Information retrieval apparatus and method
First Claim
1. Apparatus for retrieving information from at least one information source, the information being indexed or arranged by an indexing scheme or arrangement that defines an information hierarchy, the apparatus comprising:
- a display for displaying information and user selectable menu items;
a user input device for receiving user selections of displayed menu items;
retrieving means for retrieving information from said information source(s);
said information source(s) containing information at a plurality of hierarchical levels, said information being distinct from a name of said displayable menu items; and
a display controller adapted to control said display in dependence upon received user selections to display said menu items as history menu items indicating received user selections corresponding to navigation down levels of the hierarchy of said information source(s), and new menu items corresponding to information available at a next level of the hierarchy of said information source(s);
wherein said retrieving means is adapted to retrieve only information corresponding to a most recently selected menu item for a current level of the hierarchy in said information source(s) in response to a most recent user selection, and said display controller is adapted to display said retrieved information for the current level of the hierarchy in a display region separate to said history menu items, whereby the only said information that is displayed in said separate display region is said retrieved information.
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Abstract
Apparatus for retrieving information from at least one information source, the information being indexed or arranged by an indexing scheme or arrangement that defines an information hierarchy, the apparatus comprising: a display for displaying information and user selectable menu items; a user input device for receiving user selections of displayed menu items; retrieving means for retrieving information from said information source(s); said information source(s) containing information at a plurality of hierarchical levels, said information being distinct from a name of said displayable menu items; and a display controller adapted to control said display in dependence upon received user selections to display said menu items as history menu items indicating received user selections corresponding to navigation down levels of the hierarchy of said information source(s), and new menu items corresponding to information available at a next level of the hierarchy of said information source(s); wherein said retrieving means is adapted to retrieve only information corresponding to a most recently selected menu item for a current level of the hierarchy in said information source(s) in response to a most recent user selection, and said display controller is adapted to display said retrieved information for the current level of the hierarchy in a display region separate to said history menu items, whereby the only said information that is displayed in said separate display region is said retrieved information.
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Citations
24 Claims
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1. Apparatus for retrieving information from at least one information source, the information being indexed or arranged by an indexing scheme or arrangement that defines an information hierarchy, the apparatus comprising:
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a display for displaying information and user selectable menu items;
a user input device for receiving user selections of displayed menu items;
retrieving means for retrieving information from said information source(s);
said information source(s) containing information at a plurality of hierarchical levels, said information being distinct from a name of said displayable menu items; and
a display controller adapted to control said display in dependence upon received user selections to display said menu items as history menu items indicating received user selections corresponding to navigation down levels of the hierarchy of said information source(s), and new menu items corresponding to information available at a next level of the hierarchy of said information source(s);
wherein said retrieving means is adapted to retrieve only information corresponding to a most recently selected menu item for a current level of the hierarchy in said information source(s) in response to a most recent user selection, and said display controller is adapted to display said retrieved information for the current level of the hierarchy in a display region separate to said history menu items, whereby the only said information that is displayed in said separate display region is said retrieved information. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A method of retrieving information from at least one information source, the information being indexed or arranged by an indexing scheme or arrangement that defines an information hierarchy, the method comprising:
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displaying information and user selectable menu items;
receiving user selections of displayed menu items;
retrieving information from said information source(s), said information source(s) containing information at a plurality of hierarchical levels, said information being distinct from a name of said displayable menu items; and
controlling the display of the menu items and the information in dependence upon received user selections to display said menu items as history menu items indicating received user selections corresponding to navigation down levels of the hierarchy of said information source(s) and new menu items corresponding to information available at a next level of the hierarchy of said information source(s), wherein said retrieving comprises retrieving only information corresponding to a most recently selected menu item for a current level of the hierarchy in said information source(s) in response to a most recent user selection, and said controlling the display comprises displaying said retrieved information for the current level of the hierarchy in a display region separate to said history menu items, whereby the only said information that is displayed in said separate display region is said retrieved information. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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Specification