Template-based content creation

• US 9,953,007 B2
• Filed: 12/07/2012
• Issued: 04/24/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 11/23/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Oyarzabal, Randy E., Turner, Jeffery A.
• Primary Examiner(s): HUYNH, THU V
• Application Number:
  US13/708,327
• Publication Number:
  US 20130097485A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,964 Days
• Field of Search: 715234-235, 715209, 715227, 715243, 715255
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/103 Formatting, i.e. changing of presentation of documents automatic justification G06F40/189; automatic line break hyphenation G06F40/191
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/166 Editing, e.g. inserting or deleting
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/18 of spreadsheets form-filling G06F40/174
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/186 Templates

Abstract

Methods, systems and program products for generating content from a user-created template. Embodiments of the invention may provide an interface configured to allow users to create templates, where the templates further include a user-specified formatting. Embodiments may receive a template created by a user using the provided interface, and responsive to receiving the template, may retrieve data associated with the variable fields in the received template. Embodiments may generate new content based on the received template and the retrieved data, where the generated new content is formatted according to the user-specified formatting in the received template.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method of using template components to programmatically standardize and streamline creation and adoption of different types of computing service agreements of a vendor of computing services, the computer-implemented method comprising, by operation of one or more computer processors:

providing a graphical user interface for interactively creating a plurality of computing service agreement templates based on a plurality of computing service agreement template components;

automatically generating, based on selections of one or more of the plurality of computing service agreement template components via the graphical user interface, the plurality of computing service agreement templates, each corresponding to a different type of computing service agreement of the vendor, wherein a first of the plurality of computing service agreement templates specifies a placeholder field and one or more formatting options for any text that populates the placeholder field, the placeholder field having a placeholder field name, wherein the graphical user interface depicts the placeholder field name itself as being formatted based on the one or more formatting options, wherein generating the plurality of computing service agreement templates comprises;

automatically inserting, into the first computing service agreement template, a table template specifying one or more formatting parameters separate from the one or more formatting options, wherein the one or more formatting parameters are visually depicted on the graphical user interface; and

automatically inserting, into the first computing service agreement template, one or more placeholder fields including the placeholder field, wherein the graphical user interface depicts, for the one or more placeholder fields, a corresponding placeholder field name designating a respective source from which to retrieve content of the respective placeholder field, wherein each placeholder field comprises a variable field, wherein each placeholder field name comprises a variable name;

wherein the placeholder field name is formatted based on the one or more formatting options and is positioned within the graphical user interface at a respective, user-specified position, in order to visually convey that the one or more formatting options and positioning are to be similarly applied to any text that populates the placeholder field in every computing service agreement generated based on the first computing service agreement template;

wherein for each variable field of the first legal agreement template;

(i) one or more data values are retrieved from a data structure identified by the respective variable name of the respective variable field and (ii) the respective variable field is populated with corresponding text, by inserting the associated one or more data values into a first of the plurality of legal agreements, at a position corresponding to the user-specified position of the variable field in the first legal agreement template, wherein the associated one or more data values are formatted based on the one or more formatting options specified for the variable field;

responsive to an occurrence of a predefined event, automatically generating, based on the first computing service agreement template, a first computing service agreement of a first type and between the vendor and the client, including populating the placeholder field with specified text that is formatted based on the one or more formatting options, wherein the first computing service agreement does not include the placeholder field name; and

orchestrating, based on only a single, centralized, master copy of the first computing service agreement, a predetermined workflow for the vendor and the client in order to collectively review, revise, and approve the first computing service agreement as an effective agreement between the vendor and the client, including maintaining, over time, a state field of the first computing service agreement to reflect a current approval state of the first computing service agreement, wherein the occurrence of the predefined event is signified via a notification generated based on the table template, wherein the notification includes a plurality of item entries, wherein generating the first computing service agreement comprises;

automatically inserting one or more static fields in the first computing service agreement at a position corresponding to a placement position of the one or more static fields in the first computing service agreement template, wherein the first computing service agreement includes a table based on the table template, wherein at least one field in the generated table is formatted according to the one or more formatting parameters specified in the table template; and

upon approval of the first computing service agreement as an effective agreement between the vendor and the client of the vendor, storing an indication that the first computing service agreement is an effective agreement between the vendor and the client;

wherein the plurality of computing service agreement template components are used in order to programmatically standardize and streamline creation and adoption of different types of computing service agreements of the vendor;

wherein includable in the one or more placeholder fields is each placeholder field selected from;

