Distributed document version control
First Claim
1. A computer-implemented method comprising:
- receiving, by a server from a client, an offline audit log containing information with respect to modifications made to content provided within a first electronic document that is retained locally at the client, wherein the server forms part of a distributed document control system;
making a determination, without active participation of the document author, and based at least in part on the information contained within the offline audit log, whether the first electronic document should supersede a second electronic document in the distributed document control system; and
storing, based on the determination, information in the distributed document control system that links the first electronic document with the second electronic document in a superior-subordinate relationship such that when a request to modify content provided within the second electronic document is received, the distributed document control system forces content provided within the first electronic document to be modified;
where receiving the offline audit log, making the determination and storing information in the distributed document control system are performed by one or more computers programmed to perform these operations.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Systems and techniques to provide distributed document version control. In general, in one implementation, the technique includes: receiving information, in a distributed document control system, specifying a locally saved copy of a first electronic document; determining, in response to the received information, whether the first electronic document should supersede a second electronic document in the distributed document control system; and storing, based on an outcome of the determining, information in the distributed document control system that links the first electronic document with the second electronic document in a superior-subordinate relationship such that when an action is requested with respect to the second, subordinate electronic document, the distributed document control system forces an action to be taken with respect to the first, superior electronic document. Various implementations include those in computer program products and client-server systems.
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Citations
21 Claims
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1. A computer-implemented method comprising:
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receiving, by a server from a client, an offline audit log containing information with respect to modifications made to content provided within a first electronic document that is retained locally at the client, wherein the server forms part of a distributed document control system; making a determination, without active participation of the document author, and based at least in part on the information contained within the offline audit log, whether the first electronic document should supersede a second electronic document in the distributed document control system; and storing, based on the determination, information in the distributed document control system that links the first electronic document with the second electronic document in a superior-subordinate relationship such that when a request to modify content provided within the second electronic document is received, the distributed document control system forces content provided within the first electronic document to be modified; where receiving the offline audit log, making the determination and storing information in the distributed document control system are performed by one or more computers programmed to perform these operations. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A computer program product, tangibly embodied in a computer-readable storage medium, operable to cause one or more data processing apparatus to perform operations comprising:
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receiving, by a server from a client, an offline audit log containing information with respect to modifications made to content provided within a first electronic document that is retained locally at the client; making a comparison of data of the first electronic document with data of a second electronic document to determine whether the first electronic document should supersede the second electronic document in a distributed document control system, wherein the determination is based, at least in part, on the information contained within the offline audit log; and based on the determination, storing information in the distributed document control system that links the first electronic document with the second electronic document in a superior-subordinate relationship such that when a request to modify content provided within the second electronic document is received, the distributed document control system provides authorization to modify content provided within the first electronic document. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A system comprising:
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a client computer system, including a processor and a memory, operable to send a notification regarding a locally retained copy of a first electronic document, wherein the notification includes an offline audit log containing information with respect to modifications made to content provided within the first electronic document; and a server computer system, including a processor and a memory, operable to receive the notification, and in response to the notification, the server computer system being operable to determine, based at least in part on the information contained within the offline audit log, whether the first electronic document should supersede a second electronic document, and store information that links the first electronic document with the second electronic document in a superior-subordinate relationship such that when a client attempts to modify content provided within the second electronic document, the server computer system provides authorization to modify content provided within the first electronic document in place of the second electronic document. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21)
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Specification