METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR REFERENCING, ARCHIVING AND RETRIEVING SYMBOLICALLY LINKED INFORMATION

The present invention provides a method and system for the reference, archival and retrieval of symbolically linked information despite idiosyncratic symbol usage. A master symbol database stores a plurality of master symbols, wherein each master symbol is formatted according to a predetermined structure. Each master symbol in the master symbol database is linked to a parent identifier that identifies a unique object. Users may archive or retrieve symbolically linked information in an information database by providing an input symbol. The input symbol is normalized and the master symbol database is searched to find a matching master symbol. The parent identifier linked to the matching master symbol is then used to retrieve or archive information in the information database.