Abstract: Reference material in a digital graphics album is specified. Annotation data is extracted from the reference material and may be processed by a natural language processor to produce search keywords. In addition to the keywords, user directives may be provided, both of which are used to conduct a search for related graphical materials. The search is conducted by querying a graphical material database through a network connection. The search results are received and the user can select from the resultant materials for inclusion in the digital graphics album. If no satisfactory material is found, the user can specify a reference graphical image that is processed to produce search criteria that are image content descriptors. The database is again queried in accordance with these descriptors to provide search results for possible inclusion.

Abstract: An Internet type access system includes an autodialer for automatically establishing communications with a merchant's facility over a switch network while maintaining Internet connectivity over a packet data network. The autodialer, in combination with the merchant's server, coordinates between the Internet session and the newly established switched connectivity, the session history from the prior Internet session being supplied to a sales representative receiving the autodialed call. The sales representative is provided with a terminal for controlling the merchant's server to push data to the client in response to the interactive session simultaneously conducted over the switched network.

Abstract: An associative information retrieval system accepts information from a user and generates a query mask utilizing nested superimposed code words to search through and to find partial matches with the content of an auxiliary store. The auxiliary store contains similarly generated code words each produced from attribute values of records on a central store. The user information is put through the system on a character-by-character basis and the user is fed back information on the number of possible matches. The feedback informs the user on the incremental progress of the search produced in response to each newly entered character and also as part of a sequence that it may form with previously entered characters. The feedback information helps the user direct the search which the person does by supplying additional characters.