(i) a current user of the first computing service agreement, (ii) a document identifier of the first computing service agreement, (iii) a uniform resource identifier of the first computing service agreement, (iv) a start date of the first computing service agreement, (v) an end date of the first computing service agreement, (vi) a project name of the first computing service agreement, (vii) rejection comments of the first computing service agreement, (viii) a version of the first computing service agreement, and (ix) version details of the first computing service agreement;

wherein includable in the one or more formatting options are;

(i) a font, (ii) a font size, (iii) a font style, (iv) a font color, and (v) a font alignment;

wherein includable in the one or more formatting parameters are;

(i) a number of columns, (ii) a number of rows, (iii) a column width, (iv) a row height, and (v) table dimensions;

wherein includable in the plurality of item entries is an entry for each item selected from a specified web hosting service, specified web hosting hardware, specified support services, and specified terms and conditions, wherein each item entry comprises a plurality of columns, wherein includable in the plurality of columns is each column selected from a distinct item code, an item approval status, and an item description, each column formatted in a distinct manner based on the one or more formatting parameters;

wherein includable in the table is each computing field selected from;

(i) a web server that the first computing service agreement pertains to, (ii) a network address that the first computing service agreement pertains to, the network address comprising a static Internet Protocol (IP) address, (iii) a maximum number of database users that the first computing service agreement pertains to, (iv) a specified database instance that the first computing service agreement pertains to, (v) and a specified amount of storage that the first computing service agreement pertains to;

wherein each field is formatted in a distinct manner based on the one or more formatting parameters.

2. A computer program product of using template components to programmatically standardize and streamline creation and adoption of different types of computing service agreements of a vendor of computing services, the computer program product comprising:

a non-transitory computer-readable medium having program code embodied therewith, the program code executable by one or more computer processors to;

provide a graphical user interface for interactively creating a plurality of computing service agreement templates based on a plurality of computing service agreement template components;

automatically generate, based on selections of one or more of the plurality of computing service agreement template components via the graphical user interface, the plurality of computing service agreement templates, each corresponding to a different type of legal agreement of the vendor, wherein a first of the plurality of computing service agreement templates specifies a placeholder field and one or more formatting options for any text that populates the placeholder field, the placeholder field having a placeholder field name, wherein the graphical user interface depicts the placeholder field name itself as being formatted based on the one or more formatting options, wherein generating the plurality of computing service agreement templates comprises;

automatically inserting, into the first computing service agreement template, a table template specifying one or more formatting parameters separate from the one or more formatting options, wherein the one or more formatting parameters are visually depicted on the graphical user interface; and

automatically inserting, into the first computing service agreement template, one or more placeholder fields including the placeholder field, wherein the graphical user interface depicts, for the one or more placeholder fields, a corresponding placeholder field name designating a respective source from which to retrieve content of the respective placeholder field, wherein each placeholder field comprises a variable field, wherein each placeholder field name comprises a variable name;

wherein the placeholder field name is formatted based on the one or more formatting options and is positioned within the graphical user interface at a respective, user-specified position, in order to visually convey that the one or more formatting options and positioning are to be similarly applied to any text that populates the placeholder field in every computing service agreement generated based on the first computing service agreement template;

wherein for each variable field of the first legal agreement template;

