Maltweb Multi-Axis Viewing Interface and Higher Level Scoping

• US 20130124975A1
• Filed: 12/20/2012
• Published: 05/16/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 01/31/1997
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: TimeBase Pty Limited (Fiscalnote Holdings, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: TimeBase Pty Limited (Fiscalnote Holdings, Inc.)
• Inventors: Schnelle, Christophe, Leslie, Paul William, Nolan, Geoffrey John, Lessing, Abha
• Granted Patent: US 8,983,955 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/234
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/2264 Multidimensional index structures
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/84 Mapping; Conversion
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/93 Document management systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/134 Hyperlinking
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/143 Markup, e.g. Standard Generalized Markup Language [SGML] or Document Type Definition [DTD]

Abstract

A method, apparatus and computer program product for navigating in a multi-dimensional space containing an electronic publication formed from predefined portions of text-based data encoded using a markup language are disclosed. A selected predefined portion is displayed in a first display region. A point on a primary axis of the multi-dimensional space corresponding to the displayed pre-defined portion is also displayed. Also, a method, apparatus and computer program product for publishing an electronic publication formed from predefined portions of text-based data encoded using a markup language are also disclosed. Predefined portions are stored in terminal nodes. Higher level nodes are provided for organising the terminal nodes into an hierarchical structure embodied in said electronic publication. Each higher level node contains the identity of a parent node, a position indicator for the higher level node and an associated identifier.

Claims

1-58. -58. (canceled)

59. A computer readable recording medium for publishing electronic information, comprising:

a plurality of predefined portions of text-based data with at least one of said plurality of predefined portions of text-based data being stored;

at least one modified predefined portion of text-based data, said at least one modified predefined portion of text-based data being created based at least in part on modifications to at least one of said plurality of predefined portions of text-based data; and

said at least one modified predefined portion of text-based data being stored;

a plurality of links comprising at least one of code or a markup language, at least one of said plurality of predefined portions of said text-based data and said at least one modified predefined portion of text-based data being associated with at least one of said plurality of links; and

a plurality of attributes for organizing at least one of said plurality of predefined portions of text-based data and said at least one modified predefined portion of text-based data, at least one of said plurality of attributes defining a point in a multidimensional space.

60. The recording medium according to claim 59, wherein searching of the recording medium is allowed.

61. The recording medium according to claim 60, wherein said searching allows search based on one or more of the said plurality of attributes.

62. The recording medium according to claim 60, wherein said searching is based on at least one of (i) one or more of the said plurality of predefined portions of text-based data, (ii) said at least one modified predefined portion of text-based data, and (iii) a word or phrase within at least one or more of the said plurality of predefined portions of text-based data or said at least one modified predefined portion of text-based data.

63. The recording medium according to claim 59, wherein a search engine allowing search of at least one of said plurality of predefined portions of text-based data uses at least one of said plurality of attributes, wherein at least one of said plurality of attributes are associated with at least one of said plurality of predefined portions of text-based data for retrieving one or more of said plurality of predefined portions of text-based data by using at least one of said plurality of attributes to define a point in said multidimensional space

64. The recording medium according to claim 59, wherein said text-based data is encoded using one or more Document Type Definitions (DTD) or Style Sheet Mechanisms (SSM).

65. The recording medium according to claim 59, wherein said plurality of links comprises any data in addition to the text-based data.

66. The recording medium according to claim 65, wherein at least one of said plurality of links comprises code or markup that allows departure and destination points to be created between said plurality of predefined portions of text-based data.

67. The recording medium according to claim 59, wherein at least one of said plurality of links comprises an identification code for a corresponding one of said plurality of predefined portions of text-based data.

68. The recording medium according to claim 59, wherein a first database comprises said plurality of predefined portions of text-based data.

69. The recording medium according to claim 68, wherein a second database comprises said plurality of attributes for managing said first database.

70. The recording medium according to claim 59, wherein at least one of said plurality of predefined portions of text-based data are associated with one or more attributes.

71. The recording medium according to claim 59, wherein at least one of said plurality of predefined portions of text-based data is capable of being modified by performing one of the group consisting of adding at least one attribute to said at least one of said plurality of predefined portions of text-based data, deleting at least one attribute from said at least one of said plurality of predefined portions of text-based data, and modifying at least one of the attributes of said at least one of said plurality of predefined portions of text-based data.

