User interface for information retrieval system

A user interface for an information retrieval system for managing information retrieved from a plurality of information sources, said information retrieval system including storage means for storing information source descriptions in a structured database, said user interface comprising:

• a hypertext browser for displaying a retrieved document and an iconic representation of said document on a computer display screen;
• a database browser for displaying a visual representation of said database on said computer display screen;
• and
• graphical pointing means for graphically representing a transfer of said iconic representation of said document from said hypertext browser to said visual representation of said database in said database browser;
• wherein said storage means is responsive to said graphical pointing means for storing an information source description as an object in said database.

An information retrieval apparatus for satisfying a request for information by retrieving information from a set of unstructured data sources and a set of structured data sources, the apparatus comprising:

• query execution means including
• query plan generating means responsive to a first query for generating a query plan and
• query plan execution means responsive to the query plan for retrieving query result information from at least one structured data source from said set of structured data sources;
• pruning means for identifying a subset of said unstructured data sources using said query result information;
• and
• a text browser responsive to said pruning means for browsing said subset of unstructured data sources and for retrieving information responsive to said first query.

An information retrieval method for satisfying a request for information using a set of unstructured data sources and a set of structured data sources, the method comprising the steps:

• generating a first query;
• executing said first query and retrieving query result information from a structured data source;
• pruning said set of unstructured data sources using said query result information to identify a subset of said unstructured data sources;
• browsing said subset of said unstructured data sources with a text browser to retrieve information responsive to said first query.

Apparatus for adding information retrieved from a communications network to a body of information having an organization, the apparatus comprising:

• a display of a representation of the retrieved information;
• a display of a non-textual representation of the organization;
• interactive means for moving the representation of the retrieved information to a portion of the non-textual representation;
• and
• means responsive to the interactive means for incorporating an information source description of the retrieved information into the body of information as specified by the portion of the non-textual representation to which the representation of the retrieved information was moved.