(i) one or more data values are retrieved from a data structure identified by the respective variable name of the respective variable field and (ii) the respective variable field is populated with corresponding text, by inserting the associated one or more data values into a first of the plurality of legal agreements, at a position corresponding to the user-specified position of the variable field in the first legal agreement template, wherein the associated one or more data values are formatted based on the one or more formatting options specified for the variable field;

responsive to an occurrence of a predefined event, automatically generate, based on the first computing service agreement template, a first computing service agreement of a first type and between the vendor and the client, including populating the placeholder field with specified text that is formatted based on the one or more formatting options, wherein the first computing service agreement does not include the placeholder field name; and

orchestrating, based on only a single, centralized, master copy of the first computing service agreement, a predetermined workflow for the vendor and the client in order to collectively review, revise, and approve the first computing service agreement as an effective agreement between the vendor and the client, including maintaining, over time, a state field of the first computing service agreement to reflect a current approval state of the first computing service agreement, wherein the occurrence of the predefined event is signified via a notification generated based on the table template, wherein the notification includes a plurality of item entries, wherein generating the first computing service agreement comprises;

automatically inserting one or more static fields in the first computing service agreement at a position corresponding to a placement position of the one or more static fields in the first computing service agreement template, wherein the first computing service agreement includes a table based on the table template, wherein at least one field in the generated table is formatted according to the one or more formatting parameters specified in the table template; and

upon approval of the first computing service agreement as an effective agreement between the vendor and the client of the vendor, store an indication that the first computing service agreement is an effective agreement between the vendor and the client;

wherein the plurality of computing service agreement template components are used in order to programmatically standardize and streamline creation and adoption of different types of computing service agreements of the vendor;

wherein includable in the one or more placeholder fields is each placeholder field selected from;

(i) a current user of the first computing service agreement, (ii) a document identifier of the first computing service agreement, (iii) a uniform resource identifier of the first computing service agreement, (iv) a start date of the first computing service agreement, (v) an end date of the first computing service agreement, (vi) a project name of the first computing service agreement, (vii) rejection comments of the first computing service agreement, (viii) a version of the first computing service agreement, and (ix) version details of the first computing service agreement;

wherein includable in the one or more formatting options are;

(i) a font, (ii) a font size, (iii) a font style, (iv) a font color, and (v) a font alignment;

wherein includable in the one or more formatting parameters are;

(i) a number of columns, (ii) a number of rows, (iii) a column width, (iv) a row height, and (v) table dimensions;

wherein includable in the plurality of item entries is an entry for each item selected from a specified web hosting service, specified web hosting hardware, specified support services, and specified terms and conditions, wherein each item entry comprises a plurality of columns, wherein includable in the plurality of columns is each column selected from a distinct item code, an item approval status, and an item description, each column formatted in a distinct manner based on the one or more formatting parameters;

wherein includable in the table is each computing field selected from;

(i) a web server that the first computing service agreement pertains to, (ii) a network address that the first computing service agreement pertains to, the network address comprising a static Internet Protocol (IP) address, (iii) a maximum number of database users that the first computing service agreement pertains to, (iv) a specified database instance that the first computing service agreement pertains to, (v) and a specified amount of storage that the first computing service agreement pertains to;

wherein each field is formatted in a distinct manner based on the one or more formatting parameters.

3. A system of using template components to programmatically standardize and streamline creation and adoption of different types of computing service agreements of a vendor of computing services, the system comprising:

one or more computer processors;

a memory containing a program which, when executed by the one or more computer processors, performs an operation comprising;

providing a graphical user interface for interactively creating a plurality of computing service agreement templates based on a plurality of computing service agreement template components;

automatically generating, based on selections of one or more of the plurality of computing service agreement template components via the graphical user interface, the plurality of computing service agreement templates, each corresponding to a different type of computing service agreement of the vendor and the client, wherein a first of the plurality of computing service agreement templates specifies a placeholder field and one or more formatting options for any text that populates the placeholder field, the placeholder field having a placeholder field name, wherein the graphical user interface depicts the placeholder field name itself as being formatted based on the one or more formatting options, wherein generating the plurality of computing service agreement templates comprises;

automatically inserting, into the first computing service agreement template, a table template specifying one or more formatting parameters separate from the one or more formatting options, wherein the one or more formatting parameters are visually depicted on the graphical user interface; and

