Rule-based record profiles to automate record declaration of electronic documents

• US 8,290,916 B2
• Filed: 07/09/2009
• Issued: 10/16/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 07/09/2009
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Vu, Bao Q., Wallace, Jeffrey Lynn
• Primary Examiner(s): Corrielus, Jean M
• Assistant Examiner(s): GOFMAN, ALEX N
• Application Number:
  US12/500,371
• Publication Number:
  US 20110010348A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,195 Days
• Field of Search: 707/694
• US Class Current: 707/694
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/35 Clustering; Classification

Abstract

According to one embodiment of the present invention, a method for automatic record declaration is provided. The method includes providing a plurality of record profiles including information that uniquely defines how a new record is to be declared. A plurality of mapping definitions are provided including a set of rules to select a particular record profile, each mapping definition being associated with only one document class. A new document is received and the set of rules applied to the new document until a matching record profile is found. The matching record profile is used to declare a new record for the new document.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

providing a plurality of record profiles including information that uniquely defines how a new record is to be declared;

providing a plurality of mapping definitions including an ordered set of rules to select a particular one of said plurality of record profiles, each mapping definition being associated with a respective one of a plurality of document classes, wherein each rule in said ordered set of rules corresponds to a respective one of said plurality of record profiles and comprises a combination of logical operations that are applied to specific property values of a new document that has been checked into an object store, wherein each mapping definition further includes a match rule at the end of said ordered set of rules that is a default record profile mapping rule corresponding to a default record profile in said plurality of record profiles, and wherein said match rule is satisfied in the event that no match occurs for any of the other rules in said set of ordered rules;

transmitting one or more subscription requests for check-in events for said plurality of document classes to an object store event manager, wherein said object store event manager transmits a check-in event whenever a document belonging to one of said plurality of document classes is checked into said object store;

receiving a check-in event specifying that a new document from one of said plurality of document classes has been checked into said object store;

automatically determining a matching record profile to use in declaring a new record for said new document by applying, by operation of one or more computer processors, said ordered set of rules to said new document until said matching record profile is found; and

using said matching record profile to automatically declare a new record for said new document without any user interaction.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein said providing a plurality of record profiles comprises providing record profiles including a symbolic name of a record class, a file plan location and a flag to provide for the automatic transfer of document property values to matching record property values.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein said providing a plurality of record profiles comprises storing an electronic record associated with said record profile.

4. The method according to claim 3, wherein said providing a plurality of record profiles comprises providing a name to identify said record profile and a descriptive text string describing said record profile.

5. The method according to claim 4, wherein said providing a plurality of record profiles comprises providing at least one default property values to assign to the properties of said record class.

6. The method according to claim 2, wherein said flag provides for the automatic transfer of document property values to matching record property values based on said property symbolic name.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein providing a plurality of mapping definitions includes providing a name to identify said mapping definition and a descriptive text string.

8. The method according to claim 7, wherein providing a plurality of mapping definitions includes providing a symbolic name of said document class that said mapping definition applies to.

9. The method according to claim 7, wherein providing a plurality of mapping definitions includes applying said ordered set of rules one at a time to said new document until a successful match is found.

10. A method comprising:

providing a plurality of record profiles including information than can uniquely define how a new record is to be declared;

providing a plurality of mapping definitions including an ordered set of rules to select a particular one of said plurality of record profiles, each mapping definition being associated with a respective one of a plurality of document classes, wherein each rule in said ordered set of rules corresponds to a respective one of said plurality of record profiles and comprises a combination of logical operations that are applied to specific property values of a new document that has been checked into an object store, wherein each mapping definition further includes a match rule at the end of said ordered set of rules that is a default record profile mapping rule corresponding to a default record profile in said plurality of record profiles, and wherein said match rule is satisfied in the event that no match occurs for any of the other rules in said set of ordered rules;

transmitting one or more subscription requests for check-in events for said plurality of document classes to an object store event manager, wherein said object store event manager transmits a check-in event whenever a document belonging to one of said plurality of document classes is checked into said object store;

receiving a check-in event specifying that a new document from one of said plurality of document classes has been checked into said object store;

automatically determining a matching record profile to use in declaring a new record for said new document by applying, by operation of one or more computer processors, said ordered set of rules to said new document until said matching record profile is found; and

upon determining that no matching record profile could be found, launching a pre-defined workflow to allow for manual record profile selection.

11. The method according to claim 10, further comprising applying said ordered set of rules one at a time to said new document until a successful match is found.

