Method for constraint-based document generation

• US 7,107,525 B2
• Filed: 07/23/2002
• Issued: 09/12/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 07/23/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Xerox Corporation (Xerox Holdings Corp.)
• Inventors: Purvis, Lisa S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Herndon, Heather R.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Stevens, Robert
• Application Number:
  US10/202,183
• Publication Number:
  US 20040205472A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,512 Days
• Field of Search: 715/500, 715/517, 715/521, 715/522, 715/523, 715/524
• US Class Current: 715/244
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/103 Formatting, i.e. changing of presentation of documents automatic justification G06F40/189; automatic line break hyphenation G06F40/191
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/186 Templates
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising

Abstract

A system and method specify a custom document as a constraint satisfaction problem to create the specified document using existing constraint solving algorithms wherein the document, its content components, and its layout requirements as elements of a constraint satisfaction problem which when solved, results in an automated document layout for the set of content components. The system and method enables an automated custom document creation process, providing a wider array of output documents.

Claims

1. A method of constraint-based generation of documents comprising:

(a) electronically inputting user specified constraints;

(b) specifying, electronically and in accordance with inputted were specified constraints, document area problem variables by identifying a plurality of document areas which have associated constraints;

(c) specifying, electronically and in accordance with the inputted user specified constraints, document parameter problem variables by identifying document parameters that can be changed;

(d) specifying, electronically, document area value domains for each document area problem variable by identifying content pieces appropriate for the document areas having associated constraints;

(e) specifying, electronically, document parameter value domains for each document parameter problem variable by identifying valid ranges for each document parameter;

(f) specifying, electronically, a layout constraint which further constrains the value domain of the document parameter;

(g) specifying, electronically, content constraints which further constrain the value domains of the document areas having associated constraints;

(h) determining, electronically, a layout for a document such that the user specified constraints are satisfied; and

(i) generating, electronically, a document in accordance with the determined layout that satisfies the user specified constraints.