Maltweb multi-axis viewing interface and higher level scoping

• US 8,983,955 B2
• Filed: 12/20/2012
• Issued: 03/17/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 01/31/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: TimeBase Pty Limited (Fiscalnote Holdings, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: TimeBase Pty Limited (Fiscalnote Holdings, Inc.)
• Inventors: Mariani, Peter, Schnelle, Christophe, Lessing, Abha
• Primary Examiner(s): VU, BAI DUC
• Application Number:
  US13/722,333
• Publication Number:
  US 20130124975A1
• Time in Patent Office: 817 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 707/736
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/2264 Multidimensional index structures
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/84 Mapping; Conversion
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/93 Document management systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/134 Hyperlinking
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/143 Markup, e.g. Standard Generalized Markup Language [SGML] or Document Type Definition [DTD]

Abstract

A method, apparatus and computer program product for navigating in a multi-dimensional space containing an electronic publication formed from predefined portions of text-based data encoded using a markup language are disclosed. A selected predefined portion is displayed in a first display region. A point on a primary axis of the multi-dimensional space corresponding to the displayed pre-defined portion is also displayed. Also, a method, apparatus and computer program product for publishing an electronic publication formed from predefined portions of text-based data encoded using a markup language are also disclosed. Predefined portions are stored in terminal nodes. Higher level nodes are provided for organizing the terminal nodes into an hierarchical structure embodied in said electronic publication. Each higher level node contains the identity of a parent node, a position indicator for the higher level node and an associated identifier.

Claims

1. A computer readable medium for managing electronic information, comprising:

a plurality of predefined portions of text-based data with at least one of said plurality of predefined portions of text-based data being stored;

at least one modified predefined portion of text-based data, said at least one modified predefined portion of text-based data being created based at least in part on modifications to at least one of said plurality of predefined portions of text-based data; and

said at least one modified predefined portion of text-based data being stored;

a plurality of links comprising at least one of code or a markup language, at least one of said plurality of predefined portions of said text-based data and said at least one modified predefined portion of text-based data being associated with at least one of said plurality of links; and

a plurality of attributes for organizing at least one of said plurality of predefined portions of text-based data and said at least one modified predefined portion of text-based data, at least one of said plurality of attributes defining a point in a multidimensional space.

2. The computer readable medium according to claim 1, wherein searching of the recording medium is allowed.

3. The computer readable medium according to claim 2, wherein said searching allows search based on one or more of the said plurality of attributes.

4. The computer readable medium according to claim 2, wherein said searching is based on at least one of (i) one or more of the said plurality of predefined portions of text-based data, (ii) said at least one modified predefined portion of text-based data, and (iii) a word or phrase within at least one or more of the said plurality of predefined portions of text-based data or said at least one modified predefined portion of text-based data.

5. The computer readable medium according to claim 1, wherein a search engine allowing search of at least one of said plurality of predefined portions of text-based data uses at least one of said plurality of attributes, wherein at least one of said plurality of attributes are associated with at least one of said plurality of predefined portions of text-based data for retrieving one or more of said plurality of predefined portions of text-based data by using at least one of said plurality of attributes to define a point in said multidimensional space.

6. The computer readable medium according to claim 1, wherein said text-based data is encoded using one or more Document Type Definitions (DTD) or Style Sheet Mechanisms (SSM).

7. The computer readable medium according to claim 1, wherein said plurality of links comprises any data in addition to the text-based data.

8. The computer readable medium according to claim 7, wherein at least one of said plurality of links comprises code or markup that allows departure and destination points to be created between said plurality of predefined portions of text-based data.

9. The computer readable medium according to claim 1, wherein at least one of said plurality of links comprises an identification code for a corresponding one of said plurality of predefined portions of text-based data.

10. The computer readable medium according to claim 1, wherein a first database comprises said plurality of predefined portions of text-based data.

11. The computer readable medium according to claim 10, wherein a second database comprises said plurality of attributes for managing said first database.

12. The computer readable medium according to claim 1, wherein at least one of said plurality of predefined portions of text-based data are associated with one or more attributes.

