System and method for defining and generating document management applications for model-driven document management

• US 20060253490A1
• Filed: 05/05/2005
• Published: 11/09/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 05/05/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Krishna, Vikas, Srinivasan, Savitha
• Granted Patent: US 7,505,990 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/93 Document management systems
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99943 Generating database or data structure, e.g. via user interface
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99945 Object-oriented database structure processing

Abstract

A business process file generator defining and generating dynamic document management applications for use in a document management system, formalizing variable elements in document management applications to reduce the requirement for custom application logic with each new application. The business process file generator captures and externalizes variable aspects of a document management application such that each new instance of a model of a document contains only those elements that are relevant to the application. The business process file generator supports the instantiation of a model for each new application and generates runtime artifacts associated with a specific model. The runtime artifacts comprise code, XML configurations, scripts, and business logic.

Claims

1. A method of defining a document management application comprising:

selecting the document management application;

selecting a set of documents to be processed by the document management application;

generating at least one process file that defines one or more fields in a document model;

specifying features to be extracted from the document model;

identifying location coordinates of the model fields in the document model;

generating path expressions for the location coordinates;

generating a target adaptor based on user-specified schema and association with metadata associated with the document model;

wherein the process file includes a plurality of sub-files containing specifications for the document management application; and

deploying the sub-files.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising selectively routing the document model between a plurality of nodes.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the document is an XML document;

and

further comprising generating an XSL code with XPATH expressions for the XML document, prior to deploying the process file.

4. The method of claim 2, further comprising generating a user interface that prompts a user for metadata associated with the document at a specific node in the document management application.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising generating a custom business logic based on user specifications of business rules, prior to deploying the sub-files.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising generating user specifications that determines the target adaptor to be invoked.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising generating documentation on the document management application, enabling self documentation on any change to the specifications of the document management application.

8. The method of claim 2, wherein the number of nodes ranges from one to as many nodes existing in the document management application.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the selected set of documents are inputted in any one of:

a scanned document form;

or an electronic document form.

10. A computer program product having a plurality of executable instruction codes stored on a computer-readable medium for defining a document management application comprising:

a first set of instruction codes for selecting the document management application;

a second set of instruction codes for selecting a set of documents to be processed by the document management application;

a third set of instruction codes for generating at least one process file that defines one or more fields in a document model;

a fourth set of instruction codes for specifying features to be extracted from the document model;

a fifth set of instruction codes for identifying location coordinates of the model fields in the document model;

a sixth set of instruction codes for generating path expressions for the location coordinates;

a seventh set of instruction codes for generating a target adaptor based on user-specified schema and association with metadata associated with the document model;

wherein the process file includes a plurality of sub-files containing specifications for the document management application; and

an eight set of instruction codes for deploying the sub-files.

11. The computer program product of claim 10, further comprising a ninth set of instruction codes for selectively routing the document between a plurality of nodes.

12. The computer program product of claim 11, wherein the document is an XML document;

and

further comprising a tenth set of instruction codes for generating an XSL code with XPATH expressions for the XML document, prior to deploying the process file.

13. The computer program product of claim 11, further comprising an eleventh SIC for generating a user interface that prompts a user for metadata associated with the document at a specific node in the document management application.

14. The computer program product of claim 10, further comprising a twelfth set of instruction codes for generating a custom business logic based on user specifications of business rules, prior to deploying the sub-files.

15. The computer program product of claim 10, further comprising a thirteenth set of instruction codes for generating user specifications that determines the target adaptor to be invoked.

16. The computer program product of claim 10, further comprising a fourteenth set of instruction codes for generating documentation on the document management application, enabling self documentation on any change to the specifications of the document management application.

17. The computer program product of claim 11, wherein the number of nodes ranges from one to as many nodes existing in the document management application.

18. The computer program product of claim 10, wherein the selected set of documents are inputted in any one of:

a scanned document form;

or an electronic document form.

19. A system for defining a user-selected document management application comprising:

a process file wizard that generates at least one process file for defining one or more fields in a document model;

the process file wizard specifying features to be extracted from the document model;

a code generation module for identifying location coordinates of the model fields in the document model;

the code generation module generating path expressions for the location coordinates;

the code generation module further generating a target adaptor based on user-specified schema and association with metadata associated with the document model; and

wherein the process file includes a plurality of sub-files containing specifications for the document management application, and wherein the sub-files are deployed.

20. The system of claim 19, further comprising a workflow for selectively routing the document model between a plurality of nodes.