Maltweb multi-axis viewing interface and higher level scoping

• US 7,293,228 B1
• Filed: 10/12/2000
• Issued: 11/06/2007
• 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: Lessing, Abha, Schnelle, Christoph, Leslie, Paul William, Nolan, Geoffrey John
• Primary Examiner(s): Hong, Stephen
• Assistant Examiner(s): Campbell, Joshua D
• Application Number:
  US09/689,927
• Time in Patent Office: 2,581 Days
• Field of Search: 715/500, 715/511, 715/513, 715/514, 715/515, 715/517, 715/520, 715/531, 715/539, 715/902, 715/910, 715/908
• US Class Current: 715/229
• 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 method for electronically publishing text-based data, the method comprising:

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

obtaining an amended portion of text-based data that is amended relative to one of the plurality of portions of text-based data;

storing each of the plurality of portions of text-based data;

storing the amended portion of text-based data;

providing a plurality of attributes, wherein the attributes define a manner in which the plurality of portions of text-based data and the amended portion of text-based data can be organized, displayed and linked in a multidimensional space;

encoding each of the plurality of portions of text-based data and the amended portion of text-based data with a markup language to include at least one link defined by one of the plurality of attributes;

allowing a user to search the text-based data using at least one of the plurality of attributes; and

displaying the text-based data to the user by;

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

displaying text, and/or one or more selectable links representing at least one additional attribute.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the searching uses one or more attributes.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the markup language is Standard Generalised Markup Language (SGML) or extensible Markup Language (XML).

4. The method according to claim 3, wherein the text-based data is encoded using one or more Document Type Definitions (DTD) or Style Sheet Mechanisms (SSM).

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the at least one link comprises any piece of information additional to the text of the text-based data.

6. The method according to claim 5, wherein the at least one link comprises a code or markup that allows departure and destination points to be created between portions of the text-based data.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein said at least one link comprises an identification code for a corresponding portion of text-based data.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein the amended portion of text-based data is amended by performing at least one of the group consisting of adding data to the portion, deleting data from the portion, and modifying data of the portion.

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein the text-based data comprises legislation or material related to a provision of said legislation.

10. The method according to claim 9, wherein each 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.

11. The method according to claim 10, wherein said provision is a section, schedule or appendix of an Act, or a section, schedule or appendix of a regulation.

12. The method according to claim 1, wherein each portion is a block of the text-based data, the block being larger than a single word and less than the entirety of the text-based data.

13. A method for electronically searching legislation encoded with a markup language, the method comprising:

allowing a user to select a version date as a primary attribute of a multidimensional space and to input at least one search request;

producing results based on the text of the legislation;

displaying the results in a format that is configured to allow the user to select one of the results;

displaying the result as a portion of legislation corresponding to a selected result that corresponds to the primary attribute and the at least one search request;

displaying a link to cases related to the portion of legislation and a link to additional versions of the legislation; and

allowing the user to select the version link or the case link;

wherein, when the user selects the case link or version link, the portion of legislation is replaced with a list of portions of text-based data associated with the case link or the version link, respectively.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the results are produced using one or more attributes.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein the portions of text-based data are associated with the cases or other versions by at least one link defined by one or more of a plurality of attributes.

16. The method according to claim 15, wherein the at least one link comprises any piece of information additional to the text of the text-based data.

17. The method according to claim 16, wherein the at least one link comprises a code or markup that allows departure and destination points to be created between portions of the text-based data.

18. The method according to claim 15, wherein said at least one link comprises an identification code for a corresponding portion of text-based data.

19. The method according to claim 15, wherein each of the portions of text-based data is a respective provision of said legislation or material related to a provision of said legislation.

20. The method according to claim 19, wherein said provision is a section, schedule or appendix of an Act, or a section, schedule or appendix of a regulation.

21. The method according to claim 15, wherein each portion of text-based data is a block of the text-based data, the block being larger than a single word and less than the entirety of the text-based data.

22. The method according to claim 13, wherein the markup language is Standard Generalised Markup Language (SGML) or extensible Markup Language (XML).

23. The method according to claim 22, wherein the text-based data is encoded using one or more Document Type Definitions (DTD) or Style Sheet Mechanisms (SSM).

