Patent ID: 6546399
Filing Date: 2003-04-08
Classification: G06F,G11B,Y10S

Abstract:
A search system for retrieving information, comprising:storing means for storing a plurality of independently retrievable textual items and graphical items; a plurality of independently accessible entry paths, the entry paths comprising: textual entry paths for textually searching the textual items; graphical entry paths for graphically searching the graphical items; graphical entry paths for textually searching the graphical items; each of the entry paths including processing means for executing search inquiries comprising user defined search parameters in order to search the textual or graphical items; selecting means for providing a menu of the plurality of entry paths for selection; pathways for connecting textual and graphical items, the pathways comprising: text to text pathways connecting textual information to topically related textual information; text to graphics pathways connecting textual information to topically related graphical information; graphics to graphics pathways connecting graphical information to topically related graphical information; and graphics to text pathways connecting graphical information to topically related textual information; indicating means for indicating the presence and character of the pathways; and output means for receiving search results from the entry paths and displaying a selected search result and the indicating means.