72. The recording medium according to claim 59, wherein at least one of said plurality of predefined portions of text-based data are capable of being modified by performing one of the group consisting of adding data to said at least one of said plurality of predefined portions of text-based data, deleting data from said at least one of said plurality of predefined portions of text-based data, and modifying data of said at least one of said plurality of predefined portions of text-based data.

73. The recording medium according to claim 59, wherein at least one of said plurality of predefined portions of text-based data comprises legislation.

74. The recording medium according to claim 73, wherein at least one of said plurality of predefined portions of text-based data is a provision of legislation.

75. The recording medium according to claim 74, wherein said provision of legislation is one of a section or schedule of an Act, or a section or schedule of a regulation.

76. The recording medium according to claim 59, wherein said recording medium is made from one of the group consisting of magnetic media, optical media, and magneto-optical media.

77. The recording medium according to claim 59, wherein at least one of said plurality of predefined portions of text-based data is a block of text-based data that is larger than a single word but smaller than an entire document.

78. The recording medium according to claim 59, wherein said multidimensional space is configured to permit point-to-point movement within said multidimensional space.

79. The system according to claim 59, wherein a selectable link allows display of a list of versions of at least one of said plurality of predefined portions of text-based data.

80. A computer-implemented method for publishing electronic information, the method comprising:

providing a plurality of predefined portions of text-based data with at least one of said plurality of predefined portions of text-based data being stored;

providing at least one modified predefined portion of text-based data, said at least one modified predefined portion of text-based data being created based at least in part on modifications to at least one of said plurality of predefined portions of text-based data; and

said at least one modified predefined portion of text-based data being stored;

associating at least one of said plurality of predefined portions of text-based data and said at least one modified predefined portion of text-based data with at least one of a plurality of links comprising at least one of code or a markup language; and

a plurality of attributes for organizing at least one of said plurality of predefined portions of text-based data and said at least one modified predefined portion of text-based data, at least one of said plurality of attributes defining a point in a multidimensional space;

wherein said multidimensional space is capable of or involves more than three dimensions.

81. The method according to claim 80, further comprising allowing searching within the system.

82. The method according to claim 81, wherein said searching is based on one or more of the said plurality of attributes.

83. The method according to claim 81, wherein said searching is based on at least one of (i) one or more of the said plurality of predefined portions of text-based data, (ii) said at least one modified predefined portion of text-based data, and (iii) a word or phrase within at least one or more of the said plurality of predefined portions of text-based data or said at least one modified predefined portion of text-based data.

84. The method according to claim 80, further comprising allowing searching of at least one of said plurality of predefined portions of text-based data using at least one of said plurality of attributes, wherein one of said plurality of attributes are associated with said plurality of predefined portions of text-based data for retrieving one or more of said plurality of predefined portions of text-based data by using at least one of said plurality of attributes to define a point in said multidimensional space.

85. The method according to claim 80, wherein said text-based data is encoded using one or more Document Type Definitions (DTD) or Style Sheet Mechanisms (SSM).

86. The method according to claim 80, wherein said plurality of links comprises any data in addition to the text-based data.

87. The method according to claim 86, wherein at least one of said plurality of links comprises code or markup that allows departure and destination points to be created between said plurality of predefined portions of text-based data.

88. The method according to claim 80, wherein at least one of said plurality of links comprises an identification code for a corresponding one of said plurality of predefined portions of text-based data.

89. The method according to claim 80, wherein a first database comprises said plurality of predefined portions of text-based data.

90. The method according to claim 89, wherein a second database comprises said plurality of attributes for managing said first database.

91. The method according to claim 80, wherein at least one of said plurality of predefined portions of text-based data are associated with one or more attributes.

92. The method according to claim 80, wherein at least one of said plurality of predefined portions of text-based data is capable of being modified by performing one of the group consisting of adding at least one attribute to said at least one of said plurality of predefined portions of text-based data, deleting at least one attribute from said at least one of said plurality of predefined portions of text-based data, and modifying at least one of the attributes of said at least one of said plurality of predefined portions of text-based data.

93. The method according to claim 80, wherein at least one of said plurality of predefined portions of text-based data is capable of being modified by performing one of the group consisting of adding data to said at least one of said plurality of predefined portions of text-based data, deleting data from said at least one of said plurality of predefined portions of text-based data, and modifying data of said at least one of said plurality of predefined portions of text-based data.

94. The method according to claim 80, wherein at least one of said plurality of predefined portions of text-based data comprises legislation.

95. The method according to claim 94, wherein at least one of said plurality of predefined portions of text-based data is a provision of legislation.

