Multimedia search system

• US 20020124004A1
• Filed: 03/25/2002
• Published: 09/05/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 10/26/1989
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Encyclopaedia Britannica Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Encyclopaedia Britannica Incorporated
• Inventors: Reed, Michael, Kester, Harold, Carlton, Ron, Maatman, Gail B., Greenhalgh, Carol, Rogers, Derryl, Munevar, Edwardo, Good, Dale, Frank, Stanley D., Holzman, Carl, Jensen, Ann, Holman, Neil, Bastin, Norman J., Bestick, Greg
• Granted Patent: US 6,978,277 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 707/100
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/29 Geographical information databases
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/332 Query formulation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/3322 using system suggestions G06F16/3325 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/48 Retrieval characterised by using metadata, e.g. metadata not derived from the content or metadata generated manually
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/532 Query formulation, e.g. graphical querying
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/54 Browsing; Visualisation therefor
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/58 Retrieval characterised by using metadata, e.g. metadata not derived from the content or metadata generated manually
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/213 Read-only discs
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/2545 CDs
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/105 of operating discs
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/34 Indicating arrangements indicating means incorporated in magazine or cassette G11B23/046 and G11B23/0875; indicating measured values in general G01D
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/919 Geographic
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99933 Query processing, i.e. searching
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99943 Generating database or data structure, e.g. via user interface
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99945 Object-oriented database structure processing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99948 Application of database or data structure, e.g. distributed, multimedia, or image

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.

Claims

1. A search system for retrieving information, comprising:

textual entry paths for searching textual information; and

graphical entry paths for searching graphical information such that said search system retrieves graphical and textual information through said textual and graphical entry paths.

2. The search system according to claim 1, wherein said textual entry paths are interactive.

3. The search system according to claim 1, wherein said graphical entry paths are interactive.

4. The search system according to claim 1, wherein said textual information comprises words, phrases, numbers and letters.

5. The search system according to claim 1, wherein said graphical information includes maps, charts, pictures, moving images and audio information.

6. The search system according to claim 1, wherein said textual entry paths and said graphical entry paths are interrelated such that said textual information is accessible from said graphical entry paths and said graphical information is accessible from said textual entry paths.

7. The search system according to claim 1, wherein said graphical and textual information are contained in a single database.

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

9. The search system according to claim 1, further comprising a micro-computer for executing operations of said search system.

10. The search system according to claim 1, wherein one of said graphical entry paths involves interactively narrowing a search of graphical images to a point in which related textual information is accessible.

11. The search system according to claim 1, wherein one of said textual entry paths is narrowed to a point in which related graphical information is accessible.

12. The search system according to claim 1, wherein said textual and said graphical entry paths include assisting functions which increase the efficacy and accessibility of said searches.

13. The search system according to claim 1, wherein one of said textual entry paths comprises an idea search of said textual information.

14. The search system according to claim 13, wherein said idea search operates on search terms automatically identified by said search system from numbers, letters, words, phrases, sentences or paragraphs.

15. The search system according to claim 14, wherein said idea search automatically identifies search terms by eliminating stop terms.

16. The search system according to claim 15, wherein said stop words are eliminated by comparing entered terms to terms stored in a stop term list and then eliminating any stop terms from said search that matches words stored in said stop term list.

17. The search system according to claim 13, wherein said idea search operates on phrases consisting substantially of two or more entered terms.

18. The search system according to claim 17, wherein hyphens are placed by said search system between adjacent terms forming one of said phrases.

19. The search system according to claim 13, wherein said entered terms or phrases are highlighted on a display of said textual information.

20. The search system according to claim 13, wherein said textual information is checked for spelling by said idea search.

21. The search system according to claim 13, wherein alternate versions of misspelled words are suggested to a user by said search system.

22. The search system according to claim 13, wherein said idea search entry path includes a new list function.

23. The search system according to claim 22, wherein said new list function compares said search terms with a thesaurus database such that alternate non-ambiguous terms for said search terms are provided to a user.

