Providing a functional layer for facilitating creation and manipulation of compilations of content

• US 7,076,494 B1
• Filed: 01/21/2000
• Issued: 07/11/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 01/21/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Hartman, Robert C. Jr., Murray, Janet L., Kao, I-Ming, Johnson, Eugene Jr., Baer, William J., Robertson, Jerry D. III
• Primary Examiner(s): Kindred, Alford
• Assistant Examiner(s): NGUYEN, CAM LINH T
• Application Number:
  US09/489,605
• Time in Patent Office: 2,363 Days
• Field of Search: 707/10, 707/552, 707/218, 707/3, 707/102, 395/703, 709/219, 709/231
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/95 Retrieval from the web
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2216/01 Automatic library building
• 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 web-based system, method and program product are provided for adding content to a content object stored (e.g., a custom compilation or prepublished work) in a data repository as a group of hierarchically related content entities. Each noncontainer content object is preferably stored as a separate entity in the data repository. Each content entity is also stored as a row in a digital library index class as a collection of attributes and references to related content entities and containers. As the user selects desired objects for inclusion in a content object, the system arranges the objects hierarchically, e.g., into volumes, chapters and sections according to the order specified by the user. The system then creates a file object (e.g., a CBO) defining the content object that contains a list or outline of the container and noncontainer entities selected, their identifiers, order and structure. This file object is stored separately in the data repository. An aspect of the invention is the provison of a functional layer between a user interface and the data repository for facilitating the creation, manipulation, storage and management of content objects in the data repository.

Claims

1. A method for facilitating creation and manipulation of compilations of content selected by a user, comprising the step of:

providing a functional layer for interfacing over a network with the user via a user interface and interfacing with a data repository containing a plurality of content entities, the functional layer comprising a plurality of function modules, each module for executing a function pertaining to the creation or manipulation of a compilation of content selected from the plurality of content entities by the user, wherein the plurality of function modules receives requests from the user via the user interface and returns information concerning the compilation of content.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein one of the function modules creates a list of content entity identifiers defining the content and order of a compilation.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein at least one of the function modules manipulates the list to redefine the content or order of the compilation.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the compilation is hierarchically structured and wherein one of the function modules creates an outline of containers and content entity identifiers defining the content and hierarchical structure of a compilation.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein at least one of the function modules manipulates the outline to redefine the content or structure of the compilation.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of the function modules calculates a price for the compilation of content.

7. A method for facilitating creation and manipulation of compilations of content selected by a user according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of content entities comprise catalogs of data stored in the data repository.

8. A program storage device readable by a machine, tangibly embodying a program of instructions executable by the machine to perform method steps for facilitating creation and manipulation of compilations of content selected by a user, comprising the step of:

providing a functional layer for interfacing over a network with the user via a user interface and interfacing with a data repository containing a plurality of content entities, the functional layer comprising a plurality of function modules, each module for executing a function pertaining to the creation or manipulation of a compilation of content selected from the plurality of content entities by the user, wherein the plurality of function modules receives requests from the user via the user interface and returns information concerning the compilation of content.

9. The program storage device of claim 8, wherein one of the function modules creates a list of content entity identifiers defining the content and order of a compilation.

10. The program storage device of claim 9, wherein at least one of the function modules manipulates the list to redefine the content or order of the compilation.

11. The program storage device of claim 8, wherein the compilation is hierarchically structured and wherein one of the function modules creates an outline of containers and content entity identifiers defining the content and hierarchical structure of a compilation.

12. The program storage device of claim 11, wherein at least one of the function modules manipulates the outline to redefine the content or structure of the compilation.

13. The program storage device of claim 11, wherein said containers comprise at least one book having at least one volume and at least one chapter.

14. The program storage device of claim 8, wherein at least one of the function modules calculates a price for the compilation of content.

15. A system for facilitating creation and manipulation of compilations of content selected by a user, comprising:

a functional layer for interfacing over a network with the user via a user interface and interfacing with a data repository containing a plurality of content entities; and

a plurality of function modules in the functional layer, each module including means for executing a function pertaining to the creation or manipulation of a compilation of content selected from the plurality of content entities by the user, wherein the plurality of function modules receives requests from the user via the user interface and returns information concerning the compilation of content.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein one of the function modules further comprises means for creating a list of content entity identifiers defining the content and order of a compilation.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein at least one of the function modules further comprises means for manipulating the list to redefine the content or order of the compilation.

18. The system of claim 15, wherein the compilation is hierarchically structured and wherein one of the function modules further comprises means for creating an outline of containers and content entity identifiers defining the content and hierarchical structure of a compilation.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein at least one of the function modules further comprises means for manipulating the outline to redefine the content or structure of the compilation.

20. The system of claim 15, wherein at least one of the function modules calculates a price for the compilation of content.