Multimedia search system
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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.
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Citations
115 Claims
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1-79. -79. (canceled)
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80. A search and retrieval system, comprising:
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links between textual data and image data so as to form interrelationships between the textual data and image data;
an image entry path for retrieving image data and also textual data that is interrelated with the retrieved image data; and
a textual search entry path for searching textual data and for retrieving textual data and also image data that is interrelated with the retrieved textual data;
said image entry path and said textual search entry path are independently accessible and separately and independently usable entry paths for retrieving said textual and image data. - View Dependent Claims (81, 82, 83)
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84. A search and retrieval system comprising:
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an image entry path for retrieving image data, said retrieved image data being displayed along with at least one icon to access textual data that is linked with the retrieved image data; and
a textual search entry path for searching textual data and for retrieving textual data, said retrieved textual data being displayed along with at least one icon to access image data that is linked with the retrieved textual data;
said image entry path and said textual search entry path are independently accessible and separately and independently usable entry paths for retrieving said textual and image data. - View Dependent Claims (85, 86, 87)
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88. A search and retrieval system comprising:
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a first screen display which includes an idea entry path that retrieves titles based upon input search terms;
a second screen display which includes said retrieved titles being displayed according to an order that is based upon how closely the search terms relate to the title'"'"'s associated textual data, wherein a retrieved title provides access to associated textual data that concerns the retrieved title; and
a third screen display which displays a title'"'"'s associated textual data as well as a visual indicator that accesses multimedia data. - View Dependent Claims (89, 90, 91, 92)
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93. A computer graphical user interface to access a search and retrieval system comprising:
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navigation interface items for accessing an image entry path and for accessing a textual search entry path, wherein said image entry path retrieves image data, said retrieved image data being displayed on a computer screen along with indicating means to access textual data that is associated with the retrieved image data; and
wherein said textual search entry path searches and retrieves textual data, said retrieved textual data being displayed on the computer screen along with indicating means to access image data that is associated with the retrieved textual data;
said navigation interface items including a bookmark interface item to store for access by a user a pointer to textual data that is associated with the retrieved image data. - View Dependent Claims (94, 95, 96, 97, 98, 99)
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100. A user interface for searching and retrieving multimedia information comprising:
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a plurality of search entry paths for searching the multimedia information, the plurality of search entry paths including a textual search entry path and a picture search entry path;
wherein the textual search entry path receives search terms input by a user and retrieves a list of articles that correspond to the search terms, wherein the list of articles are ordered by relevance to the search terms;
wherein the picture search entry path receives search terms input by a user and retrieves a list of pictures that correspond to the search terms, wherein the list of pictures are ordered by relevance to the search terms;
a selecting device for selecting one of the articles from the list of articles or for selecting one of the pictures from the list of pictures, wherein the user interface displays the selected article or picture; and
a multimedia indicator associated with the displayed article or the displayed picture, wherein the multimedia indicator accesses an associated picture when selected from the displayed article or an associated article when selected from the displayed picture. - View Dependent Claims (101, 102, 103)
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104. A user interface for searching and retrieving multimedia information comprising:
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a plurality of search entry paths for searching the multimedia information, the plurality of search entry paths including a textual search entry path and a textual browse entry path, the textual search entry path receiving search terms input by a user and retrieving a list of articles that correspond to the search terms, wherein the user selects an article from the list of articles, which is then displayed by the user interface;
the textual browse entry path displaying a hierarchy of topics and sub-topics, which are browsed by the user until a particular article title is displayed, wherein the user selects the particular article title in order to display the selected article;
a plurality of multimedia indicators associated with the displayed articles, wherein at least one of the articles includes a plurality of associated multimedia indicators, the plurality of multimedia indicators including a picture indicator that indicates a picture is associated with the article and is available for display, said multimedia indicators further including a video indicator that indicates a video is associated with the same article and is available for display. - View Dependent Claims (105, 106, 107, 108)
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109. A multimedia research system comprising:
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a search and retrieval interface providing a plurality of search entry paths for researching multimedia information, the multimedia information including text articles having indicators that associate the text articles with related pictures, videos or sounds that can be accessed through the search and retrieval interface;
wherein the plurality of search entry paths include a textual search entry path for inputting textual search terms and for providing a search result indicating text articles corresponding to the search terms, and a textual browse entry path for browsing a hierarchy of topics and sub-topics and for providing a search result indicating text articles associated with a browsed sub-topic; and
a bookmark function for marking the search results provided by the plurality of search entry paths and for storing a plurality of associated bookmarks, wherein the bookmarks may be activated to display the marked search results without accessing the plurality of search entry paths. - View Dependent Claims (110, 111, 112)
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113. A multimedia search and retrieval method comprising the steps of:
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(A) inputting one or more textual search terms into a search and retrieval interface and displaying a list of articles that correspond to the search terms, wherein the list of articles are ordered by relevance;
(B) selecting one of the articles in the list of articles and displaying the article, wherein the displayed article includes a plurality of multimedia indicators that associated the article to pictures, videos or audio clips;
(C) if one of the plurality of multimedia indicators refers to a picture, then selecting the multimedia indicator and displaying the picture;
(D) if one of the plurality of multimedia indicators refers to a video, then selecting the multimedia indicator and playing the video;
(E) if one of the plurality of multimedia indicators refers to an audio clip, then selecting the multimedia indicator and playing the audio clip;
(F) after one of steps (C), (D) or (E) activating a back function to return to a display of the selected article. - View Dependent Claims (114, 115)
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Specification