Document management system and method using content grouping system

• US 20020161800A1
• Filed: 04/30/2001
• Published: 10/31/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 04/30/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Eld, Kevin David, Hedges, Steven Frederick, Thayer, Gregory Robert
• Granted Patent: US 7,185,050 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/512
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/169 Annotation, e.g. comment data or footnotes

Abstract

A method of distributing a plurality of documents includes associating a metadata file with each of the documents, applying a content attribute to each of the documents and appending the metadata file of each of the documents with the content attribute, and assigning a content group to each of the documents based on the content attribute of a respective one of the documents and modifying the metadata file of each of the documents to include the content group of the respective one of the documents. In addition, the method further includes defining a plurality of content categories and associating the content group with at least one of the content categories, and distributing for the at least one of the content categories each of the documents assigned the content group.

Claims

1. A method of distributing a plurality of documents, the method comprising the steps of:

associating a metadata file with each of the documents;

applying at least one content attribute to each of the documents, including appending the metadata file of each of the documents with the at least one content attribute;

assigning at least one content group to each of the documents based on the at least one content attribute of a respective one of the documents, including modifying the metadata file of each of the documents to include the at least one content group of the respective one of the documents; and

distributing the documents based on the at least one content group of each of the documents.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of associating the metadata file with each of the documents includes identifying at least one of a title, an author, a date, and an identification of each of the documents.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of applying the at least one content attribute to each of the documents includes defining a plurality of content attributes for the documents including the at least one content attribute, analyzing a content of each of the documents, and assigning content attribute values to the content attributes for each of the documents based on the content thereof.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein appending the metadata file of each of the documents with the at least one content attribute includes appending the metadata file of each of the documents with the content attribute values of the content attributes.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of assigning the at least one content group to each of the documents includes defining a plurality of content groups including the at least one content group, defining at least one condition for each of the content groups, and assigning the at least one content group to at least one of the documents if the at least one of the documents satisfies the at least one condition of the at least one content group.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein defining the at least one condition for each of the content groups includes specifying at least one of a plurality of content attributes including the at least one content attribute and a content attribute value for the at least one of the plurality of content attributes.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein assigning the at least one content group to the at least one of the documents includes assigning at least one content group value to a content group attribute of the at least one of the documents.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein modifying the metadata file of each of the documents to include the at least one content group includes modifying the metadata file of the at least one of the documents to include the at least one content group value for the content group attribute.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of distributing the documents includes defining a plurality of content categories, associating the at least one content group with at least one of the content categories, and distributing for the at least one of the content categories each of the documents assigned the at least one content group.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein defining the plurality of content categories includes defining at least one content sub-category for the at least one of the content categories, and wherein associating the at least one content group with the at least one of the content categories includes associating the at least one content group with the at least one content sub-category.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the step of distributing the documents includes defining a navigational model identifying the content categories, presenting the navigational model to an audience, receiving a request for documents associated with one of the content categories from the audience, and distributing the documents associated with the one of the content categories to the audience, including distributing the documents assigned the at least one content group associated with the at least one of the content categories.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the step of distributing the documents further includes defining a communication link between a host of the navigational model and the audience, wherein receiving the request for documents includes receiving the request for documents associated with the one of the content categories from the audience via the communication link, and wherein distributing the documents includes distributing the documents associated with the one of the content categories to the audience via the communication link.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein defining the communication link includes defining an Internet communication link between the host of the navigational model and the audience.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the step of applying the content attribute to each of the documents includes defining a plurality of content attributes including the content attribute, analyzing a content of each of the documents, and assigning a content attribute value to the content attributes for each of the documents based on the content thereof.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein the step of assigning the content group to each of the documents includes defining a plurality of content groups including the content group, defining a condition for each of the content groups, and assigning at least one of the content groups to at least one of the documents if the at least one of the documents satisfies the condition of the at least one of the content groups.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein defining the condition for each of the content groups includes specifying at least one of a plurality of content attributes including the content attribute and a content attribute value for the at least one of the plurality of content attributes.

19. The document management system of claim 18, further comprising:

a document management data storage system adapted to store the documents therein.

20. The document management system of claim 18, wherein the metadata file of each of the documents includes at least one of a title, an author, a date, and an identification of the respective one of the documents.

21. The document management system of claim 18, wherein the metadata architecture system defines a plurality of content attributes for the documents including the at least one content attribute, and wherein the metadata architecture system is adapted to analyze a content of each of the documents and assign content attribute values to the content attributes for each of the documents based on the content thereof.

22. The document management system of claim 21, wherein the metadata architecture system is adapted to append the metadata file of each of the documents with the content attribute values of the content attributes.

23. The document management system of claim 18, wherein the logic rules application system defines a plurality of content groups including the at least one content group and defines at least one condition for each of the content groups, and wherein the logic rules application system is adapted to assign the at least one content group to at least one of the documents if the at least one of the documents satisfies the at least one condition of the at least one content group.

24. The document management system of claim 23, wherein the at least one condition for each of the content groups specifies at least one of a plurality of content attributes including the at least one content attribute and a content attribute value for the at least one of the plurality of content attributes.

25. The document management system of claim 23, wherein the logic rules application system is adapted to assign at least one content group value for the at least one content group to a content group attribute of the at least one of the documents.

26. The document management system of claim 25, wherein the logic rules application system is adapted to modify the metadata file of the at least one of the documents to include the at least one content group value for the content group attribute.

27. The document management system of claim 18, wherein the document distribution system defines a plurality of content categories, and wherein the document distribution system is adapted to associate the at least one content group with at least one of the content categories and distribute for the at least one of the content categories each of the documents assigned the at least one content group.

28. The document management system of claim 27, wherein the document distribution system defines a navigational model identifying the content categories, and wherein the document distribution system is adapted to present the navigational model to an audience, receive a request for documents associated with one of the content categories from the audience, and distribute the documents associated with the one of the content categories to the audience.

29. The document management system of claim 28, wherein the document distribution system is adapted to distribute the documents assigned the at least one content group associated with the at least one of the content categories.

30. The document management system of claim 28, wherein a host of the navigational model is configured to communicate with the audience via a communication link, and wherein the document distribution system is adapted to receive the request for the documents associated with the one of the content categories from the audience via the communication link and distribute the documents associated with the one of the content categories to the audience via the communication link.

31. The document management system of claim 30, wherein the communication link includes an Internet communication link.

14. A method of distributing a plurality of documents, the method comprising the steps of:

associating a metadata file with each of the documents;

applying a content attribute to each of the documents, including appending the metadata file of each of the documents with the content attribute;

assigning a content group to each of the documents based on the content attribute of a respective one of the documents, including modifying the metadata file of each of the documents to include the content group of the respective one of the documents;

defining a plurality of content categories, including associating the content group with at least one of the content categories; and

distributing for the at least one of the content categories each of the documents assigned the content group.

18. A document management system adapted to manage distribution of a plurality of documents, the document management system comprising:

a metadata architecture system adapted to apply at least one content attribute to each of the documents and append a metadata file of each of the documents with the at least one content attribute;

a logic rules application system adapted to assign at least one content group to each of the documents based on the at least one content attribute of a respective one of the documents and modify the metadata file of each of the documents to include the at least one content group of the respective one of the documents; and

a document distribution system adapted to distribute the documents based on the at least one content group of each of the documents.