Method and apparatus for menu access to information objects indexed by hierarchically-coded keywords

摘要

The present invention discloses how to implement a menu-based retrieval system for an information management system that uses a controlled vocabulary based on hierarchically oriented keywords. In this context each keyword has a hierarchically ordered code and one or more keywords are assigned to an information object. The menu system disclosed in the present invention enables end-users to employ a point-and-click method to generate a query language command that retrieves information objects. The developer menu system was also disclosed that enables information technologists to use a point-and-click method to assign keywords to an information object.