Virtual bookshelf

Abstract

A virtual bookshelf system provides a user a way to browse and locate information associated with a plurality of documents. The virtual bookshelf system contains classification information to classify the documents in a hierarchical structure that includes a plurality of hierarchical levels based on pre-defined categories. The virtual bookshelf system displays a portion of the hierarchical structure including a representation of the categories. A user of the virtual bookshelf system may browse through the categories in the hierarchical levels to learn the general topics of the available documents. The user is permitted to select a particular category, and in response, the virtual bookshelf system displays document information for documents classified in the category selected. When selected, peripheral themes or issues are displayed such that the themes relate to the main issues covered by the documents classified under the selected category. The virtual bookshelf system also includes a virtual clerk for locating documents of interest. A user enters a locate term in the virtual clerk, and in response, the virtual bookshelf system locates at least one match category in the hierarchical structure that relates to the locate term. It also displays a portion of the hierarchical structure that includes the match category such that a path is defined from the highest hierarchical levels to the hierarchical level of the match category. The virtual bookshelf system further includes a natural way to disambiguate locate terms that relate to more than one category.