Abstract: A method for integrated retrieval and annotation of stored images involves running a user application in which text entered by a user is continuously monitored to isolate the context expressed by the text. The context is matched with metadata associated with the stored images, thereby providing one or more matched images, and the matched images are retrieved and displayed in proximity with the text. The context is then utilized to provide suggested annotations to the user for the matched images, together with the capability of selecting certain of the suggested annotations for subsequent association with the matched images. In a further extension, the method provides the user with the capability of inserting selected ones of the matched images into the text of the application, and further provides for automatically updating the metadata for the matched images.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for assisting a user in retrieving documents or other data items of interest operates in tandem with a conventional document-retrieval facility, such as a web browser, by tracking the choices made by the user in retrieving and viewing data items. The invention identifies additional items likely to be of interest to the user. Preferably, the invention operates automously, without interruption of the user's activities, delivering (in real-time or upon request) a set of current recommendations. The recommendations take the form of (or include) links to the recommended items, and the user is free to execute any of these links to examine the contents of a recommendation.

Abstract: A system comprises a structure editor, a structure library, an extractor and a user interface, which are stored in computer memory and create structures for recognizing patterns in computer text. The structure editor via the user interface enables a user to input a text string called a model pattern, and uses previously-created structures such as lexical category structures for parsing the model pattern into default definition items. Each default definition item includes attributes specifying the patterns recognizable by the definition item and relationships with other definition items. The structure editor enables and facilitates user modification of the default definition items by generating attribute choices for user selection and allowing a user to generate a new structure if none of the choices is adequate. The resulting definition items form a new definition of a new structure, which is stored in the structure library.