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Publication Number
US-10417220-B1
Publication Date
2019-09-17
Expiration Date
Abstract
Performing a user initiated search query is disclosed and comprises receiving user input comprising description details of at least one desired object, retrieving a plurality of objects from a database sharing one or more of the description details of the user input, constructing a tree data structure based on the description details of the plurality of objects, the tree data structure comprising one or more attributes related to each of the plurality of objects retrieved, displaying visual images associated with the retrieved plurality of objects, the visual images matching at least one of the attributes related to the plurality of objects, and receiving a user selection of one or more of the visual images.
Core Innovation
The document describes an attribute category enhanced search system that receives user input description details and retrieves matching objects. It builds a category-tree from object attribute values and uses that tree to guide the user through successive narrowing of results.
The system displays category-specific visual images associated with objects and/or categories, and the user navigates the category-tree by selecting visual images. This interactive navigation iteratively reduces the search space and avoids long paginated result lists by guiding refinement through the tree.
The document further describes handling structured versus non-structured input and using database retrieval and search navigation logic to drive the category-tree updates. In this workflow, user-provided object descriptions guide which categories and attribute groups are presented for selection via the visual images and optional search tree legends.
Claims Coverage
The independent claims are directed to a method, an apparatus, and a non-transitory computer readable medium that perform a tree-structured, image-based attribute selection workflow for searching a configurable object. Across the independent claims, the main inventive structure includes four core elements: (i) displaying first-level tree search options with visual images tied to unselected structural attributes, (ii) receiving selection of a visual image and adding the selected attribute to form an updated physical structure, (iii) displaying second-level dependent tree options based on the selected first-level option and integrating the selected attribute into second-level visuals, and (iv) presenting second-level options with unselected structural sub-attributes in a hierarchical dependency relationship.
Tree-structured first-level image options for a configurable object
Displaying a plurality of first search options of a first level of a tree structure corresponding to search results for a configurable object having a plurality of design configurations, wherein each first search option comprises a visual image of a physical structure of the configurable object and a different and unselected respective structural attribute capable of being added to the physical structure of the configurable object.
Selection of a first-level visual image and attribute addition to form an updated physical structure
Receiving a selection of a visual image of a first search option from among the plurality of first search options corresponding to a selected structural attribute shown in the visual image of the selected first search option; adding the selected structural attribute to the physical structure of the configurable object to generate an updated physical structure.
Hierarchical second-level dependent image options integrating the updated physical structure
Displaying a plurality of second search options of a second level of the tree structure that depend from the selected first search option, wherein each second search option hierarchically depends from a position on the first level of the tree structure of the selected first search option and comprises a visual image of the updated physical structure of the configurable object visually integrating the selected structural attribute within the physical structure and further displaying a different and unselected respective structural sub-attribute capable of being added to the updated physical structure of the configurable object.
Across the independent claims, the inventive concept is a hierarchical tree-based search interaction that uses visual images to let a user select structural attributes of a configurable object, incrementally updates the physical structure representation, and then presents second-level dependent options with integrated visuals and additional unselected structural sub-attributes.
Stated Advantages
Not explicitly described in patent.
Documented Applications
Not explicitly described in patent.
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