I
`
`United States Patent [19]
`Cochran et al.
`
`[11] Patent Number:
`[45] Date of Patent:
`
`4,879,648
`Nov. 7, 1989
`
`[54] SEARCH SYSTEM WHICH CONTINUOUSLY
`DISPLAYS SEARCH TERMS DURING
`SCRMLINGAND SELECTIONS 0*’
`INDIVIDUALLY DISPLAYED DATA SETS
`[75] Inventors: Nancy P. Cochran, 35 Main St,,
`NW1“ 1“ 1°96"; Sm“ “mes,
`East Hartford’ Cmm'
`[73] Assignee: Nancy P. Cochran, Nyack, NY.
`
`[21] APPI- NO-= 909,293
`[22] Filed:
`Sep. 19, 1986
`
`[51] Int. 01.4 .............................................. .. G06F 3/14
`[52] US. 01. ................................... .. 364/300; 364/518
`[58] Field of Search
`364/200 MS Filez900 MS File, 518; 340/712
`References Cited
`Us. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`[56]
`
`-
`
`"""""""""" "
`""""""" "1:: 340/366
`3:792:6l3 2/1974 Couture .......
`3,956,739 5/1976 Ophir .............. ..
`364/900
`3,974,496 g/1976 Aptl-oot.soloway _
`364/513
`4,001,807 1/1977 Dallimonti ...... ..
`364/518
`4,125,868 11/1978 Hruby et al.
`364/900
`340/721
`4,194,349 3/1980 Lam? --------- ~
`4,221,003 9/1980 Chang et a1‘
`364/900
`:tl'
`4:384:329 5/1983 Rosenbaum at
`1 4’336’410 5/1933 Pandya et aL
`4,412,294 10/1933 watts et a1_
`4,417,239 IV 1983 Demke et al. ....... ..
`4,419,756 12/1983 Cheng Quispe et a1. .
`4,453,217 6/1984 Boivie ................. ..
`4’464’652 8/1984 Laps“ 8‘ a1
`lsilnfgnnifg
`364/900
`4’535’420 8/1985 Fang ___________
`364/900
`4:550:38‘; 10/1985 Hirosawa et a1
`.. 364/300
`4,554,631 ll/l985 Reddington
`4,566,065 1/1986 Toth .................................. .. 364/300
`
`364/300
`364,518
`364/513
`340/709
`364/900
`.. 364/300
`-- 340/716
`
`_
`
`3
`
`9
`
`011
`
`on .......... .
`
`4,580,218 4/1986 Raye .................................. .. 364/300
`4,586,035 4/1986 Baker et a1
`340/365 UL
`$233’??? ‘$1133? Emits” °‘ al"
`535332
`4,648,062 3/ 1987 Johngson et al
`340/712
`4,656,603 4/1987 Dunn ............. ..
`364/900
`$333333 Z2332 3M 2‘ "“
`322532
`,
`,
`ernan El
`0...
`4,736,308 4/1988 Heckel ............... .. 364/518
`4,752,889 6/1988 Rappaport et a1. .
`364/513
`4,754,326 6/1988 Kram et al. ............ .. 364/900
`4,763,356 8/1988 Day, Jr. et a1. .
`340/712
`4,799,083 1/1989 KnOdt .................... .. 355/3 R
`
`Prim’? Exami"e'—Ra\_11fe B- Zache
`_
`14mm"! ExamineriEm Coleman
`Attorney, Agent, or Fzrm-Fle1t, Jacobson, Cohn, Price,
`Holman & Stem
`ABSTRACT
`[571
`The method of variably displaying search terms in
`cludes continuously displaying the names of categories
`on a video terminal screen. When the cursor is adjacent
`acategmy’ °“e.dataset°r searcht‘l’rmls d‘splayed’ that
`Search term bemg one 9f ‘1 Plufahty of terms in a list
`associated with the particular category. The user dis
`plays another term from the list by actuating a scrolling
`control key input. To select a desired term and move to
`the next category, the user actuates a select control key
`input. Therefore, the display system utilizes only two
`control inputs to select a plurality of terms for a plural
`1ty of categories. One list of terms represents control
`commands that control, among other things, the output
`of data from the system. One technique of formulating
`the list is to obtain the data ?elds from a particular ?eld,
`corresponding to the category, from all records in 21
`data base The retrieved data fields are then used as
`search terms in this dynamically formed list. The terms
`can also be grouped in ?red or static lists. A routine is
`used to segment or subdlvide the data base search for
`the dynamic list or to subdivide the static list.
`
`38 Claims, 11 Drawing Sheets
`
`In caIrLEft usr
`
`cum win:
`warn/part1.
`.w/r: NOVELS
`urn/‘mar
`mun" m1:
`":0"
`
`mu any a NDTEL
`
`clrr I nuts/w
`curt/m :2 was
`rawusr mm. NEE
`an‘. at;
`"am IIIE
`luslnss n1!
`
`‘Ann
`I I
`
`l'l2~4d
`40-200
`200-500
`
`an
`57:
`
`run I
`
`IEE rm: 00041:.
`
`lCTlllIY/ES ou :175:
`
`407/ w 7153- arr :17; .
`
`1
`
`l
`
`0 u v: a u; IEMIDS
`
`a; sau
`
`m4 m1:
`
`nae/r:
`INA'A ms
`rrc.
`
`ne mm
`
`E
`i
`‘
`
`GOLF
`)(EALIN cum
`rpm:
`
`SKYHAWKE Ex. 1020, page 1
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`Nov. 7, 1989
`
`Sheet 1 of 11
`
`4,879,648
`
`1
`common l:::P-——~—L7
`
`CON TRDL
`
`r
`
`A
`
`\ ____________
`
`
`SKYHAWKE Ex. 1020, page 2
`
`SKYHAWKE Ex. 1020, page 2
`
`