12. A system comprising:

a processor; and

a memory containing a program configured for execution on the processor, the program comprising;

a record profile configuration user interface;

a set of record profiles generated by said record profile configuration user interface;

a mapping definition configuration user interface;

a set of mapping definitions generated by said mapping definition configuration user interface definitions, wherein each mapping definition in the set of mapping definitions includes an ordered set of rules to select a particular one of said plurality of record profiles, each mapping definition being associated with a respective one of a plurality of document classes, wherein each rule in said ordered set of rules corresponds to a respective one of said plurality of record profiles and comprises a combination of logical operations that are applied to specific property values of a new document that has been checked into an object store, wherein each mapping definition further includes a match rule at the end of said ordered set of rules that is a default record profile mapping rule corresponding to a default record profile in said plurality of record profiles, and wherein said match rule is satisfied in the event that no match occurs for any of the other rules in said set of ordered rules;

a content engine event handler configured to transmit one or more subscription requests for check-in events for said plurality of document classes to an object store event manager, wherein said object store event manager transmits a check-in event whenever a document belonging to one of said plurality of document classes is checked into said object store and further configured to receive a check-in event specifying that a new document from one of said plurality of document classes has been checked into said object store, and further to automatically apply at least one of said mapping definitions to said new document to select one of said record profiles to be associated with said new document; and

a new record declaration unit for using said selected record profile to automatically declarate a new record for said new document without any user interaction.

13. The system according to claim 12 further comprising at least one file plan location into which said new record is to be filed.

14. The system according to claim 12 further comprising a Boolean flag for the automatic transfer of document property values to matching record property values.

15. The system according to claim 12 further comprising a predefined workflow to allow for manual record profile selection in cases where said content engine event handler is unable to select a record profile to associate with said new document.

16. A system comprising:

a processor; and

a memory containing a program configured for execution on the processor, the program comprising;

a record profile configuration user interface;

a set of record profiles generated by said record profile configuration user interface;

a mapping definition configuration user interface;

a set of mapping definitions generated by said mapping definition configuration user interface, wherein each mapping definition in the set of mapping definitions includes an ordered set of rules to select a particular one of said plurality of record profiles and is associated with a respective one of a plurality of document classes, wherein each rule in said ordered set of rules corresponds to a respective one of said plurality of record profiles and comprises a combination of logical operations that are applied to specific property values of a new document that has been checked into an object store, wherein each mapping definition further includes a match rule at the end of said ordered set of rules that is a default record profile mapping rule corresponding to a default record profile in said plurality of record profiles, and wherein said match rule is satisfied in the event that no match occurs for any of the other rules in said set of ordered rules;

a content engine event handler configured to transmit one or more subscription requests for check-in events for said plurality of document classes to an object store event manager, wherein said object store event manager transmits a check-in event whenever a document belonging to one of said plurality of document classes is checked into said object store and further configured to receive a check-in event specifying that a new document from one of said plurality of document classes has been checked into said object store, and further to automatically apply at least one of said mapping definitions to said new document to select one of said record profiles to be associated with said new document; and

a new record declaration unit for using said selected record profile to declare a new record for said new document.

17. The system according to claim 16 further comprising a record management system for receiving said new record declaration.

18. The system according to claim 17 wherein said record management system is a FileNet system.

19. A computer program product for automatic record declaration, said computer program product comprising:

a computer-readable storage medium having computer usable program code embodied therewith, said computer usable program code comprising;

computer usable program code which, when executed by operation of one or more computer processors, is configured to;

provide a plurality of record profiles including information that uniquely defines how a new record is to be declared;

provide a plurality of mapping definitions including a set of rules to select a particular record profile, wherein each mapping definition in the set of mapping definitions includes an ordered set of rules to select a particular one of said plurality of record profiles and is associated with a respective one of a plurality of document classes, wherein each rule in said ordered set of rules corresponds to a respective one of said plurality of record profiles and comprises a combination of logical operations that are applied to specific property values of a new document that has been checked into an object store, wherein each mapping definition further includes a match rule at the end of said ordered set of rules that is a default record profile mapping rule corresponding to a default record profile in said plurality of record profiles, and wherein said match rule is satisfied in the event that no match occurs for any of the other rules in said set of ordered rules;

transmitting one or more subscription requests for check-in events for said plurality of document classes to an object store event manager, wherein said object store event manager transmits a check-in event whenever a document belonging to one of said plurality of document classes is checked into said object store;

receive a check-in event specifying that a new document from one of said plurality of document classes has been checked into said object store;

automatically determine a matching record profile to use in declaring a new record for said new document by applying, by operation of one or more computer processors, said ordered set of rules to said new document until said matching record profile is found; and

use said matching record profile to automatically declare a new record for said new document without any user interaction.

20. The computer program product according to claim 19 wherein said computer usable program code is further configured to apply said ordered set of rules one at a time to said new document until a successful match is found.