Classification based content management system

• US 6,647,396 B2
• Filed: 12/28/2000
• Issued: 11/11/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 12/28/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Open Invention Network LLC
• Original Assignee: Trilogy Development Group Incorporated (ESW Capital, LLC)
• Inventors: Parnell, Todd C., Royston, Scott C., Uzquiano, Michael G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Coby, Frantz
• Application Number:
  US09/750,611
• Publication Number:
  US 20020124006A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,048 Days
• Field of Search: 707/7, 707/10, 707/103.R, 707/104.1, 707/102
• US Class Current: 707/695
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/38 Retrieval characterised by using metadata, e.g. metadata not derived from the content or metadata generated manually
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/40 of multimedia data, e.g. slideshows comprising image and additional audio data retrieval of still image data G06F16/50; retrieval of audio data G06F16/60; retrieval of video data G06F16/70
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/48 Retrieval characterised by using metadata, e.g. metadata not derived from the content or metadata generated manually
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99937 Sorting
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99943 Generating database or data structure, e.g. via user interface
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99944 Object-oriented database structure
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99945 Object-oriented database structure processing

Abstract

A classification based content management system provides a content management system in which large amounts of content may be quickly and easily managed. More specifically, the classification based content management system of the present invention uses metadata to classify the content in such a way that the content may be quickly and easily managed. The classification based content management system provides advantages in a variety of aspects of the operation of the system. The aspects of the operation of the system include storage, retrieval, access control and workflow management.

Claims

1. A method for managing content comprising

storing a plurality of items of content within a database;

generating metadata for each of the plurality of items of content, the metadata including classification information for classifying the content;

storing, in the database, the classification information, including classifiers, associated with a particular item of content, the classification information being related to the item of content;

controlling user access to the items of content by granting a user access to items of content associated with particular classifiers; and

providing a subset of the items of content to a user, wherein the subset of the items of content provided to the user is provided based on one or more classifiers for which a user has been granted access.

2. The method for managing content of claim 1, further comprising

administering workflow of the plurality of items of content based upon the classification information.

3. The method for managing content of claim 1 further comprising

retrieving at least some of the plurality of items of content at run time based upon the classification information.

4. The method for managing content of claim 1 further comprising

controlling access to the plurality of items of content based upon the classification information.

5. The method for managing content of claim 1 further comprising:

receiving data from the user indicating interest in the subset of the items of content based upon one or more classifiers; and

establishing a user subscription to only the subset of the items of content indicated by the received data.

6. The method for managing content of claim 1 further comprising:

specifying a workflow for the subset of items of content depending upon one or more classifiers of the items of content; and

wherein providing a subset of the items of content to a user further comprises;

automatically routing the subset of the items of content having classifiers specified in the workflow to a user associated with the workflow.

7. The method of managing content of claim 6 further comprising:

generating web pages for the user by extracting the subset of the items of content based on the classifiers for which a user requests and has access.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein controlling user access to the items of content further comprises:

controlling a type of access.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein the type of access is selected from the group comprising view content, manipulate content, edit content, and delete content.

10. A content management system comprising:

an application portion;

an interface portion coupled to the application portion;

a database portion coupled to the interface portion, the database portion storing a plurality of items of content, the database portion including metadata for each of the plurality of items of content, the metadata including classification information for classifying the content, and the database storing the classification information, including classifiers, associated with a particular items of content, the classification information being related to the particular item of content; and

an access control portion to control user access to the items of content by granting a user access to items of content associated with particular classifiers; and

a providing portion to provide a subset of the items of content to a user, wherein the subset of the items of content provided to the user is provided based on one or more classifiers for which a user has been granted access.

11. The content management system of claim 10 wherein the application portion further comprises

a content management content servlet, the content management content servlet providing controlled access to the content management system when the content management system is accessed by the user.

12. The content management system of claim 11 wherein

the content management content servlet enables the content management system to parse the plurality of items of content based upon the classification information.

13. The content management system of claim 10 wherein the application portion further comprises

a replication portion, the replication module enabling the user to access the subset of items of content using a subscription model.

14. The content management system of claim 13 wherein

the subscription model enables a subscriber to register interest in a portion of a web site that incorporates the content management system and the items of content associated with the particular classifiers.

15. The content management system of claim 10 wherein the interface portion further comprises

a backbone portion, the backbone portion providing infrastructure support to the content management system.

16. The content management system of claim 10 wherein the interface portion further comprises

a classification engine portion providing database schema independence to the content management system.

17. The content management system of claim 10 wherein the interface portion further comprises

a version management portion, the version management portion providing version management functionality to the content management system.

18. The content management system of claim 10 wherein the interface portion further comprises

a workflow engine portion, the workflow engine portion allowing the plurality of items of content to be manipulated based upon the classification information.

19. The content management system of claim 10 wherein the interface portion further comprises

a maintenance portion, the maintenance portion enabling the content management system to separate a presentation view of data from manipulation of the data.

20. The content management system of claim 10 wherein the interface portion further comprises

a permission manager portion, the permission manager portion allowing ACL (Access Control List) functionality based upon classification information.

21. The content management system of claim 10 wherein the database portion further comprises

a document portion, the document portion storing the plurality of items of content,

a classification portion, the classification portion storing the classification information corresponding to the plurality of items of content.

22. The content management system of claim 21 wherein the database portion further comprises

a revision portion, the revision portion storing revision information relating the plurality of items of content.

23. The content management system of claim 21 wherein the database portion further comprises

a versioned data portion, the versioned data portion storing a single revision relating to a corresponding item of content.

