System and method for collecting, storing, managing and providing categorized information related to a document object

Abstract

A method and system for enabling users of a network to create, store, and provide access to relationships between document objects stored on the network. The method may include the steps for allowing a user of the network to create a link relationship between a first document object and a second document object; for storing the link relationship in one or more link directories; and for providing all users of the network access to the link relationships stored in the one or more link directories based upon the document object currently accessed by the users. The system may include one or more client devices that access document objects stored on the network and create link relationships between the first document object and the second document object; and one or more servers that store and filter the link relationships created by the client devices and transmit one or more link relationships and link references to the client devices.

1 . A method for assigning attributes to document objects stored on networks for use in search, categorization, and retrieval of information, the method comprising:
 selecting a document object;   selecting a first attribute that describes the document object;   selecting a second attribute that applies in the context of the selected first attribute and further describes the document object;   storing a reference to the document object, the selected first attribute and the selected second attribute with information that describes the association between the selected first attribute and the selected second attribute; and   allowing the stored reference, information and selected attributes to be retrieved.   
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the selected second attribute is a possible value of the selected first attribute. 
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 2  further comprising selecting a third attribute that applies in the context of and further describes the selected first attribute and the selected second attribute, wherein the storing further comprises storing the selected third attribute with information that describes the association between the selected first attribute, the selected second attribute and the selected third attribute. 
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the selected first attribute and the selected second attribute are selected from a structured store. 
   
   
       5 . A method for assigning attributes to the relationships among information stored on networks for use in search, categorization, and retrieval of information, comprising:
 selecting document objects relevant to a relationship   selecting attributes that describe the relationship wherein the selection includes:
 selecting a first attribute that describes the relationship; and 
 selecting a second attribute that applies in the context of the selected first attribute and further describes the document object; 
   storing the relationship, wherein storing the relationship comprises:
 storing references to the document objects, the selected first attribute and the selected second attribute with information that describes the association between the selected first attribute and the second first attribute; and 
 allowing the stored relationship to be retrieved. 
   
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 5  wherein storing the relationship further comprises storing information that describes the association between the document objects and the selected attributes. 
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 5  wherein the selected second attribute is a possible value of the selected first attribute. 
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 7  wherein selecting attributes that describe the relationship further comprises selecting a third attribute that applies in the context of the selected first attribute and the selected second attribute and further describes the document object. 
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 8  wherein storing the relationship further comprises storing the third attribute with information that describes the association between the selected attribute, the selected second attribute and the third attribute. 
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 5  wherein the selected first attribute and the selected second attribute are selected from a structured store. 
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 5  wherein the selecting steps are performed by a user. 
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the selecting steps are performed by a user.