Generating document processing workflows configured to route documents based on document conceptual understanding
First Claim
1. A computer-implemented method of generating a document processing workflow to enforce and record compliance with a set of disclosure provisions, the computer-implemented method comprising:
- receiving an unstructured document comprising a contractual agreement between a source party and a target party, the contractual agreement containing a disclosure provision to be complied with by the source party in written communications pertaining to the target party and published by the source party;
parsing the contractual agreement in order to identify a set of terms included in the disclosure provision;
annotating each term with metadata describing the respective term in order to create a structured pattern describing the disclosure provision;
facilitating pattern identification by semantically normalizing one or more of the annotated terms based on a contractual ontology in order to create a semantically normalized, structured pattern corresponding to the disclosure provision;
comparing the semantically normalized, structured pattern to a plurality of patterns in order to identify a best-fit pattern from the plurality of patterns, wherein each of the plurality of patterns pattern describes a workflow template;
upon identifying the best-fit pattern, automatically generating, based on the workflow template corresponding to the best-fit pattern, a workflow for the semantically normalized, structured pattern and by operation of one or more computer processors, wherein the workflow specifies a sequence of steps to enforce and record compliance, of the source party, with the disclosure provision, the sequence of steps involving a set of reviewing individuals of the target party, wherein the generated workflow is stored in a repository;
upon automatically determining that a written communication to be published the source party contains a set of statements, pertaining to the target party, that warrants initiating an approval workflow to ensure compliance with the disclosure provision, executing the generated workflow in order to solicit, from the set of reviewing individuals of the target party, approval of the written communication for publication by the source party; and
generating, for each step of the sequence in the generated workflow completed, an audit record indicating that the respective step is complete, wherein the audit record is stored in an audit log, wherein upon approval, by the target party, of the written communication for publication by the source party, the written communication is published by the source party without violating the disclosure provision.
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Abstract
Embodiments of the invention may be used to improve enforcement and compliance with publishing rules in an automated and provable manner. Prior to publication, documents may be processed using publishing rules (workflows) based on conceptual analysis of document content. Additionally, embodiments of the invention include a content creation system configured to provide prompt feedback on content coverage. Such a system enables the creator of information to better understand what approval requirements apply to content they create and intend to publish, as the content is being created.
29 Citations
24 Claims
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1. A computer-implemented method of generating a document processing workflow to enforce and record compliance with a set of disclosure provisions, the computer-implemented method comprising:
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receiving an unstructured document comprising a contractual agreement between a source party and a target party, the contractual agreement containing a disclosure provision to be complied with by the source party in written communications pertaining to the target party and published by the source party; parsing the contractual agreement in order to identify a set of terms included in the disclosure provision; annotating each term with metadata describing the respective term in order to create a structured pattern describing the disclosure provision; facilitating pattern identification by semantically normalizing one or more of the annotated terms based on a contractual ontology in order to create a semantically normalized, structured pattern corresponding to the disclosure provision; comparing the semantically normalized, structured pattern to a plurality of patterns in order to identify a best-fit pattern from the plurality of patterns, wherein each of the plurality of patterns pattern describes a workflow template; upon identifying the best-fit pattern, automatically generating, based on the workflow template corresponding to the best-fit pattern, a workflow for the semantically normalized, structured pattern and by operation of one or more computer processors, wherein the workflow specifies a sequence of steps to enforce and record compliance, of the source party, with the disclosure provision, the sequence of steps involving a set of reviewing individuals of the target party, wherein the generated workflow is stored in a repository; upon automatically determining that a written communication to be published the source party contains a set of statements, pertaining to the target party, that warrants initiating an approval workflow to ensure compliance with the disclosure provision, executing the generated workflow in order to solicit, from the set of reviewing individuals of the target party, approval of the written communication for publication by the source party; and generating, for each step of the sequence in the generated workflow completed, an audit record indicating that the respective step is complete, wherein the audit record is stored in an audit log, wherein upon approval, by the target party, of the written communication for publication by the source party, the written communication is published by the source party without violating the disclosure provision. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 10, 11, 12)
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4. The computer-implemented method of 1,
wherein upon no best-fit pattern being identified, an administrative user is alerted to provide a workflow template corresponding to a pattern that constitutes a best-fit pattern for the disclosure provision; -
