Task-Centric User Interfaces For Searching And Managing Search Results, And Software Therefor

Abstract

Methods of providing a search-ecosystem user interface that assist a user with searching information stored within a computer system and with managing results of the searching. In some embodiments, the methods include providing search-results items in an interactive workspace in which a user can manipulate the search-result items to make review more efficient. In some embodiments, the interactive workspace tracks user interactions with search-result items and visualizes such interaction to the user. In some embodiments, the methods include organizing search results using one or more task cards. In some embodiments, a user can add one or more additional sets of search results to a task card. In some embodiments, a user can share one or more task cards, interactive workspaces, and/or search-results items with one or more other users and allow such other user(s) to interact therewith. Other methods are disclosed, as is software for implementing the methods.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of providing a search-ecosystem user interface to assist a user with searching information stored within a computer system and with managing results of the searching, the method being performed by software providing the search-ecosystem user interface and comprising:
 displaying a first search-query field configured to receive one or more search queries from the user;   receiving a first search query input by the user into the first search-query field;   sending the first search query to at least one search tool on the computer system;   receiving a first set of search results from the at least one search tool in response to the first search query;   storing the first set of search results in a workspace datastore as a first workspace list of first items; and   displaying to the user the first workspace list in an interactive workspace that works in conjunction with the workspace datastore to:
 allow the user to manipulate and interact with the first items displayed in the interactive workspace; 
 track user interactions with the first items displayed within the interactive workspace; and 
 display, in visual proximity to each of one or more of the first items displayed within the interactive workspace, one or more corresponding visualizations that visually indicate to the user historical tracked user interactions with the one or more of the first items. 
   
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the interactive workspace is design and configured to allow the user to delete one or more of the first items from the first workspace list, the method further comprising:
 receiving from the user an indication to delete one or more of the first items from the first workspace list; and   in response to receiving the indication, deleting the one or more of the first items from the first workspace list.   
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the interactive workspace is design and configured to allow the user to visually tag one or more of the first items on the first workspace list, the method further comprising:
 receiving from the user an indication to visually tag one or more of the first items from the first workspace list; and   in response to receiving the indication, visually tag each of the one or more of the first items on the first workspace list within the interactive workspace.   
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 tracking a quantitative user interaction with one of the first items on the first workspace list; and   displaying, within the interactive workspace and in association with the one of the first items, a visual quantitative indicator based on the quantitative user interaction tracked.   
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 4 , wherein the one of the first items is a linked page, and the tracking of a quantitative user interaction includes tracking time the user spent on the linked page. 
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claim 4 , wherein the one of the first items is a linked page, and the tracking of a quantitative user interaction includes tracking scrolling by the user on the linked page. 
     
     
         7 . The method according to  claim 4 , wherein the tracking of a quantitative user interaction includes tracking annotating the user performed on the one of the first items. 
     
     
         8 . The method according to  claim 4 , wherein the displaying of a visual quantitative indicator includes displaying a shading bar containing an extent of shading, wherein the extent of shading increases with increasing quantity of the quantitative user interaction. 
     
     
         9 . The method according to  claim 8 , wherein the interactive workspace displays the shading bar as a background to an item identifier for the one of the first items. 
     
     
         10 . The method according to  claim 4 , wherein the displaying of a visual quantitative indicator includes displaying differing colors as a function of differing quantity of the quantitative user interaction. 
     
     
         11 . The method according to  claim 4 , wherein:
 the one of the first items is a linked page containing a link to a corresponding other page;   the tracking of a quantitative user interaction includes tracking selection by the user of the link on the linked page; and   the displaying a visual quantitative indicator includes displaying the link to the other page in association with the one of the first items.   
     
     
         12 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 associating the first workspace list with a first task card;   receiving a second search query input by the user;   sending, via the network, the second query to at least one search tool connected to the computer system;   receiving a second set of search results from the at least one search tool;   converting the second set of search results into a second workspace list of second items; and   associating the second workspace list with the first task card.   
     
     
         13 . The method according to  claim 12 , further comprising displaying a card-page for the first task card, wherein the card-page includes a first link to the first workspace list and a second link to the second workspace list. 
     
     
         14 . The method according to  claim 13 , wherein the first link comprises the first search query and the second link comprises the second search query. 
     
     
         15 . The method according to  claim 12 , further comprising displaying a card-page for the first task card, wherein the card-page includes a summary region that displays a summary of items in both of the first and second workspace lists. 
     
     
         16 . The method according to  claim 15 , wherein the card-page further includes a first link to the first workspace list and a second link to the second workspace list. 
     
     
         17 . The method according to  claim 12 , further comprising:
 displaying a second search-query field distinct from the first search-query field, wherein the second search-query field is associated with the first task card so as to automatically associate the second set of search results with the first task card; and   receiving the second search query via the second search-query field.   
     
     
         18 . The method according to  claim 17 , further comprising displaying a card-page for the first task card, wherein the card-page includes both of the first and second search query fields. 
     
     
         19 . The method according to  claim 17 , further comprising:
 sending the second query at least to a task-card search tool;   receiving task-card search results from the task-card search tool; and   associating the task-card search results with the second query.   
     
     
         20 . The method according to  claim 17 , wherein the first search-query field is a new-query field that the user uses to initiate a new task card, and the second search-query field is an add-query field that the user uses to add search results to the new task card.