U.S. patent application number 11/550978 was filed with the patent office on 2007-03-22 for virtual directory.
Invention is credited to Ronald W. Colwill, Jr..
Application Number | 20070067314 11/550978 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 22943791 |
Filed Date | 2007-03-22 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070067314 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Colwill, Jr.; Ronald W. |
March 22, 2007 |
VIRTUAL DIRECTORY
Abstract
A method, system and apparatus for providing a virtual directory
to facilitate a quick, direct search for a web site on the
Internet. A user is provided with an extensive number of first
level search categories. By clicking on a first level search
category, the user is linked to a plurality of corresponding second
level search categories which are pre-selected by a service
provider. By clicking on a second level search category, the user
is linked to a plurality of corresponding third level search
categories, which are also pre-selected by the service provider.
The third level search categories are preferably URLs corresponding
to the search. The user can click on any one of the URLs to access
a web site. A button is provided on a bar of the web site by which
a user can return to one of the first or second level search
categories directly from the current web page bypassing all the
intermediate web pages the user reviewed. The virtual directory
also provides a search engine directory whereby a user can switch
from one search engine to another in order to complete a search
without having to retype a search category.
Inventors: |
Colwill, Jr.; Ronald W.;
(Edmonds, WA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
MORGAN & FINNEGAN, L.L.P.
3 World Financial Center
New York
NY
10281-2101
US
|
Family ID: |
22943791 |
Appl. No.: |
11/550978 |
Filed: |
October 19, 2006 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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09781901 |
Feb 9, 2001 |
7149743 |
|
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11550978 |
Oct 19, 2006 |
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60249515 |
Nov 17, 2000 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 ; 707/999.01;
707/E17.108 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G06F 16/954 20190101;
Y10S 707/99943 20130101; Y10S 707/99942 20130101; Y10S 707/99944
20130101; G06F 16/951 20190101; Y10S 707/99945 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
707/010 |
International
Class: |
G06F 17/30 20060101
G06F017/30 |
Claims
1. A virtual directory host server that guides a user through at
least three interface levels of an internet virtual directory
system to a desired internet web site relating to a search,
comprising: (i) means for transmitting a display of a first
interface and a second interface, wherein each of the first and
second interfaces comprises a plurality of search categories and is
linked to each other in such a way that a first search category is
linked to at least a second search category that specifies a
narrower subject matter subcategory related to the first search
category; (ii) means for receiving a click command to select the
first search category for each of the first and second interfaces;
and (iii) means for transmitting a display of a web page of an
internet web site corresponding to a selected second search
category, wherein the search categories for each of the first and
second interfaces are preselected and uploaded by a service
provider of said internet virtual directory system, and the
categories of at least the second level are pre-selected based on
the user's expected search results relating to the selected first
level search category and uploaded by the service provider.
2. The virtual directory host server of claim 1, wherein each of
the first and second interfaces further comprises alphabet letters
A through Z arranged adjacent the search categories of each of the
first and second interfaces.
3. The virtual directory host server of claim 2, further
comprising: (i) means for receiving a command to select an alphabet
letter; (ii) means for transmitting a display of a group of search
categories corresponding to said alphabet letter; and (iii) means
for receiving a click command to select a search category from said
group of search categories.
4. The virtual directory host server of claim 1, wherein each of
the first and second interfaces further comprises a scroll bar
adjacent said search categories for navigating through said search
categories.
5. The virtual directory host server of claim 4, further comprising
means for receiving a command to control said scroll bar to locate
a search category.
6. The virtual directory host server of claim 1, wherein a return
bar is displayed adjacent said web page of said internet web
site.
7. The virtual directory host server of claim 6, wherein said
return bar comprises a return button or icon.
8. The virtual directory host server of claim 7, further
comprising: (i) means for receiving a command from said return
button or icon to return to said internet virtual directory system;
and (ii) means for transmitting a display of said interface.
9. The virtual directory host server of claim 6, wherein said
return bar includes a hide button or icon for hiding said return
bar.
10. The virtual directory host server of claim 9, further
comprising: (i) means for receiving a command from said hide button
or icon to hide said return bar; and (ii) means for transmitting a
display of said web page without said return bar.
11. The virtual directory host server of claim 1, further
comprising means for receiving said click command from a mouse.
12. A computer readable medium having computer executable software
code stored thereon for guiding a user through at least three
interface levels of an internet virtual directory system to a
desired internet web site relating to a search, comprising: (i)
code for transmitting a display of a first interface and a second
interface, wherein each of the first and second interfaces
comprises a plurality of search categories and is linked to each
other in such a way that a first search category is linked to at
least a second search category that specifies a narrower subject
matter subcategory related to the first search category; (ii) code
for receiving a click command to select the first search category
for each of the first and second interfaces; and (iii) code for
transmitting a display of a web page of an internet web site
corresponding to a selected second search category, wherein the
search categories for each of the first and second interfaces are
preselected and uploaded by a service provider of said internet
virtual directory system, and the categories of at least the second
level are pre-selected based on the user's expected search results
relating to the selected first level search category and uploaded
by the service provider.