`

`US. Patent Nov. 7, 1989
`
`Sheet 2 0f 11
`
`4,879,648
`
`:YaFA‘ COMPLETE LIST
`
`CHAIN HOTELS
`HOTEL /MOTEL
`SUITE H0 TELS
`
`W4 TERFRONT
`
`COUNTRY INNS
`
`RESORT
`
`( LOCATION.‘ 1:! :1 {:1
`TYPE OF LODGING‘ .‘
`
`IF 57: CODE
`THEN
`
`0*
`
`IF APT CODE
`
`:90‘ CITY 8 HOTEL
`
`A‘X HOTEL W/IN IO MI.
`
`SEARCH METHOO .‘ _
`C I I I 3
`any: :III
`VAR/ABLE
`[:3 :3
`LENGTH
`.
`HOTEL NAME- 1:! H375
`E1: :3
`(DYNAMIC)
`REFERENCE: :I:
`
`CIT)’ 8 ‘CRITERIA
`CRI TE RIA S‘ 71 WIDE
`TOUR/.5‘ T INFO. RE E
`APT. REF
`HOTEL NAME
`BUSINESS RE E
`Mrs: E I: :| EN
`$125: I: \
`MEET/N6 ROOMS.‘ :1
`Ala/gags
`
`HOTEL W/IN 60 MI‘
`CRITERIA W/ IN 60 ML
`CRITERIA 57/ IN IO MI.
`
`ACTIVITIES 01v 0/75. [:1 : M‘Znm
`
`ACTIVITIES OFF SITE : 1:] E: *3
`
`CONTROL : $1 [I I I I II
`\
`
`40-200
`200-500
`
`'
`
`L
`
`j
`
`CRITERIA
`
`*S/NG‘LE xoA/Lr Mom-h, Mil/2205
`0F
`8'9
`DEL
`may YEAR
`‘975 Mm”
`
`xx 50 - 70
`
`70-90
`90-110
`1/0 -/50
`
`:FA‘ 6/ V5 2:“ OF RECORDS‘
`
`504 7'l/va
`
`GOLF
`
`A‘ GOLF
`
`7w POOL
`
`DISPLAY PRESENT RECORDS
`DISPL 4 Y PREVIOUS RECORDS
`QUIT
`CLEAR SCREEN
`MODIFY SELECT/0N
`
`DUCKS
`Tl-IEA ms
`Era.
`
`HEALTH CLUB
`TENN/5‘
`E 70.
`
`SKYHAWKE Ex. 1020, page 3
`
`

