Connected templates in connection with a content management server system or the like

• US 20040225652A1
• Filed: 05/07/2003
• Published: 11/11/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 05/07/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Poernbacher, Mark, Lui, Kevin Ka-Wang, Duncan, Nicholas, Miller, Patrick Carl
• Granted Patent: US 7,389,472 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 707/4
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/958 Organisation or management of web site content, e.g. publishing, maintaining pages or automatic linking

Abstract

A data system has a data structure with a posting corresponding to a set of pieces of content to be served. The posting includes a description of each piece of content including a name, a type, and a location thereof. The posting is presented to a user according to a pointed-to template. The template includes a placeholder within which each piece of content is to be presented, and positioning information setting forth a layout position for each placeholder. The template points to a separate content definition information module that includes content definition information for each placeholder including the name and type of the corresponding piece of content. Such name and type matches a corresponding name and type as set forth in the posting.

Claims

1. A data system for serving a set of pieces of content to a user, the data system comprising a data structure having:

a first posting corresponding to the set of pieces of content to be served, the first posting including a description of each piece of content including a name of the piece of content, a type of the piece of content, and a location of the piece of content;

a first template pointed to by the first posting, the first posting for being presented to the user according to the first template such that the set of pieces of content are to be viewed in a first manner, the first template including a placeholder within which each piece of content is to be presented, and positioning information setting forth a layout position for each placeholder; and

a content definition information (CDI) module separate from but pointed to by the first template, the CDI module including therein content definition information for each placeholder of the first template including the name and type of the piece of content corresponding to the placeholder, such name and type of the piece of content matching a corresponding name and type of piece of content as set forth in the first posting.

2. The data system of claim 1 comprising a data structure further having:

a second posting corresponding to the set of pieces of content to be served, the second posting including a description of each piece of content including a name of the piece of content, a type of the piece of content, and a location of the piece of content; and

a second template pointed to by the second posting, the second posting for being presented to the user according to the second template such that the set of pieces of content are to be viewed in a second manner, the second template including a placeholder within which each piece of content is to be presented, and positioning information setting forth a layout position for each placeholder;

the CDI module being separate from but shared by and pointed to by both the first and second templates, the CDI module including therein content definition information for each placeholder of the first and second templates including the name and type of the piece of content corresponding to the placeholder, such name and type of the piece of content matching a corresponding name and type of piece of content as set forth in each of the first and second postings.

3. The data system of claim 2 comprising a data structure further having:

a third posting corresponding to the set of pieces of content to be served, the third posting including a description of each piece of content including a name of the piece of content, a type of the piece of content, and a location of the piece of content; and

a third template pointed to by the third posting, the third posting for being presented to the user according to the third template such that the set of pieces of content are to be viewed in a third manner, the third template including a placeholder within which each piece of content is to be presented, and positioning information setting forth a layout position for each placeholder;

the CDI module being separate from but shared by and pointed to by all of the first, second, and third templates, the CDI module including therein content definition information for each placeholder of the first, second, and third templates including the name and type of the piece of content corresponding to the placeholder, such name and type of the piece of content matching a corresponding name and type of piece of content as set forth in each of the first, second, and third postings.

4. The data system of claim 1 for serving a page of the set of pieces of content to a user, the data system comprising a data structure having:

a first posting corresponding to the set of pieces of content to be served, the first posting including a description of each piece of content including a name of the piece of content, a type of the piece of content, and a location of the piece of content;

a first template pointed to by the first posting, the first posting for being presented to the user according to the first template such that the set of pieces of content are to be viewed as a first page, the first template including a placeholder within which each piece of content is to be presented, and positioning information setting forth a layout position for each placeholder; and

a content definition information (CDI) module separate from but pointed to by the first template, the CDI module including therein content definition information for each placeholder of the first template including the name and type of the piece of content corresponding to the placeholder, such name and type of the piece of content matching a corresponding name and type of piece of content as set forth in the first posting.