13. The method of claim 12, wherein each of the first and second
interfaces further comprises alphabet letters A through Z arranged
adjacent the search categories of each of the first and second
interfaces.
14. The computer readable medium of claim 13, further comprising:
(i) code for receiving a click command to select an alphabet
letter; (ii) code for transmitting a display of a group of search
categories corresponding to said alphabet letter; and (iii) code
for receiving a command to select a search category from said group
of search categories.
15. The computer readable medium of claim 12, wherein each of the
first and second interfaces further comprises a scroll bar adjacent
said search categories for navigating through said search
categories.
16. The computer readable medium of claim 15, further comprising
code for receiving a command to control said scroll bar to locate a
search category.
17. The computer readable medium of claim 12, wherein a return bar
is displayed adjacent said web page of said internet web site.
18. The computer readable medium of claim 17, wherein said return
bar comprises a return button or icon.
19. The computer readable medium of claim 18, further comprising:
(i) code for receiving a command from said return button or icon to
return to said internet virtual directory system; and (ii) code for
transmitting a display of said interface.
20. The computer readable medium of claim 17, wherein said return
bar includes a hide button or icon for hiding said return bar.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application is a continuation of prior application Ser.
No. 09/781,901 filed on Feb. 9, 2001, to which priority under 35
U.S.C. .sctn. 120 is claimed. This application also claims priority
from provisional U.S. Patent Application Ser. No. 60/249,515
entitled VIRTUAL DIRECTORY filed on Nov. 17, 2000, the entirety of
which is incorporated by reference herein.
FIELD
[0002] A method, system and apparatus for providing a virtual
directory for the world wide web ("Internet") and, more
specifically, a method, system and apparatus for providing an
improved virtual directory searching system for consumer to
business or business to business electronic commerce.
BACKGROUND
[0003] In recent years, the Internet has been transformed from a
virtual unknown, used by only a select group of college professors
and government researchers, to a virtual universe with over 120
million people visiting regularly from the U.S. alone. The number
of users will continue to grow rapidly as home computers become
more affordable and high speed Internet access becomes more
available. As the number of users increase, so will the number of
web sites. Jupiter Communication reported approximately 2 billion
web pages at the beginning of 2000 and projects the number to
exceed 16 billion within 4 years. The good news is that never
before have businesses and consumers had such tremendous access to
information. The bad news is that finding the right information
among the billions of web sites has become much more difficult and
time consuming. The plethora of information now available on the
Internet can make even a simple search complicated.
[0004] Multiple search engines and portal directories such as
yahoo.com, altavista.com or google.com, have come on-line in recent
years to assist Internet users in finding web sites. The machine
assembled search engines available today are very expansive and
often retrieve a tremendous amount of information. They retrieve
pages on the web by matching words in the pages from broad
databases of text available on the world wide web. A "crawler"
enters a web site and thoroughly indexes the page contents. The
frequencies and proximity of significant words are tallied and form
the basis of the order of display in search results from the
engine. A simple search on one of these engines can produce over
hundreds, if not, thousands of results. Often the results are
irrelevant and a waste of time. Search engines generally display
only about 10 items of the entire results per page. This is
commonly referred to as "first page results". Most often several
sites listed among the first page results are not even relevant to
the topic entered. Moreover, it is not uncommon for the same site
to be listed multiple times on the same page, or for a site to
contain offensive material. This can be a frustrating experience
for the typical user.
[0005] What differentiates a search engine from a directory is
simple human intervention. Directories, whether they are organized
by subject categories or databases, are searchable, browsable and
assembled by humans. Available directories have the same
characteristics: a search bar to type in a desired topic and a
limited number of predetermined categories, usually on the order of
10 to 15, such as `sports", "shopping" or "entertainment" to browse
within. In addition, most directories have very busy web pages.
Usually surrounding the search bar and categories are flashing news
headlines, stock quotes, horoscopes, weather and the ever present
banner advertisements.
[0006] There are several stumbling blocks to a successful search
using current directories. The obvious: how to fit the contents of
the Internet into 10 to 15 categories. Browsing the categories
often becomes a time consuming guessing game. Every web site on
every topic contained within the directory is grouped into one of
the 10 to 15 categories. The user commonly must guess which broad
category applies to the topic of the search. An incorrect guess
will cause the user to click on a pointing device, such as a mouse,
numerous times more than necessary; or, even if the user guesses
correctly, the user must click many times to further narrow the
broad category. After the passage of a significant amount of time,
it is not uncommon that a user may be twelve pages deep into a site
and nowhere near the desired topic. Companies whose sites are
listed in current directories must rely on the patience and
intuition of web users if their sites are to be found.
