Creation and management of content-related objects

• US 20060059465A1
• Filed: 09/15/2004
• Published: 03/16/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 09/15/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Miller, Patrick C., Kogan, Daniel E.
• Granted Patent: US 7,631,257 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 717/121
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/38 Retrieval characterised by using metadata, e.g. metadata not derived from the content or metadata generated manually
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/958 Organisation or management of web site content, e.g. publishing, maintaining pages or automatic linking
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99953 Recoverability
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99954 Version management

Abstract

A web content management server allows for the automatic creation, management and publication of variant objects from a parent object. The variant object is created as a copy of the corresponding parent object and may then be modified. Each object includes a pages list that identifies all associated objects and the content type of each object listed in the pages list. The relationship between parent and variant objects is maintained regardless of the location where the objects are stored. When changes are made to the parent page, the changes are also implemented in any corresponding variant pages. The parent object tracks any corresponding variant objects with an identifier stored in the pages list. When the parent page is modified, a workflow is triggered to modify the corresponding variant pages identified by the identifier and the content type in the pages list.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for automatically creating and managing content-related objects, comprising:

discovering declared variations of a first object;

examining metadata corresponding to the first object for parameters; and

generating a second object related to the first object according to the declared variations and according to the parameters associated with the first object.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the second object is generated as a copy of the first object.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising associating the second object with the first object by the type of content included in the first object, wherein the metadata corresponding to the first object identifies the type of content.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising maintaining a relationship between the first object and the second object using a pages list, wherein the metadata to be examined for parameters is included in the pages list.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 4, wherein the metadata comprises:

an identifier associated with each of the first object and the second object; and

the type of content included in the first object and the second object.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising implementing modifications in the second object when the first object is modified, wherein the second object is located by corresponding metadata.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising initiating a workflow to convert the second object to a form different than the first object.

8. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the variations of the first object are selected by a web site manager.

9. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the parameters include at least one of a group comprising:

languages supported by a web site, applications supported by an operating system, devices supported by an operating system and a variation targeting rule that establishes behavior associated with accessing the second object.

10. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising displaying the second object in accordance with a template associated with the first object, wherein the template is related to the second object by the type of content included in the first object.

11. A system for automatically creating and managing content-related objects, comprising a web content configuration server being configured to:

discover declared variations of a first object;

examine metadata corresponding to the first object for parameters; and

generate a second object related to the first object according to the declared variations and according to the parameters associated with the first object, wherein the second object is associated with the first object by the type of content included in the first object.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the second object is generated as a copy of the first object.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein the type of content is included in the metadata corresponding to the first object.

14. The system of claim 11, wherein the metadata to be examined for parameters is included in a pages list.

15. The system of claim 11, wherein the second object is modified in accordance with changes made to the first object, and wherein the second object is located by corresponding metadata.

16. The system of claim 11, wherein a workflow is initiated to convert the second object to a form different than the first object.

17. The system of claim 11, wherein the second object is displayed in accordance with a template associated with the first object, and wherein the template is related to the second object by the type of content included in the first object.

18. A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions for automatically creating and managing content-related objects, comprising:

discovering declared variations of a first object;

examining metadata corresponding to the first object for parameters, wherein the metadata is included in a pages list associated with the first object;

generating a second object related to the first object according to the declared variations and according to the parameters associated with the first object; and

implementing changes made to the first object in the second object, wherein the second object is located using the pages list associated with the first object.

19. The computer-readable medium of claim 18, wherein the second object is generated as a copy of the first object.

20. The computer-readable medium of claim 18, further comprising associating the second object with the first object by the type of content included in the first object, wherein the metadata corresponding to the first object identifies the type of content.

21. The computer-readable medium of claim 18, further comprising initiating a workflow to convert the second object to a form different than the first object.

22. The computer-readable medium of claim 18, further comprising displaying the second object in accordance with a template associated with the first object, wherein the template is related to the second object by the type of content included in the first object.