Term-Driven Records File Plan and Thesaurus Design

• US 20090177668A1
• Filed: 01/08/2008
• Published: 07/09/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 01/08/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Schinkelwitz, Bruce
• Granted Patent: US 10,733,223 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/20 of structured data, e.g. relational data
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/36 Creation of semantic tools, e.g. ontology or thesauri

Abstract

Methods and apparatus, including computer program products, implementing and using techniques for generating a file plan and a thesaurus for a records management system. A first user input defining one or more top level terms to be used in the file plan is received. A second user input defining one or more child level terms to be used in the file plan for at least some of the top level terms is received. A third user input defining one or more term relationships among the collection of child level terms and the top level terms is received. Without further user input, a file plan and a thesaurus are generated based on the top level terms, the child level terms and the specified term relationships among the child level terms and top level terms.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for generating a file plan and a thesaurus for a records management system, the method comprising:

receiving a first user input defining one or more top level terms to be used in the file plan;

receiving a second user input defining one or more child level terms to be used in the file plan for at least some of the top level terms;

receiving a third user input defining one or more term relationships among the collection of child level terms and the top level terms; and

without further user input, generating a file plan and a thesaurus based on the top level terms, the child level terms and the specified term relationships among the child level terms and top level terms.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the term relationships are thesaural relationships that include one or more of:

broader term relationships, narrower term relationships, and related term relationships.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

running a test routine on the input top level terms, the child level terms, and the one or more term relationships to identify inconsistencies in terms or term relationships, prior to generating the file plan and thesaurus.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving a first user input and receiving a second user input includes reusing at least one top level term or reusing at least one child level term from an existing thesaurus.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the first, second and third user input are received through a wizard user interface that guides the user through a series of steps in which the first, second and third user inputs are received.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving a fourth user input including one or more of:

a file plan title, a location of a repository where electronic documents corresponding to the records in the file plan are stored, and security and access control parameters for the file plan.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein generating the file plan and thesaurus includes populating the top level terms and the child level terms into properties of file plan elements.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein generating the file plan and thesaurus includes outputting the file plan and thesaurus in one of:

a format that is specific to a particular records management system and an open format that can be used by multiple records management or other systems.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving a third user input defining one or more term relationships includes receiving a definition declaring the term relationship as one of:

a filing relationship, and a descriptive relationship.

10. A computer program product comprising a computer useable medium including a computer readable program, wherein the computer readable program when executed on a computer causes the computer to:

receive a first user input defining one or more top level terms to be used in the file plan;

receive a second user input defining one or more child level terms to be used in the file plan for at least some of the top level terms;

receive a third user input defining one or more term relationships among the collection of child level terms and the top level terms; and

without further user input, generate a file plan and a thesaurus based on the top level terms, the child level terms and the specified term relationships among the child level terms and top level terms.

11. The computer program product of claim 10, wherein the term relationships are thesaural relationships that include one or more of:

broader term relationships, narrower term relationships, and related term relationships.

12. The computer program product of claim 10, wherein the computer readable program when executed on a computer further causes the computer to:

run a test routine on the input top level terms, the child level terms, and the one or more term relationships to identify inconsistencies in terms or term relationships, prior to generating the file plan and thesaurus.

13. The computer program product of claim 10, wherein receiving a first user input and receiving a second user input includes reusing at least one top level term or reusing at least one child level term from an existing thesaurus.

14. The computer program product of claim 10, wherein the first, second and third user input are received through a wizard user interface that guides the user through a series of steps in which the first, second and third user inputs are received.

15. The computer program product of claim 10, wherein the computer readable program further causes the computer to receive a fourth user input including one or more of:

a file plan title, a location of a repository where electronic documents corresponding to the records in the file plan are stored, and security and access control parameters for the file plan.

16. The computer program product of claim 10, wherein generating the file plan and thesaurus includes populating the top level terms and the child level terms into properties of file plan elements.

17. The computer program product of claim 10, wherein generating the file plan and thesaurus includes outputting the file plan and thesaurus in one of:

a format that is specific to a particular records management system and an open format that can be used by multiple records management or other systems.

18. The computer program product of claim 10, wherein receiving a third user input defining one or more term relationships includes receiving a definition declaring the term relationship as one of:

a filing relationship, and a descriptive relationship

19. A system for generating a file plan and a thesaurus for a records management application, the system comprising:

means for receiving a first user input defining one or more top level terms to be used in the file plan;

means for receiving a second user input defining one or more child level terms to be used in the file plan for at least some of the top level terms;

means for receiving a third user input defining one or more term relationships among the collection of child level terms and the top level terms; and

means for without further user input, generating a file plan and a thesaurus based on the top level terms, the child level terms and the specified term relationships among the child level terms and top level terms.

20. The system of claim 19, further comprising:

means for running a test routine on the input top level terms, the child level terms, and the one or more term relationships to identify inconsistencies in terms or term relationships, prior to generating the file plan and thesaurus.

21. The system of claim 19, further comprising:

means for providing a wizard user interface that guides the user through a series of steps in which the first, second and third user inputs are received.

22. The system of claim 19, further comprising:

means for receiving a fourth user input including one or more of;

a file plan title, a location of a repository where electronic documents corresponding to the records in the file plan are stored, and security and access control parameters for the file plan.

23. The system of claim 19, wherein the means for generating the file plan and thesaurus includes means for populating the top level terms and the child level terms into properties of file plan elements.

24. The system of claim 19, wherein the means for generating the file plan and thesaurus includes means for outputting the file plan and thesaurus in one of:

a format that is specific to a particular records management system and an open format that can be used by multiple records management or other systems.

25. The system of claim 19, wherein the means for receiving a third user input defining one or more term relationships includes means for receiving a definition declaring the term relationship as one of:

a filing relationship, and a descriptive relationship.