automatically inserting, into the first computing service agreement template, one or more placeholder fields including the placeholder field, wherein the graphical user interface depicts, for the one or more placeholder fields, a corresponding placeholder field name designating a respective source from which to retrieve content of the respective placeholder field, wherein each placeholder field comprises a variable field, wherein each placeholder field name comprises a variable name;

wherein the placeholder field name is formatted based on the one or more formatting options and is positioned within the graphical user interface at a respective, user-specified position, in order to visually convey that the one or more formatting options and positioning are to be similarly applied to any text that populates the placeholder field in every computing service agreement generated based on the first computing service agreement template;

wherein for each variable field of the first legal agreement template;

(i) one or more data values are retrieved from a data structure identified by the respective variable name of the respective variable field and (ii) the respective variable field is populated with corresponding text, by inserting the associated one or more data values into a first of the plurality of legal agreements, at a position corresponding to the user-specified position of the variable field in the first legal agreement template, wherein the associated one or more data values are formatted based on the one or more formatting options specified for the variable field;

responsive to an occurrence of a predefined event, automatically generating, based on the first computing service agreement template, a first computing service agreement of a first type and between the vendor and the client, including populating the placeholder field with specified text that is formatted based on the one or more formatting options, wherein the first computing service agreement does not include the placeholder field name;

orchestrating, based on only a single, centralized, master copy of a first of the plurality of computing service agreements, a predetermined workflow for the vendor and the client in order to collectively review, revise, and approve the first computing service agreement as an effective agreement between the vendor and the client, including maintaining, over time, a state field of the first computing service agreement to reflect a current approval state of the first computing service agreement, wherein the occurrence of the predefined event is signified via a notification generated based on the table template, wherein the notification includes a plurality of item entries, wherein generating the first computing service agreement comprises;

automatically inserting one or more static fields in the first computing service agreement at a position corresponding to a placement position of the one or more static fields in the first computing service agreement template, wherein the first computing service agreement includes a table based on the table template, wherein at least one field in the generated table is formatted according to the one or more formatting parameters specified in the table template; and

upon approval of the first computing service agreement as an effective agreement between the vendor and the client of the vendor, storing an indication that the first computing service agreement is an effective agreement between the vendor and the client;

wherein the plurality of computing service agreement template components are used in order to programmatically standardize and streamline creation and adoption of different types of computing service agreements of the vendor;

wherein includable in the one or more placeholder fields is each placeholder field selected from;

(i) a current user of the first computing service agreement, (ii) a document identifier of the first computing service agreement, (iii) a uniform resource identifier of the first computing service agreement, (iv) a start date of the first computing service agreement, (v) an end date of the first computing service agreement, (vi) a project name of the first computing service agreement, (vii) rejection comments of the first computing service agreement, (viii) a version of the first computing service agreement, and (ix) version details of the first computing service agreement;

wherein includable in the one or more formatting options are;

(i) a font, (ii) a font size, (iii) a font style, (iv) a font color, and (v) a font alignment;

wherein includable in the one or more formatting parameters are;

(i) a number of columns, (ii) a number of rows, (iii) a column width, (iv) a row height, and (v) table dimensions;

wherein includable in the plurality of item entries is an entry for each item selected from a specified web hosting service, specified web hosting hardware, specified support services, and specified terms and conditions, wherein each item entry comprises a plurality of columns, wherein includable in the plurality of columns is each column selected from a distinct item code, an item approval status, and an item description, each column formatted in a distinct manner based on the one or more formatting parameters;

wherein includable in the table is each computing field selected from;

(i) a web server that the first computing service agreement pertains to, (ii) a network address that the first computing service agreement pertains to, the network address comprising a static Internet Protocol (IP) address, (iii) a maximum number of database users that the first computing service agreement pertains to, (iv) a specified database instance that the first computing service agreement pertains to, (v) and a specified amount of storage that the first computing service agreement pertains to;

wherein each field is formatted in a distinct manner based on the one or more formatting parameters.