Computerised data retrieval system for subject based research - accesses library databases via national and international switched telephone networks

摘要

The data retrieval terminal can be linked via the switched telephone network (T) to a nubmer of remote computer systems (H/D) which act as databases, e.g. patent indexes, library indexes, etc. The terminal consists of a telephone network interface (HDI), data preocessor (CTR), VDO and keyboard, and a number of dedicated memory units. The memory units include: a primary data memory (DPM) used to hold the search data, e.g. keywords and response data; a thesaurus memory (TM) to aid and broaden the search; a memory (SRM) to hold the data selection rules for the search and a memory (UPM) which holds the user profile data to enable the database stations to idenity the user.