24. The search system according to claim 23, wherein if more than one alternate non-ambiguous search term is retrieved, then said new list function orders said alternatives in order of relevance to said ambiguous term.

25. The search system according to claim 24, wherein if said term is not ambiguous then said new list function suggests alternative search strategies to said user.

26. The search system according to claim 13, wherein said textual information is stored in a stem index where each term is identified with all related stems in said stem index.

27. The search system according to claim 26, wherein said stems are related to units of said textual information in said database.

28. The search system according to claim 27, wherein said stem terms are concatenated in order to map said stems to the same idea.

29. The search system according to claim 28, wherein said concatenation comprises linking said stems together based on grammatical linkages and based on thesaurus linkages.

30. The search system according to claim 13, wherein said textual information retrieved by said idea search is ranked in order of relevance to said search terms.

31. The search system according to claim 30, wherein said ranking is based on an exhaustivity coefficient for said search term.

32. The search system according to claim 31, wherein said ranking is based on an exclusivity coefficient for said search term.

33. The search system according to claim 32, wherein said textual information retrieved by said idea search is listed in accordance with said ranking.

34. The search system according to claim 33, wherein all of said textual information ranked above a pre-determined exhaustivity and exclusivity threshold is designated by at least one asterisk.

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

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

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

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

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

40. The search system according to claim 13, wherein said textual information comprises articles for an encyclopaedia.

41. The search system according to claim 1, wherein one of said textual entry paths comprises a title finder entry path which assists a user in uncovering titles stored in said search system.

42. The search system according to claim 41, wherein textual information is located by moving through an alphabetical list of titles until a title related to said textual information is located.

43. The search system according to claim 41, wherein a title is located by clicking a lettered tab for the first letter of a title.

44. The search system according to claim 41, wherein a title is searched by entering the name of a title into said search system such that said title finder goes to the page that said entered title is listed on.

45. The search system according to claim 1, wherein one of said textual entry paths comprises a topic tree entry path that divides all textual information into topics and sub-topics in order to assist a user in browsing through said textual information.

46. The search system according to claim 1, wherein one of said textual and graphical entry paths comprises a picture explorer entry path which enables a user to find at least one picture and retrieve said textual information related to said at least one picture.

47. The search system according to claim 46, wherein said picture explorer search program includes a picture tour search path that presents pictures in random order.

48. The search system according to claim 46, wherein further information about a picture is available by activating a caption function which displays a caption window associated with said picture.

49. The search system according to claim 46, wherein said picture explorer search program includes a picture finder search path which allows a user to choose from a list of picture caption titles.

50. The search system according to claim 46, wherein said picture explorer search program further comprises a picture search search path where a user searches picture captions by entering search terms into said search system.

51. The search system according to claim 1, wherein one of said textual entry paths comprises a history timeline entry path which displays events on said timeline in order that a user may select information about one of said events by activating said event on a display.

52. The search system according to claim 51, wherein said events comprise a year bar of intervals, major events, events and a presidential bar.

53. The search system according to claim 51, wherein said information about an event includes audio information.

54. The search system according to claim 1, wherein a portion of said graphical and textual entry paths comprise a world atlas entry path which enables a user to search maps of an atlas by allowing the user to specify a place on said atlas such that said world atlas entry path draws a corresponding map around said specified place.

55. The search system according to claim 54, wherein said world atlas entry path provides substantially multiple levels of increasing detail for any part of said world atlas.

56. The search system according to claim 54, wherein textual information related to any place labelled on said world atlas can be retrieved.

57. The search system according to claim 1, wherein one of said textual entry paths comprises a feature articles entry path which takes a user directly to at least one article in said search system.

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

60. The method according to claim 59, further comprising the steps of:

interrelating said graphical and textual entry paths; and

accessing said textual information from said graphical entry paths and accessing said graphical information from said textual entry paths.

