Searching data on an interactive user interface

Abstract

An interactive user interface (UI) to manage searching of data is disclosed. The UI has a first display panel and a second display panel. At least one facet, corresponding to a category of the data, and at least one of elements and subelements of the data, organized within the facet, are displayed on the first display panel. The first display panel is configured to enable choosing an algorithm for selecting and relating the elements and the subelements of the data, and a global indicator to indicate the chosen algorithm. In response to selection of at least one of the elements and the subelements of the data, at least one of the data and links to the data are displayed on the second display panel.

1 . An interactive user interface (UI) to manage searching of data, the UI comprising:
 a first display panel and a second display panel;   the first display panel configured to display at least one facet thereon, wherein each facet corresponds to a category of the data;   at least one of elements and subelements of the data, organized within the facet;   the first display panel configured to permit choosing of an algorithm for selecting and relating the elements and the subelements of the data;   a global indicator configured to indicate a chosen algorithm, the global indicator displayed on the first display panel; and   the second display panel configure to display thereon at least one of the data and links to the data, in response to selection of at least one of the elements and the subelements of the data; and   wherein the algorithm further comprises the capability of selecting and relating more than one of the elements and the subelements of the data within one single facet, the means displayed on the first display panel, the algorithm selected from any of the following group:
 a Single Select algorithm, for selecting one element or subelement within each facet; 
 an All Selections algorithm, for selecting more than one element and subelement within each facet, and relating them via a Boolean AND; and 
 an Any Selections algorithm, for selecting multiple element and subelement within each facet, and relating them via a Boolean OR. 
   
   
   
       2 . The UI of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a local indicator associated with each facet, the local indicator displayed on the first display panel to indicate the chosen algorithm associated with each facet.   
   
   
       3 . The UI of  claim 1 , wherein the chosen algorithm is capable of being globally applied to all facets. 
   
   
       4 . The UI of  claim 3 , wherein the first display panel is further configured to provide the capability of locally choosing an algorithm applied to a corresponding facet in a manner that overrides a global application to all facets. 
   
   
       5 . The UI of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a results indicator associated with each element and subelement of the data displayed on the first display panel to indicate a quantity of the data associated with each element and subelement of the data in response to the chosen algorithm.