Information storage and retrieval system and method

Claim 2

In a computer system having a CPU, input/output apparatus electronically coupled to said CPU, and a storage means electronically coupled to said CPU, a method of information storage and retrieval comprising the steps of: (a) logically classifying a plurality of data files and arranging said data files in the form of a hierarchal information tree having a plurality of mutually exclusive branches corresponding to the data files classified at various levels in the hierarchal structure of said tree; (b) assigning a unique alphanumeric address to each said mutually exclusive branch of said hierarchal information tree, each said address identifying a data file so as to link said data files together to form an expandable hierarchal tree in which the data files corresponding to each mutually exclusive branch are generally addressed as follows: ##STR1## (c) storing said logically classified data files on said storage means; (d) initializing said CPU at said input/output apparatus; (e) said CPU retrieving from said storage means the data file corresponding to the first branch of the first level in the hierarchal structure of said tree; (f) said CPU thereafter selecting another data file from the information contained in the data file retrieved by said CPU in step (e); (g) said CPU translating said selection into the unique alphanumeric address of the corresponding branch in the next level of said tree; (h) said CPU retrieving from said storage means the data file identified by the unique alphanumeric address identified in step (g); and (i) said CPU outputting at said input/output apparatus at least a portion of the information contained in said data file retrieved in step (h).

Claim 3

A method as defined in claim 1 wherein said computer system comprises first and second storage means electronically coupled to said CPU, and wherein said method further comprises the steps of: (j) inputting through said input/output apparatus one or more commands to said CPU so as to select information from the data file retrieved in step (h); and (k) storing the information selected in step (j) on said second storage means.

Claim 4

A method as defined in claim 2 further comprising the step of: (l) outputting at said input/output apparatus a portion of the information stored on said second storage means.

Claim 5

A method as defined in claim 1 wherein said data base is expanded by adding additional data files to said storage means, at least one such additional data file being addressed by a new branch added to an existing level in the hierarchal structure of said tree.

Claim 6

A method as defined in claim 1 wherein said data base is expanded by adding additional data files to said storage means, at least one such additional data file being addressed by a new branch in a new level added to the hierarchal structure of said tree.

Claim 7

In a computer system comprising: a CPU; first and second programmed storage means electronically coupled to said CPU; an input/output apparatus comprising a keyboard, a CRT screen and a printer electronically coupled to said CPU; and a data base stored on said first storage means, said data base comprising a plurality of data files logically classified and arranged in the form of a hierarchal information tree having a plurality of mutually exclusive branches corresponding to the data files classified at various levels in the hierarchal structure of said tree, each said branch having a unique alphanumeric address which identifies a data file stored on said first storage means and which is generally determined as follows: ##STR2## a method of information storage and retrieval comprising the steps of: (a) initializing said CPU at said input/output device by loading said logically classified data files and a program incorporating said method on said first storage means into said CPU; (b) generating at said CRT screen a display of the data file corresponding to the first branch of the first level in the hierarchal structure of said tree; (c) inputting to said CPU through said keyboard at least one selection from the information contained in the data file displayed in step (b); (d) translating said selection input to said CPU into the unique alphanumeric address of the corresponding branch for another data file corresponding to said selection; (e) retrieving from said first storage means the data file identified by the unique alphanumeric address determined in step (d); (f) displaying on said CRT screen the data file retrieved in step (e); (g) inputting through said keyboard one or more commands to said CPU so as to select information from the data file displayed in step (f); (h) transferring the information selected in step (g) to said second storage means; (i) initializing said CPU at said input/output device by loading said second programmed storage means into said CPU; and (j) outputting at said printer a written description of at least a portion of the information transferred to said second storage means in step (h).

Claim 8

In a computer system comprising: a CPU; first and second programmed storage means electronically coupled to said CPU; an input/output apparatus comprising a keyboard, a CRT screen and a printer electronically coupled to said CPU; and a data base stored on said first storage means, said data base comprising a plurality of data files logically classified and arranged in the form of a hierarchal information tree having a plurality of mutually exclusive branches corresponding to the data files classified at various levels in the hierarchal structure of said tree, each said branch having a unique alphanumeric address which identifies a data file stored on said first storage means and which is generally determined as follows: ##STR2## a method of information storage and retrieval comprising the steps of: (a) initializing said CPU at said input/output device by loading said logically classified data files and a program incorporating said method on said first storage means into said CPU; (b) generating at said CRT screen a display of the data file corresponding to the first branch of the first level in the hierarchal structure of said tree; (c) inputting to said CPU through said keyboard at least one selection from the information contained in the data file displayed in step (b); (d) translating said selection input to said CPU into the unique alphanumeric address of the corresponding branch for another data file corresponding to said selection; (e) retrieving from said first storage means the data file identified by the unique alphanumeric address determined in step (d); (f) displaying on said CRT screen the data file retrieved in step (e); (g) inputting through said keyboard one or more commands to said CPU so as to select information from the data file displayed in step (f); (h) transferring the information selected in step (g) to said second storage means; (i) initializing said CPU at said input/output device by loading said second programmed storage means into said CPU; and (j) outputting at said printer a written description of at least a portion of the information transferred to said second storage means in step (h).

Claim 9

A method as defined in claim 6 wherein said data base is expanded by adding additional data files to said first storage means, at least one such additional data file being addressed by a new branch added to an existing level in the hierarchal structure of said tree.

Claim 10

A method as defined in claim 6 wherein said data base is expanded by adding additional data files to said first storage means, at least one such additional data file being addressed by a new branch in a new level added to the hierarchal structure of said tree.

Claim 11

A method as defined in claim 6 wherein said step (c) comprises the step of selecting and inputting to said CPU a forward mode command so as to cause said CPU to translate in said step (d) said forward mode command into the unique alphanumeric address of the data file corresponding to the first branch in the next succeeding level of the hierarchal structure of said tree.

Claim 12

A method as defined in claim 6 wherein said step (c) comprises the step of selecting and inputting to said CPU a reverse mode command so as to cause said CPU in said step (d) to translate said reverse mode command into the unique alphanumeric address of the data file corresponding to the preceding branch in the preceding level of the hierarchal structure of said tree.

Claim 13

A method as defined in claim 6 wherein said step (c) comprises the step of selecting and inputting to said CPU information which identifies one or more related data files so as to cause said CPU in said step (d) to translate said information input to said CPU into the unique alphanumeric address of each said selected related data file.