Abstract: The present invention provides a method and system for the reference, archival and retrieval of symbolically linked information despite idiosyncratic symbol usage. A master symbol database stores a plurality of master symbols, wherein each master symbol is formatted according to a predetermined structure. Each master symbol in the master symbol database is linked to a parent identifier that identifies a unique object. Users may archive or retrieve symbolically linked information in an information database by providing an input symbol. The input symbol is normalized and the master symbol database is searched to find a matching master symbol. The parent identifier linked to the matching master symbol is then used to retrieve or archive information in the information database.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and system for the archival and retrieval of symbolically and categorically linked information preferably in the form of documents or data records. The method and system enables the archival and retrieval of information despite idiosyncratic symbol usage. A master symbol database stores a plurality of master symbols and a categorical symbol database stores a plurality of categorical symbols, wherein each master symbol and categorical symbol are formatted according to a predetermined structure. Users may archive or retrieve symbolically linked information in an information database by providing an input symbol. If necessary the system normalizes the input symbol where the input symbol may include either or both a master symbol and a categorical symbol. After the input symbol is normalized the system searches either or both the master symbol database and the categorical symbol database in order to find a matching master symbol and a matching categorical symbol.

Abstract: A method and system is described for notifying users of an arrival of a document. A respective query is received from each respective user. Each respective query includes at least one query term and at least one query condition. For each respective query, each one of the at least one query term is stored in a database only if the one query term is unique with respect to other query terms stored in the database. The document, which includes a document term being associated with the document, is received. The document term is compared with the stored query terms. For each respective query, a determination is made whether all of the at least one query condition of the respective query is satisfied as a function of the comparatione between the document term(s) and the stored query terms. For each respective query, if all of the at least one query condition of the respective query is satisfied, the respective user is notified of the arrival of the document.