System for creating and editing mark up language forms and documents

• US 20060031757A9
• Filed: 06/10/2004
• Published: 02/09/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 06/11/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: WTVIII, Inc.
• Original Assignee: WTVIII, Inc.
• Inventors: Vincent, Winchel Todd III
• Granted Patent: US 8,127,224 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/234
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/80 of semi-structured data, e.g. markup language structured data such as SGML, XML or HTML content-based retrieval of web data G06F16/95
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0481 based on specific properties of the displayed interaction object or a metaphor-based environment, e.g. interaction with desktop elements like windows or icons, or assisted by a cursor's changing behaviour or appearance
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04812 Interaction techniques based on cursor appearance or behaviour, e.g. being affected by the presence of displayed objects
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/143 Markup, e.g. Standard Generalized Markup Language [SGML] or Document Type Definition [DTD]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/166 Editing, e.g. inserting or deleting
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/174 Form filling; Merging
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/186 Templates
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/197 Version control for software G06F8/71
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/226 Validation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99942 Manipulating data structure, e.g. compression, compaction, compilation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99943 Generating database or data structure, e.g. via user interface
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99944 Object-oriented database structure
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99953 Recoverability

Abstract

A system for creating and editing mark up language forms and documents in a manner that is user friendly. The system dynamically generates a user interface that is customized to the particular form or document selected by the user. The user then enters information into the plurality of fields in the user interface for the form or document. Once the form or document is completed, the user can save the form or document in a document repository. The user can also transmit the form or document as an electronic filing document. Additionally, the data entry fields of the form or document can automatically expand or contract to accommodate data of varying length. Moreover, the user can create templates that include frequently used data.

Claims

1. An apparatus for creating and editing mark up language forms or documents comprising:

input logic configured to receive and process user input relating to a form or document to be created; and

customizing logic configured to dynamically generate a user interface customized to the form or document and to introduce form or document content into data entry fields of the customized user interface based on user input entered in the user interface.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the customizing logic generates the user interface through accessing a schema namespace associated with a schema associated with said form or document.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein when the customizing logic dynamically generates the user interface, the customizing logic places a label for a data entry field in the user interface, the label corresponding to an element or attribute name of a schema associated with said form or document.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

form completion logic configured to generate a completed form or document based on the form or document content introduced into the user interface.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, further comprising:

electronic filing logic configured to transmit the completed form or document as an electronic filing document.

6. The apparatus of claim 4, further comprising:

storage and retrieval logic configured to store or retrieve a form or document stored in a document repository.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the form or document is saved in the document repository with a namespace associated with the form or document.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the customizing logic is configured to create form or document templates that include frequently used data entry fields.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, and wherein the form completion logic is configured to automatically process the completed form or document in a predetermined manner to provide the completed form or document with a particular appearance.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the data entry fields can expand or contract to accommodate data of varying length.

11. The apparatus of claim 4, further comprising:

document editing logic configured to edit the document content entered into the data fields and to use color to designate a document node in a document being edited.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the document editing logic causes a message to be displayed that describes a type of document node.

13. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the color is displayed when the particular document node is selected.

14. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein when a cursor is positioned after the last character in a node and a right arrow key is depressed, the document editing logic causes an adjacent node to change color.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein when a cursor is positioned before the first character in a node and a left arrow key is depressed, the document editing logic causes an adjacent node to change color.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the cursor does not move when the adjacent node changes colored.

17. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein when a particular keystroke is depressed, the document editing logic causes an input screen to be displayed to allow a user to enter information into the input screen.

18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the particular keystroke comprises one of an enter key and a spacebar key.

19. A method for editing mark up language forms or documents comprising:

receiving and processing user input relating to a form or document to be created; and

dynamically generating a user interface customized to the form or document and to introduce form or document content into data entry fields of the customized user interface based on user input entered in the user interface.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising generating the user interface through accessing a schema namespace associated with a schema associated with said form or document.

21. The method of claim 19, further comprising placing a label for a data entry field in the user interface, the label corresponding to an element or attribute name of a schema associated with said form or document, when dynamically generating the user interface.

22. The method of claim 19, further comprising generating a completed form or document based on the form or document content introduced into the user interface.

23. The method of claim 22, further comprising transmitting the completed form or document as an electronic filing document.

24. The method of claim 19, and further comprising storing or retrieving a form or document stored in a document repository.

25. The method of claim 24, further comprising saving the form or document in the document repository with a namespace associated with the form or document.

26. The method of claim 19, further comprising creating form or document templates that include frequently used data entry fields.

27. The method of claim 19, further comprising automatically processing the completed form or document in a predetermined manner to provide the completed form or document with a particular appearance.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein the data entry fields can expand or contract to accommodate data of varying length.

29. The method of claim 22, further comprising editing the document content entered into the data fields and using color to designate a document node in a document being edited.

30. The method of claim 29, further comprising causing a message to be displayed that describes a type of document node.

31. The method of claim 29, further comprising displaying color when the particular document node is selected.

32. The method of claim 29, further comprising causing an adjacent node to change color when a cursor is positioned after the last character in a node and a right arrow key is depressed.

33. The method of claim 32, further comprising causing an adjacent node to change color when a cursor is positioned before the first character in a node and a left arrow key is depressed.

34. The method of claim 33, wherein the cursor does not move when the adjacent node changes colored.

35. The method of claim 29, further comprising causing an input screen to be displayed to allow a user to enter information into the input screen when a particular keystroke is depressed.

36. The method of claim 35, wherein the particular keystroke comprises one of an enter key and a spacebar key.

37. A computer program for creating and editing mark up language forms or documents, the computer program being embodied on a computer-readable medium, the program comprising:

a first code segment for receiving and processing user input relating to a form or document to be created; and

a second code segment for dynamically generating a user interface customized to the form or document and to introduce form or document content into data entry fields of the customized user interface based on user input entered in the user interface.