Self-contained document management based on document properties
DCFirst Claim
1. In a non-hierarchical document management system having a document stored at a first location by a first user, a method of transferring the document to a second location comprising the steps of:
- forming the document to include a content and a document reference being distinguishable from each other, the document reference maintaining properties attachable by a user which include static properties describing characteristics of the content and active properties controlling behaviors of the content;
attaching an active property to the document reference which is associated to the document, the active property including executable code for interpreting and manipulating the content of the document; and
, transferring the document to a second location, the transferring automatically including the association between the content and the properties of the document such that, upon a triggering event and without use of an external application, the active property associated to the document executes the executable code which interprets and manipulates the content of the document into a format such that the content is accessible at the second location.
7 Assignments
Litigations
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A document management system is provided which organizes, stores and retrieves documents in accordance with document properties. A property attachment mechanism allows a user to define and attach static properties and/or active properties to a document. The active properties include executable code which control the behavior of the document contents. Upon transferring a document to another user, system, or environment, the document management system combines the document content and properties as a self-contained document which can interpret and manipulate its own contents. In this manner, a receiving user does not require additional applications in order to manipulate the document contents into a usable format. The self-contained document interprets and manipulates itself using its active properties to provide a useful document to the receiving user.
-
Citations
12 Claims
-
1. In a non-hierarchical document management system having a document stored at a first location by a first user, a method of transferring the document to a second location comprising the steps of:
-
forming the document to include a content and a document reference being distinguishable from each other, the document reference maintaining properties attachable by a user which include static properties describing characteristics of the content and active properties controlling behaviors of the content;
attaching an active property to the document reference which is associated to the document, the active property including executable code for interpreting and manipulating the content of the document; and
,transferring the document to a second location, the transferring automatically including the association between the content and the properties of the document such that, upon a triggering event and without use of an external application, the active property associated to the document executes the executable code which interprets and manipulates the content of the document into a format such that the content is accessible at the second location. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
-
-
7. A method of managing a document in a document management system which separates management of user properties and management of content during a transfer of the document to a receiving user comprising the steps of:
-
forming the document to include a content and a document reference, the document reference maintaining properties attachable by a user;
attaching properties to the document reference including at least one of static properties describing characteristics of the content and active properties controlling behaviors of the content;
transferring selected properties of the static properties and active properties to the receiving user; and
,reconstructing the document, by the receiving user, based on the transferred static and active properties. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9)
-
-
10. A method of transferring a document to a destination in a system which manages documents comprising content and properties unattached to the content, the method comprising the steps of:
-
defining a state and a behavior for the document by attaching properties to a document reference, the properties including at least one of non-executable data and executable code, wherein the non-executable data includes a description of characteristics of the content, and the executable code includes a control for behaviors of the content;
transferring the document reference and the content as a packed self-contained unit to the destination; and
unpacking, by the attached properties at the destination, the packed self-contained unit such that the content is usable at the destination without use of external applications. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12)
controlling the behavior of the document with the executable code; and
assigning a triggering event to the executable code such that, in response to the triggering event, the executable code is executed to control the behavior of the document.
-
Specification