Data processing system and method for organizing, analyzing, recording, storing and reporting research results

• US 6,668,255 B2
• Filed: 01/24/2003
• Issued: 12/23/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 05/27/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Thomas C. Mielenhausen
• Original Assignee: Thomas C. Mielenhausen
• Inventors: Mielenhausen, Thomas C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Von Buhr, Maria N.
• Application Number:
  US10/350,932
• Publication Number:
  US 20030115213A1
• Time in Patent Office: 333 Days
• Field of Search: 707/100, 707/102, 707/200
• US Class Current: 707/736
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 99/00 Subject matter not provided for in other groups of this subclass
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/942 Legal/academic

Abstract

A data processing system for organizing, analyzing, recording, storing, and reporting research results consists of: a computer having a memory, a central processing unit, and an input/output unit, a first data structure recorded in the memory, the first data structure encoding a number of projects, a second data structure recorded in the memory, the second data structure encoding a number of propositions, a third data structure recorded in the memory, the third data structure encoding a number of authorities, and each of the propositions and authorities being associated with at least one of the projects, and a computer program executing in the central processing unit, the computer program defining structural and functional relationships among the projects, propositions, and authorities, the computer program receiving information on the projects, propositions, and authorities from an operator through the input/output unit, and the computer program organizing the information and displaying relationships among the projects, propositions, authorities and information to the operator through the input/output unit. A data processing method for organizing, analyzing, recording, storing, and reporting research results, comprising the steps of:

Inputting user identification data,

Inputting information related to a plurality of research projects,

Inputting information related to a plurality of propositions,

Associating each of the propositions with at least one of the research projects,

Inputting information on a plurality of authorities,

Associating each of the authorities with at least one of said plurality of research projects,

Outputting a propositions report displaying the information associated with selected propositions, and

Outputting an authorities report displaying the information associated with selected authorities.

Claims

1. A data processing system for organizing, analyzing, recording, storing, tracking, and reporting research results on multiple research projects across multiple users, propositions, authorities, and matters underlying the research projects, while enforcing uniform categories of analysis data across all users, comprising:

(a) a computer having a memory, a central processing unit, and an input/output unit;

(b) a first data structure recorded in said memory, said first data structure encoding a plurality of research projects;

(c) a second data structure recorded in said memory, said second data structure encoding a plurality of propositions, each of said plurality of propositions;

(i) being associated with at least one of said plurality of research projects;

(ii) being adapted to contain at least one word search description associated with each of said plurality of propositions, said word search description further comprising a word search performed by the user; and

(iii) being adapted to contain a plurality of database search results associated with said word search,

(d) a third data structure recorded in said memory, said third data structure encoding a plurality of authorities, wherein;

(i) each of said plurality of authorities is associated with at least one of said plurality of research projects;

(ii) each of said plurality of authorities is adapted to contain a plurality of citator service search results associated with said authority resulting from a search of at least one citator service;

(iii) selected ones of said plurality of authorities are associated with an associated proposition selected from said plurality of propositions; and

(iv) each of said plurality of authorities further comprises uniform categories of analysis data; and

(e) a computer program executing in said central processing unit, said computer program defining structural and functional relationships among said plurality of research projects, said plurality of propositions, and said plurality of authorities, said computer program receiving information on said plurality of research projects, said plurality of propositions, and said plurality of authorities from an operator through said input/output unit, and said computer program organizing said information and displaying relationships among said plurality of research projects, said plurality of propositions, said plurality of authorities, and said information to the operator through said input/output unit.

2. The data processing system of claim 1, each of said plurality of research projects further comprising a project name and a project number, said project number being automatically generated by said computer program as said project is input by the operator.

3. The data processing system of claim 1, each of said plurality of propositions further comprising scope of research data defining the scope of authorities to be researched.

4. The data processing system of claim 1, further comprising at least one key number description associated with each of said propositions.

5. The data processing system of claim 4, further comprising a plurality of key number search results associated with said key number description, said key number search results being input by the operator after performing a key number search.

6. The data processing system of claim 1, each of said plurality of database search results further comprising a list of jurisdictions searched.

7. The data processing system of claim 1, further comprising a listing of propositions associated with said word search from other of said projects.

8. The data processing system of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of internet search results associated with said word search.

9. The data processing system of claim 1, said uniform categories of analysis data selected from the group consisting of:

an authority proposition similar or contrary to said associated proposition;

authority excerpts relevant to said associated proposition;

other authorities cited by said authority which are relevant to said associated proposition, comments associated with said associated proposition, authority facts relevant to said associated proposition, authority rationale for said authority proposition, project facts similar or contrary to said relevant authority facts, authority persuasion factors, authority quotations relevant to said associated proposition, parentheticals associated with said associated proposition, authority headnotes relevant to said associated proposition, authority key numbers relevant to said associated proposition, authority use indicators associated with said associated proposition and all of said plurality of propositions, comments associated with all of said plurality of propositions, relevant authority pages, and a date on which said category of analysis data item was last edited.

10. The data processing system of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of key cite search results associated with said authority and said associated proposition.

11. The data processing system of claim 1, further comprising a fourth data structure recorded in said memory, said fourth data structure encoding a plurality of idea/prose items associated with each of said plurality of projects.

12. The data processing system of claim 11, further comprising a fifth data structure recorded in said memory, said fifth data structure encoding a plurality of tasks associated with each of said plurality of research projects.

13. The data processing system of claim 1, said computer program further comprising a propositions report displayed to the operator through said input/output unit.

