System and method for managing template attributes

• US 20060053369A1
• Filed: 09/03/2004
• Published: 03/09/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 09/03/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: JP Morgan Chase Bank, N.A. (JP Morgan Chase & Co)
• Original Assignee: JP Morgan Chase Bank, N.A. (JP Morgan Chase & Co)
• Inventors: Kalajian, Henri, Jonas, Desmond
• Granted Patent: US 7,366,974 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/243
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/93 Document management systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/123 Storage facilities
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/186 Templates
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99953 Recoverability

Abstract

According to the invention, this invention redefines the concept of a template as a set of template attributes, such as font types and color schemes, that are accessed by document-generating applications to provide uniform functionality across an organization. The template attributes are stored and distributed throughout an organization in lieu of full document templates in order to reduce storage and transmission bandwidth requirements. The template attributes are distributed from a global server to regional servers and then to user workstations to facilitate propagation and enforcement of organization-wide document formatting protocols.

Claims

1. A method for facilitating generation of a template comprising:

retrieving a set of template types from a computer-readable memory-;

outputting the set of template types;

receiving a selected template type from the set of template types;

retrieving attributes from the computer-readable memory, the attributes defining a format of a template of the selected template type but including less than all information required to completely define the template of the selected template type; and

instructing a computer-executable document generating application to generate the template of the selected template type in accordance with the attributes.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

outputting configurable attributes, the configurable attributes comprising at least a portion of the retrieved attributes and being capable of configuration; and

receiving information specifying how the configurable attributes are to be configured.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein at least one of the retrieved attributes is a paper size attribute, a paper orientation attribute, a font type attribute, a font size attribute, a color attribute, a chart attribute, a diagram attribute, a table attribute, an image attribute, or a line attribute.

4. The method of claim 2 wherein at least one of the retrieved attributes is a paper size attribute, a paper orientation attribute, a font type attribute, a font size attribute, a color attribute, a chart attribute, a diagram attribute, a table attribute, an image attribute, or a line attribute.

5. A computer-readable memory encoded with data, comprising:

a plurality of categories of data, each category associated with data pertaining to a template type; and

a plurality of sets of attributes, each set belonging to one of said categories, defining a format of templates associated with its template type, but including less than all information required to completely define templates associated with its template type.

6. The computer-readable memory of claim 5, further comprising:

a set of attributes that defines a format of templates associated with at least two template types.

7. A computer-readable memory encoded with data, comprising:

a plurality of attribute repositories each comprising;

(a) a plurality of categories of data, each category associated with data pertaining to a template type; and

(b) a plurality of sets of attributes, each set belonging to one of said categories, defining a format of templates associated with its template type, but including less than all information required to completely define templates associated with its template type; and

an information repository comprising data identifying portions of a computer network to which the attribute repositories apply.

8. The computer-readable memory of claim 7, wherein the information repository further comprises data identifying the template types associated with each attribute repository.

9. The computer-readable memory of claim 7, wherein the information repository further comprises data identifying current version information associated with the attribute repositories.

10. The computer-readable memory of claim 9, wherein the information repository further comprises data identifying addresses of computers to which the attribute repositories and the information repository are to be distributed.

11. A method for managing document templates comprising:

storing attributes in a first computer-readable attribute repository, the attributes defining a format of a template but including less than all information required to completely define the template;

receiving from a computer information regarding a second computer-readable attribute repository, the second attribute repository including information that is or was included in the first attribute repository;

determining whether the second attribute repository is less current than the first attribute repository using at least the received information regarding the second attribute repository; and

transmitting the first attribute repository to the computer if it is determined that the second attribute repository is less current than the first attribute repository.

12. The method of claim 11 further comprising:

storing system information in a first computer-readable system information repository, the system information identifying a current version of the first attribute repository,

wherein the determining whether the second attribute repository is less current than the first attribute repository also uses at least the current version of the first attribute repository.

13. A system for managing document templates comprising:

a first computer-readable memory storing a first attribute repository, the attribute repository including information defining a format of a template but including less than all information required to completely define the template;

a first computer communicatively connected to the first computer-readable memory;

a second computer-readable memory storing a second attribute repository, the second attribute repository including information that is or was included in the first attribute repository;

a second computer communicatively connected to the second computer-readable memory and the first computer, the second computer being instructed to receive the first attribute repository from the first computer and overwrite the second attribute repository with the first attribute repository upon receipt.

14. The system of claim 13,

wherein the first memory further stores a plurality of first attribute repositories, each including information defining a format of a template associated with a portion of an organization but including less than all information required to completely define the template associated with its portion of the organization,

wherein the second memory further stores a plurality of second attribute repositories, each being associated with one of the first attribute repositories and including information that is or was included in its associated first attribute repository, and

wherein the second computer is instructed to receive the plurality of first attribute repositories from the first computer and overwrite the plurality of second attribute repositories with the first attribute repositories upon receipt.

15. The system of claim 13 further comprising:

a plurality of second computer-readable memories; and

a plurality of second computers each communicatively connected to one of the second computer-readable memories.

16. The system of claim 15 wherein the first computer is a server and the plurality of second computers are user workstations.

17. The system of claim 15 wherein the first computer is an organization-wide server that services at least a portion of an organization, and the plurality of second computers are regional servers that service a sub-portion of the portion of the organization.

18. The system of claim 13,

wherein the second computer-readable memory further stores a system information repository including information identifying an address of the first computer, and

wherein the second computer communicates with the first computer using the address of the first computer.