Apparatus and method for computer-assisted document generation
DCFirst Claim
1. A computer-assisted documentation system for enhancing or replacing the process of dictating and transcribing in the generation of a document, comprising:
- means for providing a plurality of document templates including a first document template, wherein each document template comprises text and one or more option-text variables embedded in the text and wherein the one or more option-text variables includes a first option-text variable;
option-text variable replacement means for obtaining a first character string to be used to replace the first option-text variable within the first document template, the option-text variable replacement means comprising;
option-text storage means for storing a plurality of character strings, including the first character string, which can be used to replace the first option-text variable within the first document template, wherein the option-text storage means comprises means for storing an option-text record associated with the first option-text variable in the first document template and wherein the option-text record comprises;
a record identifier; and
a plurality of character strings;
document processing means for processing the first document template, the document processing means comprising;
user interface means for displaying the plurality of character strings which comprise the option-text record associated with the first option-text variable in the first document template;
string selection means for selecting, to replace the first option-text variable, one of the plurality of character strings displayed; and
recording means for recording a pointer indicative of the character string selected; and
document generating means for generating a document from the first document template by replacing the first option-text variable with the selected character string.
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Abstract
A document generation system for enhancing or replacing the dictation and transcription process. More particularly, a computer-based documentation system is provided which processes document templates in conjunction with pre-defined character strings to generate user-defined reports or documents. Each document template is composed of "boiler plate" text and "holes". A system and method are described for controlling, via a relational database, the selection of pre-defined character strings to be inserted into document template "holes". A second method is described for inserting user-defined or concatenated character strings into selected document template "holes".
364 Citations
27 Claims
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1. A computer-assisted documentation system for enhancing or replacing the process of dictating and transcribing in the generation of a document, comprising:
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means for providing a plurality of document templates including a first document template, wherein each document template comprises text and one or more option-text variables embedded in the text and wherein the one or more option-text variables includes a first option-text variable; option-text variable replacement means for obtaining a first character string to be used to replace the first option-text variable within the first document template, the option-text variable replacement means comprising; option-text storage means for storing a plurality of character strings, including the first character string, which can be used to replace the first option-text variable within the first document template, wherein the option-text storage means comprises means for storing an option-text record associated with the first option-text variable in the first document template and wherein the option-text record comprises; a record identifier; and a plurality of character strings; document processing means for processing the first document template, the document processing means comprising; user interface means for displaying the plurality of character strings which comprise the option-text record associated with the first option-text variable in the first document template; string selection means for selecting, to replace the first option-text variable, one of the plurality of character strings displayed; and recording means for recording a pointer indicative of the character string selected; and document generating means for generating a document from the first document template by replacing the first option-text variable with the selected character string. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A computer-assisted documentation system for enhancing or replacing the process of dictating and transcribing in the generation of a document, comprising:
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means for storing a plurality of document templates including a first document template, wherein each document template comprises text and one or more option-text variables, including a first option-text variable, embedded in the text and wherein each document template is identified with a document identifier; a database comprising; an option-text file comprising means for storing option-text records associated with each option-text variable, wherein each option-text record comprises; an option-text record identifier; and a plurality of character strings; a selection data file comprising means for storing selection data records associated with the plurality of document templates, wherein each selection data record comprises; a document identifier; an option-text record identifier; and a pointer to one of the plurality of character strings in the option-text record associated with the option-text record identifier; document processing means for processing the first document template, the document processing means comprising; user interface means for displaying the plurality of character strings associated with each option-text variable in the first document template; string selection means for selecting, for each option-text variable, one of the strings displayed; and recording means for recording a selection data record indicative of the character string selected; and document generating means for generating a document from the first document template by replacing each option-text variable in the first document template with the selected character string. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A computer-based method of generating a document, comprising:
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(a) providing a plurality of document templates, wherein each document template comprises text and one or more option-text variables; (b) providing a plurality of option-text lists, wherein each option-text list is associated with a particular option-text variable and wherein each option-text list comprises a plurality of option-text segments; (c) providing user interface means for selecting an option-text segment, the user interface means comprising; display means for displaying each option-text list as a menu of items; and selection means for selecting one or more of the items displayed on the display means; (d) selecting a first document template and a first subject matter identifier; (e) displaying, on the display means, a first option-text list associated with a first option-text variable in the first document template; (f) selecting one or more option-text segments from the first option-text list; (g) accessing a selection data file associated with the first document template and the first subject matter identifier; (h) storing, to the selection data file, one or more pointers, wherein each pointer is used to reference a selected option-text segment; and (i) generating a document in which the selected option-text segments are inserted into the first document template. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A method of editing a document template for use in a computer-assisted documentation system comprising one or more document templates in which each of the one or more document templates comprises text and an option-text variable embedded in the text, the method comprising the steps of:
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a) providing a database for use in accessing and manipulating data in option-text files and selection data files;
wherein each option-text file comprises option-text records, including an option-text record identifier and a plurality of character strings associated with the option-text variable, and wherein each selection data file comprises a record associating one of the plurality of character strings in one of the option-text files with the associated option-text variable in a document template;b) accessing a document template file in order to retrieve a document template; c) entering text into the document template; d) inserting a first option-text variable into the text, the step of inserting the first option-text variable comprising; i) providing a text area for use in entering strings of characters associated with the first option-text variable; ii) entering a plurality of character strings into the text area, the plurality of character strings including a first character string; iii) storing the plurality of character strings to an option-text file associated with the first option-text variable; e) storing the document template. - View Dependent Claims (24)
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25. A method of selecting two or more character strings to be used to replace a first option-text variable in a document template, the method comprising the steps of:
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a) providing a document template comprising text and a first option-text variable embedded in the text; b) providing a database for accessing and manipulating data in option-text files and selection data files;
wherein the database comprises a first selection data file associated with the document template and a first option-text file comprising a first option-text record associated with the first option-text variable and a second option-text record associated with a second option-text variable;
wherein each of said option-text records comprises a plurality of character strings;c) selecting two or more character strings for association with the first option-text variable in the document template; and d) storing, in the first selection data file, pointers to the two or more character strings selected. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27)
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Specification