Data processing: database and file management or data structures – Database design – Data structure types
Reexamination Certificate
1999-03-19
2002-12-03
Feild, Joseph H. (Department: 2176)
Data processing: database and file management or data structures
Database design
Data structure types
C707S793000, C707S793000, C707S793000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06490603
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to production of documents in a structured format such as in Standardized General Markup Language (SGML) format.
Prior Art Discussion
A structured format such as SGML allows output of a document in a wide variety of formats using available tools. Such a structured format is therefore of enormous benefit to the document production industry, such as for publication of academic journals. In the art, WO98/34179, U.S. Pat. No. 5,557,720, and U.S. Pat. No. 5,140,521 describe techniques for processing structured-format documents. In general, this prior art relates to either altering a structured-format document, or processing such documents to generate a required output format for either display or printing.
However, a major problem for production of documents in a structured format is that of reaching this format. If the document is authored in the structured format, then specialised knowledge is required and the task is time-consuming. Alternatively, if the document is authored in a conventional word processor format and is subsequently converted, the conversion is very time-consuming and is error-prone.
Objects of the Invention
The invention is therefore directed toward providing a process for producing a document in a structured format in a more efficient manner.
Another object is that errors in the document be consistently reduced.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to the invention, there is provided a document production process carried out by a system comprising a processor having an editor interface and memory access means, the process comprising the steps of
writing a document comprising characters in a word processor format to memory;
writing document publication parameter values to memory;
automatically correcting the document according to typesetting rules;
automatically tagging the document to delimit character strings by inserting tags next to the associated character strings, the tagging being performed according to the publication parameter values; and
automatically converting the document to a structured format by substituting tags with structured format code to provide a structured document.
The steps of automatically correcting according to typesetting rules, automatic tagging, and automatic conversion allow for a highly automated process for bringing a document from a standard word processor format to a structured format. This allows the document author to use a word processor which he or she is familiar with, and divorces him or her from structured format techniques. These steps also help to ensure that errors are minimised.
In one embodiment, conversion is performed by automatic comparison of tags with reference tags stored in look-up tables.
Preferably, the conversion step includes the sub-steps of recognising foreign objects in the document, exporting the foreign objects to a separate process, converting the foreign objects to a text format, and subsequently importing the text and processing the text to convert to the structured format.
In one embodiment, the conversion step comprises the sub-step of separately converting floating elements according to document parameter values and structure of the floating element.
These automatic conversion steps in sequence provide comprehensive conversion to a structured format.
Preferably, the process comprises the further step of parsing the structured format code for final validation. This helps to ensure document quality.
In one embodiment, the document parameter values are written as an array of flags to load an activation table which activates and deactivates parameter options. This is a very effective way of recording parameter values for a particular document.
Preferably, the tagging step involves automatic recognition of elements.
In one embodiment, the process comprises the further step of copy-editing the document after tagging by automatically converting words according to a break-down of the word characters.
In another embodiment, the copy-editing step includes the sub-steps of building an array of document references by automatic recognition and subsequently sorting them according to an operator-inputted sort criterion.
Preferably, the process comprises the further step of automatic pre-conversion validation, in which tags are compared with reference tags and nesting is validated according to the document parameter values.
In one embodiment, the pre-conversion validation step includes the sub-step of automatically locating any invalid symbols and generating corresponding error messages.
In another embodiment, the pre-conversion validation step includes the sub-step of automatically identifying references, building an array in memory, and searching to determine if any do not exist in the document.
According to another aspect, the invention provides a document production system comprising a processor having an editor interface and memory access means, the processor comprising:
means for writing a document comprising characters in a word processor format to memory;
means for writing document publication parameter values to memory;
means for automatically correcting the document according to typesetting rules;
means for automatically tagging the document to delimit character strings by inserting tags next to the associated character strings, the tagging being performed according to the publication parameter values; and
automatically converting the document to a structured format by substituting tags with structured format code to provide a structured document.
Detailed Description of the Invention
REFERENCES:
patent: 5140521 (1992-08-01), Kozol et al.
patent: 5388194 (1995-02-01), Vogel
patent: 5557720 (1996-09-01), Brown, Jr.
patent: 5649222 (1997-07-01), Mogilevsky
patent: 5778402 (1998-07-01), Gipson
patent: 6014680 (2000-01-01), Sato et al.
patent: 6230173 (2001-05-01), Ferrel et al.
patent: 6266681 (2001-07-01), Guthrie
patent: 6298357 (2001-10-01), Wexler et al.
patent: 6332039 (2001-12-01), Bando et al.
patent: WO98/34179 (1998-08-01), None
Donnelly Anthony Joseph
Keenan David
Datapage Ireland Limited
Feild Joseph H.
Jacobson & Holman PLLC
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