Abstract: Described are a system and method of performing an electronic search for information objects in data stores. A user submitting a text string is identified. A metadata model comprises interconnected nodes. At least one node corresponds to a metadata instance. A catalog of catalog items is provided. Each catalog item is linked to a metadata instance in the metadata model and uniquely associated with an information object. A user-access right is assigned to each metadata instance. The catalog is searched to find catalog items linked to a metadata instance satisfying the user-access right and criteria associated with the submitted text string. Links to metadata instances are extracted in real time from each catalog item found in the search of the catalog. Each metadata instance corresponding to an extracted link is displayed, if permitted for the identified user by the user-access right assigned to that metadata instance.

Abstract: Described are a system and method for generating a metadata model for use in classifying and searching for information objects maintained in heterogeneous data stores. An n-dimensional graph is constructed based on metadata categories and relationships among the metadata categories. Instances of metadata are acquired for use in classifying information objects and in searching for information objects in the data stores. Each metadata instance falls under one of the metadata categories. An n-dimensional metadata model is constructed by placing the acquired metadata instances into the n-dimensional graph according to the metadata category under which each metadata instance falls and the relationships among the metadata categories.