Apparatus and Method for Displaying Search Results with a Variety of Display Paradigms

Abstract

A graphical user interface includes tabs representative of different classes of search results. The tabs are derived in response to the processing of a query. The different classes of search results group content by meaning, such that a query term with different meanings produces different classes of search results with different meanings. Further, stacks associated with each tab are derived. Each stack shares common attributes associated with a tab but has a refined meaning representing a different class of search results. Each stack includes text to characterize a class of search results.

1 . A computer implemented method, comprising:
 displaying, on a graphical user interface of a search engine, different classes of search results, wherein each class of search results has a textual description; and   supplying, with at least one class of search results of the different classes of search results, an image characterizing a class of search results.   
     
     
         2 . The computer implemented method of  claim 1  further comprising selecting the image to provide visual summary information in a web page. 
     
     
         3 . The computer implemented method of  claim 1  further comprising selecting the image based upon the image appearing multiple times in response to a search query. 
     
     
         4 . The computer implemented method of  claim 1  further comprising selecting the image based upon a labeled term associated with the image. 
     
     
         5 . The computer implemented method of  claim 1  further comprising selecting the image based upon color palette. 
     
     
         6 . The computer implemented method of  claim 1  further comprising selecting the image based upon an image file name. 
     
     
         7 . The computer implemented method of  claim 1  further comprising selecting the image based upon an HTML label associated with the image. 
     
     
         8 . The computer implemented method of  claim 1  further comprising supplying an image characterizing a related query. 
     
     
         9 . The computer implemented method of  claim 1  further comprising supplying an image associated with an advertisement.