[0007] The type and search format of existing search engines and
directories are also cumbersome and do not lend easily to new
wireless technology. Existing search engines and directories lack
speed and it is often difficult to type in the text. Many of the
existing directories are also "sticky." Such directories keep the
user within the site, opening as many pages as possible, for as
long as possible. There is a need for an Internet directory which
provides easier access through scrolling and clicking through an
extensive list of topics such that a user leaves the directory and
reaches their destination as quickly as possible. There is also a
need for a directory with stream-lined text to facilitate
downloading.
[0008] Still another disadvantage of current search engines/portal
directories arises when a user cannot complete a successful search
in one search engine/portal directory and seeks to resume the
search in another search engine/portal directory. Exiting one
sticky directory can be complicated enough, while accessing another
directory to resume a search can be even more time consuming. There
is a need for an Internet search engine directory that facilitates
transition from one search engine/portal directory to another in
order to complete a search.
SUMMARY
[0009] The method, system and apparatus provides a virtual
directory in which a simple interface guides a user to a desired
web site in a limited number of clicks, preferably four or less, to
obtain quick, direct results without the need for typing in any
text.
[0010] In accordance with one embodiment, upon login, a simple
first interface/screen showing all the available first level
categories in one page is displayed to a user. Preferably, the
first level categories are organized in alphabetical order for the
convenience of the user. The available categories on the screen are
pre-selected and up-loaded to the screen by a directory service
provider. Each first level category is linked to a plurality of
corresponding second level sub-categories. The plurality of second
level sub-categories, also are pre-selected and up-loaded by the
service provider, and each plurality of second level sub-categories
is branched from a corresponding first level category. Each second
level sub-category is linked to a plurality of corresponding third
level sub-categories. The plurality of third level sub-categories,
also are pre-selected and up-loaded by the service provider and
each plurality of third level sub-categories is branched from a
second level sub-category. While the number of link levels for
sub-categories may vary depending on a search category, the third
level of linking (third level sub-category) is preferable for most
Internet searches.
[0011] A user browses the first level categories and points and
clicks on the corresponding word (i.e., a category) on the screen.
Alternatively, if the user does not find an appropriate category by
scrolling up and down the page where the categories are listed, or
the user does not want to scroll up and down the page, the user may
preferably point and click on one of the letters of the alphabet
shown on the screen along with the first level categories. The
selected letter corresponds to the search category the user has in
mind. Each letter of the alphabet is linked to a group of first
level search categories pre-selected and up-loaded by a directory
service provider. Preferably, the first letter of each category in
the group corresponds to the letter of the alphabet selected. If
the virtual directory does not have a category corresponding to the
user's search, the user may be encouraged to send an e-mail to the
service provider requesting that the missing category be included
in the directory.
[0012] In response to the first click, a second screen is displayed
showing a plurality of corresponding second level sub-categories.
The user selects a second level sub-category by pointing and
clicking on the corresponding word (i.e., a category) on the
screen.
[0013] In response to the second click, the user is presented with
a third screen which shows a plurality of corresponding third level
sub-categories. If the third link level is sufficient for the
search, the third level sub-categories comprise a plurality of URLs
(Universal Resource Locators) linked to real web sites relating to
the selected second level sub-category. The user selects one of the
URLs by pointing and clicking on the corresponding URL on the
screen. In response to the third click, the user has now logged
onto a web site and can now browse the web site to access the
information needed.
[0014] In another embodiment, while the user is browsing the web
site, the user is provided with a link in any form, preferably a
bar, button or icon, by which the user can return to one of the
previous sub-categories directly with a single click bypassing all
the intermediate web pages the user reviewed in the web site.
[0015] In still another embodiment, a first interface displays at
least 1,000 first level search categories in a single web page,
wherein each of the first level search categories is configured
such that a user can point and click on any category and link to a
plurality of second level search categories. The user can browse
the first level search categories using a scroll bar or
alternatively by clicking on the letter of the alphabet
corresponding to the search category of interest. After receiving
the first click, a second interface is displayed which shows no
more than 30 second level search categories corresponding to one of
the first level search categories selected by the user, wherein
each of the second level search categories is configured such that
a user can point and click on any category and link to a plurality
of third level search categories. After receiving the second click,
a third interface is displayed to the user showing no more than 30
third level search categories corresponding to one of the second
level search categories selected by the user. Each third level
search category comprises a URL, such that upon pointing and
clicking on a URL (the third click), a user is linked to an
Internet web site.
[0016] In yet another embodiment, the virtual directory provides a
search engine directory facilitating transition from one search
engine to another. A user browsing the point and click directory
can access the search engine directory at any time by clicking on a
search button. At least one interface is displayed comprising a
plurality of search engine categories, wherein search engine
categories are configured so that a user can point and click on a
category and link directly to a search engine web site. A user
types in a search topic in a search field and clicks on a search
engine category to link to a search engine web site. If the user is
not satisfied with the results of the search in the search engine
web site, the user can return directly to the search engine
directory by clicking on a return button or icon. Without retyping
the search topic, the user can click on another search engine
category and link directly to another search engine web site to
resume the search.
