System and method for rendering documents in a user-familiar format

• US 20020107913A1
• Filed: 03/16/2001
• Published: 08/08/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 02/08/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Covaleo Corporation
• Original Assignee: Covaleo Corporation
• Inventors: Prast, Albert, Sharley, Jonathan David, Rivera, Gustavo R., McKinney, Delbert Lee, Lems, Greg, Kelm, Kevin S., Neu, Barry
• Application Number:
  US09/810,367
• Publication Number:
  US 20020107913A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/203
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9577 Optimising the visualization of content, e.g. distillation of HTML documents

Abstract

A system and method for remotely viewing a centrally stored document is described. In one embodiment, a user identifier associated with a user attempting to view a document is received. Next, relationship data associated with the user is retrieved and a request to view a particular document is received. A style sheet associated with the user can then be retrieved and data can be accordingly rendered.

Claims

1. A method for remotely viewing a centrally stored document, the method comprising:

receiving a user identifier associated with a user attempting to view the document;

retrieving relationship data associated with the user;

receiving, from the user, a request to view the document;

retrieving a style sheet associated with the user and the requested document;

retrieving data associated with the document; and

rendering the retrieved data according to the retrieved style sheet.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of retrieving relationship data comprises:

retrieving an employee-type indicator associated with the user.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of retrieving relationship data comprises:

retrieving an organizational-level indicator associated with the user.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of rendering the retrieved data according to the retrieved style sheet comprises:

applying an XSL style sheet to the retrieved data.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the retrieved data includes a plurality of data fields and wherein the step of rendering the retrieved data according to the retrieved style sheet comprises:

hiding a first of the plurality of data fields so that the first of the plurality of fields is not displayable for the user.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of rendering the retrieved data according to the retrieved style sheet comprises:

generating a selectable action item, wherein the selectable action item is not part of the document as originally stored;

displaying a selectable action item; and

linking the selectable action item to an executable function;

wherein selection of the selectable action item causes an execution of the executable function.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprises:

calling a function included in a hosted application responsive to the activation of the selectable action item.

8. The method of claim 6, further comprises:

calling a function included in a client application responsive to the activation of the selectable action item.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprises:

transmitting the rendered data to the user for viewing.

10. A method for viewing documents electronically stored in a central repository, the method comprises:

receiving a first document from a first originating party, wherein the first document is associated with an operational process;

storing the first document in the central repository;

receiving a second document from a second originating party, wherein the second document is associated with the operational process;

storing the second document in the central repository;

receiving, from a user, a request to access at least one document related to the operational process;

identifying the first document and the second document as being associated with the operational process;

retrieving a format instruction associated with the user and the requested document;

retrieving data associated with the at least one document; and

rendering the retrieved data according to the retrieved format instruction.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

displaying an identifier for the first document and the second document in a hierarchical arrangement.

12. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

receiving a user identifier associated with the user attempting to access the at least one document;

retrieving relationship data associated with the user; and

restricting access to the first document and not the second document responsive to the user identifier being associated with a restricted user identifier.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein the at least one document includes a plurality of data fields and wherein the rendering of the at least one document according to the retrieved style sheet comprises:

hiding a first of the plurality of data fields so that the first of the plurality of data fields is not displayable.

14. The method of claim 10, wherein the step of rendering the retrieved data according to the retrieved style sheet comprises:

generating a selectable action item, wherein the selectable action item is not part of the at least one document as originally received;

displaying a selectable action item; and

linking the selectable action item to an executable function;

wherein selection of the selectable item causes an execution of the executable function.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

calling a function included in a hosted application responsive to the activation of the selectable action item.

16. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

calling a function included in a client application responsive to the activation of the selectable action item.

17. The method of claim 10, wherein the operational process comprises a business process.

18. The method of claim 10, wherein the first originating party and the second originating party are different originating parties.

20. The system of claim 19 wherein the plurality of instructions are further configured to cause the at least a first processor to retrieve relationship data by:

retrieving an employee-type indicator associated with the user.

21. The system of claim 19, wherein the plurality of instructions are further configured to cause the at least a first processor to retrieve relationship data comprising an organizational-level indicator associated with the user.

22. The system of claim 19, wherein the plurality of instructions are further configured to cause the at least a first processor to:

hide a first of the plurality of data fields so that the first of the plurality of fields is not displayable for the user.

23. The system of claim 19, wherein the plurality of instructions are further configured to cause the at least a first processor to:

display a selectable action item; and

link the selectable action item to an executable function;

wherein selection of the selectable action item causes an execution of the executable function.

24. The system of claim 23, wherein the plurality of instructions are further configured to cause the at least a first processor to:

call a function included in a hosted application responsive to the activation of the selectable action item.

19. A system for remotely viewing a centrally stored document, the system comprising:

at least a first processor;

at least a first storage device connected to the at least a first processor; and

a plurality of instructions stored on the at least a first storage device, the plurality of instructions configured to cause the at least a first processor to;

process a user identifier associated with a user attempting to access the document;

retrieve relationship data associated with the user;

receive, from the user, a request to access the document;

retrieve a style sheet associated with the user and the requested document;

retrieve data associated with the document; and

render the retrieved data according to the retrieved style sheet.