Abstract: A method for retrieving information related to a desired item from a database storing information which are collected from a system to be monitored is disclosed. A plurality of states of the system are displayed in time sequence on screen of a display. Each of the states is represented by a plurality of items of collected information. When inputting a desired item of a state selected from the states displayed on the screen, a state of the system is retrieved from the database based on the desired item, and the retrieved state is displayed on the screen.