[0017] It is not intended that the method, system and apparatus for
providing a virtual directory be summarized here in its entirety.
Rather, further features, aspects and advantages of the virtual
directory are set forth in or are apparent from the following brief
description, detailed description, drawings and claims which
follow.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0018] Further aspects of the method, system and apparatus for
providing a virtual directory will be more readily appreciated upon
review of the detailed description set forth below when taken in
conjunction with the accompanying drawings, of which:
[0019] FIG. 1 is a network schematic of an embodiment of a virtual
directory system 10;
[0020] FIG. 2 is a block diagram of an embodiment of a virtual
directory host server 100;
[0021] FIG. 3 is a flow chart 200 illustrating an embodiment of the
process by which the virtual directory system guides a user to an
Internet web site;
[0022] FIG. 4 is an embodiment of a first interface 300 displaying
first level search categories corresponding to the letter "A" and
also displaying the alphabet on the left margin of the screen and a
scroll bar on the right margin of the screen;
[0023] FIG. 5 is an embodiment of a first interface 400 displaying
first level search categories corresponding to the letter "B"
positioned on the screen by using the scroll bar;
[0024] FIG. 6 is an embodiment a second interface 500 displaying
second level search categories;
[0025] FIG. 7 is an embodiment of a third interface 600 displaying
third level search categories; and
[0026] FIG. 8 is an embodiment of the home page 700 of a selected
web site, "Weber", with a return bar, including a return button and
a hide button.
[0027] FIG. 9 is an embodiment of a search engine directory 800
displaying a plurality of search engine categories listed in
alphabetical order and also displaying a search button at the top
right portion of the screen, the alphabet on the left margin of the
screen and a text field above the search engine list.
[0028] FIG. 10 is an embodiment of a search engine directory 900
with a search topic "Mononucleosis" typed in the text field.
[0029] FIG. 11 is an embodiment of a web page 1000 of a selected
search engine, "Google", with a return bar, including a return
button and a hide button.
[0030] It will be understood that the foregoing brief description
and the following detailed description are exemplary and
explanatory of the method, system and apparatus for providing a
virtual directory, but are not intended to be restrictive thereof
or limiting of the advantages which can be achieved by the virtual
directory. Thus, the accompanying drawings, referred to herein and
constituting a part hereof, illustrate embodiments of the virtual
directory and, together with the detailed description, serve to
explain the principles of the virtual directory.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0031] FIG. 1 is a network schematic of an embodiment of a virtual
directory system ("VDS") 10. VDS 10 is configured so that a user
searching for a particular web site can be guided to the web site
using a web browser in a limited number of clicks, preferably four
or less, without the need for typing in any text. VDS 10 is
suitable for the Internet, and more preferably for consumer to
business or business to business electronic commerce. VDS 10
includes virtual directory host server 100 which is connected to
Internet 60 through an Internet service provider (ISP). End users
15, 30, 45 and 50 are connected to Internet 60 through any type of
computing device such as personal computers 20 and 25, a
workstation, a network terminal, or via wireless communications 35
using any form of wireless or hand-held remote device, such as
wireless telephone 40 or palm pilot 55, that can accomplish two-way
electronic communication over the network.
[0032] Turning now to FIG. 2, illustrated therein are exemplary
components of a computer device, such as virtual directory host
server 100. Any of user remote devices 20, 25, 40 or 55 may share a
similar configuration. The primary component of virtual directory
host server 100 is processor 110, which may be any commonly
available microprocessor. Processor 110 may be operatively
connected to further exemplary components, such as RAM/ROM 120,
clock 130, input/output device(s) 140, and memory 150 which, in
turn, stores one or more computer programs 160.
[0033] Processor 110 operates in conjunction with random access
memory and read-only memory. The random-access memory (RAM) portion
of RAM/ROM 120 may be a suitable number of Single In-Line Memory
Module (SIMM) chips having a storage capacity (typically measured
in kilobytes or megabytes) sufficient to store and transfer, inter
alia, processing instructions utilized by processor 110 which may
be received from application programs 160. The read-only memory
(ROM) portion of RAM/ROM 120 may be any permanent non-rewritable
memory medium capable of storing and transferring, inter alia,
processing instructions performed by processor 110 during a
start-up routine of virtual directory host server 100.
[0034] Clock 130 may be an on-board component of processor 110
which dictates a clock speed (typically measured in MHz) at which
processor 110 performs and synchronizes, inter alia, communication
between the internal components of virtual directory host server
100.
