Ji Q Yang

US Patent:

7162470, Jan 9, 2007

Filed:

Jun 9, 2003

Appl. No.:

10/457830

Inventors:

Jayant Sharma - Nashua NH, US
Ping Wang - Stanford CA, US
Liujian Qian - Lancaster MA, US
Ji Yang - Nashua NH, US

Assignee:

Oracle International Corporation - Redwood Shores CA

International Classification:

G06F 17/00
G06F 17/30

US Classification:

707 3, 707 1, 707 5

Abstract:

Business directory services allow definitions of custom category hierarchies and different search methods, such as, for example, search by location, distance from an addressable location, partial or complete business name, and category. A stepwise refinement search interface provides capability for searching within search results using different search methods or categories. Thus, a user does not have to refine and re-enter search criteria in order to get a progressively selective search. This is particularly useful for mobile phone or hand-held device users who would prefer not to have to re-enter the criteria on each search but rather incrementally refine the search criteria.