Method and apparatus for performing data collection, interpretation and analysis, in an information platform

An information platform automates the collection of data, provides a method for organizing the library of information and provides analysis using multiple content-types, thereby providing a user with a market understanding necessary to execute rapid and knowledgeable decision making. The information platform collects and integrates data, observations and intelligence; provides controls for multiple methods of information navigation and analysis; and allows details to be digested in the context of other data, regardless of its type. The information platform is a client/server implementation that is subdivided into four major sections, including: (1) Data Retrieval, which provides a sophisticated catalog for finding internal and external information and collection agents which retrieve specific information without user intervention; (2) Data Classification and Storage which handles the storage of the information once it has been gathered from a source; (3) Information Browsing, Query, Analysis, and Report Creation which provides information browsing, reporting, and analysis tools; and (4) Desktop Integration where the information platform takes information from a wide variety of formats (HTML, text, spreadsheet) and combines them all into a single format (HTML, text, spreadsheet).