`

`US. Patent . Nov. 7,1989
`
`Sheet 391‘ 11
`
`4,879,648
`
`Ho/lmar/r Inn
`
`Hynmonn Inn
`
`Howard Johnson
`
`! / Display Previous Records
`5 " / Display Present Records
`
`/
`
`Ouil
`
`clear Sun”
`
`Modify Select/‘ans
`
`V
`INPUT $7? CODE
`0!?
`4P7? CODE
`
`110
`
`_
`
`MORE 57?
`OR 4P7.‘ CODES?
`
`unx ALL 52: 0005s a /
`Apr c0055‘ w/ "AND"
`
`SEARCH DATABASEO; OBTAIN
`DATABASE; A6‘ A SUBSET THAT
`INCLUDES ALL 37? 0/? AP]? CODES
`
`60 T0
`MAI/V PROE.
`Fig. 8
`
`118
`
`SKYHAWKE Ex. 1020, page 4
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`Nov. 7, 1989
`
`Sheet 4 of 11
`
`4,879,648
`
`.z‘q-5
`
`16
`
`14
`
`yfg
`
`
`
`YES
`
`PROMPT 8 INPUT
`
`N CHAIM!) 7535
`
`
`
`D-‘DATABASE,
`
`"Q I1u xx
`
`CATEGORY C
`LOCATION L
`
`.
`
`N0
`
`10
`
`11
`
`12
`
`15
`
`
`_
`_ REMOVE TERMS N07
`/ ” “”5 1 w SEGMENT AND
`
`
`IDE/V T/F r START
`
`
`POSITION (SEE Fig. III
`
`
`
`IDENTIFY LOG/CAL
`18
`LIST FOR c4 TEG‘OR)’
`GENERA TE SEGMENT
`
`
`FROM [7 FOR
`
`CA TEGORY AND
`
`
`19
`2°
`
`IDENTIFY START
`POSITION {SEE Fig.9)
`PROMPT 5 INPUT
`
`N CHARACTERS
`
`
`
` GENERATEL/STFPOM
`0 FOR CATEGORY
`
`
`(SEE Fl'gJO/
`
`
`SE]. EC7'
`PROMPT 8 INPUT
`
`
`5 TAI? TIN5
`N CHARACTERS
`POSITION
`
`
`
`IDENTIFY STARTING
`POSITION/SEE Fish/2}
`
`25
`
`DISPLAY
`TERM 7'
`
`IS T THE
`OUAL IFIEfi?
`
`IS TERM
`FOfiWAflO‘?
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`0055
`GOAL IFIEI?
`
`REOIJ/RE Ex
`
`IPA THEI? THAN 6‘
`
`
`
`QUALIFIEI? IN
`
`64 77560er
`NO
`
`T .- PREV/011$
`TERM
`
`
`
`L = L H
`
`54
`
`0:0-3500505
`CONTAIN OUALlF/ERS
`THAT 00 NOT
`
`32
`
`29
`
`V55
`
`AN)’
`
`
`ADDITIONAL
`
`
`CATEGORY?
`
`N0
`
`33
`
`60 TO CONTROL
`ROUTINE Fig. 13
`
`SKYHAWKE Ex. 1020, page 5
`
`SKYHAWKE Ex. 1020, page 5
`
`

`

`US. Patent Nov. 7, 1989
`
`Sheet 5 of 11
`
`I q. J
`
`G‘ENERATE SEGMENT
`FOR CATEGORY
`A/VD IDENTIFY
`START/N6‘ POSITION
`
`R
`
`f
`
`IV: NUMEER 0F CHARACTERS TYPED
`-
`?-IVUMBER OF CHARACTERS THAT
`IDENTIFY sEa/vE/vr
`4- FIRST ITEM //v a
`
`"'° WHERE NB!) ARE INTEGERS
`ANDd/sA RECORD [N
`
`DATABASE D
`
`- - - - WHERE TERM /.9 .4 VAR/ABLE,
`VALUE /.9 DA r4 MI A E/ELo I/V
`TER" -' VALUE F0’?
`RECORD 4; CATEGORY
`CATEGORY c ma
`\CORRESPOIVDS TO THE FIELD
`52
`
`INTERACT
`WITH <
`DA TABASE
`
`0055‘ FIRST 0 CHAR.
`0F TERM - FIRST 0 CHAR.
`0/-' INPUT CHAR. _?
`
`ADD TERM
`70 LIST b‘ 54
`
`rEs
`
`ANY
`MORE d’s?
`
`64
`
`IVO
`
`IV=NUM
`
`YES
`
`END
`
`MESS. #1
`
`58
`
`ORDER LIST AND
`REMOVE DUPLIOA TE?
`‘
`
`65
`
`MESS. #2 -
`
`DOES FIRST IVUM CHAR,
`0F IIVFU 7' CHAR. = THE
`FIRST AIUM CHAR. IN ANY
`TERMS IIV L/S T_7
`
`HUM- NUM-I
`
`
`
`POSITION BEGINNING OF LIST AT FIRST MA TCH
`
`___'_
`
`SKYHAWKE Ex. 1020, page 6
`
`