[0035] Input/output device(s) 140 may be one or more known devices
used for receiving operator inputs, network data, and the like and
transmitting outputs resulting therefrom. Accordingly, exemplary
input devices may include a keyboard, a mouse, a voice recognition
unit and the like for receiving operator inputs. Output devices may
include any known devices used to present data to an operator of
virtual directory host server 100 or to transmit data over computer
network 10 to a remote user. Accordingly, suitable output devices
may include a display, a printer and a voice synthesizer connected
to a speaker.
[0036] Other input/output device(s) 140 may include a telephonic or
network connection device, such as a telephone modem, a cable
modem, a T-1 connection, a digital subscriber line or a network
card, for communicating data to and from other computer devices
over computer network 10, such as remote devices 20, 25, 40 and 55.
Input/output device(s) 140 can have capacity to handle high
bandwidth traffic in order to accommodate communications with a
large number of users.
[0037] Memory 150 may be an internal or external large capacity
device for storing computer processing instructions,
computer-readable data, and the like. The storage capacity of
memory 150 is typically measured in megabytes or gigabytes.
Accordingly, memory 150 may be one or more of the following: a
floppy disk in conjunction with a floppy disk drive, a hard disk
drive, a CD-ROM disk and reader/writer, a DVD disk and
reader/writer, a ZIP disk and a ZIP drive, and/or any other
computer readable medium that may be encoded with processing
instructions in a read-only or read-write format. Further functions
of and available devices for memory 150 will be apparent.
[0038] Memory 150 may store, inter alia, a plurality of programs
160 which may be any one or more of an operating system and one or
more application programs, such as a directory service provider
program. Programs 160 may include processing instructions for
accomplishing a virtual directory system as described herein.
[0039] Virtual directory host server 100 can be configured to
include any number of websites in memory 150 as well as any number
of search categories. For example, the virtual directory can
coordinate as many as 500,000 sites into 1,400 categories. Virtual
directory host server 100 can also be configured to list only the
top web sites and to perform a "dead URL" search to ensure that the
sites listed are active, and can be continually updated with the
most current and popular sites for each category.
[0040] The virtual directory process may begin after a user at
remote device 20, 25, 40 or 55 selects the URL of virtual directory
host server 100. The URL for virtual directory host server 100 may
be entered into the URL entry field of the browser residing on the
user's remote device. An exemplary sign-in window may then be
presented on the display screen of the user's device including a
sign-in field requiring, for example, a user name or other unique
identifier. Upon entering the field information, the user may
transmit such information to virtual directory host server 100 with
a pointing and clicking device, such as a mouse. Alternatively, the
home page of the virtual directory site may display the first
interface of first level search categories.
[0041] In accordance with an embodiment, upon visiting the virtual
directory host server 100 site, a first interface/screen displaying
all the available first level categories in one page is presented
to a user. Preferably, the first level categories can be at least
1000 items organized in, e.g., alphabetical order, for the
convenience of the user. The available categories on the screen are
pre-selected and up-loaded to the screen by a directory service
provider. Each first level category is linked to a plurality of
corresponding second level search categories. Preferably, the
second level search categories are no more than 30 items branched
from a corresponding first level category. The second level search
categories are pre-selected and up-loaded by the service provider
as the second level search categories. Each second level search
category is linked to a plurality of corresponding third level
search categories. Preferably, the third level search categories
are no more than 30 items branched from a second level search
category. The third level search categories are also pre-selected
and up-loaded by the service provider as the third level search
categories. While the number of link levels for search categories
may vary depending on a search category, the third level of linking
(third level search category) is preferable for most Internet
searches.
[0042] The virtual directory is preferably configured to use
hyperlinks. Simple underlining and or highlighted words are
preferably employed to take a user to a desired destination when
clicked.
[0043] A user selects one of the first level categories by pointing
and clicking on the corresponding word (i.e., a category) on the
screen. Alternatively, if the user does not find an appropriate
category by first scrolling up and down the page where the
categories are listed, or the user does not want to scroll up and
down the page, the user may preferably click on one of the letters
of the alphabet shown on a portion of the screen along with the
first level categories. The selected letter corresponds to a search
category the user has in mind. Each letter of the alphabet is
linked to a group of first level search categories pre-selected and
up-loaded by a directory service provider. Preferably, the first
letter of each category in the group corresponds to the letter of
the alphabet selected. If the virtual directory does not have a
category corresponding to the user's search, the user may be
encouraged to send an e-mail to the service provider requesting
that the missing category be included in the directory.
[0044] In response to the first click, the user is presented with a
second screen which displays a plurality of corresponding second
level search categories. The user selects a second level search
category by pointing and clicking on the corresponding word (i.e.,
a category) on the screen.
[0045] In response to the second click, the user is presented with
a third screen which displays a plurality of corresponding third
level search categories. If the third link level is sufficient for
the search, the third level search categories comprise a plurality
of URLs linked to web sites corresponding to the selected second
level search category. The user selects one of the URLs by pointing
and clicking on a URL on the screen.