13. The computer readable medium according to claim 1, wherein at least one of said plurality of predefined portions of text-based data is capable of being modified by performing one of the group consisting of adding at least one attribute to said at least one of said plurality of predefined portions of text-based data, deleting at least one attribute from said at least one of said plurality of predefined portions of text-based data, and modifying at least one of the attributes of said at least one of said plurality of predefined portions of text-based data.

14. The computer readable medium according to claim 1, wherein at least one of said plurality of predefined portions of text-based data are capable of being modified by performing one of the group consisting of adding data to said at least one of said plurality of predefined portions of text-based data, deleting data from said at least one of said plurality of predefined portions of text-based data, and modifying data of said at least one of said plurality of predefined portions of text-based data.

15. The computer readable medium according to claim 1, wherein at least one of said plurality of predefined portions of text-based data comprises legislation.

16. The computer readable medium according to claim 15, wherein at least one of said plurality of predefined portions of text-based data is a provision of legislation.

17. The computer readable medium according to claim 16, wherein said provision of legislation is one of a section or schedule of an Act, or a section or schedule of a regulation.

18. The computer readable medium according to claim 1, wherein said recording medium is made from one of the group consisting of magnetic media, optical media, and magneto-optical media.

19. The computer readable medium according to claim 1, wherein at least one of said plurality of predefined portions of text-based data is a block of text-based data that is larger than a single word but smaller than an entire document.

20. The computer readable medium according to claim 1, wherein said multidimensional space is configured to permit point-to-point movement within said multidimensional space.

21. The computer readable medium according to claim 1, wherein a selectable link allows display of a first of versions of at least one of said plurality of predefined portions of text-based data.

22. The recording medium according to claim 1, wherein said electronic information comprises a document and wherein said document comprises more than one of said predefined portions.

23. The recording medium according to claim 1, wherein said electronic information comprises a computer file and wherein said computer file comprises more than one of said predefined portions.

24. The recording medium according to claim 1, wherein said multidimensional space includes at least two axes and wherein for each of said at least two axes, navigation along a first axis is possible both before and after making a unidirectional movement along a second axis.

25. The recording medium according to claim 1, wherein said multidimensional space includes a time axis.

26. The recording medium according to claim 25, wherein said time axis does not restrict navigation to predefined portions contained in the same document name.

27. The recording medium according to claim 25, wherein the time axis has the capability of representing intervals of time during which no version of the predefined portion is valid.

28. The recording medium according to claim 25, wherein navigation along the time axis can indicate that the predefined portion is inactive after a certain date.

29. The recording medium according to claim 1, wherein the multidimensional space comprises non-terminal nodes in a hierarchy and wherein said non-terminal nodes do not possess scope.

30. The recording medium according to claim 1, wherein the multidimensional space comprises non-terminal nodes in a hierarchy and wherein said non-terminal nodes do not possess content.

31. The recording medium according to claim 1, wherein the multidimensional space comprises non-terminal nodes in a hierarchy and wherein said non-terminal nodes possess neither scope nor content.

32. A computer-implemented method for managing electronic information, the method comprising:

providing a plurality of predefined portions of text-based data with at least one of said plurality of predefined portions of text-based data being stored;

providing at least one modified predefined portion of text-based data, said at least one modified predefined portion of text-based data being created based at least in part on modifications to at least one of said plurality of predefined portions of text-based data; and

said at least one modified predefined portion of text-based data being stored;

associating at least one of said plurality of predefined portions of text-based data and said at least one modified predefined portion of text-based data with at least one of a plurality of finks comprising at least one of code or a markup language; and

a plurality of attributes for organizing at least one of said plurality of predefined portions of text-based data and said at least one modified predefined portion of text-based data, at least one of said plurality of attributes defining a point in a multidimensional space;

wherein said multidimensional space is capable of or involves more than three dimensions.

33. The method according to claim 32, further comprising allowing searching within the system.

34. The method according to claim 33, wherein said searching is based on one or more of the said plurality of attributes.

