Patent ID: 7082437

Claim:
A machine-implemented method for retrieving information, comprising: storing textual information and graphical information of any type on a computer-readable medium in at least one database; providing a plurality of entry paths for searching at least a portion of the stored textual and graphical information, each of the entry paths capable of being used without regard to the other entry paths, the entry paths comprising: at least one textual browse entry path allowing a user to select textual information from a predetermined list of textual information; at least one textual search entry path allowing a user to enter text to search for in the stored textual information; and at least one graphics entry path for graphically searching at least a portion of the graphical information; retrieving textual information based on input of the user in the textual browse entry path or the textual search entry path; providing a first indicator associated with the retrieved textual information indicating the availability of associated graphical information; retrieving the associated graphical information in response to input of the user associated with the first indicator; retrieving graphical information based on input of the user in the graphics entry path; providing a second indicator associated with the retrieved graphical information indicating the availability of associated textual information; and retrieving the associated textual information in response to input of the user associated with the second indicator.