Document retrieval system and method employing a preloading procedure

Claim 1

A method of retrieving information from a CD-ROM database using a computer that comprises a memory unit, a monitor, a keyboard, and a pointing device that is operated by the user, the method comprising the acts of: retrieving a first document from the CD-ROM database; displaying the first document on the monitor, wherein the first document includes textual data, wherein the text of the first document contains a reference to a second document within the CD-ROM database, and wherein the text of the second document contains a reference to a third document and a reference to a fourth document; preloading into the memory unit the second document while the user is viewing the first document and before the second document is requested by the user through the input device; displaying the second document when the second document is requested by the user through the input device, wherein the second document is displayed by retrieving the second document from the memory unit; preloading into the memory unit at least a portion of the third document while the user is viewing the second document and before the third document is requested by the user through the input device; preloading into the memory unit at least a portion of the fourth document while the user is viewing the second document and before the fourth document is requested by the user through the input device; displaying the third document when the third document is requested by the user through the input device, wherein the third document is displayed by retrieving the third document from the memory unit; and deleting from the memory unit the unused fourth document that has been preloaded into the memory unit.

Claim 2

A method of retrieving information from a CD-ROM database using a computer that comprises a memory unit, a monitor, a keyboard, and a pointing device that is operated by the user, the method comprising the acts of: retrieving a first document from the CD-ROM database; displaying the first document on the monitor, wherein the first document includes textual data, wherein the text of the first document contains a reference to a second document within the CD-ROM database, and wherein the text of the second document contains a reference to a third document and a reference to a fourth document; preloading into the memory unit the second document while the user is viewing the first document and before the second document is requested by the user through the input device; displaying the second document when the second document is requested by the user through the input device, wherein the second document is displayed by retrieving the second document from the memory unit; preloading into the memory unit at least a portion of the third document while the user is viewing the second document and before the third document is requested by the user through the input device; preloading into the memory unit at least a portion of the fourth document while the user is viewing the second document and before the fourth document is requested by the user through the input device; displaying the third document when the third document is requested by the user through the input device, wherein the third document is displayed by retrieving the third document from the memory unit; and deleting from the memory unit the unused fourth document that has been preloaded into the memory unit.

Claim 5

A method of retrieving information from a many-user database through a document retrieval system, wherein the document retrieval system includes a memory unit, a monitor, and an input device that is operated by a user, the method comprising the acts of: retrieving a first document from the database; displaying the first document on the monitor, wherein the first document includes references to a plurality of other documents, including a reference to a second document, and a reference to a third document; preloading into the memory unit at least a portion of the second document before the user requests that the second document be displayed, wherein the user uses the input device to request that the second document be displayed; preloading into the memory unit at least a portion of the third document before the user requests that the third document be displayed, wherein the user can use the input device to request that the third document be displayed; and displaying the second document when the user requests that the second document be displayed, wherein the second document is displayed by retrieving the second document from the memory unit.

Claim 6

A method of retrieving information from a many-user database through a document retrieval system, wherein the document retrieval system includes a memory unit, a monitor, and an input device that is operated by a user, the method comprising the acts of: retrieving a first document from the database; displaying the first document on the monitor, wherein the first document includes references to a plurality of other documents, including a reference to a second document, and a reference to a third document; preloading into the memory unit at least a portion of the second document before the user requests that the second document be displayed, wherein the user uses the input device to request that the second document be displayed; preloading into the memory unit at least a portion of the third document before the user requests that the third document be displayed, wherein the user can use the input device to request that the third document be displayed; and displaying the second document when the user requests that the second document be displayed, wherein the second document is displayed by retrieving the second document from the memory unit.

Claim 12

A system for retrieving information comprising: (a) a many-user database that is capable of being accessed by more than one user, wherein numerous documents are stored within the database; and (b) a computer comprising a memory unit, a monitor for displaying information to a user, an input device, and a connection to the many-user database, and wherein the computer is running a multi-tasking operating system and is programmed to: retrieve a first document from the many-user database over the connection to the many-user database, wherein the text of the first document contains a reference to a second document, and wherein the text of the second document contains a reference to a third document, display the first document on the monitor, preload in the background at least a portion of the second document into the memory unit while the user is viewing the first document, and before the second document is requested by the user through the input device, display the second document when the user requests that the second document be displayed, wherein the second document is displayed by retrieving the second document from the memory unit, and by retrieving from the database any portion of the second document not preloaded into the memory unit, preload in the background at least a portion of the third document into the memory unit while the user is viewing the second document, and before the user requests that the third document be displayed, and display the third document when the user requests that the third document be displayed, wherein the third document is displayed by retrieving the third document from the memory unit, and by retrieving from the database any portion of the third document not preloaded into the memory unit.

Claim 13

A system for retrieving information comprising: (a) a many-user database that is capable of being accessed by more than one user, wherein numerous documents are stored within the database; and (b) a computer comprising a memory unit, a monitor for displaying information to a user, an input device, and a connection to the many-user database, and wherein the computer is running a multi-tasking operating system and is programmed to: retrieve a first document from the many-user database over the connection to the many-user database, wherein the text of the first document contains a reference to a second document, and wherein the text of the second document contains a reference to a third document, display the first document on the monitor, preload in the background at least a portion of the second document into the memory unit while the user is viewing the first document, and before the second document is requested by the user through the input device, display the second document when the user requests that the second document be displayed, wherein the second document is displayed by retrieving the second document from the memory unit, and by retrieving from the database any portion of the second document not preloaded into the memory unit, preload in the background at least a portion of the third document into the memory unit while the user is viewing the second document, and before the user requests that the third document be displayed, and display the third document when the user requests that the third document be displayed, wherein the third document is displayed by retrieving the third document from the memory unit, and by retrieving from the database any portion of the third document not preloaded into the memory unit.

