DE102014215621A1 - Template system for generating customized documents - Google Patents

Abstract

Systems and methods for flexibly generating customized documents from data objects are described herein. Templates with embedded code instructions that can be evaluated separately from a document reader or editor can be used to generate customized documents. The template system can use the embedded code instructions to dynamically access properties of data objects. An editing program can initially be used to generate a test model document (mockup document) that can be used as the basis for a template.

Description

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61 / 909,949 filed Nov. 27, 2013, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

In addition, this application claims the priority of U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 61 / 863,792, entitled "Cable Reader Labeling," filed Aug. 8, 2013, and the priority of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61 / 863,814, entitled "Cable Reader Snippets and Postboard," filed Aug. 8, 2013, the disclosures of which are hereby incorporated herein by reference in their entireties and are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety as "Snippet References." ").

This application is related to US Pat. No. 8,489,623 entitled "Creating Data in a Data Store Using a Dynamic Ontology" filed on May 12, 2011, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety and in the patent here referred to as "ontology citation".

In the field of computer-based platforms, documents can be programmatically generated from structured data.

The systems, methods, and techniques described herein each have several aspects, with no single one being solely responsible for their desired attributes. Without limiting the scope of this disclosure, several non-limiting features are briefly discussed below.

In some embodiments, a computer system for generating customized template-based documents comprises a template storage device. The computer system may further include one or more hardware processors programmed by executable code instructions. When executed, the executable code instructions may cause the computer system to implement a template generator. The template generator may be configured to access a placeholder template having one or more placeholders indicating locations for inserting executable statements. The template generator may be further configured to receive executable instructions to be included in the wildcard template. The template generator may be further configured to store in the template storage device a template containing one or more sets of the obtained executable instructions inserted into corresponding placeholders of the placeholder template. Upon further execution of the executable code instructions, they may cause the computer system to implement a template selection unit. The template selection unit may be configured to receive a selection of the template and a selection of one or more data objects to be included in a generated user-customized document based on properties of the one or more data objects. Upon further execution of the executable code instructions, these may cause the computer system to implement a template processor. The template processor may be configured to parse the one or more sets of executable instructions included in the template. The template processor may be further configured to execute a respective set of executable instructions, wherein at least some sets of executable instructions include instructions to access properties of the selected data objects stored in one or more data sources. The template processor may be further configured to generate an output for a respective set of executable instructions. The template processor may be further configured to generate the customized document by replacing sets of executable instructions in the template with the output generated by executing corresponding sets of executable instructions. At least part of the output includes properties of the selected data objects and / or summary data concerning the properties of the selected data objects.

In some embodiments, a method of generating customized template-based documents may include receiving a selection of a template, wherein the template includes one or more sets of executable instructions. The method may further comprise receiving a selection of one or more data objects to be accessed in response to executing the one or more sets of executable instructions. The method may further comprise executing, by a computer system having one or more computer processors and an electronic memory device, a respective set of executable instructions, wherein at least some sets of executable instructions include instructions to access properties of at least some of the selected data objects , The method may further generate an output for a respective set of include executable instructions. The method may further comprise generating a customized document by replacing sets of executable instructions in the template with the corresponding generated output, including properties of the selected data objects and / or summary data relating to the properties of the selected data objects.

In some embodiments, a transitory or non-transitory computer storage device includes instructions to cause a computer system to generate customized template-based documents. When executed, the instructions may be given a template that has been modified by replacing wildcards with sets of executable instructions. When executed, the instructions may receive a selection of the template. When executed, the instructions may receive a selection of one or more data objects to be included in a generated user-adapted object based on properties of the one or more data objects. When executed, the instructions may parse the one or more sets of executable instructions from the template using the computer system. When executed, the instructions may execute a respective set of executable instructions, wherein at least some sets of executable instructions include instructions to access properties of the selected data objects stored by one or more data sources. When executed, the statements can generate an output for each set of executable statements. When executed, the instructions may generate a customized document by replacing sets of executable instructions in the template with the corresponding generated output, including properties of the selected data objects and / or summary data regarding the properties of the selected data objects.