[0046] The user has now logged onto a web site. The user can now
browse the web site to access the information needed. While the
user is in the web site, the user is provided with a link presented
on the display screen in any form, preferably a bar, button or
icon, by which the user can return to the virtual directory site
directly with one click bypassing all the intermediate web pages
the user reviewed in the web site.
[0047] The virtual directory system is preferably navigated using a
point and click device, such as mouse. In the preferred embodiment,
a user need only click and or scroll to reach a destination and
does not have to type any text relating to a search. The directory
is particularly useful for wireless and hand-held devices where
typing in text can be cumbersome. The directory provides quick,
direct results by simply requiring a user to click and or scroll to
reach a desired web site. Preferably, the user reaches their
destination in four clicks or less. The directory can be utilized
for any search in a consumer-to-business e-commerce environment,
business-to-business e-commerce environment or in any search
undertaken on the Internet.
[0048] The virtual directory is now described in further detail
referring to flow chart FIG. 3 in connection with FIGS. 4 to 8. The
virtual directory system starts 205 when, in step 210 of FIG. 3,
virtual directory host server 100 displays to a user a first
interface of first level search categories.
[0049] FIG. 4 is an example of a first interface screen 300
presented to a user upon visiting the web site of virtual directory
host server 100. Header portion 310 of first interface 300 shows a
name of a service provider "WhereTheHeckIsIt?com" of virtual
directory host server 100. Main content portion 320 of first
interface 300 shows all the available first level search categories
in one page. The first level categories are organized in
alphabetical order for convenience of the user. While the initial
screen of first interface 300 shows only a portion of the first
level categories starting with the letter "A" and the first line of
the first level categories starting with the letter "B", the page
is configured to scroll up and down by scroll bar 330 to view the
rest of the categories.
[0050] The left portion 340 of first interface 300 sets forth the
alphabet, i.e., letters A-Z. Each letter of the alphabet is
configured to link to a corresponding group of first level
categories. Instead of clicking on scroll bar 330 to scroll up and
down to find a particular category, a user may click on an alphabet
letter on portion 340 to directly go to a group of first level
search categories corresponding to the clicked alphabet letter.
Using the alphabet, the virtual directory can allow users
twenty-six options A through Z. The user chooses the letter that
best fits the search. This intuitive step assists the user to enter
the directory at the correct point. Portion 340 of first interface
300 remains fixed on the page if a user chooses to scroll up and
down the page using scroll bar 330.
[0051] First interface 300 usually shows a plurality of search
categories, i.e., preferably at least 1,000 search categories,
enabling the user to select a search item as accurately as possible
from the beginning of the search. The available categories on the
screen are pre-selected and up-loaded by the directory service
provider. A user may also participate in selecting or adding to the
search categories. For example, if the virtual directory does not
have a category corresponding to a user's search category, the user
may be prompted to send an e-mail to the service provider
requesting that the missing category be included. The number and
type of categories may be varied and selected based on a variety of
information, such as targeted users.
[0052] By way of example, a user may want to search the Internet
for the types of special features offered by various manufacturers
of "barbecue grills." As shown in FIG. 5, the user can search for
the category "barbecue" by scrolling down main content portion 420
displaying first level search categories arranged in alphabetical
order. By pointing and clicking on scroll bar 430 (the "first
click"), the user can scroll to the group of first level search
categories 420 beginning with the letter "B", which includes the
category "barbecue". Again, header portion 410 of first interface
400 shows a name of a service provider "WhereTheHeckIsIt?com" of
virtual directory host server 100, and alphabet portion 440 appears
in the left margin of second interface 400.
[0053] Alternatively, if the user does not find the appropriate
first level category by scrolling up and down the page or the user
prefers not to use the scroll bar, the user may point and simply
click on the Alphabetical list shown on the first page. In this
embodiment, the user is searching for the category "barbecue", so
the user clicks on the letter "B" (the "first click") to arrive at
the group of first level search categories 420 beginning with the
letter "B" as shown in FIG. 5.
[0054] At step 215 of FIG. 3, the virtual directory host server
receives a first click command from the user and displays a group
of first level search categories to the user in step 220. At step
225, the virtual directory host server receives a second click
command from the user, and recognizes that the user clicked on the
search category "barbecue". At step 225, upon receiving the second
click command, the virtual directory host server 100 displays to
the user a second interface comprising a plurality of second level
search categories in step 230. The second level search categories
correspond to the selected first level search category and,
preferably, there are no more than 30 second level categories in
number. The second level search categories are pre-selected by the
service provider as corresponding to the selected first level
category. By selecting the categories, the search can be controlled
and guided by the service provider. Each of the second level search
categories is linked to a group of third level search
categories.
[0055] FIG. 6 is an example of a second interface screen 500
comprising a plurality of second level search categories 520.
