Method and apparatus for an interactive catalog

Abstract

A method and apparatus for an interactive catalog includes presenting a portion of a database. The method includes presenting a first tier of selectable graphics images. Each selectable graphics image in the first tier of selectable graphics images represents a first collection of data structures corresponding thereto. The method also includes presenting a second tier of selectable graphics images, in response to a selecting of a selectable graphics image of the first tier to produce a first tier selected graphics image. Each selectable graphics image in the second tier of selectable graphics images represents a second collection of data structures. Each data structure in the second tier also belongs to the first collection of data structures corresponding to the first tier selected graphics image.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A method for presenting a portion of a database, the method comprising steps of: 
 presenting a first tier of tabs, each tab in the first tier of tabs representing a first collection of data objects corresponding thereto; and    in response to a selecting of a tab of the first tier to produce a selected first tier tab, presenting a second tier of tabs, each tab in the second tier of tabs representing a second collection of data objects, each data object in the second tier also belonging to the first collection of data objects corresponding to the selected first tier tab.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein: 
 the second tier of tabs is not visible until after the selecting of a tab of the first tier.    
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein: 
 the second tier of tabs is visible.    
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising a step of: 
 in response to a selecting of a tab of the second tier to produce a selected second tier tab, presenting a third tier of tabs, each tab in the third tier of tabs representing a third collection of data objects, each data object in the third tier also belonging to the second collection of data objects corresponding to the selected second tier tab.    
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein: 
 the third tier of tabs is not visible until after the selecting of a tab of the second tier.    
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 4 , further comprising a step of: 
 in response to a selecting of a tab of the third tier to produce a selected third tier tab, presenting a fourth tier of tabs, each tab in the fourth tier of tabs representing a fourth collection of data objects, each data object in the fourth tier also belonging to the third collection of data objects corresponding to the selected third tier tab.    
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein: 
 the database is a catalog of products.    
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein: 
 the presenting the first tier of tabs includes executing a process in a first computer system and displaying the first tier of tabs on a display device of a second computer system; and    the selecting of a tab of the first tier to produce a selected first tier tab includes providing a selection of the selected first tier tab to the first computer system.    
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein: 
 after the selecting of the tab of the first tier to produce the selected first tier tab representing a first collection of data objects, and in response to a selecting of a subsequent tab of the first tier to produce a subsequent selected first tier tab, wherein the first tier includes both the selected first tier tab and the subsequent selected first tier tab: 
 replacing the second tier of tabs with a subsequent second tier of tabs representing a fourth collection of data objects; and  
 replacing the third tier of tabs with a subsequent third tier of tabs representing a fourth collection of data objects.  
   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising a step of: 
 modifying a browser to perform the presenting the first tier of tabs.    
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 receiving a scroll input corresponding to at least one of the first tier and the second tier;    in response to receiving a scroll input, scrolling the corresponding at least one of the first tier and the second tier.    
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein: 
 at least one of the first tier and the second tier is horizontal.    
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein: 
 at least one of the first tier and the second tier is vertical.    
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein: 
 at least one of the first tier and the second tier is horizontal and at least one of the first tier and the second tier is vertical.    
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein: 
 the form representing the collection of records of tabs is visually scalable.    
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising a step of: 
 accessing the database over a network.    
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein: 
 accessing the database over a network includes accessing the database over the Internet.    
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein: 
 accessing the database includes reading a computer readable medium.    
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein: 
 accessing the database over a network includes accessing a first portion of the database over the Internet and a second portion of the database over a computer readable medium.    
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising: 
 storing the portion of the database locally.    
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 1 , comprising 
 accepting a text input search request from a user;    conducting a search and identifying at least one data object that satisfies the search request;    identifying at least one data object;    determining a second tier of tabs associated with the data object;    determining a first set of tabs associated with the data object; and    displaying a representation of the data object along with the first set of tabs and the second set of tabs.    
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 1 , comprising 
 presenting a graphic image on at least one of the first tier tabs.    
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 1 , comprising 
 presenting a graphic image on at least one of the second tier tabs.    
     
     
         24 . A method of accessing and presenting a plurality of catalogs, the method comprising: 
 presenting, on a graphic user interface, a plurality of tabs, each tab representing a library of at least one catalog;    Presenting, in response to selection of a tab, at least one icon, each icon representing a catalog;    accepting the selection of a first icon; and    presenting a first catalog in response to the first icon.    
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 24  further comprising; 
 accepting the selection of a second icon;  
 presenting a second catalog in response to the second icon.  
 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 24 , comprising 
 presenting the first catalog in a multi-tier tab format.    
     
