System, method and computer program product for storage of a plurality of documents within a single file

• US 6,182,080 B1
• Filed: 09/12/1997
• Issued: 01/30/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 09/12/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Netvoyage Corporation
• Original Assignee: Netvoyage Corporation
• Inventors: Clements, Bradley H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Alam, Hosain T.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Corrielus, Jean M.
• Application Number:
  US08/929,442
• Time in Patent Office: 1,236 Days
• Field of Search: 707/203, 707/204, 707/201, 707/202, 707/102, 707/200, 707/100
• US Class Current: 707/610
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/10 File systems; File servers
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/93 Document management systems
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99943 Generating database or data structure, e.g. via user interface
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99953 Recoverability

Abstract

The present invention provides systems and methods for storage of multiple documents and a tracking log within a single file. More specifically, the present invention provides a convenient way to organize multiple documents and store them within a single file in a manner that facilitates exchange of the collection of documents and collaboration on the collection by a group of individuals. The metaphor of an envelope is used to store multiple documents and other information. Envelopes may be copied and routed or transferred to a group of individuals. Routing or transfer of envelopes is accomplished via an email transport or other mechanisms. The tracking log tracks actions performed by entities on the envelope or on documents contained therein. Multiple copies of the envelopes may be synchronized using an email or other transport system.

Claims

1. A method for storing a plurality of documents in a single file that can then be accessed by a plurality of entities, the method comprising the steps of:

providing a file structure within the single file, the file structure defining an organization layout for documents stored within the file and including;

a plurality of document storage locations each adapted to store at least a portion of a document; and

at least one tracking log location adapted to store a history of actions performed by any of the plurality of entities on either the single file or the document;

storing at least one document in one of the document storage locations; and

placing in said tracking log an entry when a predetermined action is performed on the file by any one of the plurality of entities, the entry comprising information regarding said action, the information comprising one or more of access date/time, user identity, method used to authenticate user identity, action that occurred, object of the action, modification sequence, version number, global identification of the document, or tamper seal information.

2. A method for storing a plurality of documents as recited in claim 1 further comprising the step of storing in a document property location defined by the file structure, at least one property of the at least one stored document.

3. A method for storing a plurality of documents as recited in claim 1 further comprising the step of storing in a file property location defined by the file structure, at least one property of the single file.

4. A method for storing a plurality of documents as recited in claim 1 further comprising the step of transferring at least one copy of said single file from one entity to another entity via a communications transport mechanism.

5. A method for storing a plurality of documents as recited in claim 4 further comprising the step of synchronizing the contents of the at least one copy with the contents of the single file, whereby the at least one document in the copy matches that contained in the single file.

6. A method for storing a document and an associated tracking log within a single file, comprising the steps of:

obtaining at least a portion of a document to be stored in a single file;

storing said at least a portion of the document in said single file;

providing a predefined file structure format for organizing the document within the single file, the file structure format including a definition for a tracking log data area adapted to store a history of actions performed by any of a plurality of entities on either the single file or the document; and

placing in said tracking log data area a log entry when a predetermined action is performed on the document by an entity, wherein the entry contains information regarding the circumstances of said predetermined action.

7. A method for storing a document and an associated tracking log as recited in claim 6 further comprising the step of storing in a file property location defined by the file structure format, at least one property of the single file.

8. A method for storing a document and an associated tracking log as recited in claim 7 further comprising the step of storing in a document property location defined by the file structure format, at least one property of the document.

9. A method for storing a document and an associated tracking log as recited in claim 8 further comprising the step of storing at least a portion of a second document in said single file in accordance with the file structure format.

10. A computer readable medium having stored thereon a data structure comprising:

a single file, the file having a predefined file structure defining an organization layout for a plurality of documents stored within the file;

a plurality of document storage locations organized within the file in accordance with the file structure, each storage location containing at least a portion of a document adapted for use by an application program; and

at least one tracking log storage location organized within the file in accordance with the file structure, the at least one tracking log storage location having at least one entry comprising information regarding an action performed on the data structure, the tracking log storage location adapted to store a history of actions performed by any of a plurality of entities on either the single file or the documents.

11. A computer readable medium as recited in claim 10 wherein said at least one entry comprises an identity of an entity that performed said action.

12. A computer readable medium as recited in claim 11 wherein said at least one entry comprises an authentication field containing information identifying a method of authenticating said identity.

13. A computer readable medium as recited in claim 10 wherein said at least one entry comprises information identifying at least one operation performed on one of the plurality of documents.

14. A computer readable medium as recited in claim 10 wherein said at least one entry comprises information identifying at least one operation performed on said data structure.

15. A computer readable medium as recited in claim 10 wherein said at least one entry comprises a tamper seal.

16. A computer readable medium as recited in claim 10 wherein at least one of the documents is adapted for use by a first type of application program, and at least one of the documents is adapted for use by a second type of application program.

17. A computer readable medium as recited in claim 10 further comprising at least one property storage location organized within the file in accordance with the file structure, the at least one property storage location containing at least one property of at least one of the documents.

18. A computer readable medium as recited in claim 10 further comprising at least one property storage location organized within the file in accordance with the file structure, the at least one property storage location containing at least one property of said data structure.

19. A computer readable medium having stored thereon a data structure comprising:

a single file, the file having a predefined file structure defining an organization layout for storage areas within the single file;

a first storage area stored in a first region of a range of memory addresses in the single file, said first storage area containing at least a portion of a first document adapted for use by an application program;

a second storage area stored in a second region of said range of memory addresses, said second storage area containing a tracking log having at least one entry comprising information regarding an action performed on said data structure, the tracking log adapted to store a history of actions performed by any of a plurality of entities on either the single file or the documents;

a third storage area stored in a third region of said range of memory addresses, said third storage area containing at least one property of the first document; and

a fourth storage area stored in a fourth region of said range of memory addresses, said fourth storage area containing at least one property of the data structure.

20. A computer readable medium as recited in claim 19 wherein said at least one entry comprises:

an identity of the entity that performed the action on the data structure;

information identifying a method used for authenticating the identity;

information identifying when the action on the data structure was performed; and

information identifying what action on the data structure was performed.

21. A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions for performing the steps comprising:

creating a single file structure within a single file container, the file structure defining an organization layout for at least one document storage location and at least one file information location;

storing a document in the document storage location;

providing a predefined program interface for allowing access to the document via an application program, wherein the application program is thereby capable of modifying the contents of the document; and

in the event that an application program accesses the document, updating the file information location with data signifying at least one detail regarding the access, the data signifying at least one detail comprising one or more of access date/time, user identity, method used to authenticate user identity, action that occurred, object of the action, modification sequence, version number, global identification of the document, or tamper seal information.

22. A method for exchanging a plurality of documents between a plurality of users, the method comprising:

(a) creating a single file structure within a single file container, the file structure defining an organization layout for a plurality of document storage locations, and at least one file information location;

(b) storing at least one document in one of the document storage locations;

(c) storing routing information within the single file structure, the routing information signifying a predetermined set of users that are to receive the file container;

(d) forwarding the file container to one of the users in accordance with the routing information via a transport mechanism;

(e) allowing the receiving user to access the at least one document with an application program;

(f) updating the file information location with data signifying at least one detail regarding the access, the data signifying at least one detail comprising one or more of access date/time, user identity, method used to authenticate user identity, action that occurred, object of the action, modification sequence, version number, global identification of the document, or tamper seal information; and

(g) repeating steps (d)-(f) until all of the users in the predetermined set of users have received the file container.