Systems and methods for assembling documents

• US 9,116,863 B1
• Filed: 01/31/2012
• Issued: 08/25/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 01/31/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Original Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Inventors: Costello, Matthew William
• Primary Examiner(s): Ries, Laurie
• Application Number:
  US13/362,916
• Time in Patent Office: 1,302 Days
• Field of Search: 715/256
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/10 Text processing natural language analysis G06F40/20; semantic analysis G06F40/30; processing or translation of natural language G06F40/40
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/131 Fragmentation of text files, e.g. creating reusable text-blocks; Linking to fragments, e.g. using XInclude; Namespaces
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/137 Hierarchical processing, e.g. outlines
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/186 Templates

Abstract

A document builder is provided. The document builder includes a memory unit configured to store a document outline, wherein the document outline includes at least a template link to a template and at least a mini-document link to each of a plurality of mini-documents, and a processing device. The processing device is configured to receive the document outline from the memory unit, retrieve the template using the template link, retrieve each of the plurality of mini-documents using the mini-document links, and automatically assemble a final document from the retrieved template and from the retrieved plurality of mini-documents.

Claims

1. A document builder comprising:

a memory unit configured to store a document outline, wherein the document outline includes at least a template link section to insert a link to a template and at least a mini-document link section to insert links to each of a plurality of mini-documents; and

a processing device configured to;

receive the document outline from said memory unit;

receive, from a user, a request to insert a link to a template in the template link section;

receive, from the user, a request to insert a link to each of a plurality of mini-documents in the mini-document link section; and

upon receiving a request to assemble a final document;

retrieve the template using the template link inserted in the document outline at the request of the user;

retrieve each of the plurality of mini-documents using the mini-document links inserted in the document outline at the request of the user;

automatically assemble the final document, the assembled final document including the retrieved plurality of mini-documents in a format specified by the template;

generate the final document; and

output the final document to a database.

2. A document builder in accordance with claim 1, further comprising a user interface configured to generate the document outline from user input.

3. A document builder in accordance with claim 2, wherein said user interface is configured to:

receive a title of the final document from the user;

receive a user identification of the template link; and

receive a user identification of the mini-document links.

4. A document builder in accordance with claim 2, wherein said processing device is configured to output the final document to a database identified in the document outline.

5. A document builder in accordance with claim 1, wherein said processing device is configured to automatically assemble the final document by incorporating the plurality of mini-documents into the final document in a context-sensitive manner.

6. A document builder in accordance with claim 1, wherein the template specifies at least one of a style and a format to be applied to the final document.

7. A document builder in accordance with claim 1, wherein the document outline includes a defined order mini-documents, wherein the request to insert the links to each of the plurality of mini-documents in the mini-document link section includes a request, from the user, to insert the links to each of the plurality of mini-documents in the defined order, and wherein said processing device is configured to assemble the final document such that the mini-documents are incorporated into the final document in the order specified in the document outline.

8. A document builder in accordance with claim 1, wherein the document outline further includes at least one plain text entry and a style associated with the at least one plain text entry, and wherein said processing device is configured to incorporate the at least one plain text entry into the final document in the associated style.

9. A processing device configured to:

receive a document outline that includes at least a template link section to insert a link to a template and at least a mini-document link section to insert links to each of a plurality of mini-documents;

receive, from a user, a request to insert a link to a template in the template link section;

receive, from the user, a request to insert a link to each of a plurality of mini-documents in the mini-document link section; and

upon receiving a request to assemble a final document;

retrieve the template using the template link inserted in document outline at the request of the user;

retrieve each of the plurality of mini-documents using the mini-document links inserted in the document outline at the request of the user;

automatically assemble the final document, the assembled final document including the retrieved plurality of mini-documents in a format specified by the template;

generate the final document; and

output the final document to a database.

10. A processing device in accordance with claim 9, wherein said processing device is configured to receive a document outline that includes a title for the final document.

11. A processing device in accordance with claim 9, wherein said processing device is configured to retrieve a template that includes at least one of a style and a format to be applied to the final document.

12. A processing device in accordance with claim 9, wherein said processing device is configured to automatically assemble the final document by incorporating the plurality of mini-documents into the final document in a context-sensitive manner.

13. A processing device in accordance with claim 9, wherein said processing device is configured to receive a document outline that includes an order of the plurality of mini-documents, and wherein said processing device is configured to assemble the final document such that the mini-documents are incorporated into the final document in the order specified in the document outline.

14. A processing device in accordance with claim 9, wherein said processing device is configured to receive a document outline that includes at least one plain text entry and a style associated with the at least one plain text entry, and wherein said processing device is configured to incorporate the at least one plain text entry into the final document in the associated style.

15. A method for assembling a final document from a plurality of mini-documents, said method comprising:

receiving, at a processing device, a document outline that includes at least a template link section to insert a link to a template and at least a mini-document link section to insert links to each of the plurality of mini-documents;

receiving, from a user, a request to insert a link to a template in the template link section;

receiving, from the user, a request to insert a link to each of a plurality of mini-documents in the mini-document link section; and

upon receiving a request to assemble the final document;

retrieving, using the processing device, the template using the template link inserted in the document outline at the request of the user;

retrieving, using the processing device, each of the plurality of mini-documents using the mini-document links inserted in the document outline at the request of the user;

automatically assembling, using the processing device, the final document, the assembled final document including the retrieved plurality of mini-documents in a format specified by the template;

generating the final document; and

outputting the final document to a database.

16. A method in accordance with claim 15, wherein automatically assembling the final document comprises automatically assembling the final document by incorporating the plurality of mini-documents into the final document in a context-sensitive manner.

17. A method in accordance with claim 15, wherein receiving a document outline comprises receiving a document outline that includes an order of the plurality of mini-documents, and automatically assembling the final document comprises assembling the final document such that the mini-documents are incorporated into the final document in the order specified in the document outline.

18. A method in accordance with claim 15, wherein receiving a document outline comprises receiving a document outline that includes at least one plain text entry and a style associated with the at least one plain text entry, and wherein said method further comprises incorporating the plain text entry into the final document in the associated style.

19. A method in accordance with claim 15, wherein automatically assembling the final document comprises automatically assembling the final document from the retrieved template, the retrieved plurality of mini-documents, and based on the document outline.

20. A method in accordance with claim 15, further comprising automatically adjusting at least one of style or formatting of one or more of the plurality of mini-documents to match at least one of a style and formatting defined in the retrieved template.