     
         27 . A method for presenting an electronic office products catalog, the method comprising: 
 assigning, for each office product, at least one product category name;    assigning, for each product category name, an alphabetic tab, such that the tab corresponds to the first letter of the product category name;    assigning, for each office product, at least one page number of the electronic catalog where the office product will be displayed;    assigning, for each product category name, a set of page numbers corresponding to the pages of the electronic catalog at least one office product corresponding to the product category name will be displayed in the electronic office products catalog;    presenting a first tier of alphabetic tabs, each alphabetic tab displaying at least one letter;    in response to a selecting of an alphabetic tab, presenting a second tier of product category name tabs, such that a product category name tab is presented for each product category name beginning with the alphabetic letter of the selected alphabetic tab;    in response to a selecting of a product category name tab, presenting a third tier page number tabs, such that at least one page number tab is presented for each product category name; and    in response to a selecting of a page number tab, displaying the first page represented by the page number tab.    
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 27  comprising 
 scrolling at least one of the alphabetic, product name, or page number tabs.  
 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 27  comprising 
 in response to a selecting of a product category name tab, presenting a third tier of product sub-category name tabs such that at least one sub-category name tab is presented for each product category name;  
 in response to a selecting of a product sub-category name tab, presenting a fourth tier of page number tabs, such that at least one page number tab is presented for each subproduct category name; and  
 in response to a selecting of a page tab, displaying the first page represented by the page number tab.  
 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 27  comprising 
 accessing the electronic office products catalog over a network.  
 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 27  comprising 
 storing the portion of the database locally.  
 
     
     
         32 . A method for automatically creating an electronic catalog having at least one tier of selectable graphic images, the method comprising steps of: 
 selecting a group of records corresponding to a selectable graphic image;    determining whether the group of records fits on a first page;    if the group of records fits on the page, tagging all the records in the group with the page number of first page; and    if the group of records does not fit on the first page, splitting the records into a first subgroup and at least one other subgroup, tagging all the records in the first subgroup with the page number of the first page, and assigning each other subgroup to a new page associated with the subgroup.    
     
     
         33 . A method for automatically creating a custom electronic catalog from a larger catalog, the custom electronic catalog having at least one tier of selectable graphic images, the method comprising: 
 reviewing the larger catalog;    designating each item from the larger catalog to be included in the custom electronic catalog; and    for each designated item 
 selecting a group of records corresponding to a selectable graphic image;  
 determining whether the group of records fits on a first page;  
 if the group of records fits on the first page, tagging all the records in the group with a page number of the first page; and  
 if the group of records does not fit on the first page, splitting the records into a first subgroup and at least one other subgroup, tagging all the records in the first subgroup with the page number of the first page, and assigning each other subgroup to a new page associated with the subgroup.  
   
     
     
         34 . A method for creating a electronic office products catalog, the method comprising: 
 Reading at least one data file, the data file representing information about a plurality of office products, the information for each office product including 
 an item number for the product,  
 a manufacturer name,  
 an optional location of a graphics image of the object,  
 product information such as narrative description, size, cost, and weight, and  
 at least one product category name;  
   assigning each office product to a page in the catalog;    assigning each page in the catalog at least one page number tab;    assigning each office product to at least one product category name;    assigning each product category name to at least one product category name tab;    assigning each product category name to at least one alphabetic tab;    displaying a first tier of user selectable alphabetic tabs;    displaying a second tier of user selectable product category name tabs such that product category name corresponds to a selected alphabetic tab;    displaying a third tier of user selectable page number tabs such that the page number tabs correspond to a selected product category name; and    displaying a page from the catalog such that the page corresponds to a selected page number tab.    
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 34  wherein assigning each office product to a page in the catalog includes 
 selecting a proposed page for the office product;  
 determining whether there is room on the page to display the product information and image;  
 if the product information and image fits on the page, assigning the page number to the office product; and  
 if the product information and image does not fit on the page, changing the selected page and repeating the steps of determining whether there is room on the selected page until the product information and image fits on a selected page.  
 
     
     
         36 . A method for presenting a portion of a database, the method comprising steps of: 
 presenting a bottom tier of tabs, each tab in the bottom tier of tabs representing a first collection of data objects corresponding thereto; and    in response to a selecting of a tab of the bottom tier to produce a selected bottom tier tab, presenting a form of selectable graphics images representing a collection of records of the database; and    presenting a next tier of tabs, each tab in the next tier of tabs representing a collection of tabs of the bottom tier of tabs.    
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 36 , further comprising a step of: 
 receiving an action from the form.    
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 37 , wherein: 
 the action is a text entry.    
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 37 , wherein: 
 the action is a quantity.    
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 37 , further comprising: 
 in response to receiving an action, generating a record for subsequent action.    
     
     
         41 . The method of  claim 37 , further comprising: 
 generating a purchase order in response to receiving the action.    
     
     
         42 . A method of presenting a plurality of electronic catalogs on a computer workstation, the method comprising 
 presenting a menu of electronic catalogs to a user from the workstation; and    in response to the selection of a catalog, displaying 
 a page from the selected electronic catalog,  
 a second tier of user selectable tabs, including at least one tab associated with the page, and  
 a first tier of user selectable tabs, including at least one tab associated with the second tier tab associated with the page.  
   
     
     
         43 . The method of  claim 42  comprising displaying a product display page.  
     
     
         44 . The method of  claim 42  comprising displaying an index page.