Method and apparatus for generating a composite document on a selected topic from a plurality of information sources

Claim 1

A computer-implemented method for composing a composite document on a selected topic from a plurality of information sources by searching said plurality of information sources and identifying, displaying and copying files corresponding to said selected topic, comprising the steps of: (A) storing records each of which is representative of one of a plurality of information files in a database, said plurality of information files represented by said records including a first group of information files representing text information and a second group of information files representing image information; (B) receiving a single search query corresponding to said search topic; (C) simultaneously searching said first and second groups of information files stored in said database in accordance with said single search query to identify records from said first and second groups of information files which are related to said single search query; (D) generating a relevance ranked search result list having entries representative of information files identified during said searching step by generating a relevance score corresponding to each of the records identified during said searching step, and displaying said relevance ranked search result list in a first display window open on a user display; (E) receiving signals representative of at least first and second selected entries from said relevance ranked search result list, said first and second selected entries respectively corresponding to first and second information files from said plurality of information files; (F) opening a second display window on said user display, different from said first display window, for displaying at least a portion of said first information file; (G) opening a third display window on said user display, different from said first and second display windows, for displaying at least a portion of said second information file; and (H) opening a document composition window on said user display, different from said first, second and third display windows, for receiving said portion of said first information file and said portion of said second information file; and (I) composing said composite document by copying said portion of said first information file from said second display window to said document composition window and copying said portion of said second information file from said third display window to said document composition window; wherein entries representing only text information are interspersed with entries representing only image information within said relevance ordered search result list.

Claim 11

An apparatus for composing a composite document on a selected topic from a plurality of information sources by searching said plurality of information sources and identifying, displaying and copying files corresponding to said selected topic, comprising: (A) a database for storing records each of which is representative of one of a plurality of information files, said plurality of information files represented by said records including a first group of information files representing text information and a second group of information files representing image information; (B) means for receiving a single search query corresponding to said search topic; (C) searching means, coupled to said means for receiving said single search query and to said database, for simultaneously searching said first and second groups of information files stored in said database in accordance with said single search query to identify records from said first and second groups of information files which are related to said single search query; (D) search result list generating means, coupled to said searching means, for generating a relevance score corresponding to each of said records identified by said searching means and generating a relevance ranked search result list having entries representative of information files identified by said searching means; (E) display means, coupled to said search result generating means, for displaying said relevance ranked search result list in a first display window open on a user display; (F) file retrieval means for receiving signals representative of at least first and second selected entries from said relevance ranked search result list, said first and second selected entries respectively corresponding to first and second information files from said plurality of information files, and for retrieving said first and second information files; (G) display window opening means, coupled to said file retrieval means, for opening a second display window for displaying at least a portion of said first information file, a third display window for displaying at least a portion of said second information file and a document composition window for displaying at least a portion of said second information file, said second display window being different from said first display window, said third display window being different from said first and second display windows, and said document composition window being different from said first, second and third display windows; and (H) composing means for composing said composite document by copying said portion of said first information file from said second display window to said document composition window and copying said portion of said second information file from said third display window to said document composition window wherein entries representing only text information are interspersed with entries representing only image information within said relevance ordered search result list.

Claim 12

An apparatus for composing a composite document on a selected topic from a plurality of information sources by searching said plurality of information sources and identifying, displaying and copying files corresponding to said selected topic, comprising: (A) a database for storing records each of which is representative of one of a plurality of information files, said plurality of information files represented by said records including a first group of information files representing text information and a second group of information files representing image information; (B) means for receiving a single search query corresponding to said search topic; (C) searching means, coupled to said means for receiving said single search query and to said database, for simultaneously searching said first and second groups of information files stored in said database in accordance with said single search query to identify records from said first and second groups of information files which are related to said single search query; (D) search result list generating means, coupled to said searching means, for generating a relevance score corresponding to each of said records identified by said searching means and generating a relevance ranked search result list having entries representative of information files identified by said searching means; (E) display means, coupled to said search result generating means, for displaying said relevance ranked search result list in a first display window open on a user display; (F) file retrieval means for receiving signals representative of at least first and second selected entries from said relevance ranked search result list, said first and second selected entries respectively corresponding to first and second information files from said plurality of information files, and for retrieving said first and second information files; (G) display window opening means, coupled to said file retrieval means, for opening a second display window for displaying at least a portion of said first information file, a third display window for displaying at least a portion of said second information file and a document composition window for displaying at least a portion of said second information file, said second display window being different from said first display window, said third display window being different from said first and second display windows, and said document composition window being different from said first, second and third display windows; and (H) composing means for composing said composite document by copying said portion of said first information file from said second display window to said document composition window and copying said portion of said second information file from said third display window to said document composition window wherein entries representing only text information are interspersed with entries representing only image information within said relevance ordered search result list.