Method and apparatus for converting text files into hierarchical charts as a learning aid

• US 20020196288A1
• Filed: 02/02/2000
• Published: 12/26/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 02/02/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ray Emrani
• Original Assignee: Edutainment, Inc.
• Inventors: Emrani, Ramin
• Granted Patent: US 6,771,286 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/810
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/103 Formatting, i.e. changing of presentation of documents automatic justification G06F40/189; automatic line break hyphenation G06F40/191
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/157 using dictionaries or tables

Abstract

A method for converting a document which contains words and images which is intended to convey information in a traditional, linear format into a document or display in which the words and images are rearranged so that the result is laid out in a pictorial representation which makes it much easier for a person using the document to understand its content. To create the easier to understand pictorial/graphical representation, a document, in its original format, is stored so that it can be accessed by a user using a personal computer or work station. A user accesses the document in its original format, selects portions of the document, and each selected portion is assigned a category for subsequent processing. The categories which may be assigned are selected from among the following: i) structural, ii) functional, iii) procedural, iv) time based, and v) event based. Additional categories may be added as a function of the desired end result and specific sub-parts or diagrams. Once the categories have been assigned to selected portions of the document, a new document is created which displays the information in the original document in a much easier to understand pictorial/graphical representation.

Claims

1. A method for converting a document which contains at least one of text and images which is intended to convey information in a traditional, linear format into a document or display in which the text is rearranged so that the information is laid out in a pictorial representation, said method using a computer having a monitor or other display device and comprising the steps of:

a) accessing a previously created document such that it is displayed on a monitor or other display device;

b) selecting text portions of the document and assigning one of a set of categories to each selected portion for subsequent processing;

c) processing the selected text portions of the document based upon the assigned category so as to arrange the selected text portions so they appear on the monitor or other display device in a pictorial arrangement.

2. The method defined by claim 1 wherein the categories are one of:

i) structural, ii) functional, iii) procedural, iv) time based, and v) event based.

3. The method defined by claim 1 wherein the assigned category is based on the subject matter of the text content of the document.

4. The method defined by claim 1 further comprising the step of processing selected images within said document so as to arrange the images in one of a hierarchical and exploded view format.

5. The method defined by claim 4 further comprising the step of linking the processed selected text and image portions.

6. The method defined by claim 5 wherein said linking comprises the steps of:

a) importing the processed text and images;

b) manually connecting the desired text and images using a mouse or other pointing device to identify desired links between the processed text and images;

c) processing the manually connected text and images to display results of said processing.

7. The method defined by claim 1 wherein said accessing, selecting and processing steps are each initiated by selecting a predetermined icon on said monitor or other display device.

8. The method defined by claim 6 further comprising the step of editing at least one of layout, content and format of said displayed results of said processing.

10. The method defined by claim 1 further comprising the step of selecting portions of the displayed pictorial arrangement and assigning a knowledge level to each of the selected portions.

9. An article of manufacture comprising:

a computer usable medium having computer readable program code means embodied therein for converting a document which contains at least one of text and images which is intended to convey information in a traditional, linear format into a document or display in which the text is rearranged so that the information is laid out in a pictorial representation, the computer readable program code means in said article of manufacture comprising;

a) computer readable program code means for accessing a previously created document such that it is displayed on a monitor or other display device;

b) computer readable program code means for selecting text portions of the document and assigning one of a set of categories to each selected portion for subsequent processing;

c) computer readable program code means for processing the selected text portions of the document based upon the assigned category so as to arrange the selected text portions so they appear on the monitor or other display device in a pictorial arrangement.