Landmark case identification system and method

A landmark document identification method, comprising the steps of:

• (a) initiating a search of a database for the most relevant documents on a subject selected by a user;
• (b) following step (a), if no documents are found, displaying a message advising the user to change or expand the scope of the search;
• (c) following step (a), if more than a predetermined number of documents is found,
• (i) interrupting the search and
• (ii) displaying a message advising the user that the search has been interrupted and that the user should narrow the scope of the search;
• (d) following step (a) if the number of documents found is at least one and less than the predetermined number, retrieving the most relevant documents on the subject selected by the user, the retrieved documents defining an answer set;
• (e) following step (d), displaying the answer set to the user in a digest view;
• (f) following step (e), and in response to a user request, sorting the answer set based on how frequently each document in the answer set is cited by other documents in the answer set;
• and
• (g) following step (f), displaying the sorted answer set to the user.

A landmark document identification system, comprising:

• means for retrieving from a database the most relevant documents on a subject selected by a user, the retrieved documents defining an initial answer set;
• means for sorting the initial answer set based on how frequently each document in the answer set is cited by other documents in the answer set, in response to a user request;
• and
• means for displaying the initial answer set to the user in a digest view and for displaying the sorted answer set to the user.