Method and system for providing a compact graphical user interface for flexible filtering of data

1. A method comprising:

showing a search interface on a display device for filtering a content set by a plurality of domains including a first non-textual domain, the search interface displaying the plurality of domains including the first non-textual domain for a selection by a user;

in response to the selection of the first non-textual domain by the user, without searching or filtering the content set, receiving and displaying, within the search interface, a first non-textual graphical representation of a digital image set of the first non-textual domain, wherein each digital image of the digital image set of the first non-textual domain displays a respective non-textual graphical representation of a parameter associated with the first non-textual domain;

receiving a first digital image selected by the user from the digital image set of the first non-textual graphical representation;

filtering the content set using the first digital image to obtain a search result; and

displaying the search result on the display device.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

receiving a second digital image selected by the user from the digital image set of the first non-textual graphical representation,

wherein obtaining the search result further comprises filtering the content set using the second digital image.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the digital image set includes character images, personality images and scene images.

4. A method comprising:

showing a search interface on a display device for filtering a content set by a plurality of domains including a first non-textual domain, the search interface displaying the plurality of domains including the first non-textual domain for a selection by a user;

in response to the selection of the first non-textual domain by the user, receiving and displaying, within the search interface, a first non-textual graphical representation of a digital image set of the first non-textual domain, each digital image of the digital image set of the first non-textual domain depicting a respective parameter associated with the first non-textual domain;

receiving a first digital image selected by the user from the digital image set of the first non-textual graphical representation;

filtering the content set using the first digital image to obtain a search result;

displaying the search result on the display device;

replacing the first non-textual graphical representation in the search interface with a text entry box in response to a selection of a textual parameter set of a textual domain of the plurality of domains;

receiving a textual parameter of the textual parameter set from the text entry box;

filtering the content set using the textual parameter to update the search result; and

displaying the updated search result on the display device.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein each content in the content set includes a color border, and wherein the method further comprises:

displaying, within the search interface, a second non-textual graphical representation of a color set of a second non-textual domain;

receiving a first color selected by the user from the color set of the second non-textual graphical representation;

filtering the content set using the first color to obtain a second search result including the content having the color border that matches the first color; and

displaying the second search result on the display device.

6. The method of claim 5 , further comprising:

receiving a second color selected by the user from the color set of the second non-textual graphical representation, and the filtering further filters the content set using the second color to obtain the second search result.

7. The method of claim 5 , further comprising:

replacing the second non-textual graphical representation in the search interface with a text entry box in response to a selection of a textual parameter set of a textual domain of the plurality of domains;

receiving a textual parameter of the textual parameter set from the text entry box;

filtering the content set using the textual parameter to update the second search result;

displaying the updated second search result on the display device.

8. The method of claim 5 , wherein the plurality of domains include a third non-textual domain including three-dimensional models.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the third non-textual domain includes a third non-textual graphical representation including at least one graphical icon.

10. A device comprising:

a processor configured to:

show a search interface on a display device for filtering a content set by a plurality of domains including a first non-textual domain, the search interface displaying the plurality of domains including the first non-textual domain for a selection by a user;

in response to the selection of the first non-textual domain by the user, without searching or filtering the content set, receive and display, within the search interface, a first non-textual graphical representation of a digital image set of the first non-textual domain, wherein each digital image of the digital image set of the first non-textual domain displays a respective non-textual graphical representation of a parameter associated with the first non-textual domain;

receive a first digital image selected by the user from the digital image set of the first non-textual graphical representation;

filter the content set using the first digital image to obtain a search result; and

display the search result on the display device.

11. The device of claim 10 , wherein the processor is further configured to receive a second digital image selected by the user from the digital image set of the first non-textual graphical representation, and wherein obtaining the search result further comprises filtering the content set using the second digital image.

12. The device of claim 10 , wherein the digital image set includes character images, personality images and scene images.

13. The device of claim 10 , wherein the processor is further configured to:

replace the first non-textual graphical representation in the search interface with a text entry box in response to a selection of a textual parameter set of a textual domain of the plurality of domains;

receive a textual parameter of the textual parameter set from the text entry box;

filter the content set using the textual parameter to update the search result;

display the updated search result on the display device.

14. The device of claim 10 , wherein each content in the content set includes a color border, and wherein the processor is further configured to:

display, within the search interface, a second non-textual graphical representation of a color set of a second non-textual domain;

receive a first color selected by the user from the color set of the second non-textual graphical representation;

filter the content set using the first color to obtain a second search result including the content having the color border that matches the first color; and

display the second search result on the display device.

15. The device of claim 14 , wherein the processor is further configured to:

receive a second color selected by the user from the color set of the second non-textual graphical representation, and wherein the filtering further filters the content set using the second color to obtain the second search result.

16. The device of claim 14 , wherein the processor is further configured to:

replace the second non-textual graphical representation in the search interface with a text entry box in response to a selection of a textual parameter set of a textual domain of the plurality of domains;

receive a textual parameter of the textual parameter set from the text entry box;

filter the content set using the textual parameter to update the second search result;

display the updated second search result on the display device.

17. The device of claim 14 , wherein the plurality of domains include a third non-textual domain including three-dimensional models.

18. The device of claim 17 , wherein the third non-textual domain includes a third non-textual graphical representation including at least one graphical icon.

19. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first non-textual domain is one of a color domain, a sound domain, or a graphical icon domain.

20. The device of claim 10 , wherein the first non-textual domain is one of a color domain, a sound domain, or a graphical icon domain.