Second interface 500 in this example includes header 510 indicating
the name of service provider "WhereTheHeckIsIt?com" and alphabet
portion 540 by which the user may directly access another group of
first level search categories. Top portion 530 of main content
portion 520 displays a first level search category, i.e., "Barbecue
. . . ", that was selected by the user resulting in the display of
second interface 500. Main content portion 520 comprises a
plurality of categories corresponding to the first level search
category "barbecue". In this example, the service provider selected
eight second level search categories: "Accessories", "Custom
Built", "BBQ Sauces", "General Information", "Manufacturers",
"Recipes", "Restaurant Chains" and "Retailers". Again, the user may
be prompted to suggest additional categories. The suggested
categories may be added based upon the service provider's
discretion.
[0056] In this embodiment, the user clicks on "Manufacturers". In
step 235 of FIG. 3, virtual directory host server 100 receives a
third click command. In step 240, upon receiving the third click
command, virtual directory host server 100 displays to the user a
third interface comprising a plurality of third level search
categories. The third level search categories are preferably a list
of URLs related to the selected second level search category.
Preferably, the third level search categories comprise the top 10,
20 or 30 URLs corresponding to a particular search. The URLs are
selected by the service provider as corresponding to the selected
second level search category. By selecting the URLs, the search can
be controlled and guided by the service provider, such that a user
is directed to quality web sites corresponding to the search
category. Each of the third level search categories is linked to an
Internet web site.
[0057] FIG. 7 is an example of a third interface screen 600
comprising a plurality of third level search categories. Third
interface 600 in this example includes header 610 indicating the
name of service provider "WhereTheHeckIsIt?com" and alphabet
portion 640 by which the user may directly access another group of
first level search categories. Top portion 630 of main content
portion 620 displays a search path, i.e.
"Barbecue.fwdarw."Manufacturers . . . ", by which the user arrived
at third interface 600. Main content portion 620 displays a list of
barbecue manufacturers (URLs) relating to second level search
category "Manufacturers" and the first level search category
"Barbecue". The service provider in this example selected twenty
(20) of the most popular barbecue manufacturers: "Big Green Egg",
"Brinkman", "Broil King", "Broil-Mate", "Capt 'N Cook", "Coleman",
"Cook On", "DCS", "Fiesta", "Flat Rock", "Lynx", "Masagrill",
"Meco", "Turbo", "TSI", "Smoker", "Sunbeam", "Whales", "Weber" and
"Wheel Tough Co.". The listed names of manufacturers are configured
to point and click on to link to an Internet web site of a selected
manufacturer.
[0058] Upon deciding to visit the web site of "Weber", for example,
the user points and clicks on the name "Weber" displayed in third
interface 600. In step 245 of FIG. 3, virtual directory host server
100 receives a fourth click command corresponding to the selected
third level search category of third interface 600. In step 250,
upon receiving the third click command, virtual directory host
server 100 links to the web site selected by the user and displays
the home page of the web site. The user has now logged onto the web
site of "Weber." The user can now browse the web site of Weber and
retrieve information responsive to the search thereby ending the
search or repeating the search process (Step 255 of FIG. 3) for a
different barbecue manufacturer or search category.
[0059] FIG. 8 is an illustrative screen 700 of the home page of
"Weber" 710. The lower portion of screen 700 comprises bar 720
including return button 730 captioned "Click Here to Return" to the
service provider ("WhereTheHeckIsIt?com") and hide button 740
captioned "Click Here to Hide Bar". The clicks for both buttons are
provided through a frame by the service provider for the virtual
directory. Hide button 740 is configured to return the user back to
the virtual directory, preferably to the first, second, third or
any level of categories directly. Using the button, the user can
return to the virtual directory with a single click regardless of
how deep the user has browsed in a web site bypassing all of the
intermediate web pages the user viewed in the web site. Hide button
740 is configured to hide bar 720, e.g., when a web page is printed
so that it does not appear on the printed page. The return and hide
buttons can be provided in any form.
[0060] The ability of the virtual directory to provide quick,
direct results according to the foregoing embodiments is summarized
below: [0061] Click 1 Click on the letter "B" for barbecue. [0062]
Click 2 Next? Click on the word "Barbecue". [0063] Click 3 Next?
Click on the sub-topic "Manufacturers". [0064] Click 4 Next? After
just three clicks of the mouse, the user has arrived at a page full
of links to barbecue manufacturers' web sites. The user is free to
click on any link and browse back and fourth among the different
companies.
[0065] As illustrated above, if a user wants to find out about
barbecue manufacturers, in four clicks, the user can have access to
the top twenty, without distracting and irrelevant direction to
unrelated web sites. By clicking on the selected manufacturer, the
user can gain direct access to the manufacturer's web site and can
move to another manufacturer in as little as two clicks.
