Method and system for creating improved search queries

Abstract

A method and system for creating improved search queries using pre-arranged controlled vocabularies, word groups, and word types. The invention is called a search builder. The search builder is a server-based program, which houses numerous individual topic oriented search builder modules. Each module is focused on a special topic of interest. Each search builder module leads users through a series of word groups, where a user may select words to be added to a query, which will ultimately be sent to a search engine or searchable database.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A method for creating a search string using a computer system, the computer system having a processor, a display, and a browser, the computer system programmed with a server-based program called a search builder, the method comprising the steps of: 
 selecting a search topic;    defining a plurality of word categories related to the search topic;    forming a word group for each word category;    populating each word group with a plurality of preselected words within the word category, each of the plurality of words within each word group selected to vary the scope of a search relative to the remaining words in the word group;    generating a first search string by selecting a first word from each of a plurality of the word groups to create a search string;    transmitting the first search string to a search engine;    receiving a first data set from the search engine;    creating a second search string by replacing the first word of a first word group of the first search string with second word from the first word group;    transmitting the second search string to the search engine; and,    receiving a second data set from the search engine.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the step of selecting a search topic includes the steps of: 
 depicting on the display at least one search topic;  
 the user selecting the search topic from the at least one search topic; and,  
 responsive to selection by the user of the search topic displaying a plurality of pre-selected word groups.  
 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2  wherein the step of generating a first search string comprises the steps of: 
 displaying a plurality of word group headings to the user;  
 the user selecting a first word group heading;  
 displaying the pre-selected words populating the first word group to the user;  
 the user selecting a first word from the first word group;  
 entering the first word from the first word group into a first search string;  
 displaying the plurality of word group headings to the user;  
 the user selecting a second word group heading from the plurality of displayed word groups;  
 displaying the pre-selected words populating the second word group;  
 the user selecting a first word from the second word group; and, adding the first word from the second word group to the first search string.  
 
     
     
         4 . The search builder display method described in  claim 1  wherein the visual cue includes displaying the search word types in selected color codes and in text.  
     
     
         5 . The search builder display method described in  claim 4  where the step of displaying the word types includes displaying standardized terms identifying each word type, the terms selected from the group consisting of a subject, action, feature, knowledge, location, date and domain.  
     
     
         6 . The search builder display method described in  claim 4  wherein the visual cue includes displaying the search groups color coded to the word types.  
     
     
         7 . The search builder display method described in  claim 1  wherein the step of displaying the pre-selected words in a group to the user includes displaying pre-arranged controlled vocabulary drop down menus for each word group.  
     
     
         8 . The search builder display method described in  claim 1  wherein the step of entering the first word from the first word group includes displaying the first word in a text box and in the display associated with the word group.  
     
     
         9 . The search builder display method described in  claim 1  wherein the step of selecting a first word from the first word group includes selecting an accept button which enters the first word into a search string.  
     
     
         10 . The search builder display method described in  claim 1  which further comprises the step of displaying a clear button which when clicked deletes words in the text box.  
     
     
         11 . The search builder display method described in  claim 1  which further comprises the step of displaying a selected search word includes displaying the selected search word in a sequence of words color coded to correspond to the word group from which the selected search word was selected.  
     
     
         12 . The search builder display method according to  claim 1  further comprises displaying a topics button that when selected displays a list of the available search topics.  
     
     
         13 . The search builder display method described in  claim 1  which further comprises the step of displaying a search button which when clicked displays a color coded search string comprised of at least one selected word and a list of pre-selected search engines or searchable databases.  
     
     
         14 . The search builder display method described in  claim 1  which further comprises the step of displaying a clear and start over button which when selected displays a list of pre-arranged search engines or searchable databases.  
     
     
         15 . The search builder display method described in  claim 1  which further comprises displaying a Save Search button which when selected saves a search string builder configuration and search word query.  
     
     
         16 . The search builder display method described in  claim 15  which further comprises displaying a Load Last Saved Search button and a text box containing Saved Searches, the Load Last Search button operable to enter a saved search word query into a text box.  
     
     
         17 . A computer implemented method of searching the world wide web comprising the steps of: 
 selecting a topic to be searched;    creating a hierarchical search string comprising an ordered series of search words, one search word selected from at least one of a plurality of pre-selected, ordered controlled vocabulary word groups;    transmitting the ordered search string to a search engine; and,    receiving a first set of search results.    
     
     
         18 . A method of offering search services for searching the world wide web comprising the steps of: 
 providing a web site accessible through the world wide web;    providing access through the web site to a data base of files accessible through the world wide web;    providing a category of search that can be conducted through the web site;    for each search category providing a plurality of word groups from which to assemble a hierarchical search string;    cueing a remote user to construct a hierarchical search string by sequentially displaying a plurality of categorical word groups, the user selecting a first word from at least one of the displayed word groups;    transmitting the search string to a search engine; and,    receiving and displaying a first search result to the user.