records or other useful information, as defined by the user, facilitating quick review. The user is able to sort the list of these responsive records in a variety of ways, either before the search, or within the list of results, to expedite review. The apparatus identifies records that have been reviewed previously by marking them as viewed links. Finally, when reviewing any responsive record in full, the complete list of records is displayed in a side panel, in a way that still allows resorting by the user. This side panel display may be re-sorted on the fly. It also allows the user to see the identifiers of records anywhere in the list, and to easily jump, such as with a single mouse click, to any record in the list.

Claims

1. A method for displaying records responsive to a database query comprising the steps of: displaying a list of identifiers for a plurality of said responsive records; and displaying selected elements of at least one of said responsive records, wherein said list of identifiers and said selected elements are displayed simultaneously.

2.-20. (canceled)

21. An apparatus for displaying records responsive to a database query comprising: means for displaying a list of identifiers for a plurality of said responsive records, and means for displaying selected elements of at least one of said responsive records, wherein said list of identifiers and said selected elements are displayed simultaneously.

22.-49. (canceled)

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0033] The present invention is illustrated by way of example, and not by way of limitation, in the figures of the accompanying drawings and in which like reference numerals refer to similar elements and in which:

[0034] FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary embodiment of a window displayed on a CRT or other display, which can be used as a user interface for the present invention, including a search dialog box.

[0035] FIG. 2 illustrates a list of records returned by the user's search, including several sorting, display, and navigation features.

[0036] FIG. 3 illustrates the display of the full text of a responsive record, along with a side panel including the list of titles of the returned records.

[0037] FIG. 4 illustrates a flow diagram for a query in one embodiment of the invention.

[0038] FIG. 5 illustrates a flow diagram of options provided to a user by one embodiment of the invention after a query is performed.

[0039] FIG. 6 illustrates a flow diagram of one embodiment of the invention after responsive records are displayed in part or in full.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0040] An apparatus and method are described for displaying records. In the preferred embodiment, such apparatus and method are combined with an apparatus and method for expediting legal research by displaying, representing, sorting, and navigating text files identified by a search engine. In the following description, for the purposes of explanation, numerous specific details such as mathematical formulae, algorithms, menus, and the like are set forth in order to provide the best mode of the present invention. It will be apparent, however, to one skilled in the art that the present invention may be practiced without these specific details, and is not limited to the specific details shown and described. In other instances, well known structures and devices are shown in block diagram form to more clearly set forth the present invention.

[0041] FIG. 1 shows a search screen or window 100, as may be displayed on a CRT, as an example of one possible user interface for the query screen on a research system. A user first selects a database or group of databases on which to conduct a search 103, for example, cases of the U.S. Supreme Court. The user then delimits the search using such factors as date restrictions 104, and then enters either a Boolean text search 106, a field search within the database 105, or a combination of the two.

[0042] Before or after conducting the search, the user may customize the list of records that will be returned, including how the results of the search will be organized and what information the system will return about each record. She may select fields by which to sort results on the search screen 100, such as the date of the record, the relevance of the record to the search, or by which database the record came from 101. The user may sort first by one criteria, then break ties using second- and third-order sorting fields. So, for example, if the user chose to sort by Court Hierarchy, then by Date, then by Search Relevance, the system would display documents issued by the highest court first, for example from the U.S. Supreme Court. Supreme Court documents would be further sorted in date order, and cases from the same date would be listed in order of relevance. In the preferred embodiment, instead of customizing the sort order, a user could also use the system default.

[0043] The system also allows the user to decide how many records to list per page in the list of returned records 107. The user may select a smaller number of records to display on each web page, for example, to speed the loading time of the web page. Conversely, the user may select a large number so that she can view all the returned records without having to link to another page. Finally, the user may customize what kind of text or other portions of the record will be displayed in the list of returned records 102. For example, with text documents, the user may select the first 6 lines of the document, the first 12 lines of the document, the first paragraph of the document, the most relevant passage or paragraph from the document, or no text at all. In one embodiment, the user then conducts the query by selecting Search 107.

[0044] In one preferred embodiment of the invention, it is combined with a search engine that searches the selected database and returns a user-customized screen 200 listing responsive records, which is illustrated in FIG. 2. For each responsive record, the system lists, for example, a document title or other identifier 210, which is hyperlinked to the full record. Each entry also may display information that identifies the record, its source, date, and a relevance score for the query, as well as selected text or other portions of the record itself 201. Records previously viewed by the user would be identified as such, for example, either through the use of text, icons, or display of the record identifier as a viewed hyperlink, using, for example, either a different color for the identifier, or the browser default for viewed hyperlinks. In a preferred embodiment, records that appeared in a previous list of responsive records, but which were not selected for a full-text view, are identified as such, either with text, an icon, or by the use of a different color for the hyperlinked identifier. Thus the user can avoid duplication of effort, by choosing not to view records in full that she has already reviewed. She would also be able to identify records added to the list after she modified a search query or conducted a new search with different terms.

