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.

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.