14. The data processing system of claim 13, said propositions report further comprising at least one selected proposition and at least one associated propositions report item related to said selected proposition, said associated propositions report items comprising:

tasks related to said selected proposition, ideas/prose items related to said selected proposition, scope of research data, key numbers, key number search results, said word search descriptions, said database search results, authorities associated with said selected proposition, analysis data from said uniform categories of analysis data, and said citator services search results.

15. The data processing system of claim 1, said computer program further comprising an authorities report displayed to the operator through said input/output unit.

16. The data processing system of claim 15, said authorities report further comprising at least one selected authority and at least one associated authorities report item comprising:

authority choice of law data, said citator services search results, said associated propositions, and analysis data from said uniform categories of analysis data.

17. The data processing system of claim 12, further comprising a sixth data structure recorded in said memory, said sixth data structure encoding a user notebook.

18. The data processing system of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of user identification numbers recorded in said memory.

19. The data processing system of claim 18, further comprising a set of user preferences associated with each of said user identification numbers.

20. A data processing method for organizing, analyzing, recording, storing, tracking, and reporting research results on multiple research projects across multiple users, propositions, authorities, and matters underlying the research projects, comprising for each user the steps of:

(a) inputting user identification data;

(b) inputting information related to a plurality of research projects;

(c) inputting information related to a plurality of propositions, further comprising the steps of;

(i) associating each of each plurality of propositions with at least one of said plurality of research projects;

(ii) inputting at least one word search description for each of said plurality of propositions;

(iii) performing a word search based on said word search description in at least one database, inputting search results from said word search, and associating said search results with said propositions;

(d) inputting information related to a plurality of authorities, further comprising the steps of;

(i) associating each of said plurality of authorities with at least one of said plurality of legal research projects;

(ii) associating selected ones of said plurality of authorities with an associated proposition selected from said plurality of propositions;

(iii) inputting citator service data for each of said plurality of authorities, performing a search in at least one citator service, inputting search results from said search, and associating said search results with one of said plurality of authorities; and

(iv) inputting uniform categories of analysis data;

(e) outputting a propositions report displaying information associated with selected ones of said plurality of propositions; and

(f) outputting an authorities report displaying information associated with selected ones of said plurality of authorities.

21. The data processing method of claim 20, wherein said step of inputting information on said plurality of propositions further comprises a step of inputting scope of research data defining the scope of authorities to be researched for each of said plurality of propositions.

22. The data processing system of claim 20, wherein said step of inputting information on said plurality of propositions further comprises a step of inputting key number data including at least one key number for each of said plurality of propositions.

23. The data processing method of claim 20, wherein said step of inputting proposition word search results further comprises the step of reviewing data of propositions in said proposition word search results and associating review status data with each of said propositions.

24. The data processing method of claim 20, wherein said step of inputting a word search description further comprises the steps of performing a word processor document word search, inputting word processor document descriptions resulting from said word processor document word search, and associating said word processor document descriptions with one of said propositions.

25. The data processing method of claim 20, wherein said uniform categories of analysis data is selected from the group consisting of:

an authority proposition similar or contrary to said associated proposition;

authority excerpts relevant to said associated proposition;

other authorities cited by said authority which are relevant to said associated proposition;

comments associated with said associated proposition, authority relevant facts, authority rationale for said associated proposition, authority facts relevant to said associated proposition, project facts similar or contrary to said authority relevant facts, authority persuasion factors associated with said associated proposition, authority quotations relevant to said associated proposition, parentheticals associated with said associated proposition, authority headnotes relevant to said associated proposition, authority key numbers associated with said associated proposition, authority use indicators associated with said associated proposition and with all of said plurality of propositions, comments associated with all of said plurality of propositions, and relevant authority pages.

26. The data processing method of claim 20, wherein said step of inputting information on said plurality of authorities further comprises the step of inputting key cite citator service data for each of said plurality of authorities.

27. The data processing method of claim 20, said propositions report further comprising at least one selected proposition and at least one associated propositions report item related to said selected proposition, said associated propositions report item being selected from the group consisting of:

tasks related to said selected proposition, ideas/prose items related to said selected proposition, scope of research data, key numbers, key number search results, said word search descriptions, database search results, proposition word search results, word processor document descriptions, internet search results, authorities associated with said selected proposition, analysis data from said uniform categories of analysis data, and said citator services search results.

28. The data processing method of claim 20, said authorities report further comprising:

authority choice of law data, said citator services search results, said associated propositions, and analysis data from said uniform categories of analysis data.

29. A computer-readable disk memory having a surface formed with a plurality of binary patterns constituting an application program executable by a computer having a memory, a central processing unit, an input/output unit, and means for loading said application into a defined address space in said memory, said application program comprising:

(a) a first data structure, said first data structure adapted to encode a plurality of research projects;

(b) a second data structure, said second data structure adapted to encode a plurality of propositions, each of said plurality of propositions being associated with at least one of said plurality of research projects; and

(c) a third data structure, said third data structure adapted to encode a plurality of authorities, wherein each of said plurality of authorities is associated with at least one of said plurality of research projects.

30. An article of manufacture comprising a propagated signal encoded with machine-readable information comprising:

(a) a first data structure, said first data structure adapted to encode a plurality of research projects;

(b) a second data structure, said second data structure adapted to encode a plurality of propositions, each of said plurality of propositions being associated with at least one of said plurality of research projects; and

(c) a third data structure, said third data structure adapted to encode a plurality of authorities, wherein each of said plurality of authorities is associated with at least one of said plurality of research projects.