Methods and apparatus for mouse-over preview of contextually relevant information

Abstract

Challenges to the analysis of search results may be mitigated by offering preview information when users navigate a computer-pointing device over pre-designated areas of a search result page. A separate icon in the pre-designated area enhances the advantages by providing intuitive preview ability with seamless and natural control over a variety of preview options, such as the type of preview information and the manner in which it is presented. In addition, while operating a preview-enabled search result page, users' behavior provides data and attributes, which may be re-incorporated into the searching algorithm to improve the relevancy of search results.

1 . In a system having a display device and user input mechanisms including a pointer, a query result page comprising: 
 a plurality of results, each associated with an item in a data store of information;    a plurality of defined areas, each associated with at least one such result;    a first defined area arranged to intuitively imply a relation with respect to a first result;    a first data item in said data store, referred by and associated with said first result;    at least one preview window associated with said result page and displaying preview information regarding said first result when said pointer navigates over said first defined area, wherein said preview information comprises browser cognizable content.    
   
   
       2 . The invention of  claim 1 , wherein said preview information comprises an image of the actual web page referred by and associated with said first result.  
   
   
       3 . The invention of  claim 1 , wherein said first defined area is at least partially co-located with a portion of said first result.  
   
   
       4 . The invention of  claim 1 , wherein said first defined area is at least partially co-located with a preview icon.  
   
   
       5 . In a system having a display device and user input mechanisms including a pointer, a query result page comprising: 
 a plurality of results, each associated with an item in a data store of information;    a plurality of defined areas, each associated with at least one such result;    a first defined area and a second defined area arranged to intuitively imply a relation with respect to a first result, wherein said first defined area and a second defined area are both at least partially co-located with said first result;    a first data item in said data store, referred by and associated with said first result; and    at least a first preview window and a second preview window associated with said result page,    wherein said first preview window displays first preview information regarding said first result when said pointer navigates over said first defined area, and    wherein said second preview window displays second preview information regarding said first result when said pointer navigates over said second defined area, said second preview information displayed being a different type of preview information than said first preview information displayed when said pointer navigates over said first defined area.    
   
   
       6 . The invention of  claim 5 , wherein said first defined area is at least partially co-located with a portion of said query result pages, said portion including text or graphics and not including a hyperlink.  
   
   
       7 . In a system having a display device and user input mechanisms including a pointer, a query result page comprising: 
 a plurality of results, each associated with an item in a data store of information;    a plurality of defined areas, each associated with at least one such result;    a first defined area arranged to intuitively imply a relation with respect to a first result;    a first data item in said data store, referred by and associated with said first result;    at least one preview window associated with said result page and displaying preview information regarding said first result when said pointer navigates over said first defined area,    wherein the first data item includes an actual web page referred by and associated with said first result, and    wherein said preview information comprises language translation of information residing on the actual web page referred by and associated with said first result.    
   
   
       8 . The invention of  claim 7 , wherein at least one preview window is fixed in size, shape and location upon said query results page.  
   
   
       9 - 10 . (canceled)  
   
   
       11 . A method for previewing query results, comprising the steps of: 
 providing a query result page comprising a plurality of results, each associated with an item in a data store of information;    providing one or more display windows upon a mouse-over of a defined area arranged to intuitively imply a relation with respect to one or more of the plurality of results;    displaying in one or more of said display windows, preview information intuitively related to text, graphics or hyperlinks that are at least partially co-located with said defined area; and    allowing the user to navigate in the display window and allowing the user to commit by clicking through on the display window or a link associated with each of the plurality of results.    
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 11  wherein said defined area is at least partially co-located with text, graphics or hyperlinks suggesting an alternative query and said preview information includes information regarding a search results page associated with said alternative query.  
   
   
       13 . (canceled)  
   
   
       14 . A method of providing preview information comprising the steps of: 
 providing a search result;    providing a preview icon associated with said search result;    providing a defined area that is larger that associated with said preview icon;    initiating the loading of preview information upon mouse-over of the defined area;    providing one or more display windows upon mouse-over of the preview icon; and    displaying in one or more of said display windows, preview information intuitively related to said search result.    
   
   
       15 - 17 . (canceled)  
   
   
       18 . In a system having a display device and mouse-pointer, a query result page comprising: 
 a result associated with an item in a data store of information;    a defined area associated with said result;    a first preview window displaying a first type of preview information upon a mouse-over of said defined area; and    a second preview window displaying a second type of preview information upon a mouse-over of said defined area.    
   
   
       19 . The invention of  claim 18  wherein said first preview window is floating.  
   
   
       20 . The invention of  claim 18  wherein said first preview window is fixed upon said query results page.  
   
   
       21 . The invention of  claim 18 , wherein the first data item includes an actual web page referred by and associated with said first result, and wherein the first preview information includes only text from the actual web page.  
   
   
       22 . The invention of  claim 21 , wherein the second preview information includes the actual web page referred by and associated with said first result.  
   
   
       23 . The invention of  claim 21 , wherein the second preview information includes an image of the actual web page referred by and associated with said first result.  
   
   
       24 . In a system having a display device and user input mechanisms including a pointer, a query result page comprising: 
 a plurality of results, each associated with an item in a data store of information;    a plurality of defined areas, each associated with at least one such result;    a first defined area arranged to intuitively imply a relation with respect to a first result;    at least one preview window associated with said result page and displaying preview information regarding said first result when said pointer navigates over said first defined area,    wherein said preview information includes an actual web page referred by and associated with said first result.    
   
   
       25 . The query result page of  claim 24 , wherein the actual web page displayed in the preview window includes browser cognizable content.  
   
   
       26 . The query result page of  claim 25 , wherein the browser cognizable content is selected from the group consisting of gif, HTML, DHTML, JavaScript, and Flash.  
   
   
       27 . The query result page of  claim 24 , wherein the actual web page displayed in the preview window includes a controllable functional attribute.  
   
   
       28 . The query result page of  claim 27 , wherein the controllable functional attribute is selected from the group consisting of scroll bar, hyperlink, and mouse-over.