[0066] The virtual directory does not simply direct a user to the
search results. It can get a user back to the directory just as
quickly and directly. The virtual directory avoids the limitations
of prior art search engines and portal directories where a user
could get lost many pages deep in an irrelevant web site and have
difficulty getting back to the starting point of a search, or get
trapped in a web site that refuses to let the user leave until the
user is essentially forced to type in a new URL number. The virtual
directory removes these limitations by providing a link back to the
virtual directory, in the form of a bar, icon, button or other
mark, that can always be visible while the user browses the various
web sites. In the case of the barbecue manufacturers, anytime the
user wants to return to the directory listing the 20 manufacturers
(no matter how many clicks deep the user has gone in a web site),
the user simply clicks on the return button once and is immediately
taken back to the virtual directory.
[0067] In another embodiment, the virtual directory can be utilized
to facilitate transition from one search engine to another. For
example, a user may not be able to find a search category
corresponding to a search topic using the point and click directory
described above. In such an instance, the virtual directory enables
a user to search for the particular search category in any number
of search engines or portal directories without having to retype
the search category. Furthermore, in the event a search cannot be
completed in a particular search engine site, a user can directly
return to the virtual directory from the search engine site so that
the user can switch to another search engine site just as quickly
and directly until the search is completed.
[0068] Referring to FIG. 9, interface screen 800 displays a
plurality of search engine categories, i.e., a search engine
directory. Interface screen 800 includes header 810 indicating the
name of service provider "WhereTheHeckIsIt?com.", including search
button or icon 820. Main content portion 830 includes a plurality
of search engine categories arranged in alphabetical order. The top
portion of main content portion includes a search category "Search
Engines . . . " 840 and text field 850 for typing in a search
topic. Alphabet portion 860 appears on the left margin of interface
screen 800.
[0069] In this embodiment, a user could not find the search topic
"Mononucleosis" in the point and click virtual directory described
above. The user accesses the search engine directory by clicking on
search button 820 or by clicking on the search category "Search
Engines" found in the virtual directory. The search category
"Search Engines" can be found in the directory using a scroll bar
and scrolling down the list of search categories or by clicking on
the letter "S" on the alphabet portion--the search category "Search
Engines" is listed in the group of search categories corresponding
to the letter "S".
[0070] In this embodiment, the search engine directory includes the
following search engines categories (URLs) arranged in alphabetical
order: "Alta Vista", "Ask Jeeves", "Direct Hit", "Excite", "Fast
Search", "Go", "GoTo", "Google", "HotBot", "Looksmart", "Lycos",
"MSN Search", "NBCi", "Netscape Search", "Northern Light", "DMOZ",
"Raging Search", "RealNames", "WebCrawler" and "Yahoo". Any number
of search engine categories arranged in any manner and in any
number of interfaces (link levels) are suitable for the search
engine directory. For example, search engine categories relating to
the topic "medical" can be arranged such that a user (i) clicks on
the letter "M" of alphabet portion, (ii) clicks on the topic
"medical" among the group of search engine categories corresponding
to the letter "M" and (iii) clicks on one of the search engine
categories (URLs) corresponding to the search engine category
"Medical".
[0071] Referring to FIG. 10, a user typed in the search topic
"Mononucleosis" in text field 910 of interface screen 900. By
clicking on any of search engine categories (URLs) 920, the user
searches for the topic "Mononucleosis" in the selected search
engine category (URL). In this embodiment, the user selects search
engine category "Google" 930.
[0072] FIG. 11 displays an illustrative screen 1000 of a web page
from the web directory Google. The page displays the results
corresponding to search topic "Mononucleosis" 1010. The lower
portion of screen 1000 comprises bar 1020 including return button
1030 captioned "Click Here to Return" to the service provider
("WhereTheHeckIsIt?com") and hide button 1040 captioned "Click Here
To Hide Bar". The clicks for both buttons are provided through a
frame by the service provider for the virtual directory. The "Click
Here To Return" button is configured to return the user back to the
virtual directory, preferably to the search engine directory. Using
the button, the user can return to the search engine directory in a
single click regardless of how deep the user has browsed in a
search engine site bypassing all of the intermediate web pages the
user viewed in the web site. In this manner, if a user visiting the
Google site cannot find the results for the search topic
"Mononucleosis", the user can directly access the search engine
directory by clicking on return button 1030 in order to switch to
another search engine. The user simply clicks on another search
engine category, i.e., Yahoo, to search for the topic
"Mononucleosis". The user does not have to retype the topic
"Mononucleosis". Hide button 1040 is configured to hide bar 1020.
The return and hide buttons can be provided in any form.
[0073] Although illustrative embodiments have been described herein
in detail, it should be noted and understood that the descriptions
have been provided for purposes of illustration only and that other
variations both in form and detail can be made thereupon without
departing from the spirit and scope of the method, system and
apparatus for providing a virtual directory. The terms and
expressions have been used as terms of description and not terms of
limitation. There is no limitation to use the terms or expressions
to exclude any equivalents of features shown and described or
portions thereof and the virtual directory should be defined with
the claims that follow.
* * * * *