[0045] As requested by the user, the system will display a certain number of records per page 202, as well as a link the user can use to jump to the next n records in the list 203. This display allows the user to scroll through the list of records in whatever order is most helpful in the search. The display of text or other portions of each record reduces the amount of time and effort spent by the user switching back and forth between screens trying to discern whether a given document is important to the research being conducted. Because the user can customize and view text or other portions of records in the list, she has more information on the list screen, allowing her to avoid reading records that are demonstrably unimportant or demonstrably irrelevant, based on a reading of the displayed portion.

[0046] In one preferred embodiment, the user can re-sort the document list on the fly, either by clicking any of the headers 204, in this example Case, Court, Date, or Relevance. Clicking Date, for example, would re-sort the records in descending order of the record's issue date. The user could also re-sort the list using the sorting options in the side panel 205, which offers the same multi-level sorting options as the search query screen 101.

[0047] From the list of displayed cases in FIG. 2, the user can also change the number of records displayed per page 206 and the amount and type of text or other portions of the record to display in the list 207, the same options offered in the search query screen in 107 and 102. When the user has selected new display properties, she presses Resort 208, and the system re-sorts the list. These sorting and re-sorting options allow the user to review the list of responsive records more efficientlyespecially when the list is long, or when the user is looking for a specific document. Re-sorting allows the user to manipulate the list to bring important records to the top, using any of a number of different sorting algorithms. The user can conduct a new search (N), modify the current search query (M), or search within the displayed results (R) by clicking the appropriate button 209 for those tasks. The user may also decide to sort the results by other sorting mechanisms, such as the extended reference search method described above by clicking similar buttons or choosing different options in a tab.

[0048] In order to view any record in the list in full (or to view an expanded portion of any record), the user would click the hyperlinked identifier of the record. The system would then display the record in full, as illustrated in FIG. 3. One section of the screen would display the full record itself 301. The user can navigate the text using a standard browser scroll bar, by using a keyboard to move the cursor within the record, or by way of navigation buttons 305-307. By using Term navigation buttons 305, the user can jump from search term to search term within the document 305. Similarly, by using Page navigation buttons 306, the user can jump ahead or back one page at a time. Finally, the user can use the Case or Document navigation buttons 307 to jump one record forward or back in the list of responsive records. During this process, no matter what part of the record the user is viewing, the record's title or other identifier and citation information appear in a navigation bar 308 at the bottom of the screen.

[0049] A section of the display screen, depicted as panel 302 in FIG. 3, is used to display a list of responsive records 302. The list displays in the same order as it last appeared in the record list in FIG. 2, that is, before the user selected the full text or other portion of a record on the list. The user may scroll through this list independently of the full text or other portion of a record from within the list. The title of the displayed record will appear highlighted within the list in this side panel. This allows the user to view the list of responsive records without returning to the full list, and greatly facilitates navigation of the list. For example, the user could select to view the full text of a record five titles down the list by scrolling down and selecting the hyperlinked title or other identifier of that record, without having to go back to the complete list of responsive records. This reduces the transaction time of the standard mode of reviewing records in the list.

[0050] As with the responsive record list illustrated in FIG. 2, the preferred embodiment identifies records previously viewed by the user, either through the use of text, icons, or display of the title as a viewed hyperlink, using either a different color for the title or identifier, or the browser default for viewed hyperlinks. Again, records that appeared in a previous list of responsive records, but which were not selected for a full-text view, can be identified as such, either with text, an icon, or by the use of a different color for the hyperlinked title.

[0051] The user has the option of re-sorting the list on the fly from the full record text screen of FIG. 3. By selecting the Re-sort tab 303, the user is given all of the same multi-level sorting options from the search query screen 101, and from the screen listing the responsive record 200. This facilitates review of recording the list, allowing the user to full the most helpful records to the top of the list, without having to go back to the full list of responsive records illustrated in FIG. 2.

[0052] Finally, from the full text view illustrated in FIG. 3, the user has a series of navigation options. She may return to the full list of responsive records illustrated in FIG. 2 by selecting a button option 304. She may also conduct a new search, modify her existing query, or search within the results by selecting one of those button options 309, similar to the options 209 in the list of responsive records illustrated in FIG. 2.

[0053] FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating one embodiment of the steps involved in a simple search of a database as part of this invention. First, in step 401, the user formulates and enters a query. The query may use key words or phrases and be constructed using Boolean logic. The user may then select the databases in which the search will run, for example, the U.S. Supreme Court, or the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals (step 402). Next, the user selects the amount of text to be displayed for each responsive document in the list of responsive documents. See step 403. The user may also select the sort order for responsive documents (step 404). Documents can be sorted, for example, by court hierarchy, date, and relevance, in any order. The user may also select more advanced document sorting options. Alternatively, the user may skip steps 402, 403, and 404, instead relying on default values.

