Multimedia search system

US6546399B1 · kind B1 · utility

Assignee

• Encyclopaedia Britannica, Inc. · US

Inventors

• Michael Reed · Chicago, US
• Carol Greenhalgh · Austin, US
• Ron Carlton · San Marcos, US
• Dale Good · Evanston, US
• Carl Holzman · Chicago, US
• Harold Kester · Irvine, US
• Edwardo Munevar · San Diego, US
• Greg Bestick · Rosamond, US
• Norman J. Bastin · Chicago, US
• Stanley D. Frank · Chicago, US
• Neil Holman · Buffalo Grove, US
• Ann Jensen · Austin, US
• Gail B. Maatman · Hollidaysburg, US
• Derryl Rogers · Carlsbad, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Feb 28, 1994
• Grant date: Apr 8, 2003
• Expiry date: Feb 28, 2014

Classification

• Technology area (CPC Y): Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
• CPC primary: Y10S715/978
• WIPO field: Audio-visual technology
• WIPO sector: Electrical engineering

Abstract

A database search system that retrieves multimedia information in a flexible, user friendly system. The search system uses a multimedia database consisting of text, picture, audio and animated data. That database is searched through multiple graphical and textual entry paths. Those entry paths include an idea search, a title finder search, a topic tree search, a picture explorer search, a history timeline search, a world atlas search, a researcher's assistant search, and a feature articles search.