96. The method according to claim 95, wherein said provision of legislation is one of a section or schedule of an Act, or a section or schedule of a regulation.

97. The method according to claim 80, wherein at least one of said plurality of predefined portions of text-based data is a block of text-based data that is larger than a single word but smaller than an entire document.

98. The method according to claim 80, wherein said multidimensional space is configured to permit point-to-point movement within said multidimensional space.

99. The system according to claim 80, wherein a selectable link allows display of a list of versions of at least one of said plurality of predefined portions of text-based data.

100. The method according to claim 80, wherein the at least three dimensions are axes along which, or along some combination of which, point-to-point movement is permitted.

101. A computer-implemented system for publishing electronic information, the system comprising:

a plurality of predefined portions of text-based data with at least one of said plurality of predefined portions of text-based data being stored;

at least one modified predefined portion of text-based data, said at least one modified predefined portion of text-based data being created based at least in part on modifications to at least one of said plurality of predefined portions of text-based data; and

said at least one modified predefined portion of text-based data being stored so that the at least one of said plurality of predefined portions of text-based data and said corresponding modified predefined portion of text-based data are both stored;

a plurality of links comprising at least one of code or a markup language at least one of said plurality of predefined portions of said text-based data and said at least one modified predefined portion of text-based data being associated with at least one of said plurality of links; and

a plurality of attributes for organizing and retrieving at least one of said plurality of predefined portions of text-based data and said at least one modified predefined portion of text-based data, at least one of said plurality of attributes defining a point in a multidimensional space;

wherein at least one of said plurality of predefined portions of text-based data and said at least one modified predefined portion of text-based data can be located by using at least one of plurality of attributes to define points in said multidimensional space.

102. A computer-implemented method for publishing electronic information, the method comprising:

providing a plurality of predefined portions of text-based data with at least one of said predefined portions of text-based data being stored;

providing at least one modified predefined portion of text-based data, said at least one modified predefined portion of text-based data being created based at least in part on modifications to at least one of said plurality of predefined portions of text-based data; and

said at least one modified predefined portion of text-based data being stored so that the at least one of said plurality of predefined portions of text-based data and said corresponding modified predefined portion of text-based data are both stored;

associating at least one of said plurality of predefined portions of said text-based data and said at least one modified predefined portion of text-based data with at least one of a plurality of links comprising at least one of code or a markup language; and

a plurality of attributes for organizing at least one of said plurality of predefined portions of text-based data and said at least one modified predefined portion of text-based data, at least one of said plurality of attributes defining a point in a multidimensional space;

wherein at least one of said plurality of predefined portions of text-based data and said at least one modified predefined portion of text-based data can be located by using at least one of said plurality of attributes to define points in said multidimensional space.

103. A method for electronically publishing text-based data, the method comprising:

Dividing said text-based data into a plurality of portions of text-based data;

amending at least one of said plurality of portions of text-based data;

storing at least one of said plurality of portions of text-based data;

storing said amended portion of text-based data;

providing a plurality of attributes, wherein at least one of said plurality of attributes defines at least in part a manner in which at least one of said plurality of portions of text-based data and said amended portion of text-based data can be organized and linked in a multidimensional space;

associating at least one of said plurality of portions of text-based data and said amended portion of text-based data with at least one link comprising at least one of code or markup language enabled at least in part by at least one of said plurality of attributes;

enabling a user to search at least one of said plurality of portions of text-based data and said amended portion of text-based data using at least one of said plurality of attributes; and

allowing the results of said search be available to a user by;

providing at least one of said plurality of portions of text-based data or said amended portion of text-based data in response to said search; and

providing one or both of (i) text, or (ii) one or more selectable links representing at least one additional attribute.

104. The method according to claim 103, wherein said searching uses one or more attributes.

105. The method according to claim 103, wherein at least one of said plurality of portions of text-based data and said amended portion of text-based data are encoded using one or more Document Type Definitions (DTD) or Style Sheet Mechanisms (SSM).

106. The method according to claim 103, wherein said at least one link comprises any piece of information additional to the text of at least one of said plurality of portions of text-based data and said amended portion of text-based data.

107. The method according to claim 106, wherein said at least one link comprises code that allows departure and destination points to be created between at least one of said plurality of portions of text-based data and said amended portion of text-based data.

108. The method according to claim 103, wherein said at least one link comprises an identification code for a corresponding at least one of said plurality of portions of text-based data or said amended portion text-based data.

