Patent ID: 7054865

Claim:
An information retrieval method for performing information retrieval from an information source, said information retrieval method comprising: an input step in which a selective inputting operation is performed; a display step for displaying information in the form of an information bar on display means, the displayed information being obtained by using database-access-interface means to access a database from a plurality of databases including first and second dictionaries as said information source for information retrieval in response to an execution of said input step, wherein said information bar is displayed as a plurality of lengthwise sections each corresponding to index-information and being displayed in a staircase pattern, and wherein a length of each lengthwise section corresponds to a quantity of the index-information therein; a cursor moving step for moving a cursor in response to the execution of said input step in order to designate a position in a lengthwise direction of the information bar displayed in a staircase pattern; and a retrieval step for retrieving information corresponding to the designated position from said database by using said database-access-interface means, wherein the retrieved information is displayed on said display means, and wherein the length of said information bar is determined by the number of displayable dots and the number of information in each information bar.