System for searching and analyzing documents in the financial industry
A web-based client server architecture for screening companies includes sophisticated searching algorithms that allow for selective and precise screening of company documents and other information to assist an analyst is assessing the company.
1. A method for rendering information from a database on a user interface of a remote computer, the method comprising:
receiving a query from a user at the remote computer to search within the database, wherein the database comprises a plurality of financial documents,
wherein the user query includes:
information identifying a publicly traded company;
a first keyword distinct from the publicly traded company; and
a second keyword distinct from the first keyword and the publicly traded company;
executing a search based on the user query;
generating search results in response to executing the search, wherein the search results include financial documents associated with the publicly traded company in the query, the search results containing identified snippets of text from within the financial documents,
wherein a snippet of text is identified when the first keyword appears within a defined maximum distance from the second keyword in a searched financial document; and
causing to render, on a viewing portion of the user interface, content from the generated search results, wherein the rendered content includes:
a list of identified financial documents for selection by the user, wherein the list of identified financial documents is associated with the publicly traded company, and at least one document of the identified financial documents includes content provided by the publicly traded company;
one or more of the identified snippets for selection by the user,
wherein the one or more of the identified snippets is displayed in response to a selection of a financial document by the user from the list of identified financial documents,
wherein the one or more of the identified snippets is from the user selected financial document;
text surrounding and containing a user selected snippet from the user selected financial document,
wherein the at least a portion of the user selected snippet is displayed within the text surrounding the user selected snippet; and
a stock ticker or a name of the publicly traded company,
wherein the method further includes identifying recurring statements in the user selected document,
wherein the recurring statements are identified when a statement recurs in sequential documents that are generated by the publicly traded company on a scheduled time basis,
wherein the recurring statements are displayed differently from statements that are not recurring.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the list of identified financial documents and the one or more of the identified snippets for selection by the user are each shown in distinct portions from one another of the user interface at the same time.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the defined maximum distance is adjustable.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein a date associated with one or more of the financial documents is displayed in the list of identified financial documents.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein a type of financial document is one of a SEC or other regulatory filing, transcript of investor call or presentation.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein a further selection of a snippet by the user from the plurality of identified snippets results in showing text surrounding and containing the snippets in a distinct portion of the user interface.
7. A system for rendering information from a database on a user interface of a remote computer, the system comprising one or more processors operable for:
receiving a query from a user at the remote computer to search within the database, wherein the database comprises a plurality of financial documents,
wherein the user query includes:
information identifying a publicly traded company;
a first keyword distinct from the publicly traded company; and
a second keyword distinct from the first keyword and the publicly traded company;
executing a search based on the user query;
generating search results in response to executing the search, wherein the search results include financial documents associated with the publicly traded company in the query, the search results containing identified snippets of text from within the financial documents,
wherein a snippet of text is identified when the first keyword appears within a defined maximum distance from the second keyword in a searched financial document; and
causing to render, on a viewing portion of the user interface, content from the generated search results, wherein the rendered content includes:
a list of identified financial documents for selection by the user, wherein the list of identified financial documents is associated with the publicly traded company, and at least one document of the identified financial documents includes content provided by the publicly traded company;
one or more of the identified snippets for selection by the user,
wherein the one or more of the identified snippets is displayed in response to a selection of a financial document by the user from the list of identified financial documents,
wherein the one or more of the identified snippets is from the user selected financial document;
text surrounding and containing a user selected snippet from the user selected financial document,
wherein the at least a portion of the user selected snippet is displayed within the text surrounding the user selected snippet; and
a stock ticker or a name of the publicly traded company,
identifying recurring statements in the user selected document,
wherein the recurring statements are identified when a statement recurs in sequential documents that are generated by the publicly traded company on a scheduled time basis,
wherein the recurring statements are displayed differently from statements that are not recurring.
8. The system of claim 7 , wherein the list of identified financial documents and the one or more of the identified snippets for selection by the user are each shown in distinct portions from one another of the user interface at the same time.
9. The system of claim 7 , wherein the defined maximum distance is adjustable.
10. The system of claim 7 , wherein a date associated with one or more of the financial documents is displayed in the list of identified financial documents.
11. The system of claim 7 , wherein a type of financial document is one of a SEC or other regulatory filing, transcript of investor call or presentation.
12. The system of claim 7 , wherein a further selection of a snippet by the user from the plurality of identified snippets results in showing text surrounding and containing the snippets in a distinct portion of the user interface.