`

`US. Patent Nov. 7, 1989
`
`Sheet 6 0f 11
`
`4,879,648
`
`GSA/ERA TE
`LIST FROM 0
`FOR CA TEGORY
`
`K
`
`‘I / 41
`
`d - FIRST
`ITEM I” D
`
`' ' ' ’ WHERE d /.S' A RECORD
`
`‘
`
`42
`
`TERM - VALUE
`> FOR :4 TEGORY
`c m 4
`_
`
`- - - - WHERE TERM 1s A VAR/ABLE,
`VALUE IS 04 TA //v .4 F/ELo;
`THE FIELD /.9 THE CATEGORY
`
`.
`
`M/TERACT
`W/Th'
`DATA BAsE
`
`\
`
`43
`
`ADD TERM
`TO 1.15? /
`
`657 NEXT :1
`
`\-
`
`45
`
`ORDER L IS T
`All/D REMOVE
`DUPL ICA 7E5
`
`SKYHAWKE Ex. 1020, page 7
`
`

`

`US. Patent Nov. 7, 1989
`
`Sheet 7 0f 11
`
`4,879,648
`
`REMOVE TERMS NOT IN
`SEGMENT AND IDENTIFY
`.5‘ TA R TING‘ POSITION
`
`V
`
`N: NUMBER OF CHARACTERS TYPED
`I! = NUMEE R OF CHARACTERS THAT
`IDENTIFY SEGMENT
`1: FIRST TERM IN LIST
`
`72
`
`DOES FIRST 11 CHAR. OF
`I‘: FIRST 0 CHAR. 0F
`INPUT CHAR?
`
`REMOVE f
`FROM L IST
`
`73
`
`GET NEXT 2
`
`41w MOREt's
`7
`
`75
`
`IS
`LIST EMPTY
`2
`
`MESS. #l
`
`77
`
`DOES FIRST NUM CHAR OF
`AN)’ I = FIRST NUM CHAR.
`OF INPUT CHAR?
`
`NUM- NUM-f
`
`POSITION
`BE G‘INNINC OF LIST
`AT FIRST MA TCH
`
`81
`
`85
`
`SKYHAWKE Ex. 1020, page 8
`
`

`

`US. Patent Nov. 7, 1989
`
`Sheet 8 0f 11
`
`4,879,648
`
`mm TIP)’
`.9 TA R TING‘ POSITION
`
`24
`
`V
`91
`11/: NUMBER OF
`c/mmcrms /
`rrpso
`
`‘'
`
`IVUM -' /V
`
`/92
`
`.fquzi/
`
`DOES FIRST IVUM CHAR.
`0F INPUT CHAR;
`FIRST NUM CHAR. OF
`ANY TERM ll?’ LIST
`7
`
`93
`
`95
`
`"0
`
`96
`
`YES
`
`99
`
`M558. #2
`
`SKYHAWKE Ex. 1020, page 9
`
`

`

`US. Patent Nov. 7, 1989
`
`Sheet 9 of 11
`
`4,879,648
`
`CONTROL ROU T/IVE
`
`QUIT
`
`EXIT
`PROGRAM
`
`MOD/FY SELEC 770/75‘
`
`=0
`0
`PREV
`
`CLEAR saw.
`
`60 r0 .S‘TEP H
`
`cou/vr 0
`
`D/SPLAY #
`
`(‘745-1 70 4N)’
`OTHER con/mm.
`BRANCH
`
`DISPLAY PRESENT RG05‘. DISPLAY PREVIOUS RODS.
`
`RE/IV/ T/ALIZE
`& 60 T0 STEP 1/
`
`as 74 0/ FIRST RCO
`man 0
`
`aanu/v FIRST RCO
`FROM aPRé-V
`
`D/SPLA r ecu PLUS
`surus : 1 OF 0
`
`D/S‘PLA r
`STA rus .- 1 OF 0MB,
`
`1 (- 745-)
`
`(- TAB-j
`
`IIVCREMENT;
`D/SPLA y,-
`STATUS .‘2 UFO
`
`INCREMEIW}
`D/SPLAY;
`STATUS 3.? 0F DPREV
`
`60 70 MAIN
`DISPLAY SCH/V.
`
`6‘0 TO MAIN
`DISPLAY SCRN.
`
`El
`.25
`
`SKYHAWKE Ex. 1020, page 10
`
`

`

`US. Patent Nov. 7, 1989
`
`Sheet 10 of 11
`
`4,879,648
`
`MAI/V FILE
`
`VA, ARLINGTON, M,‘ Ad4 .
`
`.
`
`.
`
`.
`
`.
`
`m m
`0
`
`INDEX’,
`
`INDEXd
`
`SKYHAWKE Ex. 1020, page 11
`
`

`

`US. Patent Nov. 7, 1989
`
`Sheet 11 0f 11
`
`4,879,648
`
`Legal Resource Index
`
`available fields are:
`
`Article Type
`Author
`Case Citation
`Case Name
`Grade
`Journal Name
`Jurisdiction
`
`Publication Date
`Publisher
`Publication Year
`- Special Feature
`Statute Citation
`Statute Name
`Update
`
`Article Type : ___________ _ _
`
`Author:
`
`Case:
`
`Journal Name: ___ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __ _
`
`Publication Year:
`
`Procedure: _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ ..
`
`SKYHAWKE Ex. 1020, page 12
`
`

