Method and apparatus for managing documents in a centralized document repository system
First Claim
1. A method for managing documents in a centralized document repository having a server on which document copies are stored and requested by a plurality of users, the method comprising:
- (a) requiring each of the users to obtain all copies of the documents from the server;
(b) when an original document is entered into the server by a document owner, assigning a name to the original document where the name is independent of the content and location of the original document and has a fixed format;
(c) including an authcode identifying the document owner in the original document name at a first predetermined location in the fixed format; and
(d) including a version number indicating changes to the original document in the original document name at a second predetermined location in the fixed format.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Users in a centralized document repository system must obtain valid copies of documents from a central server rather than obtaining the documents from another user. Since a valid document must be obtained from the server, the server can control access to the document, in particular by assigning a name to each copy of the document. The name is independent of the content and location of the document, but serves to authenticate the document and its lineage. In one embodiment, users must log onto the server and are assigned user specific authcodes that are used in a document name to identify a user who created or modified a document. In another embodiment, the server controls version numbers that are part of a document name and serve to indicate the version or copy of the document. In still other embodiments, users may enter information that becomes part of a document name.
377 Citations
29 Claims
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1. A method for managing documents in a centralized document repository having a server on which document copies are stored and requested by a plurality of users, the method comprising:
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(a) requiring each of the users to obtain all copies of the documents from the server;
(b) when an original document is entered into the server by a document owner, assigning a name to the original document where the name is independent of the content and location of the original document and has a fixed format;
(c) including an authcode identifying the document owner in the original document name at a first predetermined location in the fixed format; and
(d) including a version number indicating changes to the original document in the original document name at a second predetermined location in the fixed format. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 26, 27, 28)
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12. The method of clam 10 further comprising searching in the document repository using the metadata information.
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13. Apparatus for managing documents in a centralized document repository having a server on which document copies are stored and requested by a plurality of users, the apparatus comprising:
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a login mechanism that requires each of the users to obtain all copies of the documents from the server;
a name generator in the server that is responsive to an original document being entered into the server by a document owner for assigning a name to the original document;
wherein the name is independent of the content and location of the original document, has a fixed format, includes an authcode identifying the document owner in the original document name at a first predetermined location in the fixed format; and
a version number indicating changes to the original document in the original document name at a second predetermined location in the fixed format.
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24. The apparatus of clam 22 further comprising a search mechanism that searches in the document repository using the metadata information.
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25. A computer program product for managing documents in a centralized document repository having a server on which document copies are stored and requested by a plurality of users, the computer program product comprising a computer usable medium having computer readable program code thereon, including:
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program code for requiring each of the users to obtain all copies of the documents from the server;
program code operable when an original document is entered into the server by a document owner, for assigning a name to the original document where the name is independent of the content and location of the original document and has a fixed format;
program code that includes an authcode identifying the document owner in the original document name at a first predetermined location in the fixed format; and
program code that includes a version number indicating changes to the original document in the original document name at a second predetermined location in the fixed format.
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29. A computer data signal embodied in a carrier wave for managing documents in a centralized document repository having a server on which document copies are stored and requested by a plurality of users, the computer data signal comprising:
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program code for requiring each of the users to obtain all copies of the documents from the server;
program code operable when an original document is entered into the server by a document owner, for assigning a name to the original document where the name is independent of the content and location of the original document and has a fixed format;
program code that includes an authcode identifying the document owner in the original document name at a first predetermined location in the fixed format; and
program code that includes a version number indicating changes to the original document in the original document name at a second predetermined location in the fixed format.
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Specification