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

Claims

We claim:

1. 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.

2. The search system according to claim 1, wherein said textual information comprise words, phrases, numbers and letters stored in said at least one database.

3. The search system according to claim 1, wherein said graphical information include maps, charts, pictures, and moving images.

4. The search system according to claim 1 wherein one of said graphical and textual information comprises audio information.

5. The search system according to claim 1, wherein said graphical and textual information are stored on a CD-ROM disc.

6. The search system according to claim 1, further comprising a micro-computer for executing operations of said search system, and for storing said graphical and textual information.

7. The search system according to claim 1, wherein said graphical entry path means comprises interactively narrowing a search of graphical images to a point indicated by said indicating means which provides a path to said related textual information that is accessible through said accessing means.

8. The search system according to claim 7, wherein said indicating means in said textual entry path means indicates a path to related graphical information that is accessible by said accessing means.

9. The search system according to claim 1, wherein said textual entry path means and said graphical entry path means include assisting means for assisting a user in searching said graphical and textual information.

10. The search system according to claim 1, wherein said textual search entry path means comprises idea entry path means having a searching means for searching said plurality of types of information for terms and phrases that closely resemble a search inquiry.

11. The search system according to claim 10, wherein said idea entry path means eliminates stop words by comparing terms in said search inquiry to terms stored in a stop term list and eliminating any search inquiry terms that match words stored in said stop term list.

12. The search system according to claim 10, wherein said idea entry path means operates on phrases consisting substantially of two or more entered terms.

13. The search system according to claim 10, wherein said idea entry path means includes spelling means for checking the spelling of said search inquiry and provides alternate versions of misspelled words to a user.

14. The search system according to claim 10, wherein said idea entry path means includes new list function means which compares said search inquiry with a thesaurus contained in one of said plurality of databases to provide alternate non-ambiguous terms for said search inquiry.

15. The search system according to claim 14, wherein if more than one alternate non-ambiguous term is retrieved by said list function means, then said new list function means orders said alternatives in order of relevance to said ambiguous terms.

16. The search system according to claim 10, wherein said search system includes a plurality of databases which include stems which are referenced through a stem index where each stem is identified with all related stems in said stem index, and are related to units of said textual and graphical information, said stem terms being concatenated in order to map each stem to other stems and to units to textual information which express a similar idea.

17. The search system according to claim 16, wherein said concatenation comprises linking said stems together based on grammatical linkages and based on thesaurus linkages.

18. The search system according to claim 10, wherein said textual search path entry means further comprises ranking means for ordering said textual information in order of relevance to said search inquiry inputs.

19. The search system according to claim 18, wherein said ranking means bases said ordering on an exhaustively coefficient for said inputted search inquiry terms or phrases and an exclusivity coefficient for said inputted search inquiry terms or phrases.

20. The search system according to claim 19, wherein all of said textual information ranked above a predetermined exhaustivity and exclusivity threshold is separately designated.

21. The search system according to claim 10, wherein said textual information comprises articles from an encyclopedia.

22. The search system according to claim 1, wherein a portion of said graphical and textual information comprises an encyclopedia.

23. The search system according to claim 1, wherein a portion of said graphical and textual information comprises a dictionary.

24. The search system according to claim 1, wherein a portion of said graphical and textual information comprises a thesaurus.

25. The search system according to claim 1, wherein a portion of said textual and graphical information comprises audio information.

26. The search system according to claim 1, wherein a portion of said graphical information comprises photographs, maps, charts, graphs, drawings and animations.

27. The search system according to claim 1, wherein said textual entry path means comprises title finder entry path means for locating titles, wherein said titles are searched by said title finder entry path means by moving through an alphabetical list of titles related to said textual information.

28. The search system according to claim 1, wherein said textual search entry path means comprises a topic tree entry path means for dividing said textual information into topics and sub-topics in order to assist in browsing through said textual information.

29. The search system according to claim 1, wherein said graphics search entry path means comprises picture explorer entry path means for locating at least one picture and for employing said accessing means to retrieve said textual information related to said at least one picture.

30. The system search according to claim 29, wherein said picture explorer entry path means further comprises picture tour search path means for presenting pictures in random order.

31. The search system according to claim 29, wherein said picture explorer entry path means includes picture finder entry path means which searches picture captions based upon said search inquiry inputs.

32. The search system according to claim 1, wherein one of said textual entry path means comprises history timeline entry path means for displaying events arranged on a timeline in order that a user may select information about one of said events by activating said event on a display.

33. The search system according to claim 32, wherein said information about an event includes audio information.

34. The search system according to claim 1, wherein one of said entry path means comprises an atlas entry path means for enabling a search of a plurality of maps of an atlas through said processing means which enables the placement of a marker on a location on said atlas which such that said atlas entry path means draws a corresponding map around said specified place.

35. The search system according to claim 34, wherein said atlas entry path means provides substantially multiple levels of increasing detail for any part of said atlas.

36. The search system according to claim 34, wherein said indicating means provides an indication of textual information related to a place labelled on said atlas which can be accessed through said accessing means.

37. The search system according to claim 1, wherein said entry path means further comprises a feature articles entry path means which takes a user directly to at least one article in said computer search system.

38. The search system according to claim 1, wherein one of said entry path means comprises a researcher's assistant entry path which contains subject matter categories divided into topics and said topics are further divided into research assignments and wherein said research assignments are ordered by level of difficulty.

39. 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;

title finder entry path means for assisting a user in uncovering titles stored in said stored textual 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.

40. 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;

atlas entry path means for enabling a user to search maps of an atlas that are specified by such user in order that said atlas entry path means retrieves a map related to such user's inquiry;

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.

41. 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.