Abstract: An integrated retrieval scheme retrieves data involved in a plurality of semi-structured documents scattering over open networks and collects the required information item by item from the semi-structured documents through a unified interface without regard to differences in the document structures, presentation styles, and elements of the semi-structured documents. The search scheme receives a query consisting of search items and search conditions from a user.

Abstract: The method and system for retrieving information allow the user to retrieve desired information from database systems by simply specifying retrieval content and retrieval conditions using languages familiar to the user, without having to know the names for the relevant database systems or their structures or without having to interact with the platform of the meta-information, i.e., information concerning the use of database systems and accessing method. The present method allows retrieval of information from different database systems connected to a communication network, by using reference information stored beforehand to access different database systems; consulting the reference information to determine database systems which contains data to satisfy the information retrieval request by converting requested items to equivalent related words that the system can recognize.