Guided outlining method

• US 5,675,820 A
• Filed: 02/26/1993
• Issued: 10/07/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 02/26/1993
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Harriet H. Rosen, Raachel N. Jurovics
• Original Assignee: Harriet H. Rosen, Raachel N. Jurovics
• Inventors: Jurovics, Raachel N., Rosen, Harriet H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Weinhardt, Robert A.
• Application Number:
  US08/023,556
• Time in Patent Office: 1,684 Days
• Field of Search: 364/401, 364/402, 364/400, 364/419.01, 364/419.1, 364/419.17, 364/419.19, 364/419.2, 395/909, 395/917, 395/925, 395/927, 395/934, 395/902, 395/201, 395/207, 395/751, 395/761, 395/793, 395/794, 395/607, 434/236
• US Class Current: 715/207
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/174 Form filling; Merging

Abstract

A guided outlining system to assist the user in developing strategy-specific outlines for business communications. The user is prompted to enter the target audience, purpose and specific content entries for the business communication. One strategy choice from a predefined list of strategy options is also selected by the user. Strategy guidelines are displayed for the user to assist in the organization of the content entries based on the selected strategy. The user is then prompted to assign type attributes and ordering criteria to each content entry. The content entries are then sorted and displayed to the user.

Claims

1. A guided outlining method for a computer system having input means for entering data, data storage means for storing data, and a display means, said outlining method comprising:

(a) presenting a first prompting screen on said display means for entering content entries representing ideas to be included in a document;

(b) entering with said input means a plurality of content entries;

(c) storing the content entries in said data storage means of said computer;

(d) displaying a second prompting screen on said display means for selecting an organizational strategy from a predefined list of organizational strategies, wherein said organizational strategies include a set of organizational rules for ordering the content entries;

(e) selecting with said input means an organizational strategy from said predefined list of organizational strategies;

(f) presenting on said display means organizational rules stored in said data storage means of said computer which correspond to the selected organizational strategy;

(g) presenting a third prompting screen on said display means for assigning ordering criteria to said content entries;

(h) assigning ordering criteria to said content entries by entering said criteria with said input means following the organizational rules for the selected organizational strategy;

(i) sorting the content entries in said computer based on the assigned ordering criteria to produce a sorted outline; and

(j) outputting the sorted outline to an output device.

2. The outlining method of claim 1 wherein the step of sorting the content entries includes classifying the main ideas and subordinate ideas among said content entries by entering priority codes into said computer corresponding to said content entries.

3. The outlining method according to claim 2 further including the step of associating each of the subordinate ideas among said content entries with one of the main ideas among said content entries.

4. The outlining method of claim 3 wherein the step of sorting the content entries includes entering a first set of ordering criteria for sorting the main ideas among said content entries in relation to each other and, for each main idea, entering a second set of ordering criteria for ordering the subordinate ideas in relation to one another.

5. The outlining method of claim 1 further including the steps of assigning a type attribute to the content entries, and grouping the content entries by type attribute before assigning ordering criteria to the content entries.