Distributed publication system with simultaneous separate access to publication data and publication status information
First Claim
1. Publication system apparatus for coordinating access to a publication item that is stored in said publication system, comprising:
- means for storing data that comprises a publication item, including at least one of article text, image data and layout data, comprising;
means for storing publication item file name data for identifying said publication item data; and
means for storing publication item file name data for identifying said publication item data; and
means for storing user identification data for identifying primary users that are authorized to access and modify said publication item data;
means for storing publication status data that defines control attributes of said publication item data; and
means for coordinating separate simultaneous access to each of said publication item data and said publication status data among a plurality of users wherein at least two of said plurality of users simultaneously access said article text, image data and layout data of a publication item, comprising;
means for storing a plurality of the following;
publication identification data indicative of a name of a publication, user access data that defines the identity of all users having access to said publication item data,publication item location path data identifying a storage area in a memory of said publication system where said publication item data is stored,header location data that defines the location of an item header within a file related to said publication data,item header data that is a copy of a header contained in said publication item,file header format data that defines a format of said item header record of said publication item, anda watch record that defines at least one predetermined activity relating to said publication data.
10 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A publication system is disclosed for coordinating access to publication data and related information. The publication data typically includes text, image data and layout data. The related information is stored in an item header file, as well as in a number of records. The system includes a network of computers including computers dedicated to performing certain tasks related to obtaining publication data and such related information. To coordinate the publication process, the ability to modify text contained in an item file is limited while certain of the records that include useful information related to the same item file are separately available for other network users. The system also generates watch records to notify users of the current status of, availability of, or to provide other information related to, a publication item of interest. Algorithms are also disclosed for facilitating the writing and editing of text for an article.
-
Citations
20 Claims
-
1. Publication system apparatus for coordinating access to a publication item that is stored in said publication system, comprising:
-
means for storing data that comprises a publication item, including at least one of article text, image data and layout data, comprising; means for storing publication item file name data for identifying said publication item data; and means for storing publication item file name data for identifying said publication item data; and means for storing user identification data for identifying primary users that are authorized to access and modify said publication item data; means for storing publication status data that defines control attributes of said publication item data; and means for coordinating separate simultaneous access to each of said publication item data and said publication status data among a plurality of users wherein at least two of said plurality of users simultaneously access said article text, image data and layout data of a publication item, comprising; means for storing a plurality of the following; publication identification data indicative of a name of a publication, user access data that defines the identity of all users having access to said publication item data, publication item location path data identifying a storage area in a memory of said publication system where said publication item data is stored, header location data that defines the location of an item header within a file related to said publication data, item header data that is a copy of a header contained in said publication item, file header format data that defines a format of said item header record of said publication item, and a watch record that defines at least one predetermined activity relating to said publication data. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
-
-
11. In a publication system, a method for coordinating access to a publication item that is stored in said publication system, comprising the steps of:
-
storing data that comprises a publication item, including at least one of;
article text, image data and layout data, comprising;storing publication item file name data for identifying said publication item data; storing user identification data for identifying primary users that are authorized to access and modify said publication item data; storing publication status data that defines control attributes of said publication item data; and coordinating separate simultaneous access to each of said publication item data and said publication status data among a plurality of users wherein at least two of said plurality of users simultaneously access said article text, image data and layout data of a publication item, comprising; storing a plurality of the following; publication identification data indicative of a name of a publication, user access data that defines the identity of all users having access to said publication item data, publication item location path data identifying a storage area in a memory of said publication system where said publication item data is stored, header location data that defines the location of an item header within a file related to said publication data, item header data that is a copy of a header contained in said publication item, file header format data that defines a format of said item header record of said publication item, and a watch record that defines at least one predetermined activity relating to said publication data. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
-
Specification