[0054] The user then submits the query, and the system judges whether or not the query is well-formed (e.g., if the query is a Boolean search, whether the syntax is correct; alternatively, whether the user selected at least one database to search over) in step 405. If the query is not well-formed, the system returns an error message in step 406, then displays the query for editing in step 407. If the search is well-formed, the system queries the relevant database or look-up table associated with selected database in step 408. If one or more responsive records is not found via step 409, the query is again displayed for editing when processing is returned to step 407, perhaps with a message indicating that no responsive records were found. If responsive records do exist, the system selects text from each responsive record by default or as defined by user, as shown in step 410.

[0055] Next, the system sorts the responsive records by a default method or by a method defined by the user in step 411. Subsequently, the system displays the sorted list of records and, if requested by user or required by a default rule, an amount of text from each document. See step 412. The user then reviews the list (shown as step 413) and decides if the documents returned are sufficiently germane to the research topic (step 414). If the documents are germane, the user reviews the full records list in step 415. If not, the user may choose either (i) to modify the query, as shown in step 417, in which case the system displays the last query for editing and accepts editing commands, step 407, or (ii) to begin a new search, as shown in step 416, wherein the system displays a blank search page and the process begins anew in step 401.

[0056] FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating an embodiment of steps after a user has chosen to view a record list resulting from a search, as shown in step 415. First, in step 501 the system compares the responsive records with records that the user has previously reviewed, if any. Next, the system displays a sorted list of responsive records, clearly marking records that the user has viewed before, and user-defined text (if any). See step 502. The user then decides in step 503 if the list is sorted in a helpful way. If not, the user may, as shown in step 504, select new sort criteria from a supplied list and click page header to re-sort. The system then re-sorts the records in step 505 and displays them in an updated list (step 502).

[0057] If the method of sorting is satisfactory, the user must then decide whether or not the displayed text is useful. See step 506. If the user determines that it is not, the user selects a new text type to display in step 507. Continuing with this scenario, the system extracts the newly selected text from responsive records in step 508 and again displays the sorted list of responsive records, identifying records that the user has previously viewed, and user-defined text (if any) in step 502. If, alternately, the displayed text is acceptable, the user decides if the listed records are sufficiently germane to the research in step 509. If not, the user may start a new query as shown in step 510, or modify the current query, step 511, returning to the steps in FIG. 4 in either case. The user also may consider whether the percentage of germane records is sufficiently high. If it is not, the user may return to FIG. 4 and further limit the search by conducting a query on responsive records only, as shown by step 513. If the percentage is sufficiently high, the user browses through the list of responsive records and text in step 514.

[0058] Next, the user may choose to print a record, or view a record, or both, in any order. The user may print a record by selecting it in the list in step 515. The system then displays the formatted record to the user in step 516, and the user confirms the print in step 517. Alternately, the user may choose to view a full record in step 518, in which case the system displays the full record, without special formatting, shown in step 519. This scenario is illustrated in FIG. 6.

[0059] FIG. 6 illustrates an embodiment of the steps taken after a user opts to display a full record. In the main window, the system displays the selected record in step 601. The system also compares responsive records with records previously viewed by the user in step 602, and displays a sorted list of responsive records, identifying which of the records have been viewed previously (for example, by displaying their headings in different colors), and user-defined text (if any) in the side panel. See step 603. The user can interact with the system through either window. Through the main window, which displays the text of the selected record (see step 601), the user may: [0060] Jump to the next or previous appearance of a search term (step 604). [0061] Jump to the next or previous record in sequence (step 605). [0062] Jump to the next or previous page within a record (step 606). [0063] Print the unformatted record (step 607). [0064] Select formatted printing option (step 608), causing the system to display formatted record, as shown in step 609. The user then confirms the print order which is then executed. See step 610.

[0065] From the list of responsive records in the side panel, the user may (i) decide that the listed records are not sorted in a helpful way (step 615), or (ii) decide that the listed records are not germane to research (step 611). In the first case, the user may either (i) click header to re-sort as in step 616, or (ii) select new sort criteria from the list in the side panel as in step 617.

[0066] If the user decides that the listed records are not germane to research at step 611, in one embodiment three options are presented: (i) the user may further limit search by conducting a query on responsive records (step 612); (ii) the user may modify the current query (step 613); or (iii) the user may start a new query (step 614).

[0067] The present invention has been disclosed and described herein in what is considered to be its most preferred embodiments. It should be noted that variations and equivalents may occur to those skilled in the art upon reading the present disclosure and that such variations and equivalents are intended to come within the scope of the invention and the appended claims.