An information retrieval method wherein users may submit a query via a graphical bitmapping technique. The user provides an information retrieval system with a bitmap of a printed, written, or graphical query by either scanning the query with a graphical scanner, or employing a standard facsimile transmission machine. The information retrieval system then performs an optical image/character recognition process upon the received bitmap to determine the content of the query, information is then retried based upon the recognized characters and images. In a particular method of the invention, the user is provided with a bitmap of the retrieved information.
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
This is a Continuation of Application Ser. No. 08/188,002 filed Jan. 28, 1994, now abandoned which was a Continuation in part of application Ser. No. 08/151,079 field Nov. 12, 1993 now abandoned.