109. The method according to claim 103, wherein said amended portion of text-based data is amended by performing at least one of the group consisting of adding data to one of said plurality of portions of text-based data, deleting data from one of said plurality of portions of text-based data, and modifying data of one of said plurality of portions of text-based data.

110. The method according to claim 103, wherein at least one of said plurality of portions of text-based data and said amendment portion of text-based data comprises legislation or material related to a provision of said legislation.

111. The method according to claim 110, wherein at least one of the plurality of portions of text-based data is a respective provision of said legislation or material related to a provision of said legislation.

112. The method according to claim 111, wherein said provision is a section, schedule or appendix of an Act, or a section, schedule or appendix of a regulation.

113. The method according to claim 103, wherein at least one of said plurality of predefined portions of text-based data is a block of text-based data that is larger than a single word but smaller than an entire document.

114. The method according to claim 103, wherein said multidimensional space is configured to permit point-to-point movement within said multidimensional space.

115. The system according to claim 103, wherein a selectable link allows display of a list of versions of at least one of said plurality of predefined portions of text-based data.

116. A computer implemented system for publishing electronic information, the system comprising:

a plurality of predefined portions of text-based data with at least one of said plurality of predefined portions of text-based data being stored;

at least one modified predefined portion of text-based data, said at least one modified predefined portion of text-based data being created based at least in part on modifications to at least one of said plurality of predefined portions of text-based data; and

said at least one modified predefined portion of text-based data being stored;

a plurality of links comprising at least one of code or a markup language, at least one of said plurality of predefined portions of said text-based data and said at least one modified predefined portion of text-based data being associated with at least one of said plurality of links; and

a plurality of attributes for organizing at least one of said plurality of predefined portions of text-based data and said at least one modified predefined portion of text-based data, at least one of said plurality of attributes defining a point in a multidimensional space.

117. The system according to claim 116, wherein searching of a database is allowed.

118. The system according to claim 116, wherein said searching allows one or more searches based on one or more of the said plurality of attributes.

119. The system according to claim 116, wherein said searching is based on at least one of (i) one or more of said plurality of predefined portions of text-based data, (ii) said at least one modified predefined portion of text-based data, and (iii) a word or phrase within at least one or more of said plurality of predefined portions of text-based data or said at least one modified predefined portion of text-based data

120. The system according to claim 116, further allowing search of at least one of said plurality of predefined portions of text-based data using at least one of said plurality of attributes, wherein at least one of said plurality of attributes is associated with said at least one of said plurality of predefined portions of text-based data for retrieving one or more of said plurality of predefined portions of text-based data by using at least one of said plurality of attributes to define a point in said multidimensional space.

121. The system according to claim 116, wherein at least one of said plurality of links comprise any data in addition to the text-based data.

122. The system according to claim 116, wherein at least one of said plurality of links comprises an identification code for a corresponding one of said plurality of predefined portions of text-based data.

123. The system according to claim 116, wherein at least one of said plurality of predefined portions of text-based data is associated with one or more attribute.

124. The system according to claim 116, wherein at least one of said plurality of predefined portions of text-based data comprises legislation.

125. The system according to claim 124, wherein said provision of legislation is one of a section or schedule of a statute, rule or regulation.

126. The system according to claim 116, wherein at least one of said plurality of predefined portions of text-based data is a block of text-based data that is larger than a single word but smaller than an entire document.

127. The system according to claim 116, wherein said multidimensional space is configured to permit point-to-point movement within said multidimensional space.

128. The system according to claim 116, wherein a selectable link allows display of a list of versions of at least one of said plurality of predefined portions of text-based data.

129. A method for electronically publishing text-based data, the method comprising:

dividing said text-based data into a plurality of portions of text-based data;

amending at least one of said plurality of portions of text-based data;

storing at least one of said plurality of portions of text-based data;

storing said amended portion of text-based data;

providing a plurality of attributes, wherein at least one of said plurality of attributes define at least in part a manner in which at least one of said plurality of portions of text-based data and said amended portion of text-based data can be organized and linked in a multidimensional space;

associating at least one of said plurality of portions of text-based data and said amended portion of text-based data with at least one link comprising at least one of code or markup language enabled at least in part by at least one of said plurality of attributes;

allowing a user to search said plurality of portions of text-based data and said amended portion of text-based data using at least one of said plurality of attributes; and

allowing the results of said search be available to a user by;

providing at least one of said plurality of portions of text-based data or said amended portion of text-based data in response to said search; and

providing one or both of (i) text, or (ii) one or more selectable links representing at least one additional attribute.