Method for processing and accessing data objects, particularly documents, and system therefor

• US 6,233,581 B1
• Filed: 08/21/1997
• Issued: 05/15/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 02/27/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Camelot UK Bidco Limited (Clarivate Plc)
• Original Assignee: IMS Health Incorporated (IQVIA Holdings, Inc.)
• Inventors: Rambaud, Patrick, Charré, Patrick, Baroghel, Thierry
• Primary Examiner(s): Herndon, Heather R.
• Assistant Examiner(s): HUYNH, CONG LAC T
• Application Number:
  US08/894,551
• Time in Patent Office: 1,363 Days
• Field of Search: 707/500, 707/514, 707/1-3, 707/102, 707/103, 707/104
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/353 into predefined classes
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99933 Query processing, i.e. searching
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99943 Generating database or data structure, e.g. via user interface

Abstract

A method for processing and accessing data objects including a step (II) of gathering collected data objects (D) into groups of objects (DP1, DP2, DPM) associated with respective geographical areas (P1, P2, PM), a step (III) of classifying each object according to several categories of objects (DB1, DR1, DN1), a first step (IV) of classifying the objects into at least one of the object categories (DB1) according to an index common to all the object groups (DP1, DP2, DPM), and a second step (V) of classifying a part of the collected objects forming a particular group of objects (CR1, CR2, CRM) according to a second so-called hierarchical classification scheme (PH) common to all the object groups (DP1, DP2, DPM). The method further includes a step of navigating through selected geographical areas via either of the first and second classification schemes (PT, PH). The method is particularly useful for distributing and accessing documents on medical and pharmaceutical regulations.

Claims

1. A method for processing and accessing information objects, comprising:

on at least one central site;

stages of collecting objects,

stages of classifying the objects collected, and

stages of generating a structured database containing the objects classified,

characterized in that each classification stage comprises;

a grouping of the collected objects together into groups of objects associated respectively with given geographical areas,

a categorization of each object into several types of objects,

a first classification, in each group of objects, of the objects belonging to at least one of the types of objects, according to a table of contents including a set of topics and common to all the groups of objects, said table of contents being associated with a topic-based classification scheme,

a second classification, in each group of objects, of some of the collected objects constituting a particular group of objects, according to a hierarchical classification scheme common to all the groups of objects,

and in that it further comprises, within the central site, a stage of selecting key elements within each collected object, said key elements being grouped together within a thesaurus, and in that the accessing stages comprise stages of selection according to at least one criterion including a criterion of selection by key element.

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising

on at least one production site,

stages of reproducing the structured database generated on permanent information media,

and, on several local consultation sites,

stages of accessing one or more objects within the structured database, said accessing stages comprising stages of searching for the objects on a permanent information medium,

characterized in that each stage of accessing an object further comprises a stage of selecting at least one geographical area followed by a stage of navigating within the selected geographical areas, said navigation stage being capable of covering either said topic-based classification scheme or said hierarchical classification scheme.

3. The method of claim 2 for processing and accessing documents, characterized in that the collected documents are categorized by type into basic documents, reference documents and notes.

4. The method of claim 1 for processing and accessing documents, characterized in that the collected documents are categorized by type into basic documents, reference documents and notes.

5. A system for processing and accessing objects, comprising:

on at least one central site,

means for collecting objects,

means for classifying the objects collected, and

means for generating a structured database containing the objects classified,

on at least one production site,

means for reproducing the structured database generated on permanent information media,

and, on several local consultation sites,

means for accessing one or more objects within the structured database, said accessing means comprising means for searching for the objects on a permanent information medium,

characterized in that the classification means comprise;

means for grouping the collected objects together into groups of objects associated respectively with given geographical areas,

means for categorizing each object into several types of objects,

means for carrying out, in each group of objects, a first classification of the objects belonging to at least one of the types of objects, according to a table of contents including a set of topics and common to all the groups of objects, said table of contents being associated with a topic-based classification scheme,

means for carrying out, in each group of objects, a second classification of some of the collected objects constituting a particular group of objects, according to a hierarchical classification scheme common to all the groups of objects,

means for selecting key elements within each collected object and

means for grouping said key elements together within a thesaurus.

6. The system according to claim 5, characterized in that said means of accessing an object further comprise means for selecting an object according to at least one criterion including a criterion of selection by key element.

7. The system according to claim 6, characterized in that said means for accessing an object further comprise means for selecting at least one geographical area and means for navigating within the selected geographical areas, said navigation means being configured so as to cover either said topic-based classification scheme or said hierarchical classification scheme.

8. The system according to claim 5 characterized in that said means for accessing an object further comprise means for selecting at least one geographical area and means for navigating within the selected geographical areas, said navigation means being configured so as to cover either said topic-based classification scheme or said hierarchical classification scheme.