SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR ENABLING A USER TO SEARCH AND RETRIEVE INDIVIDUAL TOPICS IN A VISUAL MAPPING SYSTEM

摘要

The present invention provides a system and method for storing, searching, and retrieving topics in a visual map. The visual mapping system of the present invention is based on a client-server architecture. Client visual mapping applications on users' computers enable users to create, edit, and view visual maps. The storage and retrieval of data associated with such visual maps is managed by a server in the visual mapping system. The server stores the topics in the visual map in a database. The topics are stored individually and not as part of a visual map file. The topics are indexed to enable the system to quickly perform searches for the topic. The client visual mapping application includes an interface through which a user can enter search criteria for a topic search. Because topics are stored individually in the database and indexed, user can search for topics individually and separately from the visual map file associated with the topics. Topics can be shared across users and across maps. Also, user can simultaneously, view, edit and collaborate on different topics associated with the same map file.