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Abstract

A data retrieval system in which data to be retrieved is stored in the memory of a host computer and accessed from user terminals which transmit requests for data to the host. Data is stored in the host computer in the form of a series of search terms arranged in a predetermined logical order, and each stored search term is stored with associated data to which users require access. Data retrieval requests are entered by users in the form of search terms corresponding in logical structure to the search terms stored in the host computer. The host computer memory is partitioned into a series of blocks in each of which is stored both search terms falling within a respective predetermined range of the logical order and the data associated with these search terms. Each user terminal has a memory in which is stored an index that cross references the memory address of each block in the host memory with the range of search terms stored within that block. Each user terminal responds to entry of a search term by identifying from the index the memory address of the block storing the range of search terms including the entered search term, and transmitting the identified memory address to the host. The host computer responds by transmitting the content of the block identified by a received memory address to the user terminal from which the received memory address was transmitted. Each user terminal displays data transmitted to it from the host to enable the terminal user to select the data of interest from the received block contents.

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