61. The search system according to claim 59, further comprising the step of interactively narrowing a search of graphical images to a point in which related textual information is accessible.

62. The method of claim 59, further comprising the step of narrowing one of said textual paths to a point in which related graphical information is accessible.

63. The method according to claim 59, further comprising the step of utilizing assisting functions for said textual and said graphical entry paths to increase the efficacy and accessibility of said searches.

64. The method according to claim 59, wherein one of said textual entry paths comprises an idea search of said textual information.

65. The method according to claim 59, wherein one of said textual entry paths comprises a title finder entry path which assists a user in uncovering titles stored in said search system.

66. The method according to claim 59, wherein one of said textual entry paths comprises a topic tree entry path that divides all textual information into topics and subtopics in order to assist a user in searching through said textual information.

67. The method according to claim 59, wherein one of said textual and one of said graphical entry paths comprises a picture explorer entry path which enables a user to find at least one picture and retrieve said textual information related to said at least one picture.

68. The method according to claim 59, wherein one of said textual entry paths comprises a history timeline entry path which displays events on a timeline in order that a user may select information about one of said events by activating said event on a display.

69. The method according to claim 59, wherein one of said graphical and textual entry paths comprises a world atlas entry path which enables a user to search maps of an atlas by allowing the user to specify a place on said atlas such that said atlas entry path draws a corresponding map around said specified place.

70. The method according to claim 59, wherein one of said textual entry paths comprises a feature articles entry path which takes the user to at least one related article in said search system.

71. The method according to claim 59, wherein one of said textual entry paths comprises a researcher'"'"'s assistant entry path which contains subject matter categories divided into topics and said topics are further divided into research assignments wherein said research assignments are ordered by level of difficulty.

59. A method for retrieving information, comprising:

searching through multiple textual entry paths in order to retrieve textual information; and

searching through multiple graphical entry paths in order to retrieve graphical information.

72. A search system for retrieving information, comprising:

textual entry path means for searching textual information; and

graphical entry path means for searching graphical information such that said search system retrieves graphical and textual information through said textual and graphical entry path means.

73. A search system for retrieving information, comprising:

idea search means for searching textual information;

title finder means for assisting a user in uncovering titles stored in said search system;

topic tree means that divides all of said textual information into topics and subtopics in order to assist such user in searching said textual information;

picture explorer means for enabling such user to find at least one picture and retrieve textual information related to said at least one picture;

history timeline means which displays events on a timeline in order that such user may select information about one of said events by activating said event;

world atlas means for searching maps of an atlas that are specified by such user in order that said atlas draws a corresponding map around said specified place;

feature articles means which takes such user directly to at least one article in said search system; and

a researcher'"'"'s assistant means which has subject matter categories divided into topics which are further divided into research assignments ordered by level of difficulty.

74. A search system for retrieving information comprising;

a computer device;

a display device;

a memory device;

a speech adaptor device;

textual entry paths for searching textual information stored in said memory device; and

graphical entry paths for searching graphical information stored in said memory device such that said search system uses said computer device to retrieve graphical and textual information through said textual and graphical entry paths and said textual information is accessible from said graphical entry paths and said graphical information is accessible from said textual entry paths.

75. The apparatus according to claim 74, wherein said memory device comprises a CD-ROM reader, an erasable compact disc drive, or configurations of software, firmware and hardware which support digital video interactive (DVI) or compact disc interactive (CD-I) technology or any other optical storage device.

76. The apparatus according to claim 74, wherein said computer device comprises a microcomputer.

77. The apparatus according to claim 74, wherein said computer device is connected to a host computer by a communications network.

78. The apparatus according to claim 74, wherein said display device comprises a VGA type monitor including a VGA Card.

79. The apparatus according to claim 74, wherein said computer device further comprises a 20 MB hard disc drive and a 1MB RAM.