wherein upon automatically determining that the written communication does not contain any statement that warrants initiating an approval workflow to ensure compliance with the disclosure provision, the written communication is automatically approved for publication by the source party, wherein the written communication is automatically approved without soliciting approval from the target party and without initiating any approval workflow, whereafter the written communication is published by the source party without violating the disclosure provision; wherein upon rejection, by the target party, of the written communication for publication by the source party, the source party complies with the disclosure provision by refraining from publishing the written communication. - View Dependent Claims (5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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13. A computer-readable storage medium containing a program which, when executed, performs an operation for generating a document processing workflow to enforce and record compliance with a set of disclosure provisions, the operation comprising:
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receiving an unstructured document comprising a contractual agreement between a source party and a target party, the contractual agreement containing a disclosure provision to be complied with by the source party in written communications pertaining to the target party and published by the source party; parsing the contractual agreement in order to identify a set of terms included in the disclosure provision; annotating each term with metadata describing the respective term in order to create a structured pattern describing the disclosure provision; facilitating pattern identification by semantically normalizing one or more of the annotated terms based on a contractual ontology in order to create a semantically normalized, structured pattern corresponding to the disclosure provision; comparing the semantically normalized, structured pattern to a plurality of patterns in order to identify a best-fit pattern from the plurality of patterns, wherein each of the plurality of patterns pattern describes a workflow template; upon identifying the best-fit pattern, automatically generating, based on the workflow template corresponding to the best-fit pattern, a workflow for the semantically normalized, structured pattern and by operation of one or more computer processors when executing the program, wherein the workflow specifies a sequence of steps to enforce and record compliance, of the source party, with the disclosure provision, the sequence of steps involving a set of reviewing individuals of the target party, wherein the generated workflow is stored in a repository; upon automatically determining that a written communication to be published the source party contains a set of statements, pertaining to the target party, that warrants initiating an approval workflow to ensure compliance with the disclosure provision, executing the generated workflow in order to solicit, from the set of reviewing individuals of the target party, approval of the written communication for publication by the source party; and generating, for each step of the sequence in the generated workflow completed, an audit record indicating that the respective step is complete, wherein the audit record is stored in an audit log, wherein upon approval, by the target party, of the written communication for publication by the source party, the written communication is published by the source party without violating the disclosure provision. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A system to generate a document processing workflow to enforce and record compliance with a set of disclosure provisions, the system comprising:
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one or more computer processors; and a memory containing a containing a program that, when executed by the one or more computer processors, performs an operation comprising; receiving an unstructured document comprising a contractual agreement between a source party and a target party, the contractual agreement containing a disclosure provision to be complied with by the source party in written communications pertaining to the target party and published by the source party; parsing the contractual agreement in order to identify a set of terms included in the disclosure provision; annotating each term with metadata describing the respective term in order to create a structured pattern describing the disclosure provision; facilitating pattern identification by semantically normalizing one or more of the annotated terms based on a contractual ontology in order to create a semantically normalized, structured pattern corresponding to the disclosure provision; comparing the semantically normalized, structured pattern to a plurality of patterns in order to identify a best-fit pattern from the plurality of patterns, wherein each of the plurality of patterns pattern describes a workflow template; upon identifying the best-fit pattern, automatically generating, based on the workflow template corresponding to the best-fit pattern, a workflow for the semantically normalized, structured pattern, wherein the workflow specifies a sequence of steps to enforce and record compliance, of the source party, with the disclosure provision, the sequence of steps involving a set of reviewing individuals of the target party, wherein the generated workflow is stored in a repository; upon automatically determining that a written communication to be published the source party contains a set of statements, pertaining to the target party, that warrants initiating an approval workflow to ensure compliance with the disclosure provision, executing the generated workflow in order to solicit, from the set of reviewing individuals of the target party, approval of the written communication for publication by the source party; and generating, for each step of the sequence in the generated workflow completed, an audit record indicating that the respective step is complete, wherein the audit record is stored in an audit log, wherein upon approval, by the target party, of the written communication for publication by the source party, the written communication is published by the source party without violating the disclosure provision. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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Specification