Generating Document Processing Workflows Configured to Route Documents Based on Document Conceptual Understanding

• US 20090300705A1
• Filed: 05/28/2008
• Published: 12/03/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 05/28/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Edison Vault, LLC
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Dettinger, Richard D., Will, Eric W., Kulack, Frederick A.
• Granted Patent: US 10,169,546 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 726/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/10 Protecting distributed programs or content, e.g. vending or licensing of copyrighted material protection in video systems or pay television H04N7/16 ; Digital rights management [DRM]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2101 Auditing as a secondary aspect

Abstract

Embodiments of the invention may be used to improve enforcement and compliance with publishing rules in an automated and provable manner. Prior to publication, documents may be processed using publishing rules (workflows) based on conceptual analysis of document content. Additionally, embodiments of the invention include a content creation system configured to provide prompt feedback on content coverage. Such a system enables the creator of information to better understand what approval requirements apply to content they create and intend to publish, as the content is being created.

Claims

1. A computer implemented method of generating a document processing workflow, comprising:

receiving a document which includes at least a publishing rule regarding documents intended for publication;

parsing the document to identify a set of terms included in the publishing rule;

annotating each term with metadata describing the term to create a structured pattern describing the publishing rule;

comparing the structured pattern to a plurality of patterns to identify a best-fit pattern from the plurality of patterns, wherein each of the plurality of patterns pattern describes a workflow template;

generating, from the workflow template corresponding to the best-fit pattern, a workflow for the structured pattern, wherein the workflow specifies a sequence of steps to comply with the publishing rule; and

storing the generated workflow in a repository.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising, normalizing one or more of the annotated terms to create a normalized, structured pattern corresponding to the publishing rule.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the set of terms comprises a contractual provision that includes the publishing rule.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the publishing rule requires a first contracting party to provide a document referencing a collaboration between the first contracting party and the second contracting party to the second contracting party prior to publication of the document.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the set of terms comprises an organizational policy that includes the publishing rule.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one step of the workflow includes a step of routing a document intended for publication to an individual for review prior to publication of the document.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein annotating each term with metadata describing the term comprises wrapping the term with a markup tag.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

identifying one or more terms present in the best-fit pattern and annotated as required which are not present in the structured pattern, and

prompting a user to supply a value for the one or more terms, prior to generating the workflow.

9. A computer readable storage medium containing a program which, when executed, performs an operation for generating a document processing workflow, comprising:

receiving a document which includes at least a publishing rule regarding documents intended for publication;

parsing the document to identify a set of terms included in the publishing rule;

annotating each term with metadata describing the term to create a structured pattern describing the publishing rule;

comparing the structured pattern to a plurality of patterns to identify a best-fit pattern from the plurality of patterns, wherein each of the plurality of patterns pattern describes a workflow template;

generating, from the workflow template corresponding to the best-fit pattern, a workflow for the structured pattern, wherein the workflow specifies a sequence of steps to comply with the publishing rule; and

storing the generated workflow in a repository.

10. The computer readable storage medium of claim 9, wherein the operation further comprises, normalizing one or more of the annotated terms to create a normalized, structured pattern corresponding to the publishing rule.

11. The computer readable storage medium of claim 9, wherein the set of terms comprises a contractual provision that includes the publishing rule.

12. The computer readable storage medium of claim 11, wherein the publishing rule requires a first contracting party to provide a document referencing a collaboration between the first contracting party and the second contracting party to the second contracting party prior to publication of the document.

13. The computer readable storage medium of claim 9, wherein the set of terms comprises an organizational policy that includes the publishing rule.

14. The computer readable storage medium of claim 9, wherein at least one step of the workflow includes a step of routing a document intended for publication to an individual for review prior to publication of the document.

15. The computer readable storage medium of claim 9, wherein annotating each term with metadata describing the term comprises wrapping the term with a markup tag.

16. The computer readable storage medium of claim 9, wherein the operation further comprises:

identifying one or more terms present in the best-fit pattern and annotated as required which are not present in the structured pattern, and

prompting a user to supply a value for the one or more terms, prior to generating the workflow.

17. A system, comprising:

a processor; and

a memory containing a containing a program that, when executed by the processor, performs an operation for presenting a virtual environment to a user, the operation comprising;

receiving a document which includes at least a publishing rule regarding documents intended for publication,

parsing the document to identify a set of terms included in the publishing rule,

annotating each term with metadata describing the term to create a structured pattern describing the publishing rule,

comparing the structured pattern to a plurality of patterns to identify a best-fit pattern from the plurality of patterns, wherein each of the plurality of patterns pattern describes a workflow template,

generating, from the workflow template corresponding to the best-fit pattern, a workflow for the structured pattern, wherein the workflow specifies a sequence of steps to comply with the publishing rule, and

storing the generated workflow in a repository.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the operation further comprises, normalizing one or more of the annotated terms to create a normalized, structured pattern corresponding to the publishing rule.

19. The system of claim 17, wherein the set of terms comprises a contractual provision that includes the publishing rule.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein the publishing rule requires a first contracting party to provide a document referencing a collaboration between the first contracting party and the second contracting party to the second contracting party prior to publication of the document.

21. The system of claim 17, wherein the set of terms comprises an organizational policy that includes the publishing rule.

22. The system of claim 17, wherein at least one step of the workflow includes a step of routing a document intended for publication to an individual for review prior to publication of the document.

23. The system of claim 17, wherein annotating each term with metadata describing the term comprises wrapping the term with a markup tag.

24. The system of claim 17, wherein the operation further comprises:

identifying one or more terms present in the best-fit pattern and annotated as required which are not present in the structured pattern, and prompting a user to supply a value for the one or more terms, prior to generating the workflow.