The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Sep. 30, 2003
Filed:
Aug. 19, 1999
Mitsuru Minakuchi, Soraku-gun, JP;
Naoki Urano, Sakai, JP;
Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha, Osaka, JP;
Abstract
In an information retrieval method that allows the user to retrieve information in an intuitive way even when the user only has a vague requirement, information is retrieved from a memory device in which a plurality of information are stored. The information retrieval method includes the steps of determining whether any of a predetermined number of sub-information displayed in advance is selected or not: setting selected information as main information when any of the sub-information is selected; calculating the level of relationship with the main information for each information other than the main information stored in the memory device when any of the sub-information is selected and selecting the predetermined number of sub-information according to the level of relationship; displaying the main information; and displaying the predetermined number of sub-information.