Tagging related files in a document management system

• US 7,086,000 B2
• Filed: 05/14/2003
• Issued: 08/01/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 08/31/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Paradise IP LLC (IP Edge LLC)
• Original Assignee: Xerox Corporation (Xerox Holdings Corp.)
• Inventors: Dourish, James P., Edwards, Warren K., Salisbury, Michael P., LaMarca, Anthony G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hutton, Doug
• Assistant Examiner(s): Singh, R.
• Application Number:
  US10/438,197
• Publication Number:
  US 20030237051A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,175 Days
• Field of Search: 715/501.1, 715/511, 715/513, 707/1
• US Class Current: 715/234
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/93 Document management systems
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99931 Database or file accessing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99935 Query augmenting and refining, e.g. inexact access

Abstract

A document management system is provided which organizes, stores and retrieves documents according to properties attached to the documents. Applications which function based on hierarchical path names communicate to the document management system through a translator. A tag is inserted into the path of a document to identify the document and represent a dynamic collection. The same tag is inserted into the path of files which support the document so that the supporting files are related to the document by the path tag. In this manner, the document management system identifies and locates all documents which are related to each other based on the tag. Thus, an application is provided with all related files even though the application may not know where the files are actually stored or retrieved from.

Claims

1. In a document management system containing a plurality of documents, a method of managing the documents including a first document and a second document which are related to each other and are identified by a location path and name, the method comprising:

associating a path tag to the first document which identifies the first document;

associating the path tag to the second document as a property representing a relationship to the first document; and

retrieving both the first and second documents by a single query based on the path tag, wherein each of the plurality of documents refer to particular content of the plurality of documents and to properties attached to the content of the plurality of documents, and wherein the properties may be static or active properties;

wherein the first document and second document are stored in physically separate repositories and the single query retrieves both the first and second documents based on the path tag.

2. The method as set forth in claim 1 wherein the retrieving includes:

requesting retrieval of the first document;

extracting the path tag from the first document; and

generating the single query to retrieve documents having the path tag associated thereto.

3. The method as set forth in claim 1 wherein the path tag is inserted in a path of the first document, and the retrieving includes:

requesting retrieval of the first document by an application based on a path and a file name of the first document, the application being unaware of the path tag associated to the first document;

extracting the path tag from the path of the first document;

locating the second file based on the path tag and providing, to the application, access to the second file where the application being unaware of a location of the second file.

4. The method according to claim 1 wherein the property identifies a desired document management system configuration for the document.

5. The method according to claim 4 wherein the active property includes:

executable code for dynamically changing the document management system configurations, the document property including the desired configuration;

assigning a triggering event to the property such that the property invokes the executable code in response to the triggering event; and

,

upon an occurrence of the triggering event, invoking the executable code of the property and dynamically changing the document management system configuration to include the desired configuration.

6. In a document management system containing a plurality of documents, a method of managing the documents including a first document and a second document which are related to each other and are identified by a location path and name, the method comprising:

associating a path tag to the first document which identifies the first document;

associating the path tag to the second document as a property representing a relationship to the first document; and

retrieving both the first and second documents by a single query based on the path tag, wherein each of the plurality of documents refer to particular content of the plurality of documents and to properties attached to the content of the plurality of documents, and wherein the properties may be static or active properties;

wherein the static property defines parameters for the desired document configuration; and

,

the active properties invoke the executable code for the desired document management system configuration in response to a triggering event.

7. The method as set forth in claim 6 wherein the retrieving includes:

requesting retrieval of the first document;

extracting the path tag from the first document; and

generating the single query to retrieve documents having the path tag associated thereto.

8. The method as set forth in claim 6 wherein the path tag is inserted in a path of the first document, and the retrieving includes:

requesting retrieval of the first document by an application based on a path and a file name of the first document, the application being unaware of the path tag associated to the first document;

extracting the path tag from the path of the first document;

locating the second file based on the path tag and providing, to the application, access to the second file where the application being unaware of a location of the second file.

9. The method according to claim 6 wherein the property identifies a desired document management system configuration for the document.

10. The method according to claim 9 wherein the active property includes:

executable code for dynamically changing the document management system configurations, the document property including the desired configuration;

assigning a triggering event to the property such that the property invokes the executable code in response to the triggering event; and

,

upon an occurrence of the triggering event, invoking the executable code of the property and dynamically changing the document management system configuration to include the desired configuration.

11. In a document management system containing a plurality of documents, a method of managing the documents including a first document and a second document which are related to each other and are identified by a location path and name, the method comprising:

associating a path tag to the first document which identifies the first document;

associating the path tag to the second document as a property representing a relationship to the first document, the property identifying a document management system configuration for the document; and

retrieving both the first and second documents by a single query based on the path tag, wherein each of the plurality of documents include content and properties associated with the content, wherein the properties may be static or active properties, and wherein the active properties include,

executable code for dynamically changing the document management system configuration, the document active property including the desired configuration,

assigning a triggering event to the active property such that the active property invokes the executable code in response to the triggering event, and,

upon an occurrence of the triggering event, invoking the executable code of the active property and dynamically changing the document management system configuration to include the desired configuration.

12. The method as set forth in claim 11 wherein the retrieving includes:

requesting retrieval of the first document;

extracting the path tag from the first document; and

generating the single query to retrieve documents having the path tag associated thereto.

13. The method as set forth in claim 11 wherein the path tag is inserted in a path of the first document, and the retrieving includes:

requesting retrieval of the first document by an application based on a path and a file name of the first document, the application being unaware of the path tag associated to the first document;

extracting the path tag from the path of the first document;

locating the second file based on the path tag and providing, to the application, access to the second file where the application being unaware of a location of the second file.