`

`1
`
`SEARCH SYSTEM WHICH CONTINUOUSLY
`DISPLAYS SEARCH TERMS DURING
`SCROLLING AND SELECTIONS OF
`INDIVIDUALLY DISPLAYED DATA SETS
`
`5
`
`10
`
`4,879,648
`2
`when the number of terms in the menu is great, this type
`of “pop-up” menu system is impractical due to the lim
`ited size of the video display screen. Further, if a large
`number of categories or ?elds are involved in the
`search, the size of the “pop-up” menu is further dimin
`ished if the user is to have an unobstructed view of all
`the categories available for selecting the search terms.
`The present invention is an improvement on both
`command driven and menu driven selection proce
`dures. It is a unique method in that it presents all possi
`ble decision making categories at the same time, i.e.,
`simultaneously, and usually continuously on a single
`computer screen. All search term choices are displayed
`as meaningful, syntactically correct words or phrases.
`The invention utilizes any selected search term or
`search method decision previously made by the user to
`determine the most ef?cient order for requesting further
`input by the user in subsequent decision categories. The
`user makes selections from one category while having a
`visual record of choices selected in other previous cate
`gories and can change a term previously selected in a
`category without effecting the other choices or resub
`mitting earlier search term decisions.
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`This invention relates to a display of terms, for exam
`ple, terms used for searching through electronic data
`base systems, and more speci?cally, to a method and
`apparatus for displaying search terms, selecting desired
`terms and obtaining records from a structured data base.
`The method and system are preferably applied to data
`bases that are indexed or formatted but, in a most gen
`eral sense, it is applicable to any electronic data base.
`Historically there are two ways of selecting records
`from a data base. One is called “command driven” and
`requires a user to formulate requests for records from
`the data base by typing instructions or “commands”
`that are syntactically correct according to the grammat
`ical and spelling rules of the software used to access the
`particular data base. These rules are often complicated,
`extremely in?exible and are many times lacking in obvi
`ous meaning from the point of view of the user’s normal
`English vocabulary and grammar. As an example, in
`one system a user might be required to type the term
`“SEL/na=Brown,*” to select records where Brownv
`appears as the surname of the author, and where the
`given name is not speci?ed. The software associated
`with the data base recognizes “SEL” as a search com
`mand, “na=” as a command identifying the author ?eld
`or category in each record of the data base, and
`“Brown,*” as the search term. In another system, a user
`is required to type “S au/??Brown” .to conduct the same
`type of search through a second data base, since the
`command syntax is different than the ?rst software
`search system.
`The second known method of searching through or
`making selections from a data base, usually called
`“menu driven”, displays syntactically clear phrases
`describing the choices that can be made in formulating
`a search in a data base. These choices appear in a col
`umn as a list or “menu” of terms on the computer
`screen. A different menu is used for each decision mak
`ing category. The user is expected to recognize the term
`that indicates the procedure he wants executed and type
`some simple, non-syntactic character to indicate this
`choice. Usually terms in menus are numbered and the
`user types the numeric character that corresponds to
`the chosen term.
`In situations where more than one decision needs to
`be made in order for a particular procedure, i.e., search,
`to be executed, a choice on one menu may result in the
`appearance of additional menus that call for additional
`terms to be selected. Menu driven formats have the
`advantage of requiring a minimum amount of skill from
`the user. However, since it takes time for a computer
`screen to change from one menu display to another,
`menu driven selection procedures are slow in compari
`son to command driven procedures when multiple
`choices are being made. Also, when selections are made
`from several menus in succession the user may lose sight
`of or forget what decisions have been made and what
`decisions or selections could have been made if the
`decision path had taken a different direction.
`The menu driven system can be combined with so
`called “pop-up” or “pop-down” windows that display
`the men selections for an individual category. However,
`
`25
`
`35
`
`40
`
`45
`
`65
`
`OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
`It is an object of the present invention to provide a
`method of displaying search terms (or data sets) and
`requiring the user to actuate only a limited number of
`control key inputs to select the desired terms and cate
`gories.
`/
`It is an additional object of the present invention to
`provide a user-friendly system for displaying a rela
`tively large amount of data and having the user select
`certain terms or data sets from that data by operating
`substantially two control inputs.
`It is another object of the present invention to pro
`vide a system which has a variable or dynamic amount
`of information to be displayed to the user for the user’s
`further selection.
`It is an additional object of the present invention to
`provide search terms which are formed from data ?elds
`found in a plurality of records in a data base and only
