Method and system for adding user-provided content to a content object stored in a data repository

• US 7,340,481 B1
• Filed: 01/21/2000
• Issued: 03/04/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 01/21/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation, Pearson Education Incorporated (Pearson plc)
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation, Pearson Education Incorporated (Pearson plc)
• Inventors: Hartman, Robert C. Jr., Murray, Janet L., Walkus, Richard W., Kao, I-Ming, Johnson, Eugene Jr., Hennessy, Richard D., Baer, William J., Robertson, Jerry D. III, Hanapole, Edward, Barker, James A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Pham; Hung Q.
• Application Number:
  US09/488,976
• Time in Patent Office: 2,965 Days
• Field of Search: 707/103.R, 707/103.Y, 707/103.X, 707/103.Z, 707/104.1, 707/101, 707/200, 707/10, 707/514, 707/907, 707/102
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/166 Editing, e.g. inserting or deleting
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99942 Manipulating data structure, e.g. compression, compaction, compilation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99943 Generating database or data structure, e.g. via user interface
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99944 Object-oriented database structure
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99945 Object-oriented database structure processing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99948 Application of database or data structure, e.g. distributed, multimedia, or image

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. User-provided content is added to the compilation by receiving input content and a target location in the content object from a user, assigning the content an identifier, storing the content in the data repository, and adding its identifier to the list or outline. As an aspect of the invention, a user interface is provided including mechanisms for enabling a user to input the content and specify a target location for the content (e.g., by inserting the title of the user-provided content entity between other entity titles on the outline. Both containers and noncontainers may be added in this fashion.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for adding user-provided content to a user-defined web-based content object being one of a book, a collection of images, an album, a video and a multimedia object and stored as a plurality of content entities in a data repository, comprising the steps of:

defining the web-based content object by a list of content entity identifiers, wherein each content entity identifier identifies a corresponding content entity in the data repository selected by a user for inclusion in the web-based content object from pre-existing material;

receiving content from the user via a web user interface for inclusion in the defined web-based content object, wherein the user-provided content is custom content for the defined web-based content object that is supplied by the user and unavailable from the pre-existing material stored within the data repository;

assigning the user-provided content a title and a content entity identifier, and storing the user-provided content with the assigned title and content entity identifier in the data repository, wherein the assigned content entity identifier includes a sequence number, and

adding the assigned title and content entity identifier of the user-provided content to the list of content entity identifiers, whereby the user-provided content is added to the web-based content object.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising the step of receiving a user-provided location for inserting the content entity identifier of the user-provided content into the web-based content object, and inserting the content entity identifier into the list at that location.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 2, further comprising the steps of providing a user interface communicating with the data repository, and providing mechanisms for receiving the user-provided content and specification of a desired location through the user interface.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein said list includes a hierarchical outline of containers and content entity identifiers, and wherein each container represents an outline hierarchical tier and includes at least one content entity identifier forming a subordinate outline hierarchical tier.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 4, further comprising the step of receiving a user-provided location for inserting the identifier of the user-provided content into the web-based content object, and inserting the identifier into the hierarchical outline of containers at that location.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 4, wherein the user-provided content comprises a content entity.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 4, wherein the user-provided content comprises a container.

8. The computer-implemented method of claim 5, further comprising the steps of providing a user interface communicating with the data repository, and providing mechanisms for receiving the user-provided content and specification of a desired location through the user interface.

9. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein said data repository includes a plurality of object servers and components of the web-based content object are stored in more than one of the plurality of object servers.

10. A program storage device readable by a machine, tangibly embodying a program of instructions executable by the machine to perform method steps for adding user-provided content to a user-defined web-based content object being one of a book, a collection of images, an album, a video and a multimedia object and stored as a plurality of content entities in a data repository, the method comprising the steps of:

defining the web-based content object by a list of content entity identifiers, wherein each content entity identifier identifies a corresponding content entity in the data repository selected by a user for inclusion in the web-based content object from pre-existing material;

receiving content from the user via a web user interface for inclusion in the defined web-based content object, wherein the user-provided content is custom content for the defined web-based content object that is supplied by the user and unavailable from the pre-existing material stored within the data repository;

assigning the user-provided content a title and a content entity identifier, and storing the user-provided content with the assigned title and content entity identifier in the data repository, wherein the assigned content entity identifier includes a sequence number; and

adding the assigned title and content entity identifier of the user-provided content to the list of content entity identifiers, whereby the user-provided content is added to the web-based content object.

