METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PERFORMING A RESEARCH TASK BY INTERCHANGEABLY UTILIZING A MULTITUDE OF SEARCH METHODOLOGIES

摘要

A method of and apparatus for performing a research task interchangeably utilizes a multitude of search methodologies including keyword search (300), hierarchical search (500), dichotomous key search (900), and parameters search (700). A search criteria (305) is correlated to a searchable database. The process is repeated by correlating a subsequent search criteria (330) to one of the matching items for generating one or more subsequent matching item until the research task is completed. The searchable database can be formatted in a directory tree structure which includes nodes comprising a collection of related data and branches comprising links between the nodes. The collection of related data for a particular node can be displayed in an encyclopedia-like format. A specific node within the directory tree structure is accessible using a query string which defines a navigation path through the directory tree structure to access the specific node.