Digital asset server and asset management system

• US 7,092,974 B2
• Filed: 03/12/2003
• Issued: 08/15/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 03/12/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SAP America Incorporated (SAP SE)
• Original Assignee: Right Hemisphere Ltd. (SAP SE)
• Inventors: Lynch, Michael Sutherland, Dauncey, David Gideon, Thomas, Mark Ivan
• Primary Examiner(s): Mofiz, Apu M.
• Application Number:
  US10/387,248
• Publication Number:
  US 20040181548A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,252 Days
• Field of Search: 707/1, 707/4, 707/201, 707/203, 707/200, 707/104.1, 380/231, 345/600, 709/227, 715/744, 715/762
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/51 Indexing; Data structures therefor; Storage structures
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/58 Retrieval characterised by using metadata, e.g. metadata not derived from the content or metadata generated manually
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99954 Version management

Abstract

The graphic file management system of the present invention provides users with the ability to control the complexity, flow, and quality (performance, ease of use, and scalability) of managing and usage of graphic files across enterprises. In particular, the system of the present invention allows for automated and dynamic repurposing (maintenance, use and manipulation) of large amounts of digital graphic data or files. The system comprises a server which can manipulate graphic files and establishes links to each graphic file, and a database on which the server stores the links. The server can create other formats of a particular graphic file and allows for amendments to graphic files to be tracked.

Claims

1. A graphic file management system that enables a user, having a computer connected to a computer network, to maintain, use and manipulate graphic files in a plurality of different electronic formats, which are stored on said computer network comprising:

a server which can retrieve said graphic files available within said network and establish a link to each of said graphic files,

a database on said network in which said server stores said links,

an interface that allows said user access to said server,

said server being programmed to;

a) create at least one other file format for each of said graphic files when establishing said links, where said at least one other file format is stored on said network and is accessible to said user through said interface and said server,

b) allow a user to select a graphic file and select from the available formats for said file,

c) create a copy of said file so selected by a user,

d) allow the user to manipulate said copy of said selected file,

e) create a link between said selected file and said manipulated copy of said selected file,

f) allow a user to embed said manipulated file into another file to create an embedded file,

g) create a further link between said embedded file and said selected file, and

h) update said embedded file through said further link if said selected file is further manipulated.

2. A graphic file management system according to claim 1 wherein said server is programmable to store a copy of each of said graphic files in said database.

3. A graphic file management system according to claim 1 wherein said server is programmable to search said computer network for graphic files and create links to each of said graphic files in said database.

4. A graphic file management system according to claim 1 or claim 3 wherein said server is programmable to search for manipulated graphic files linked to or stored in said database and creates links to said manipulated graphic files on said database.

5. A graphic file management system according to claim 1 or 3 wherein said user interface enables said user to view at least one other file format of each of said graphic files stored in or linked to said database.

6. A graphic file management system according to claim 1 wherein said server is programmable to combine at least two user selected graphic files, having different electronic formats, into a single graphic file having a predetermined electronic format.

7. A graphic file management system according to claim 1 wherein said server is programmable to divide a selected one of said graphic files into a plurality of graphic files.