User interface system and method for browsing a hypertext database

Patent 6067552 Issued on May 23, 2000. Estimated Expiration Date:

March 30, 2018. Estimated Expiration Date is calculated based on simple USPTO term provisions. It does not account for terminal disclaimers, term adjustments, failure to pay maintenance fees, or other factors which might affect the term of a patent.

Abstract Claims Description Full Text

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Inventor

Yu, Tonny

Application

No. 052050 filed on 03/30/1998

US Classes:

715/501.1, Hypermedia707/5Query augmenting and refining (e.g., inexact access)

Examiners

Primary: Hong, Stephen S.
Assistant: Bourque, Robert D

International Class

G06F 017/30

Abstract

A method and apparatus for traversing a hypertext system is provided. A set of descriptive document index terms is provided for documents in the database. Means are provided for the user to specify both the set of relevant index term values and the weighted relative ranking of the set of index terms. Means are provided for comparing the set of index terms specified by the user with sets of document index terms. The comparisons result in a ranked list of the selectively linked electronic documents. In one aspect, the electronic documents are ranked in accordance with the relevancy of each document with respect to the user. In another aspect, each electronic document in that database is indirectly linked with the user's present position through intermediate, dynamically generated tree links. The intermediate tree links are generated in accordance with the relevancy of each document with respect to the user and the efficiency of each index term to differentiate between relevant documents.

Other References

J. Conklin, "Hypertext: An Introduction and Survey", IEEE Computer, Sep. 1987, pp. 17-41
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