24. A method for electronically publishing text-based data, the method comprising:

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

obtaining an amended portion of text-based data that is amended relative to one of the plurality of portions of text-based data;

storing each of the plurality of portions of text-based data;

storing the amended portion of text-based data;

providing a plurality of attributes, wherein the attributes define a manner in which the plurality of portions of text-based data and the amended portion of text-based data can be organized, displayed and linked;

encoding each of the plurality of portions of text-based data and the amended portion of text-based data with a markup language to include at least one link defined by one of the plurality of attributes;

allowing a user to search the text-based data using at least one of the plurality of attributes; and

displaying the text-based data to the user by;

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

displaying one or more selectable links;

wherein when the user selects the one or more selectable links, the plurality of portions related to a current portion based on the current portion'"'"'s attributes are displayed as a graphical representation of a multidimensional space that is configured to allow a user to select and thereby display text-based data represented by a point on the multidimensional space.

25. The method according to claim 24, wherein the searching uses one or more attributes.

26. The method according to claim 24, wherein the markup language is Standard Generalised Markup Language (SGML) or extensible Markup Language (XML).

27. The method according to claim 26, wherein the text-based data is encoded using one or more Document Type Definitions (DTD) or Style Sheet Mechanisms (SSM).

28. The method according to claim 24, wherein the at least one link comprises any piece of information additional to the text of the text-based data.

29. The method according to claim 24, wherein the at least one link comprises a code or markup that allows departure and destination points to be created between portions of the text-based data.

30. The method according to claim 24, wherein said at least one link comprises an identification code for a corresponding portion of text-based data.

31. The method according to claim 24, wherein the amended portion of text-based data is amended by performing at least one of the group consisting of adding data to the portion, deleting data from the portion, and modifying data of the portion.

32. The method according to claim 31, wherein the text-based data comprises legislation or material related to said legislation.

33. The method according to claim 32, wherein each 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.

34. The method according to claim 33, wherein said provision is a section, schedule or appendix of an Act or a section, schedule or appendix of a regulation.

35. The method according to claim 24, wherein each portion is a block of the text-based data, the block being larger than a single word and less than the entirety of the text-based data.

36. A method for electronically searching text-based data encoded with a mark-up language, the method comprising:

allowing a user to select a version date as a primary attribute and to input at least one search request;

producing results based on the text of the text-based data;

displaying the results in a format that is configured to allow the user to select one of the results;

displaying the result as a portion of text-based data corresponding to a selected result that corresponds to the at least one attribute and the at least one search request;

displaying a link;

allowing a user to select the link;

whereupon the plurality of portions related to the current portion are displayed as a graphical representation of a multidimensional space; and

allowing the user to select and thereby display text-based data represented by a point on the multidimensional space;

wherein each point on the multidimensional space is defined by the value of one or more of a plurality of attributes.

37. The method according to claim 36, wherein the results are produced using one or more attributes.

38. The method according to claim 36, wherein the plurality of portions is related to the current portion by at least one link defined by one or more of the plurality of attributes.

39. The method according to claim 38, wherein the at least one link comprises any piece of information additional to the text of the text-based data.

40. The method according to claim 39, wherein the at least one link comprises a code or markup that allows departure and destination points to be created between portions of the text-based data.

41. The method according to claim 38, wherein said at least one link comprises an identification code for a corresponding portion of text-based data.

42. The method according to claim 38, wherein the amended portion of text-based data is amended by performing at least one of the group consisting of adding data to the portion, deleting data from the portion, and modifying data of the portion.

43. The method according to claim 38, wherein the text-based data comprises legislation or material related to said legislation.

44. The method according to claim 43, wherein each 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.

45. The method according to claim 44, wherein said provision is a section, schedule or appendix of an Act, or a section, schedule or appendix of a regulation.

46. The method according to claim 38, wherein each portion is a block of the text-based data, the block being larger than a single word and less than the entirety of the text-based data.

47. The method according to claim 36, wherein the markup language is Standard Generalised Markup Language (SGML) or eXtensible Markup Language (XML).

48. The method according to claim 47, wherein the text-based data is encoded using one or more Document Type Definitions (DTD) or Style Sheet Mechanisms (SSM).