1. A computer system comprising: a network communication channel; a data storage device operably connected to the network communication channel for storing information and instructions; and a server operably connected to the network communication channel for executing one or more sequences of instructions contained in the data storage device, the server being programmed to: receive a first query over the network communication channel, search an index of an object database responsively to the first query, the object database including object records, retrieve a first selected ones of the object records responsively to the search, transmit, over the network communication channel, a first object summary responsively to the retrieval, the first object summary including result data responsive to the first selected ones of the object records, receive a second query over the network communication channel, responsively to control data included in the first object summary, search the index of the object database responsively to the second query, retrieve a second selected ones of the object records responsively to the search, and transmit, over the network communication channel, a second object summary responsively to the retrieval, the second object summary including result data responsive to the second selected ones of object records; wherein each object record includes: object data for an object contained within an associated source document that has graphic data representing the object, caption text associated with the object, referring full text from a full text part of the associated source document that refers to the object, label text from at least one of an axis label, a chart legend, or a column heading that forms part of the object, and a reference to the associated source document; wherein the object data includes data representing the graphic data, at least a first descriptor that represents a type of the object, at least a second descriptor that represents information contained in the caption text, at least a third descriptor that represents information contained in the referring full text, and at least a fourth descriptor representing information contained in the label text; and wherein the result data includes the first, second, third, and fourth descriptors and control data for generating a query responsively to each of the first, second, third, and fourth descriptors.
1. A computer system comprising: a network communication channel; a data storage device operably connected to the network communication channel for storing information and instructions; and a server operably connected to the network communication channel for executing one or more sequences of instructions contained in the data storage device, the server being programmed to: receive a first query over the network communication channel, search an index of an object database responsively to the first query, the object database including object records, retrieve a first selected ones of the object records responsively to the search, transmit, over the network communication channel, a first object summary responsively to the retrieval, the first object summary including result data responsive to the first selected ones of the object records, receive a second query over the network communication channel, responsively to control data included in the first object summary, search the index of the object database responsively to the second query, retrieve a second selected ones of the object records responsively to the search, and transmit, over the network communication channel, a second object summary responsively to the retrieval, the second object summary including result data responsive to the second selected ones of object records; wherein each object record includes: object data for an object contained within an associated source document that has graphic data representing the object, caption text associated with the object, referring full text from a full text part of the associated source document that refers to the object, label text from at least one of an axis label, a chart legend, or a column heading that forms part of the object, and a reference to the associated source document; wherein the object data includes data representing the graphic data, at least a first descriptor that represents a type of the object, at least a second descriptor that represents information contained in the caption text, at least a third descriptor that represents information contained in the referring full text, and at least a fourth descriptor representing information contained in the label text; and wherein the result data includes the first, second, third, and fourth descriptors and control data for generating a query responsively to each of the first, second, third, and fourth descriptors. 10. The computer system of claim 1 , wherein the search is performed responsively to control data representing specified subject areas.