`make those search terms available to the user in the
`form of a dynamic list to facilitate searching through
`continually changing data bases or through a data base
`wherein only a small number of records have informa
`tion in a desired ?eld.
`
`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`One aspect of the invention involves a method and a
`system of displaying information. Data sets or search
`terms are grouped in a plurality of lists and each list
`represents a category or a ?eld in a record in a data
`base. As used herein, the data base consists of a plurality
`of records and each record has a number of ?elds
`therein. The invention continuously displays a plurality
`of categorical identi?ers for each category and each
`categorical identi?er is related to at least one list. Some
`identi?ers relate to several lists.
`‘The method and system of displaying primarily uti
`lizes two control inputs, a scrolling control and a select
`control. When the cursor is at one categorical identi?er,
`i.e., is at one category name, a term (or data set) of the
`unique list associated with that category is displayed
`proximate the categorical identi?er. The user can scroll
`through the list and change the term by actuating the
`scrolling control. Therefore, the method sequentially
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`displays, one at a time, terms from the list upon sequen
`tial application of the scrolling control. To select the
`term from the list for that ‘category, the select control is
`actuated, the cursor moves, and thereafter another cate
`gory is available for selection of a further term from a
`corresponding list.
`The method and system of displaying terms also in~
`cludes a control category which is not associated with a
`?eld in the records of the data base. The control cate
`gory is associated with a list of command controls that
`are selectable by the user with the scrolling control and
`the select control. For example, control commands such
`as “give number of records found using the selected
`search terms”, “display present set of records”, “quit”
`or “exit” the display and search and applications pro
`gram, “clear screen”, and “modify selection” from any
`category or from a particular category are displayable
`and selectable via the scrolling and select controls
`The method and system of displaying terms is com~
`bined with a method and system of selecting terms such
`that a search can be conducted through a data base.
`Lists are classi?ed as ?xed or static lists and dynamic or
`variable lists. The static lists have a set or ?xed number
`of terms therein, i.e., a ?xed length, and are derived
`from expected items in the data base. If the static list is
`long, the user is prompted to input one or more input
`characters. If one or more of the input characters match
`a character string of a term in the static list, a sublist is
`created by segmenting the static list and displaying only
`terms matching one or more of the input characters.
`Only the sublist terms are selectable by the user vis-a‘vis
`scrolling and select control inputs.
`The dynamic lists are made by obtaining data ?elds
`from each record in the data base wherein the ?elds
`35
`correspond to the category selected by the user. The
`data ?elds are treated as search terms (data sets) and the
`terms are displayed and selectable by the user vis-a-vis
`scrolling and select controls. If the dynamic list is
`lengthy, the user is prompted to input one or_ more input
`characters which are used to segment the search
`through the records and obtain a sub-set of data ?elds
`that match one or more of the characters in the input
`character string.
`Another aspect of this invention is to use static lists
`which are not search terms but are rather category
`instruction commands that de?ne the course of the
`search and that control the order of presentation of
`decision making categories to the user.
`
`55
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`The subject matter which is regarded as the inven
`tion, together with further objects and advantages
`thereof, may best be understood by reference to the
`following description taken in conjunction with the
`accompanying drawings, in which:
`FIGS. 10 and 1b illustrate two video screen display
`layouts A and B;
`FIG. 2,is a graphical representation of the display
`method and system wherein one data set or term is
`displayed but a plurality of terms associated with a like
`category are disposed in storage “behind” the displayed
`term;
`FIG. 3 illustrates the wrap around or circular buffer
`holding the plurality of terms as one list, terms T0
`65
`through TN being included in the list;
`FIG. 4 is a graphical illustration of a speci?c embodi
`ment of both the method and system of display and
`
`4
`method and system of selecting search terms for search
`through a data base;
`FIG. 5 is a representation of the wrap around charac
`ter buffer holding the search terms identifying hotels in
`a list associated with the category Hotel Name in FIG.
`4;
`FIG. 6 is a representation of the wrap around charac
`ter buffer showing the control command list illustrated
`in FIG. 4;
`FIG. 7 is a ?ow chart illustrating the initial steps in
`the speci?c application of the invention;
`FIG. 8 is a flow chart showing the steps of displaying
`and selecting terms per the present invention;
`FIG. 9 is a subroutine for generating a segmented
`dynamic list from records in a data base;
`FIG. 10 is a subroutine showing the steps for obtain
`ing a dynamic list from a data base;
`FIG. 11 is a flow chart showing a subroutine for
