Abstract: A computer-implemented method is provided.

Abstract: A user interface for searching records in a database is provided. Each record contains information regarding one or more categories. The user interface receives search criteria of one or more categories and provides search results comprising exact and/or non-exact matching records. A non-exact matching record has a relevance value representing the relevance of the record to the search query, the non-exact matching records being displayed in an ordering based on the relevance values. The user interface provides slider tools for receiving changes in a weight value or search criterion of an associated category. A new ordering of the non-exact matching records is displayed in real-time based on the new received weight values or search criterion. The user interface may also provide a mapping tool, a search-result selection function, and/or one or more drill down tools. The user interface may provide any tool or function alone or in any combination.

Abstract: A user interface for searching records in a database is provided. Each record may contain information regarding one or more categories. The user interface may receive search criteria of one or more categories and provide search results comprising exact and/or inexact matching records. An inexact matching record may have a relevance value representing the relevance of the record to the search query, and inexact matching records may be displayed in an ordering based on the relevance values. The user interface may provide slider tools for receiving changes in a weight value or search criterion of an associated category. A new ordering of the inexact matching records may be displayed in real-time based on newly received weight values or search criterion. The user interface may also provide a mapping tool, a search-result selection function, and/or one or more drill down tools. The user interface may provide any tool or function alone or in any combination.

Abstract: A user interface for searching records in a database is provided. Each record may contain information regarding one or more categories. The user interface may receive search criteria of one or more categories and provide search results comprising exact and/or inexact matching records. An inexact matching record may have a relevance value representing the relevance of the record to the search query, and inexact matching records may be displayed in an ordering based on the relevance values. The user interface may provide slider tools for receiving changes in a weight value or search criterion of an associated category. A new ordering of the inexact matching records may be displayed in real-time based on newly received weight values or search criterion. The user interface may also provide a mapping tool, a search-result selection function, and/or one or more drill down tools. The user interface may provide any tool or function alone or in any combination.

Abstract: Information regarding the structure of information in a content database is maintained in a structure database. The structure database is used to correlate the data structure of a query to the structure of the content database, in order to determine that information in the content database which needs to be provided to a searcher in response to the query. In one embodiment, this search method is used in an online forum, and the forum maintains a reputation score for users with respect to given subject matter. The reputation score is dependent upon the quality of a user's participation in the forum. A user's reputation score depends upon the evaluation by others of information he posts and upon the user evaluating information posted by others.

Abstract: Information regarding the structure of information in a content database is maintained in a structure database. The structure database is used to correlate the data structure of a query to the structure of the content database, in order to determine that information in the content database which needs to be provided to a searcher in response to the query. In one embodiment, this search method is used in an online forum, and the forum maintains a reputation score for users with respect to given subject matter. The reputation score is dependent upon the quality of a user's participation in the forum. A user's reputation score depends upon the evaluation by others of information he posts and. upon the user evaluating information posted by others.

Abstract: Information regarding the structure of information in a content database is maintained in a structure database. The structure database is used to correlate the data structure of a query to the structure of the content database, in order to determine that information in the content database which needs to be provided to a searcher in response to the query. In one embodiment, this search method is used in an online forum, and the forum maintains a reputation score for users with respect to given subject matter. The reputation score is dependent upon the quality of a user's participation in the forum. A user's reputation score depends upon the evaluation by others of information he posts and upon the user evaluating information posted by others.