Abstract: An automatic search method for documents stored in a data processing system is presented. The method involves preselecting large amounts of data automatically thereby enabling the user to find relevant information easily. The task of comparing search string and document content is assigned to the user who does not need to formulate any query statement but browses the documents by comparing their representatives and choosing the ones which fit the query statement. Search terms comprise representatives of the documents, extracts of the documents, or synonyms of the extracts which function as nodes of the semantic network wherein the edges are set up by various relations between the search objects, as for example, detailing relations, thesaurus relations, and combining relations. Movements along the edges are simulated by retrievals of the data storage resulting in new nodes presented to the user in a viewing device of the system.

Abstract: An automatic search method for documents stored in a data processing system is presented. The method involves preselecting large amounts of data automatically thereby enabling the user to find relevant information easily. The task of comparing search string and document content is assigned to the user who does not need to formulate any query statement but browses the documents by comparing their representatives and choosing the ones which fit the query statement. Search terms comprise representatives of the documents, extracts of the documents, or synonyms of the extracts which function as nodes of the semantic network wherein the edges are set up by various relations between the search objects, as for example, detailing relations, thesaurus relations, and combining relations. Movements along the edges are simulated by retrievals of the data storage resulting in new nodes presented to the user in a viewing device of the system.