Maltweb multi-axis viewing interface and higher level scoping

• US 8,386,484 B2
• Filed: 11/17/2006
• Issued: 02/26/2013
• 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, Nicola Jane, Schnelle, Christophe, Mariani, Peter
• Primary Examiner(s): VU, BAI DUC
• Application Number:
  US11/600,778
• Publication Number:
  US 20070074107A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,293 Days
• Field of Search: 715/200, 715/209, 715/229, 715/273, 715/277, 715/848, 715/850, 715/853, 715/854, 707/736
• US Class Current: 707/736
• 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 organising 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 said text-based data into a plurality of portions of text-based data;

amending at least one of said plurality of portions of text-based data;

storing said plurality of portions of text-based data;

storing said amended portion of text-based data;

providing a plurality of attributes, wherein said attributes define at least in part a manner in which at least one of said plurality of portions of text-based data and said amended portion of text-based data is capable of being organized and linked in a multidimensional space;

associating at least one of said plurality of portions of text-based data and said amended portion of text-based data with at least one link comprising at least one of code or markup language enabled at least in part by at least one of said plurality of attributes;

enabling a user to search said plurality of portions of text-based data and said amended portion of text-based data using at least one of said plurality of attributes; and

allowing the results of said search to be published to a user by;

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

allowing the provision of one or more selectable links to allow said user to select said one or more selectable links, wherein at least one of said plurality of portions of text-based data related to a current, provided portion based on said current, provided portion'"'"'s attributes is allowed to be displayed as a graphical representation of at least one dimension of a multidimensional space that is configured to allow a user to select and thereby display text-based data represented by a point on said multidimensional space;

wherein said multidimensional space is an unbounded area capable of or involving more than three dimensions.

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

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein said plurality of portions of text-based data and said amended portion of text-based data are encoded using one or more Document Type Definitions (DTD) or Style Sheet Mechanisms (SSM).

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein said at least one link comprises any data in addition to the text-based data and said amended portion of text-based data.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein said at least one link comprises code that allows departure and destination points to be created between said plurality of portions of text-based data and said amended portion of text-based data.

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

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

8. The method according to claim 7 wherein said plurality of portions of text-based data and said amendment portion of text-based data comprises legislation or material related to a provision of said legislation.

9. The method according to claim 8, 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.

10. The method according to claim 9, wherein said provision is a section, schedule or appendix of an Act or a section, schedule or appendix of a regulation.

11. The method according to claim 1, wherein at least one of said plurality of predefined portions of text-based data is a block of text-based data that is larger than a single word but smaller than an entire document.

12. The method according to claim 1, wherein the at least three dimensions are axes along which, or along some combination of which, point-to-point movement is permitted.

13. The system according to claim 1, wherein a selectable link allows display of a list of versions of at least one of said plurality of predefined portions of text-based data.