35. The method according to claim 33, wherein said searching is based on at least one of (i) one or more of the said plurality of predefined portions of text-based data, (ii) said at least one modified predefined portion of text-based data, and (iii) a word or phrase within at least one or more of the said plurality of predefined portions of text-based data or said at least one modified predefined portion of text-based data.

36. The method according to claim 32, further comprising allowing searching of at least one of said plurality of predefined portions of text-based data using at least one of said plurality of attributes, wherein one of said plurality of attributes are associated with said plurality of predefined portions of text-based data for retrieving one or more of said plurality of predefined portions of text-based data by using at least one of said plurality of attributes to define a point in said multidimensional space.

37. The method according to claim 32, wherein said text-based data is encoded using one or more Document Type Definitions (DTD) or Style Sheet Mechanisms (SSM).

38. The method according to claim 32, wherein said plurality of links comprises any data in addition to the text-based data.

39. The method according to claim 38, wherein at least one of said plurality of links comprises code or markup that allows departure and destination points to be created between said plurality of predefined portions of text-based data.

40. The method according to claim 32, wherein at least one of said plurality of links comprises an identification code for a corresponding one of said plurality of predefined portions of text-based data.

41. The method according to claim 32, wherein a first database comprises said plurality of predefined portions of text-based data.

42. The method according to claim 41, wherein a second database comprises said plurality of attributes for managing said first database.

43. The method according to claim 32, wherein at least one of said plurality of predefined portions of text-based data are associated with one or more attributes.

44. The method according to claim 32, wherein at least one of said plurality of predefined portions of text-based data is capable of being modified by performing one of the group consisting of adding at least one attribute to said at least one of said plurality of predefined portions of text-based data, deleting at least one attribute from said at least one of said plurality of predefined portions of text-based data, and modifying at least one of the attributes of said at least one of said plurality of predefined portions of text-based data.

45. The method according to claim 32, wherein at least one of said plurality of predefined portions of text-based data is capable of being modified by performing one of the group consisting of adding data to said at least one of said plurality of predefined portions of text-based data, deleting data from said at least one of said plurality of predefined portions of text-based data, and modifying data of said at least one of said plurality of predefined portions of text-based data.

46. The method according to claim 32, wherein at least one of said plurality of predefined portions of text-based data comprises legislation.

47. The method according to claim 46, wherein at least one of said plurality of predefined portions of text-based data is a provision of legislation.

48. The method according to claim 47, wherein said provision of legislation is one of a section or schedule of an Act, or a section or schedule of a regulation.

49. The method according to claim 32, wherein at least one of said plurality of predefined portions of text-based data is a block of text-based data that is larger than a single word but smaller than an entire document.

50. The method according to claim 32, wherein said multidimensional space is configured to permit point-to-point movement within said multidimensional space.

51. The method according to claim 32, wherein a selectable link allows display of a list of versions of at least one of said plurality of predefined portions of text-based data.

52. The method according to claim 32, wherein the at least three dimensions are axes along which, or along some combination of which, point-to-point movement is permitted.

53. A computer-implemented system for managing electronic information, the system comprising:

a plurality of predefined portions of text-based data stored in a memory device and accessible over a network with at least one of said plurality of predefined portions of text-based data being stored;

at least one modified predefined portion of text-based data, said at least one modified predefined portion of text-based data being created based at least in part on modifications to at least one of said plurality of predefined portions of text-based data; and

said at least one modified predefined portion of text-based data being stored so that the at least one of said plurality of predefined portions of text-based data and said corresponding modified predefined portion of text-based data are both stored;

a plurality of links stored in said memory device comprising at least one of code or a markup language at least one of said plurality of predefined portions of said text-based data and said at least one modified predefined portion of text-based data being associated with at least one of said plurality of links; and

a plurality of attributes for organizing and retrieving at least one of said plurality of predefined portions of text-based data and said at least one modified predefined portion of text-based data, at least one of said plurality of attributes defining a point in a multidimensional space;

wherein at least one of said plurality of predefined portions of text-based data and said at least one modified predefined portion of text-based data are locatable by a processor executing instructions stored in said memory device by using at least one of plurality of attributes to define points in said multidimensional space.