`segmenting a static list and removing terms therefrom
`when the length of the static list is too long for the user
`to ef?ciently scroll through;
`FIG. 12 is a ?ow chart of a subroutine showing how
`to identify the ?rst term to be displayed;
`FIG. 13 is a ?ow chart in a D ?ow chart format
`showing the control routine for the particular applica
`tion of the method and system of the invention de
`scribed with respect to FIG. 4;
`FIG. 14 is a graphical representation of the data base
`used in conjunction with the speci?c application of this
`invention; and
`FIGS. 15 and 16 graphically represent the use of the
`present invention with a data base currently available to
`the public.
`
`DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE
`INVENTION
`The present invention relates to a method and a sys
`tem of displaying a relatively large amount of data to a
`user, and allowing the user to select data sets, i.e., terms.
`Another aspect of the invention relates to using those
`selected terms as search terms which enable the user to
`search through the records in and obtain records from a
`data base.
`Each decision making category used in the search of
`the data base is assigned one or more unique locations
`on a computer screen. The number of locations assigned
`is equal to the number of terms that can be selected from
`all categories. After the term is selected, it is sometimes
`called herein a “quali?er” since it is used to qualify the
`search through the data base or identify which of the
`further categories will be made available to the user.
`FIGS. 10 and 1b illustrate layouts A and B for a video
`screen display, i.e., a CRT or video terminal connected
`to a computer. For example, if records in a data base can
`be selected (or searched for) on the basis of price, size
`and up to four color choices, there is one unique loca
`tion L1 for displaying the variables in the category of
`Price C1, one display location L2, for the variables in
`the Size category C2, and four locations L3 through L6
`for Color category C3. The positioning of the locations
`on the screen is not critical. Either of the layouts A and
`B in FIGS. 1a and 115 would serve for the simple exam
`ple of displaying price, size and color terms for selecting
`records having those attributes. The displayed categori
`cal identi?er “Price” is intrinsically linked to a list of
`price terms that are displayed at L1 as are lists for size
`and color categories.
`
`r
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`In addition, each display has a Control category C4
`available; number and type of meeting rooms available;
`with a display location L7. The categories in FIG. 1a
`price; proximity to speci?c areas of interest such as a
`are enclosed by dashed lines, the categories in FIG. 1b
`tourist attractions, business locations or airports; kinds
`of services provided; kinds of recreational activities
`are illustrated proximate brackets.
`In general, when the applications program of the
`available on the premises; kinds of recreational facilities
`present invention is initially accessed, the cursor would
`available near the location; restrictions and special fea
`appear at location L1 for the Price category C1. The
`tures of the hotel; and number and type of restaurants.
`category immediately under the user’s control is called
`The records also include ?elds for the name of the ho
`herein the “currently selected category”. The user
`tel, the address of the hotel, the phone number, ?elds
`strikes the scroll control key (which can be the tab key)
`regarding the rate structure for singles, doubles, suites,
`rates for daily, weekly, monthly, rate changes for the
`and a ?rst price or price range appears at display loca
`tion L1. By repeatedly actuating the scroll control,
`time of the year and the particular rate or range of rates.
`The major ?elds in each record correspond to the fol
`different prices or price ranges appear at location L1.
`lowing categories shown in FIG. 4:
`When the user ?nds the desired price, he actuates the
`select control key (e.g., the return key) which selects
`Location
`Type of Lodging
`the displayed term and moves the cursor to location L2,
`City
`for Size category C2. The user then repeats the opera
`tion with respect to the Size category. The Color cate
`Hotel Name
`Reference (to airport, tourist attraction and busi
`gory is similar except that the cursor would move from
`ness)
`display location L3 to display location L4so the user can
`select multiple colors for that category. After he user
`Rate
`Size
`selects a color at location L6, the cursor moves to dis
`Meeting Rooms
`play location L7 in the Control category C4. At that
`point the user is displayed one of a plurality of control
`Activities on Site
`commands which is selectable upon actuation of the
`Activities off Site
`select control key. Other commands are sequentially
`Each of these categories are shown on the display
`displayed upon actuation of the scroll control key.
`illustrated in FIG. 4 by a categorical identi?er. As used
`Terms available for selection in any decision making
`herein, the term “category” corresponds to information
`category appear on the computer screen one-at-a-time
`displayed and requested or useful to the user. The term
`at their assigned locations. The amount of screen space
`“?eld of data” or “data ?eld” refers to the information
`allocated for each location L1 through L7 must be such
`in a particular ?eld in a particular record. For example,
`that all the characters of the longest term are displayed
`a record in the hotel/resort data base on "the Marriott