24. The content management system of claim 21 wherein the database portion further comprises

a path portion, the path portion storing information representing a path corresponding to an item of content.

25. The content management system of claim 21 wherein the database portion further comprises

an edition portion, the edition portion storing information so that at least two of the plurality of items of content may be identified as belonging to an edition.

26. The content management system of claim 10 further comprising:

a receiving portion to receive data from the user indicating interest in the subset of the items of content based upon one or more classifiers; and

a subscription portion to establish a user subscription to only the subset of the items of content indicated by the received data.

27. The content management system of claim 10 further comprising:

a workflow portion to specify a workflow for the subset of items of content depending upon one or more classifiers of the items of content; and

wherein the providing portion further comprises a portion to automatically route the subset of the items of content having classifiers specified in the workflow to a user associated with the workflow.

28. The content management system content of claim 27 further comprising:

a web page generation portion to generate web pages for the user by extracting the subset of the items of content based on the classifiers for which a user requests and has access.

29. The content management system of claim 10 wherein the access control portion further comprises a portion to control a type of access.

30. The content management system of claim 29 wherein the type of access is selected from the group comprising view content, manipulate content, edit content, and delete content.

31. An apparatus comprising

a database for use with a content management system and organized to control user access to a plurality of items of content in the database by granting a user access to items of content associated with particular classifiers and to allow provision of a subset of the items of content to a user, wherein the subset of the items of content provided to the user is provided based on one or more classifiers for which a user has been granted access, the database comprising:

a document portion, the document portion storing a plurality of items of content;

a classification portion, the classification portion storing classification information, the classification information, including classifiers, associated with a particular item of content, the classification information being related to the particular item of content.

32. The apparatus of claim 31 wherein the database further comprises

a revision portion, the revision portion storing revision information relating the plurality of items of content.

33. The apparatus of claim 32 wherein the revision information includes effectivity date information.

34. The apparatus of claim 31 wherein the database further comprises

a versioned data portion, the version data portion storing a single revision relating to a corresponding item of content.

35. The apparatus of claim 31 wherein the database further comprises

a path portion, the path portion storing information representing a path corresponding to an item of content.

36. The apparatus of claim 31 wherein the database further comprises

an edition portion, the edition portion storing information so that at least two of the plurality of items of content may be identified as belonging to an edition.

37. The apparatus of claim 31 further comprising:

a receiving portion to receive data from the user indicating interest in the subset of the items of content based upon one or more classifiers; and

a subscription portion to establish a user subscription to only the subset of the items of content indicated by the received data.

38. The apparatus of claim 31 further comprising:

a workflow portion to specify a workflow for the subset of items of content depending upon one or more classifiers of the items of content; and

wherein the providing portion further comprises a portion to automatically route the subset of the items of content having classifiers specified in the workflow to a user associated with the workflow.

39. The apparatus of claim 38 further comprising:

a web page generation portion to generate web pages for the user by extracting the subset of the items of content based on the classifiers for which a user requests and has access.

40. The apparatus of claim 31 wherein the database is further organized to control a type of access.

41. The content management system of claim 40 wherein the type of access is selected from the group comprising view content, manipulate content, edit content, and delete content.

42. A method for managing content where a plurality of items of content are stored within a database, the method comprising

providing metadata for each of the plurality of items of content, the metadata including classification information for classifying the content, the classification information being related to the item of content;

controlling user access to the items of content by granting a user access to items of content associated with particular classifiers included in the classification information;

accessing, in the database, the content based upon the classification information associated with a particular item of content; and

providing a subset of the items of content to a user, wherein the subset of the items of content provided to the user is provided based on one or more classifiers for which a user has been granted access.

43. The method for managing content of claim 42 further comprising

administering workflow of the plurality of items of content based upon the classification information.

44. The method for managing content of claim 42 further comprising

retrieving the subset of the items of content at run time based upon the classification information.

45. The method for managing content of claim 42 further comprising

controlling access to the plurality of items of content based upon the classification information.

46. The method for managing content of claim 42 further comprising:

receiving data from the user indicating interest in the subset of the items of content based upon one or more classifiers; and

establishing a user subscription to only the subset of the items of content indicated by the received data.

47. The method for managing content of claim 42 further comprising:

specifying a workflow for the subset of items of content depending upon one or more classifiers of the items of content; and

wherein providing a subset of the items of content to a user further comprises;

automatically routing the subset of the items of content having classifiers specified in the workflow to a user associated with the workflow.

48. The method of managing content of claim 47 further comprising:

generating web pages for the user by extracting the subset of the items of content based on the classifiers for which a user requests and has access.

49. The method of claim 42 wherein controlling user access to the items of content further comprises:

controlling a type of access.

50. The method of claim 49 wherein the type of access is selected from the group comprising view content, manipulate content, edit content, and delete content.

51. An apparatus comprising

a database for use with a content management system and organized to control user access to a plurality of items of content in the database by granting a user access to items of content associated with particular classifiers and to allow provision of a subset of the items of content to a user, wherein the subset of the items of content provided to the user is provided based on one or more classifiers for which a user has been granted access, the database comprising:

a document portion, the document portion storing the plurality of items of content,

a classification portion, the classification portion storing classification information, the classification information, including the classifiers, associated with a particular item of content, the classification information being related to the particular item of content;

a revision portion, the revision portion storing revision information relating the plurality of items of content;

a versioned data portion, the versioned data portion storing a single revision relating to a corresponding item of content;

a path portion, the path portion storing information representing a path corresponding to an item of content; and

an edition portion, the edition portion storing information so that at least two of the plurality of items of content may be identified as belonging to an edition.