Apparatus and method for retrieving and grouping images representing text files based on the relevance of key words extracted from a selected file to the text files

An apparatus for searching, retrieving, and displaying files in a database comprising:

• a computer system for selecting and opening a reference file;
• a search algorithm executed by said computer system for searching for and retrieving files from said database which are related to said reference file based on comparing significant words of said reference file and text of other files residing in said database;
• an algorithm for categorizing and prioritizing said retrieved files into a plurality of groups, wherein each of said plurality of groups corresponds to a commonly used subject word in said reference file;
• and
• a display for displaying said commonly used subject words, bit-mapped images representing said prioritized files corresponding to commonly used words, and a bit-mapped image representing said reference file, said bit-mapped images being scaled representations of document cover sheets in said files, wherein selecting a bit-mapped image results in designating its corresponding file as the reference file and initiates a search and retrieval based on said designated reference file.

A method for searching and retrieving files in a database comprising the steps of:

• (a) selecting a first reference file;
• (b) determining significant words of text comprising said first reference file:
• (c) comparing said significant words of said first reference file and text of a second file in said database;
• (d) determining whether to retrieve said second file based on said step of comparing;
• (e) retrieving said second file if said step of determining indicates said second file should be retrieved;
• (f) displaying a plurality of said significant words;
• (g) displaying one or more images corresponding to retrieved files, wherein said one or more images are grouped based upon the retrieved files' relevance to said plurality of said significant words;
• and
• (h) upon selection of one of said images, designating the corresponding retrieved file as a second reference file and initiating a second search and retrieval of files in said database relevant to said second reference file.