54. A computer-implemented method for managing electronic information, the method comprising:

providing a plurality of predefined portions of text-based data with at least one of said predefined portions of text-based data being stored;

providing at least one modified predefined portion of text-based data, said at least one modified predefined portion of text-based data being created based at least in part on modifications to at least one of said plurality of predefined portions of text-based data; and

said at least one modified predefined portion of text-based data being stored so that the at least one of said plurality of predefined portions of text-based data and said corresponding modified predefined portion of text-based data are both stored;

associating at least one of said plurality of predefined portions of said text-based data and said at least one modified predefined portion of text-based data with at least one of a plurality of links comprising at least one of code or a markup language; and

a plurality of attributes for organizing at least one of said plurality of predefined portions of text-based data and said at least one modified predefined portion of text-based data, at least one of said plurality of attributes defining a point in a multidimensional space;

wherein at least one of said plurality of predefined portions of text-based data and said at least one modified predefined portion of text-based data are locatable by using at least one of said plurality of attributes to define points in said multidimensional space.

55. A method for electronically managing text-based data, the method comprising:

dividing said text-based data into a plurality of portions of text-based data;

amending at least one of said plurality of portions of text-based data;

storing at least one of said plurality of portions of text-based data;

storing said amended portion of text-based data;

providing a plurality of attributes, wherein at least one of said plurality of attributes defines at least in part a manner in which at least one of said plurality of portions of text-based data and said amended portion of text-based data can is organizable and linkable in a multidimensional space;

associating at least one of said plurality of portions of text-based data and said amended portion of text-based data with at least one link comprising at least one of code or markup language enabled at least in part by at least one of said plurality of attributes;

enabling a user to search at least one of said plurality of portions of text-based data and said amended portion of text-based data using at least one of said plurality of attributes; and

allowing the results of said search be available to a user by;

providing at least one of said plurality of portions of text-based data or said amended portion of text-based data in response to said search; and

providing one or both of (I) text, or (ii) one or more selectable links representing at least one additional attribute.

56. The method according to claim 55, wherein said searching uses one or more attributes.

57. The method according to claim 55, wherein at least one of said plurality of portions of text-based data and said amended portion of text-based data are encoded using one or more Document Type Definitions (DTD) or Style Sheet Mechanisms (SSM).

58. The method according to claim 55, wherein said at least one link comprises any piece of information additional to the text of at least one of said plurality of portions of text-based data and said amended portion of text-based data.

59. The method according to claim 58, wherein said at least one link comprises code that allows departure and destination points to be created between at least one of said plurality of portions of text-based data and said amended portion of text-based data.

60. The method according to claim 55, wherein said at least one link comprises an identification code for a corresponding at least one of said plurality of portions of text-based data or said amended portion text-based data.

61. The method according to claim 55, wherein said amended portion of text-based data is amended by performing at least one of the group consisting of adding data to one of said plurality of portions of text-based data, deleting data from one of said plurality of portions of text-based data, and modifying data of one of said plurality of portions of text-based data.

62. The method according to claim 55, wherein at least one of said plurality of portions of text-based data and said amendment portion of text-based data comprises legislation or material related to a provision of said legislation.

63. The method according to claim 62, wherein at least one of the plurality of portions of text-based data is a respective provision of said legislation or material related to a provision of said legislation.

64. The method according to claim 63, wherein said provision is a section, schedule or appendix of an Act, or a section, schedule or appendix of a regulation.

65. The method according to claim 55, wherein at least one of said plurality of predefined portions of text-based data is a block of text-based data that is larger than a single word but smaller than an entire document.

66. The method according to claim 55, wherein said multidimensional space is configured to permit point-to-point movement within said multidimensional space.

67. The method according to claim 55, wherein a selectable link allows display of a list of versions of at least one of said plurality of predefined portions of text-based data.