11. The program storage device of claim 10, wherein said method further comprises the step of receiving a user-provided location for inserting the content entity identifier of the user-provided content into the web-based content object, and inserting the content entity identifier into the list at that location.

12. The program storage device of claim 11, wherein said method further comprises the steps of providing a user interface communicating with the data repository, and providing mechanisms for receiving the user-provided content and specification of a desired location through the user interface.

13. The program storage device of claim 10, wherein said list includes a hierarchical outline of containers and content entity identifiers, and wherein each container represents an outline hierarchical tier and includes at least one content entity identifier forming a subordinate outline hierarchical tier.

14. The program storage device of claim 13, wherein said method further comprises the step of receiving a user-provided location for inserting the content entity identifier of the user-provided content into the web-based content object, and inserting the content entity identifier into the hierarchical outline of containers at that location.

15. The program storage device of claim 13, wherein the user-provided content comprises a content entity.

16. The program storage device of claim 13, wherein the user-provided content comprises a container.

17. The program storage device of claim 14, wherein said method further comprises the steps of providing a user interface communicating with the data repository, and providing mechanisms for receiving the user-provided content and specification of a desired location through the user interface.

18. A system for adding user-provided content to a user-defined web-based content object being one of a book, a collection of images, an album, a video and a multimedia object and stored as a plurality of content entities in a data repository, comprising:

a computer system interfacing with the data repository;

means for defining the web-based content object by a list of content entity identifiers, wherein each content entity identifier identifies a corresponding content entity in the data repository selected by a user for inclusion in the web-based content object from pre-existing material;

means for receiving content from the user via a web user interface for inclusion in the defined web-based content object, wherein the user-provided content is custom content for the defined web-based content object that is supplied by the user and unavailable from the pre-existing material stored within the data repository;

means for assigning the user-provided content a title and a content entity identifier, and for storing the user-provided content with the assigned title and content entity identifier in the data repository, wherein the assigned content entity identifier includes a sequence number; and

means for adding the assigned title and content entity identifier of the user-provided content to the list of content entity identifiers, whereby the user-provided content is added to the web-based content object.

19. The system of claim 18, further comprising means for receiving a user-provided location for inserting the content entity identifier of the user-provided content into the web-based content object, and means for inserting the content entity identifier into the list at that location.

20. The system of claim 19, further comprising a user interface communicating with the data repository, and a mechanism for receiving the user-provided content and specification of a desired location through the user interface.

21. The system of claim 18, wherein said list includes a hierarchical outline of containers and content entity identifiers, and wherein each container represents an outline hierarchical tier and includes at least one content entity identifier forming a subordinate outline hierarchical tier.

22. The system of claim 21, further comprising means for receiving a user-provided location for inserting the content entity identifier of the user-provided content into the web-based content object, and means for inserting the content entity identifier into the hierarchical outline of containers at that location.

23. The system of claim 21, wherein the user-provided content comprises a content entity.

24. The system of claim 21, wherein the user-provided content comprises a container.

25. The system of claim 22, further comprising a user interface communicating with the data repository, and a mechanism for receiving the user-provided content and specification of a desired location through the user interface.

26. A computer-implemented method for adding user-provided content to a user-defined web-based custom content object being one of a book, a collection of images, an album, a video and a multimedia object and stored as a plurality of content entities in a digital library having a library server, and one or more object servers, the method comprising the steps of:

defining the web-based custom content object by a list of content entity identifiers, wherein each content entity identifier identifies a corresponding content entity in the digital library selected by a user for inclusion in the web-based custom content object from pre-existing material;

receiving content from the user via a web user interface for inclusion in the defined web-based custom content object, wherein the user-provided content is custom content for the defined web-based custom content object that is supplied by the user and unavailable from the pre-existing material stored within the digital library;

assigning the user-provided content a title and a content entity identifier, and storing the user-provided content with the assigned title and content entity identifier in one or more object servers, wherein the assigned content entity identifier includes a sequence number; and

adding the assigned title and content entity identifier of the user-provided content to the list of content entity identifiers, whereby the user-provided content is added to the web-based custom content object;

storing said web-based custom content object in said one or more object servers; and

storing information specifying the web-based custom content object and attribute information concerning the web-based custom content object in the library server.