Claim 16

A system for retrieving and displaying documents on a display screen for a user, the system comprising: (a) a plurality of documents that are stored on a data storage medium and that are capable of being accessed by a plurality of users, wherein at least some of the documents are stored remotely from the user; (b) communication circuitry that allows a large number of users to access one or more documents in the plurality of documents; and (c) a computer that is operated by the user and that uses a telephone line to access the communication circuitry so that the computer is capable of accessing the plurality of documents, wherein the computer comprises a memory unit, a display screen for displaying information for the user, and an input device that is used by the user to request that documents be displayed on the display screen, and wherein the computer is running a multi-tasking operating system and is programmed to carry out the acts of: retrieving a first document from the collection of documents, wherein the first document contains both textual and image data, wherein the text of the first document contains a link to a second document and also a link to a third document, and wherein the second document and the third document contain both textual and image data; displaying the first document on the display screen for the user to view; preloading the second document into the memory unit in the background while the user is viewing the first document, and before the user uses the input device to request that the second document be displayed, wherein the second document is preloaded over the telephone line; simultaneously preloading the third document into the memory unit in the background while the user is viewing the first document, and before the user uses the input device to request that the third document be displayed, wherein the third document is preloaded simultaneously with the second document, and wherein the third document is preloaded over the telephone line; displaying the third document on the display screen when the user uses the input device to request that the third document be displayed, wherein the third document is displayed quickly for the user by retrieving the third document from the memory unit, wherein the text of the third document contains a link to a fourth document and a link to a fifth document, and wherein the fourth document and the fifth document contain both textual and image data; preloading the fourth document into the memory unit in the background while the user is viewing the third document, and before the user uses the input device to request that the fourth document be displayed, wherein the fourth document is preloaded over the telephone line; simultaneously preloading the fifth document into the memory unit in the background while the user is viewing the third document, and before the user uses the input device to request that the fifth document be displayed, wherein the fifth document is preloaded simultaneously with the fourth document, and wherein the fifth document is preloaded over the telephone line; displaying the fifth document on the display screen when the user uses the input device to request that the fifth document be displayed, wherein the fifth document is displayed quickly for the user by retrieving the fifth document from the memory unit, and wherein the fifth document contains a link to a sixth document; and displaying the sixth document on the display screen when the user uses the input device to request that the sixth document be displayed on the display screen, wherein the sixth document is displayed by retrieving the sixth document over the telephone line.

Claim 17

A system for retrieving and displaying documents on a display screen for a user, the system comprising: (a) a plurality of documents that are stored on a data storage medium and that are capable of being accessed by a plurality of users, wherein at least some of the documents are stored remotely from the user; (b) communication circuitry that allows a large number of users to access one or more documents in the plurality of documents; and (c) a computer that is operated by the user and that uses a telephone line to access the communication circuitry so that the computer is capable of accessing the plurality of documents, wherein the computer comprises a memory unit, a display screen for displaying information for the user, and an input device that is used by the user to request that documents be displayed on the display screen, and wherein the computer is running a multi-tasking operating system and is programmed to carry out the acts of: retrieving a first document from the collection of documents, wherein the first document contains both textual and image data, wherein the text of the first document contains a link to a second document and also a link to a third document, and wherein the second document and the third document contain both textual and image data; displaying the first document on the display screen for the user to view; preloading the second document into the memory unit in the background while the user is viewing the first document, and before the user uses the input device to request that the second document be displayed, wherein the second document is preloaded over the telephone line; simultaneously preloading the third document into the memory unit in the background while the user is viewing the first document, and before the user uses the input device to request that the third document be displayed, wherein the third document is preloaded simultaneously with the second document, and wherein the third document is preloaded over the telephone line; displaying the third document on the display screen when the user uses the input device to request that the third document be displayed, wherein the third document is displayed quickly for the user by retrieving the third document from the memory unit, wherein the text of the third document contains a link to a fourth document and a link to a fifth document, and wherein the fourth document and the fifth document contain both textual and image data; preloading the fourth document into the memory unit in the background while the user is viewing the third document, and before the user uses the input device to request that the fourth document be displayed, wherein the fourth document is preloaded over the telephone line; simultaneously preloading the fifth document into the memory unit in the background while the user is viewing the third document, and before the user uses the input device to request that the fifth document be displayed, wherein the fifth document is preloaded simultaneously with the fourth document, and wherein the fifth document is preloaded over the telephone line; displaying the fifth document on the display screen when the user uses the input device to request that the fifth document be displayed, wherein the fifth document is displayed quickly for the user by retrieving the fifth document from the memory unit, and wherein the fifth document contains a link to a sixth document; and displaying the sixth document on the display screen when the user uses the input device to request that the sixth document be displayed on the display screen, wherein the sixth document is displayed by retrieving the sixth document over the telephone line.