68. A computer implemented system for managing electronic information, the system comprising:

a plurality of predefined portions of text-based data stored in a memory device with at least one of said plurality of predefined portions of text-based data being stored;

at least one modified predefined portion of text-based data also stored in said memory device, said at least one modified predefined portion of text-based data being created based at least in part on modifications to at least one of said plurality of predefined portions of text-based data; and

said at least one modified predefined portion of text-based data being stored;

a plurality of links also stored in said memory device comprising at least one of code or a markup language, at least one of said plurality of predefined portions of said text-based data and said at least one modified predefined portion of text-based data being associated with at least one of said plurality of links; and

a plurality of attributes for organizing at least one of said plurality of predefined portions of text-based data and said at least one modified predefined portion of text-based data, at least one of said plurality of attributes defining a point in a multidimensional space.

69. The system according to claim 68, wherein searching of a database is allowed.

70. The system according to claim 68, wherein said searching allows one or more searches based on one or more of the said plurality of attributes.

71. The system according to claim 68, wherein said searching is based on at least one of (i) one or more of said plurality of predefined portions of text-based data, (ii) said at least one modified predefined portion of text-based data, and (iii) a word or phrase within at least one or more of said plurality of predefined portions of text-based data or said at least one modified predefined portion of text-based data.

72. The system according to claim 68, further allowing search of at least one of said plurality of predefined portions of text-based data using at least one of said plurality of attributes, wherein at least one of said plurality of attributes is associated with said at least one of said plurality of predefined portions of text-based data for retrieving one or more of said plurality of predefined portions of text-based data by using at least one of said plurality of attributes to define a point in said multidimensional space.

73. The system according to claim 68, wherein at least one of said plurality of links comprise any data in addition to the text-based data.

74. The system according to claim 68, wherein at least one of said plurality of links comprises an identification code for a corresponding one of said plurality of predefined portions of text-based data.

75. The system according to claim 68, wherein at least one of said plurality of predefined portions of text-based data is associated with one or more attribute.

76. The system according to claim 68, wherein at least one of said plurality of predefined portions of text-based data comprises legislation.

77. The system according to claim 76, wherein said provision of legislation is one of a section or schedule of a statute, rule or regulation.

78. The system according to claim 68, wherein at least one of said plurality of predefined portions of text-based data is a block of text-based data that is larger than a single word but smaller than an entire document.

79. The system according to claim 68, wherein said multidimensional space is configured to permit point-to-point movement within said multidimensional space.

80. The system according to claim 68, wherein a selectable link allows display of a list of versions of at least one of said plurality of predefined portions of text-based data.

81. A method of electronically managing data, comprising the steps of:

providing at least one of a plurality of predefined portions of text-based data in a multidimensional space;

providing at least one modified predefined portion of text-based data in said multidimensional space;

providing a plurality of attributes identifying or describing characteristics of at least one of said plurality of predefined portions and said at least one modified predefined portion provided in said multidimensional space;

associating at least one of said plurality of predefined portions and said at least one modified predefined portion with at least one link, comprising either code or markup language, which link is associated with at least one of said plurality of attributes;

enabling a user to search at least part of said plurality of predefined portions or said at least one modified predefined portion, using at least one of said plurality of attributes;

allowing the results of said search to be published to a user by;

allowing the provision of a first predefined portion in response to said search, said first predefined portion corresponding to one of said plurality of predefined portions or said at least one modified predefined portion; and

allowing the provision of one or more links, wherein upon the selection of one of said one or more links, a second predefined portion is allowed to be displayed,

wherein said second predefined portion is related to said first predefined portion or said at least one modified predefined portion based on at least one attribute, and is represented by a point in said multidimensional space; and

,

wherein said multidimensional space is an unbounded area capable of, or involving, more than three dimensions.

82. The method of claim 81 where the multidimensional space comprises a relational database.

83. The method of claim 81 wherein the plurality of attributes is comprised of one or more of a group including title, creation date, effective date, modification date, end date, identification number, version, author, user, document type, jurisdiction, time of view, or subject.

84. The method of claim 81 wherein the multidimensional space comprises multiple databases.

85. The method of claim 81 wherein the displayed portion and its related portion are not located on the same axis of the multidimensional space.

86. The method of claim 81 wherein the displayed second portion is not located on the same axis as the first predefined portion or said at least one modified predefined portion.