Data processing: database and file management or data structures – Database design – Data structure types
Reexamination Certificate
1998-04-30
2001-01-30
Feild, Joseph H. (Department: 2776)
Data processing: database and file management or data structures
Database design
Data structure types
C706S046000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06182095
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
This invention relates to computer-based systems for document generation.
Computer software applications are commonly used for text editing and document production. One category of applications, represented by word processing and text editing software, assists a user with the input and editing of text-based documentation. Typically, word processing applications provide a blank entry form in which document text is entered and edited. Alternatively, word processing applications allow previously completed documents or document templates to be retrieved and re-edited to form new documents.
Word processing applications are commonly used to edit and produce documentation required in business transactions. Complex business deals, such as commercial financing and real estate transactions, can require hundreds of pages of documentation specifying rights and obligations of parties to the transaction. The expertise needed to determining the terms of such transactions and to correctly generate and edit the complex documentation accompanying such transactions can require a significant commitment of personnel, time, and cost. Consequently, an automated document production is desirable to reduce costs, delays, and personnel involvement in the document production process.
SUMMARY
The present invention includes a document generation system that can collect information describing a transaction and assist in the generation of transaction-specific documentation. The invention can be used to generate documentation that reflects terms of a negotiated transaction. For example, a loan agent can interact with a loan applicant to negotiate terms of a loan. Information describing the loan terms and the nature of the negotiated deal can be provided to the document generation system. The loan agent may also indicate which standard documents and which clauses within those documents are required for the transaction. A collection of documents may then be generated by the generation system. Further editing of the produced documentation may be performed using conventional word processing and text editing tools.
In general, in one aspect, the invention features a computer-based method of producing a customized package of interrelated documents. The method includes user interaction to identify a collection of available modifiable text segments and user interaction to identify customization data. The identified text segments are used to form the package of interrelated documents and the customization data can be used to complete the identified text segments. The customized package of interrelated documents is automatically assembling based on the identified collection and customization data.
Implementations of the invention may include one or more of the following features. A knowledge base can be used to automatically assemble the documents. The knowledge base can include data associating the modifiable text segments with document structure questions, and data interrelating document structure questions. Identifying the collection of available modifiable text segments can include presenting document structure questions in accordance with the knowledge base, receiving data from a user in response to the presented questions and including as members of the collection the text segments that are associated with the received data. The knowledge base may include data associating the available modifiable text segments with information element questions. Identifying customization data may include presenting information element questions in accordance with the knowledge base and receiving customization data from the user.
In general, in another aspect, the invention features a computer-based method of producing a customized package of interrelated documents. The method includes the following. Identifying a collection of information element questions that will be used to request information element data from a user. Interacting with a user to identify associations being between the collection of information element questions and a collection of available modifiable text segments. Interacting with a user to identifying a collection of document structure questions that will be used to request document structure data from a user, and identifying associations between the collection of document structure questions and ones of the collection of available modifiable text segments.
Implementations of the invention may include one or more of the following features. Data representing associations may be stored in a knowledge base. Modifications to associations may be identified and stored. Identifying a collection of information element questions can include receiving information element question data from the user. Modifiable text segments may be received from a user and stored as members of the collection of available modifiable text segments.
In general, in another aspect, the invention features a computer-based method of producing a customized interrelated collection of documents from a body of available document text segments. The method includes displaying selectable document structure elements. Each structure element is associated with information content of the collection of documents. Response data selecting document structure elements can be received. The method also includes displaying document information element requests and receiving information element data from a user. Information elements may be associated with document structure elements. The method also includes identifying a collection of document text segments by traversing a knowledge representation structure and assembling the text segments to produce a customized collection of interrelated document text segments by including the received information element data at predetermined locations in the collection of the document text segments. The knowledge representation structure associates the collection of document text segments with the selected document structure elements. Assembling the text segments is in response to the selected plurality of documents structure elements.
Implementations of the invention may include one or more of the following features. Selection of a first one of the document structure elements may cause the display of a second selectable document structure element. The second selectable document structure element may be displayed subordinate to the first document structure element. Displaying the second element may include displaying at an indented position relative to the first element. The document structure elements may include a first group of structure elements. Selection of a member of the first group may inhibits selection of remaining members of the group. Information element data may include a text string used to replace a text pattern stored in a document text segment.
Implementations may also include one or more of the following features. Document structure elements may be arranged in a sequential listing Traversing a knowledge representation structure may include processing structure elements according to their position in the sequential listing. Document structure elements may include parent structure elements and child structure elements that are logically subordinate to associated parent structure elements. When a parent structure elements is selected, display of its child structure elements may be enabled and when the parent structure elements is not selected, display of the child structure elements may be inhibited.
In general, in another aspect, the invention features a computer-based method of interrelating document text segments. The method includes providing a question editor interface to receive document structure questions and storing the received questions in database records. Additional, an interface to receive interrelationship data is provided and the received interrelationship data is stored in database records. The interrelationship data defines interrelationships among selected document structure questions and defines associations between selected document structure questions and select
Abbott Preston
Leymaster Mark
Patsch Glenn
Spaulding Robert
Steward William C.
Clifford Chance Rogers & Wells LLP
Feild Joseph H.
General Electric Capital Corporation
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