5. The data system of claim 1 wherein the data structure further includes a content object pointed to by the first posting, the content object including a description of an additional piece of content including a name, type, and location thereof, and wherein the CDI module is a first CDI module, the data structure further having a second CDI module separate from but pointed to by the first CDI module, the second CDI module including therein content definition information for a placeholder of the first template including the name and type of the additional piece of content corresponding to the placeholder, such name and type of the additional piece of content matching the corresponding name and type of the additional piece of content as set forth in the content object.

6. A computer-readable medium having stored thereon a data structure to be employed by a data system for serving a set of pieces of content to a user, the data structure having:

a first posting corresponding to the set of pieces of content to be served, the first posting including a description of each piece of content including a name of the piece of content, a type of the piece of content, and a location of the piece of content;

a first template pointed to by the first posting, the first posting for being presented to the user according to the first template such that the set of pieces of content are to be viewed in a first manner, the first template including a placeholder within which each piece of content is to be presented, and positioning information setting forth a layout position for each placeholder; and

a content definition information (CDI) module separate from but pointed to by the first template, the CDI module including therein content definition information for each placeholder of the first template including the name and type of the piece of content corresponding to the placeholder, such name and type of the piece of content matching a corresponding name and type of piece of content as set forth in the first posting.

7. The medium of claim 6 wherein the data structure further has:

a second posting corresponding to the set of pieces of content to be served, the second posting including a description of each piece of content including a name of the piece of content, a type of the piece of content, and a location of the piece of content; and

a second template pointed to by the second posting, the second posting for being presented to the user according to the second template such that the set of pieces of content are to be viewed in a second manner, the second template including a placeholder within which each piece of content is to be presented, and positioning information setting forth a layout position for each placeholder;

the CDI module being separate from but shared by and pointed to by both the first and second templates, the CDI module including therein content definition information for each placeholder of the first and second templates including the name and type of the piece of content corresponding to the placeholder, such name and type of the piece of content matching a corresponding name and type of piece of content as set forth in each of the first and second postings.

8. The medium of claim 7 wherein the data structure further has:

a third posting corresponding to the set of pieces of content to be served, the third posting including a description of each piece of content including a name of the piece of content, a type of the piece of content, and a location of the piece of content; and

a third template pointed to by the third posting, the third posting for being presented to the user according to the third template such that the set of pieces of content are to be viewed in a third manner, the third template including a placeholder within which each piece of content is to be presented, and positioning information setting forth a layout position for each placeholder;

the CDI module being separate from but shared by and pointed to by all of the first, second, and third templates, the CDI module including therein content definition information for each placeholder of the first, second, and third templates including the name and type of the piece of content corresponding to the placeholder, such name and type of the piece of content matching a corresponding name and type of piece of content as set forth in each of the first, second, and third postings.

9. The medium of claim 6 wherein the data system is for serving a page of the set of pieces of content to a user, the data structure having:

a first posting corresponding to the set of pieces of content to be served, the first posting including a description of each piece of content including a name of the piece of content, a type of the piece of content, and a location of the piece of content;

a first template pointed to by the first posting, the first posting for being presented to the user according to the first template such that the set of pieces of content are to be viewed as a first page, the first template including a placeholder within which each piece of content is to be presented, and positioning information setting forth a layout position for each placeholder; and

a content definition information (CDI) module separate from but pointed to by the first template, the CDI module including therein content definition information for each placeholder of the first template including the name and type of the piece of content corresponding to the placeholder, such name and type of the piece of content matching a corresponding name and type of piece of content as set forth in the first posting.

10. The medium of claim 6 wherein the data structure further includes a content object pointed to by the first posting, the content object including a description of an additional piece of content including a name, type, and location thereof, and wherein the CDI module is a first CDI module, the data structure further having a second CDI module separate from but pointed to by the first CDI module, the second CDI module including therein content definition information for a placeholder of the first template including the name and type of the additional piece of content corresponding to the placeholder, such name and type of the additional piece of content matching the corresponding name and type of the additional piece of content as set forth in the content object.