Graphical user interface for building boolean queries and viewing search results

Abstract

Graphical user interfaces and methods for building Boolean queries and viewing search results using search cells, combination cells, toolbar, and menu bar. Search cells are movable within a workspace and contain a text field, facet type designation, advanced button, and hit count. Categories are chosen using a category walker. Combination cells, a Boolean combination of two or more selected search cells, are also movable and contain a combine icon, hit count, and an expression field. Boolean logic can be graphically depicted with the use of combination brackets. Contents of combination brackets are controllable through use of movable graphical pins between search cells. Alternatively, the Boolean query is depicted in a folder tree hierarchy, where search folders are shown within combination folders, which are represented as logical AND, OR, or MINUS folder icons. An applet in a browser accesses a server through the Internet.