Methods and systems for providing context-based reference information
First Claim
1. A computer-implemented method for providing reference information for an object by using a computer, comprising:
- receiving a request from an author to insert a reference to a fragment object into a shell document, the request including a parameter provided by the author, wherein the shell document is separate from the fragment object and the fragment object is of a first type and is stored in a storage device of the computer;
providing to display a list of fragment objects by searching through a storage device of the computer using the parameter as search criteria, the fragment objects being stored in the storage device;
receiving, from the author, a selection of the fragment object, the fragment object being a known fragment object of a first type and being selected from the list of fragment objects;
comparing a predetermined rule associated with the fragment object with the first type to determine an identity of a first property that is compatible with the fragment object;
searching in the storage device for the first property;
determining whether the first property can be dynamically generated when the search is unsuccessful, wherein a message is provided to indicate that the first property is not available when the search result is unsuccessful and when the first property cannot be dynamically generated;
generating, based on the predetermined rule, the first property when it is determined that the first property can be dynamically generated, the first property including textual information describing a characteristic of the fragment object;
retrieving the first property from the storage device when the search is successful;
generating, based on the request, response data including the reference to the fragment object and the first property associated with the fragment object, wherein the first property included in the response data is the retrieved first property when the search is successful, and wherein the first property included in the response data is the generated first property when the search is unsuccessful;
modifying the shell document by inserting the response data into the shell document, wherein the reference and the first property are inserted into an author identified location within the shell document, the reference being inserted without inserting the fragment object, that is known, in the shell document;
formatting the modified shell document based on commands inputted by the author; and
on a display device rendering the modified and formatted shell document including the response data, the response data conveying a user-ascertainable characteristic of the fragment object by using the textual information included in the first property, wherein the user-ascertainable characteristic describes the characteristic of the fragment object.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Methods and systems are disclosed for providing within edited shell documents contextual information associated with a referenced object. The methods and systems may receive a request from an author to insert a reference to a fragment object into a shell document reflecting content to be displayed and generate response data including a reference to the fragment object and a first property reflecting contextual information associated with the fragment object. The shell document may be modified by inserting the response data into the shell document. The methods and system may also render the modified shell document including the response data such that the response data conveys a user-ascertainable characteristic of the fragment object based on the first property.
22 Citations
17 Claims
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1. A computer-implemented method for providing reference information for an object by using a computer, comprising:
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receiving a request from an author to insert a reference to a fragment object into a shell document, the request including a parameter provided by the author, wherein the shell document is separate from the fragment object and the fragment object is of a first type and is stored in a storage device of the computer; providing to display a list of fragment objects by searching through a storage device of the computer using the parameter as search criteria, the fragment objects being stored in the storage device; receiving, from the author, a selection of the fragment object, the fragment object being a known fragment object of a first type and being selected from the list of fragment objects; comparing a predetermined rule associated with the fragment object with the first type to determine an identity of a first property that is compatible with the fragment object; searching in the storage device for the first property; determining whether the first property can be dynamically generated when the search is unsuccessful, wherein a message is provided to indicate that the first property is not available when the search result is unsuccessful and when the first property cannot be dynamically generated; generating, based on the predetermined rule, the first property when it is determined that the first property can be dynamically generated, the first property including textual information describing a characteristic of the fragment object; retrieving the first property from the storage device when the search is successful; generating, based on the request, response data including the reference to the fragment object and the first property associated with the fragment object, wherein the first property included in the response data is the retrieved first property when the search is successful, and wherein the first property included in the response data is the generated first property when the search is unsuccessful; modifying the shell document by inserting the response data into the shell document, wherein the reference and the first property are inserted into an author identified location within the shell document, the reference being inserted without inserting the fragment object, that is known, in the shell document; formatting the modified shell document based on commands inputted by the author; and on a display device rendering the modified and formatted shell document including the response data, the response data conveying a user-ascertainable characteristic of the fragment object by using the textual information included in the first property, wherein the user-ascertainable characteristic describes the characteristic of the fragment object. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A system providing reference information, including:
