Enhanced Search Results

Abstract

A search tool graphical user interface comprises search criteria selected by an operator of the search tool. One or more search results that correspond to the search criteria are displayed on the search tool graphical user interface, and an indication of characteristics is displayed for one or more of the search results. The characteristics displayed may include the availability or maturity of content associated with the search results; The search results may be sorted or filtered based on the characteristics of content associated with the search results. The characteristics maybe determined before or after the search results are identified and displayed on the search tool graphical user interface.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of creating a graphical user interface, comprising:
 identifying search results for a received query from potential search results, the identified search results including (i) a first identified search result associated with a first link to first content and (ii) a second search identified result associated with a second link to second content;   determining a first property associated with an ability to access the first content using the first link, based on accessed characteristic data corresponding to the first identified search result;   determining a second property associated with an ability to access the second content using the second link, based on accessed characteristic data corresponding to the second identified search result;   indicating that the ability to access the second content based on the second property using the second link is different than the ability to access the first content based on the first property using the first link; and   creating a graphical user interface on which the identified search results are displayable, the graphical user interface including an indication at an end of each search result, the perceivable indication including prose and a selectable icon that, when selected, reveals a description of at least one characteristic of a search result.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the selectable icon, when selected, reveals an explanation of the icon. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the selectable icon, when selected, reveals a detailed description of the characteristic and how a determination was made that content for which the icon is displayed has the at least one characteristic represented by the icon.