Attribute selection for collaborative groupware documents using a multi-dimensional matrix

• US 20070124316A1
• Filed: 11/29/2005
• Published: 05/31/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 11/29/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Sharma, Sanjeev, Chan, John, Stroebel, Hendrik, Eeles, Paul
• Application Number:
  US11/288,921
• Publication Number:
  US 20070124316A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management

Abstract

Embodiments of the invention provide a method, system and apparatus for attribute selection for collaborative groupware documents using a multi-dimensional matrix. In an embodiment, an attribute value selection system can include a document database disposed in a groupware system and at least one document stored in the document database. The document can include a multi-dimensional matrix defining valid value combinations for different attributes of the document. Finally, an attribute selection processor can be disposed in the groupware system. The processor can have a configuration to analyze a set of value combinations for different attributes of the at least one document to identify the valid value combinations, and to generate the multi-dimensional matrix. Optionally, the multi-dimensional matrix can be stored in a hidden field for the document.

Claims

1. An attribute value selection method for selecting attribute values of a document in a groupware system comprising:

defining an allowable multi-dimensional matrix of valid attribute combinations from a plurality of documents;

generating an applicable multi-dimensional matrix from said valid attribute combinations;

associating said applicable multi-dimensional matrix with the document; and

,

processing the document in accordance with said applicable multi-dimensional matrix.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said defining step comprises:

generating said allowable multi-dimensional matrix from existing plurality of documents assuming all attribute value combinations in said existing plurality of documents are valid.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said generating step comprises:

analyzing a set of value combinations for different attributes of the document to identify valid ones of said valid attribute combinations.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said associating step comprises:

saving said applicable multi-dimensional matrix within the document to a document database.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said associating step comprises:

saving said applicable multi-dimensional matrix outside of the document.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising:

storing a key to the document with said applicable multi-dimensional matrix.

7. The method of claim 5, further comprising:

appending said applicable multi-dimensional matrix to a file path associated with the document.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein said processing step comprises:

synchronizing the document with said allowable multi-dimensional matrix.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein said synchronizing step comprises the step of filtering documents which have attribute value combinations determined to be invalid for having not appeared in said allowable multi-dimensional matrix.

10. An attribute value selection data processing system comprising:

a document database disposed in a groupware system;

at least one document stored in said document database comprising at least two multi-value attributes;

an allowable multi-dimensional matrix defining valid value combinations for different attributes; and

,

an attribute selection processor disposed in said groupware system, said processor having a configuration to analyze a set of value combinations for different attributes of said at least one document to identify said valid value combinations; and

,

a generator to generate an applicable multi-dimensional matrix from the identified valid value combinations.

11. The data processing system of claim 10, wherein said applicable multi-dimensional matrix is stored in said document.

12. A computer program product comprising a computer usable medium including computer usable program code for attribute value selection for attribute values of a document in a groupware system, said computer program product including:

computer usable program code for defining an allowable multi-dimensional matrix of valid attribute combinations from a plurality of documents;

computer usable program code for generating an applicable multi-dimensional matrix defining said valid attribute combinations;

computer usable program code for associating said applicable multi-dimensional matrix with the document; and

,

computer usable program code for processing the document responsive to said applicable multi-dimensional matrix.

13. The computer program product of claim 12, wherein said defining comprises generating said allowable multi-dimensional matrix from existing documents assuming all attribute value combinations in said existing documents are valid.

14. The computer program product of claim 12, wherein said generating comprises analyzing a set of value combinations for different attributes of the document to identify valid ones of said valid attribute combinations.

15. The computer program product of claim 12, wherein said associating comprises saving said applicable multi-dimensional matrix within the document to a document database.

16. The computer program product of claim 12, wherein said associating comprises saving said applicable multi-dimensional matrix outside of the document.

17. The computer program product of claim 16, further comprising computer usable code for storing a key to the document with said applicable multi-dimensional matrix.

18. The computer program product of claim 16, further comprising computer usable code for appending said applicable multi-dimensional matrix to a file path associated with the document.

19. The computer program product of claim 16, wherein said processing comprises synchronizing the document with said allowable multi-dimensional matrix.

20. The computer program product of claim 19, wherein said synchronizing comprises filtering documents which have attribute value combinations determined to be invalid for having not appeared in said allowable multi-dimensional matrix.