`Gateway Hotel in Arlington, Va. would have a “Hotel
`in the space. The metaphor of a rotating drum or an
`Name” ?eld of data representing “Marriott Gateway”.
`endless belt, diagrammed in FIG. 3, is one way of visu
`This ?eld corresponds to the category “Hotel Name” in
`alizing the method wherein terms T0, T1, . . . T,,_1 and
`FIG. 4. Likewise, the Marriott Crystal City in Arling
`T" are available to be displayed in one location for a
`category. This is similar to a circulating storage means
`ton, Va. has a Hotel Name ?eld “Marriott Crystal City”
`which distinguishes that record from the previously
`or a circular buffer.
`In the diagram, only term To is visible on the com
`discussed record. A further ?eld on the Marriott Crys
`tal City record could be the proximity of the hotel to
`puter screen. Other terms in the list can be thought of as
`being “behind the screen” and this aspect is illustrated
`the U.S. Patent and Trademark Of?ce, also located in
`Arlington, Va. This ?eld corresponds to the “Refer
`in FIG. 2. Term T1 can be “rotated” to the visible posi
`ence” category shown in FIG. 4.
`tion and thus become a candidate for a quali?er (a se
`lected term) by actuating the scroll control key, i.e.,
`Two categorical identi?ers, Search Method and Con
`trol, are not related to a particular ?eld in the records.
`with one key stroke. In one embodiment, a reverse
`scroll control input (e. g., the backspace key) is available
`The Search Method category allows the user to “jump”
`that displays Tn, Each of these two screen changes is
`to a category other than the next sequentially illustrated
`accomplished using one key stroke because each term
`category. The Control category allows the user to acti
`T1 and T" is one position away from To, the visible
`vate a search routine through the data base with the
`position. To display term T3, three key strokes are re
`previously selected terms, to exit the applications pro
`quired because T3 is three positions away from To in the
`gram, to modify one of the terms selected in a previous
`list. conceptually, wrap around or circular character
`category, and to select other control functions.
`string buffer is used to store the list of terms To through
`In this speci?c embodiment, the invention is a com
`Tn
`puter program although the invention as claimed here
`If the rotating drum metaphor is applied to Layout B
`inafter is not limited to computer programs. When the
`in FIG. 1b, each of the unique locations for the Price L1,
`program is ?rst loaded or “called up” on the computer
`Size L2, and Color L3, L4, L5, L6 and Control L7, cate
`and after an introductory screen display is shown to the
`gories will display one term while other terms in each
`user, the cursor is immediately to the right of the colon
`category remain “behind the screen”. This principle is
`proximate the categorical identi?er “Location” in FIG.
`illustrated schematically in FIG. 2 for Layout B.
`4. Since the user in this particular embodiment is usually
`a travel agent, and since the major desire of the person
`FIG. 4 shows a more complicated layout for a spe
`ci?c working embodiment of the invention. In this em
`wishing to reserve a room in a hotel with the assistance
`of the travel agent most likely has identi?ed the general
`bodiment, a structured data base of hotel and resort
`information records is searched and records are selected
`location of the hotel, the travel agent inputs a two
`using any of the following quali?ers or selected search
`character state code, e.g., Va for Virginia. The travel
`65
`terms: geographic location of the property; type of
`agent can enter another two-character state code such
`lodging or resort; exact location; proximity to another
`as DC, by actuating the space bar and then pressing
`location, e.g., larger city; number of accommodations
`alpha keys “D” and “C” on the keyboard associated
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`4,879,648
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`with the video terminal. Alternatively, the travel agent
`/user can enter a three-character airport code, e.g.,
`“DCA” which is the code that represents National
`Airport at Washington, Dc. After inputting at least
`one of these items, the travel agent then actuates the
`return key (herein identi?ed as -R-) or in some cases the
`“enter” key on the terminal keyboard. By this action
`(-R- , the user selects the input character string for the
`Location category.
`The cursor then moves to a location immediately to
`the right of the colon proximate the categorical identi
`?er “Type of Lodging". Immediately upon that action,
`the character string “Complete List” appears at that
`location. As will be described later, the data set or term
`“Complete List” is the ?rst term in the static or fixed
`length list in the category “Type of Lodging”. This
`static list is shown in the box to the right of the display
`screen illustrated in FIG. 4 and a double line terminat
`ing in an arrow shows the relationship between the list
`of terms, the display location, and the category which
`20
`corresponds to the list.
`Certain of the lists shown in FIG. 4 are ?xed in length
`or static lists. However, the number of terms in each list
`shown has been signi?cantly limited in order to simplify
`the drawing. The lists associated with the categories,
`City, Hotel Name and Reference, however, are variable
`length lists or dynamic lists. These dynamic lists can
`vary in length and hence may include no terms or may
`include as many terms as appear in the data ?elds in the
`same ?eld in all of the records in the data base.
`The term immediately disp