Data driven, dynamic language document assembly system

• US 6,473,892 B1
• Filed: 12/31/1998
• Issued: 10/29/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 12/31/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Finastra USA Corporation (Finastra Group Holdings Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Harland Financial Solutions Incorporated
• Inventors: Porter, Laureston Craig
• Primary Examiner(s): Dam, Tuan Q.
• Assistant Examiner(s): DAS, CHAMELI
• Application Number:
  US09/224,135
• Time in Patent Office: 1,398 Days
• Field of Search: 717/106, 717/102, 717/100, 717/101, 717/116, 717/107, 717/108, 707/530, 707/531, 707/513, 707/515, 707/506, 707/514, 707/507, 707/505
• US Class Current: 717/106
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/174 Form filling; Merging

Abstract

A document assembly system assembles and prints one or more documents in response to input data describing the nature and circumstances of a transaction to be documented and describing the parties to the transaction. The document assembly system initially produces a separate document definition object for each document to be produced and a separate party definition object for each party to the transaction. The document definition object includes procedures for generating “document-related” text that a document may use when referring to itself. The party definition object includes procedures for generating party-related text that the document is to use when referring to a party. The nature of the text each document definition or party definition object procedure produces depends on the nature of the document or the party as indicated by the input data. The system also includes a set of “text generators”, blocks of source code which when compiled and executed, generate the text that may be included in a document. When the nature of a word or phrase to be included in a document depends on the nature of the document or on the nature of a party, the text generator refers to the word or phrase by referring to a procedure of the document or party definition object which generates the word or phrase.

Claims

1. A method for a computer for generating a document file containing a block of text describing a transaction between a plurality of parties, the method including the steps of:

creating a plurality of party definition objects (62), each corresponding to a separate one of said plurality of parties and each including executable party definition procedures for generating text associated with the corresponding party;

creating an executable first text object (24) for generating said block of text, including text associated with each of said parties and other text, said first text object generating said text associated with each of said parties by invoking execution of ones of said party definition procedures; and

creating an executable form object (23) for generating said document file including generating said block of text by invoking execution of said first text object.

2. The method in accordance with claim 1 wherein said first text object includes said other text.

3. The method in accordance with claim 1 further comprising the step of creating an executable second text object (24) for generating a portion of said other text, wherein said first text object generates said portion of said other text by invoking execution of said second text object.

4. The method in accordance with claim 1 wherein one of said party definition procedures of each party definition object generates text referring to a party corresponding to the party definition object.

5. The method in accordance with claim 4 wherein another of said party definition procedures of each party definition object generates text to be used to be used as a verb in a sentence having as its subject said text referring to a party corresponding to the party definition object.

6. The method in accordance with claim 1 wherein one of said party definition procedures of each party definition object generates text to be used to be used as a verb in a sentence having as its subject a word referring to the party corresponding to the party definition object.

7. The method in accordance with claim 1 wherein said other text includes a verb and wherein one of said procedures of one of said party definition objects generates at least one character to be appended to said verb.

8. The method in accordance with claim 1 wherein said document file contains a definition of a signature block to be signed by one of parties, wherein the method further comprises the step of creating a signature definition object (67) comprising an executable signature definition procedure for generating said definition said signature block, wherein said form object also invokes said signature definition procedure.

9. The method in accordance with claim 1 wherein said method further comprises the step of creating a signature definition object (67) comprising an executable signature definition procedure for generating a definition of a signature block to be signed by one of said parties, wherein said form object also invokes said signature definition procedures and includes the signature block definition generated by the invoked signature definition procedure in the document file generated by said form object.

10. A method for a computer for generating a plurality of document files, each containing at least one block of text describing a transaction between a plurality of parties, the method including the steps of:

creating a plurality of party definition objects (67), each corresponding to a separate one of said plurality of parties and each including executable party definition procedures for generating text associated with the corresponding party;

creating a plurality of executable text objects (24), each for generating a separate block of text including text associated with each of said parties and other text, each text object generating text associated with one of said parties by invoking execution of one of said party definition procedures; and

creating a plurality of executable form objects (23), each corresponding to a separate one of said document files, for generating the document file including invoking execution of at least one of said first text objects.

11. The method in accordance with claim 10 wherein each of said text objects includes said other text.

12. The method in accordance with claim 10 wherein at least one of said text objects invokes execution of at least one other of said text objects.

13. The method in accordance with claim 10 wherein one of said party definition procedures of each party definition object generates text referring to a party corresponding to the party definition object.

14. The method in accordance with claim 13 wherein another of said party definition procedures of each party definition object generates text to be used to be used as a verb in a sentence having as its subject said text referring to a party corresponding to the party definition object.

15. The method in accordance with claim 10 wherein one of said party definition procedures of each party definition object generates text to be used to be used as a verb in a sentence having as its subject a word referring to the party corresponding to the party definition object.

16. The method in accordance with claim 10 wherein said other text includes a verb and wherein one of said procedures of one of said party definition objects generates at least one character to be appended to said verb.

17. The method in accordance with claim 10 wherein said method further comprises the step of creating a plurality of signature definition objects (67), each comprising an executable signature definition procedure for generating a definition of a signature block to be signed by one of said parties, wherein each said form object also invokes at least one of said signature definition procedures and includes signature definition blocks generated by the invoked at least one signature definition procedure in the document file generated by said form object.

18. A method for a computer for generating a document (12) describing a transaction between a plurality of parties, the method including the steps of:

creating an input data object (20) including first data defining characteristics of said parties,

creating a plurality of party definition objects (62), each corresponding to a separate one of said plurality of parties and each including executable party definition procedures for generating text associated with the corresponding party in accordance with said first data;

creating a plurality of executable text objects (24), each for generating a separate block of text, wherein a block of text generated by at least one of said text objects includes text associated with at least one of said parties invoking execution of at least one of said party definition procedures;

creating an executable form object (23) for generating a document file defining said document, said document file including at least one block of text generated by one of said text objects, wherein said form object selects and invokes execution of at least one of said text objects to obtain said at least one block of text;

invoking execution of said form object such that said form object generates said document file; and

printing said document in response to said document file.

19. The method in accordance with claim 18

wherein said input data object also includes second data defining characteristics of said transaction, and

wherein at least one of said text objects adjusts the text block it generates in response to said second data.

20. The method in accordance with claim 18

wherein said input data object also includes second data defining characteristics of said transaction, and

wherein said form object selects said at least one of said text objects to execute in response to said second data.