US 5,241,671 AGranted

Multimedia search system using a plurality of entry path means which indicate interrelatedness of information

AssigneeEncyclopaedia Britannica, Inc.

InventorsMichael Reed, Greg Bestick, Carol Greenhalgh, Norman J. Bastin, Ron Carlton, Stanley D. Frank, Dale Good, Neil Holman, Carl Holzman, Ann Jensen, Harold Kester, Dave Maatman, Edwardo Munevar, Derryl Rogers

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Abstract

A database search system that retrieves multimedia information in a flexible, user friendly system. The search system uses a multimedia database consisting of text, picture, audio and animated data. That database is searched through multiple graphical and textual entry paths. Those entry paths include an idea search, a title finder search, a topic tree search, a picture explorer search, a history timeline search, a world atlas search, a researcher's assistant search, and a feature articles search.

Claims41

Dependent claims

A computer search system for retrieving information, comprising:

means for storing interrelated textual information and graphical information;
means for interrelating said textual and graphical information;
a plurality of entry path means for searching said stored interrelated textual and graphical information, said entry path means comprising:
textual search entry path means for searching said textual information and for retrieving interrelated graphical information to said searched text;
graphics entry path means for searching said graphical information and for retrieving interrelated textual information to said searched graphical information;
selecting means for providing a menu of said plurality of entry path means for selection;
processing means for executing inquiries provided by a user in order to search said textual and graphical information through said selected entry path means;
indicating means for indicating a pathway that accesses information related in one of said entry path means to information accessible in another one of said entry path means;
accessing means for providing access to said related information in said another entry path means;
and
output means for receiving search results from said processing means and said related information from said accessing means and for providing said search results and received information to such user.

8 more elements

A computer search system for retrieving information, comprising:

means for storing interrelated textual information and graphical information;
means for interrelating said textual and graphical information;
a plurality of entry path means for searching said stored interrelated textual and graphical information, said entry path means comprising:
idea search entry path means for searching said textual information;
title finder entry path means for assisting a user in uncovering titles stored in said stored textual information;
topic tree entry path means for associating said textual information with topics and subtopics in order to assist such user in searching said textual information;
picture explorer entry path means for enabling the user to find at least one picture from said stored graphical information and to retrieve interrelated textual information related to said at least one picture;
timeline entry path means enabling the user to search a timeline in order that such user may select said textual information about one of a plurality of events represented by said timeline by activating said one event;
atlas entry path means for enabling the user to search maps of an atlas that are specified by such user in order that said atlas entry path means draws a corresponding map around a specified location;
feature articles entry path means which takes such user directly to at least one article in said search system;
and
researcher's assistant entry path means which has subject matter categories divided into topics which are further divided into research assignments ordered by level of difficulty;
selecting means, for providing a menu of said plurality of entry path means for selection;
processing means for executing inquiries provided by such user in order to search said textual and graphical information through said selected entry path means;
indicating means for indicating a pathway that accesses information related in one of said entry path means to information accessible in another one of said entry path means;
accessing means for providing a access to said related information in said another entry path means;
and
output means for receiving search results from said processing means and said related information from said accessing means and for providing said search results and received information to a user.

15 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.