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a first computing system that executes a first process for generating the shell document on a display, rendering the shell document for editing by an author, and receiving a first request from the author to insert a reference to a first fragment object in the shell document, the first request including a parameter provided by the author, wherein the shell document is separate from the fragment object and the first fragment object is of a first type; and a second computing system having a storage device and configured to; provide to display, a list of fragment objects by searching through the storage device using the parameter as search criteria, the fragment objects being stored in the storage device; receiving, from the first computing system, a selection of the first fragment object, the fragment object being a known fragment object and being selected from the list of fragment objects; comparing a predetermined rule associated with the first fragment object with the first type to determine an identity of a first property that is compatible with the first fragment object; search, in the storage device, for the first property; determine whether the first property can be dynamically generated when the search is unsuccessful, wherein a message is provided to indicate that the first property is not available when the search result is unsuccessful and when the first property cannot be dynamically generated; retrieving the first property from the storage device when the search is successful; generate, based on the predetermined rule, the first property when it is determined that the first property can be dynamically generated, the first property including textual information describing a characteristic of the fragment object, wherein the first property included in the response data is the retrieved first property when the search is successful, and wherein the first property included in the response data is the generated first property when the search is unsuccessful; generate the reference to the first fragment object based on the first request; and provide to the first computing system the generated reference to the first fragment object and the first property; wherein the first computing system updates the rendering of the shell document by editing the rendered shell document based on commands inputted by the author and by including the reference to the first fragment object and the first property into an author identified location within the rendered shell document the first property conveying the characteristic of the fragment object in a user-ascertainable format by using the textual information to describe the characteristic of the fragment object, the reference being inserted without inserting the fragment object, that is known, in the shell document. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14)
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15. A computer-implemented method for providing contextual information associated with referenced objects in a description document by using a computer, the method comprising:
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receiving input for editing a shell document; receiving a request to insert a reference to an object within the shell document, the request including a parameter, wherein the shell document is separate from the object and the object is stored in a storage device of the computer; providing to display, a list of objects by searching through the storage device using the parameter as search criteria, the objects being stored in the storage device; receiving a selection of the object, the object being a known object of a first type and being selected from the list of fragment objects; comparing a predetermined rule associated with the object with the first type to determine an identity of a first property that is compatible with fragment object; searching, in the storage device, for the first property; determining whether a first property can be dynamically generated when the search is unsuccessful, wherein a message is provided to indicate that the first property is not available when the search result is unsuccessful and when the first property cannot bed dynamically generated; generating, based on the predetermined rule, the first property when it is determined that the first property can be dynamically generated, the first property including textual information describing a characteristic of the object; retrieving the first property from the storage device when the search is successful; generating, based on the request, response data including the reference to the object and the first property associated with the object, wherein the first property included in the response data is the retrieved first property when the search is successful, and wherein the first property included in the response data is the generated first property when the search is unsuccessful; editing the shell document by inserting the response data into the shell document, wherein the reference and the first property are inserted into an author identified location within the shell document, the reference being inserted without inserting the object, that is known, in the shell document; formatting the modified shell document based on commands inputted by the author; and rendering on a display device the modified and formatted shell document by including the response data describing a user-ascertainable characteristic of the object within the shell document by using the textual information included in the first property, wherein the user-ascertainable characteristic describes the characteristic of the object. - View Dependent Claims (16)
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17. A computer-implemented method for providing reference information for an object by using a computer, comprising:
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receiving a request to insert a reference to a object into a shell document, the request including a parameter, wherein the shell document is separate from the object and the object is of a first type and is stored in a storage device of the computer; providing to display a list of objects by searching through a storage device of the computer using the parameter as search criteria, the objects being stored in the storage device; receiving a selection of the object, the object being a known object of a first type and being selected from the list of fragment objects; comparing a predetermined rule associated with the object with the first type to determine an identity of a property that is compatible with the object; searching in the storage device for the property; retrieving the property from the storage device when the search is successful; determining whether the property can be dynamically generated when the search is unsuccessful, wherein a message is provided to indicate that the property is not available when the search result is unsuccessful and when the property cannot be dynamically generated; generating, based on the predetermined rule, the property when it is determined that the property can be dynamically generated, the property including textual information describing a characteristic of the object, wherein the property is retrieved from an additional storage device when it is determined that the property cannot be dynamically generated; modifying the shell document by inserting the response data into the shell document, the reference and the property being inserted into an author identified location within the shell document, the reference being inserted without inserting the object, that is known, in the shell document, wherein the property inserted in the shell document data is the retrieved property when the search is successful, and wherein the property inserted in the shell document is the generated property when the search is unsuccessful; formatting the modified shell document based on commands inputted by a user; and rendering on a display device, the modified and formatted shell document including the response data such that the response data conveys a user-ascertainable characteristic of the object by using the textual information included in the property, wherein the user-ascertainable characteristic describes the characteristic of the object.
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Specification