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User interface system and method for traversing a database

  • US 5,630,117 A
  • Filed: 03/13/1995
  • Issued: 05/13/1997
  • Est. Priority Date: 02/27/1989
  • Status: Expired due to Term
First Claim
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1. A method for a user of a computer system to traverse a database to retrieve an electronic document stored in said database, said method comprising the steps of:

  • a) providing a hypertext-type database, said hypertext-type database including a plurality of hypertext-type nodes, said plurality of hypertext-type nodes corresponding to a plurality of electronic documents, wherein each of said plurality of hypertext-type nodes may be selectively linked to others of said plurality of hypertext-type nodes;

    b) providing a set of descriptive index terms;

    c) indexing said hypertext-type database by assigning a unique first subset of said descriptive index terms to each electronic document of said plurality of electronic documents;

    d) receiving user input that selects a second subset of said descriptive index terms;

    e) comparing said first subset of descriptive index terms of said plurality of electronic documents with said second subset of said descriptive index terms;

    f) producing a list of electronic documents based on said comparing step e), said list of electronic documents having a first electronic document that represents a user'"'"'s position within the hypertext-type database;

    g) receiving user input that selects a selected electronic document from said list of electronic documents; and

    h) changing said user'"'"'s position within the hypertext-type database to correspond with said selected electronic document.

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