Certain aspects of the disclosure will become more readily apparent from the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

1 FIG. 10 is a block diagram illustrating an exemplary template system, in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure. FIG.

2 FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating an example process for generating a document from a template, in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure.

3A FIG. 12 shows an example wildcard template, in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure. FIG.

3B FIG. 12 illustrates an Extensible Markup Language (XML) document of the wildcard template, in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure.

3C FIG. 10 shows an exemplary XML document of a template with executable code instructions, in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure.

3D FIG. 12 shows an exemplary XML document of an output document following the execution of embedded code instructions, in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure.

3E FIG. 10 illustrates an example user-customized document, in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure. FIG.

4A FIG. 10 illustrates an exemplary user interface of the template system for loading and / or viewing data objects, in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure.

4B FIG. 12 illustrates an exemplary user interface of the template system for selecting a template, in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure.

4C FIG. 12 shows an exemplary user interface of the template system for evaluating code instructions, in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure.

5 Figure 3 is a block diagram illustrating an example template system that may implement various methods and systems discussed herein.

Reports and / or documents can be programmatically generated from structured data. For example, a computer system may be programmed with code instructions to uniformly generate reports and / or documents from structured data. To modify the format of a report and / or a document, new software may be required to make changes to the report and / or the document. In another example, a report and / or a document may be generated from the embedded features of a document processing application. In Microsoft Word, functions for executing code statements can be incorporated into a document for example, macros to run Visual Basic.

In addition to computer systems programmed to generate consistent reports and / or the embedded features of a document processing application, disclosed herein are systems, methods, techniques, and apparatus for dynamically generating customized documents containing information regarding one or more data objects and / or properties of those data objects include. Using the techniques and systems described herein, efficient, flexible, scalable, and customized document generation can be accomplished. In a specific exemplary implementation of the systems and methods discussed herein, customized documents may be generated based on properties of one or more user-selected data objects and based on Microsoft Word templates that include embedded executable code instructions that may be evaluated outside of Microsoft Word , While certain examples cited herein relate to Microsoft Word, the systems and methods are applicable to any data format and any reading and / or editing software.

Generation of an exemplary template

1 FIG. 12 illustrates a template system according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. FIG. In the exemplary embodiment of 1 indicates the template environment 190 a network 160 , a template system 100 , a user computing device 102 , and an object storage device 130 on. Various communications between these devices are shown. For example, a communication is a placeholder template 110 , a data selection 120 , of object data 140 and a custom document 150 shown in various actions 1 to 5, as shown in the circled numbers in the figure. In this embodiment, the template system includes 100 a template generator 104 , a template storage device 106 , a selection unit 108 and a template processor 109 each of which will be described in more detail below.

As in 1 In action 1, a template with code wildcards, referred to herein as a "wildcard template", is presented by the user computing device 102 to the template generator 104 of the template system 100 transfer. In some embodiments, the wildcard template includes 110 Code placeholders that specify locations in a template document where the user desires to dynamically add content based on the properties of one or more selected data objects. For example 3A an exemplary placeholder template 300 where placeholders have been added and / or displayed by a document processing application. The placeholder template 300 can be the placeholder template 110 from 1 correspond. The placeholder template may have been 300 generated by an operator in a document processing application, such as, but not limited to, Microsoft Word. The placeholder template 300 may include static text and / or features that may be used in all reports and / or documents resulting from templates based on the placeholder template 300 generated, such as static texts 312 , In other examples, the header or footer of the document may contain the same information in all reports, such as a company logo.

The operator may have the placeholder template 300 to meet specifications for a custom report. The design can be adapted to the specifications of the report and / or to the preferences of the operator. For example, the identifier 304 and / or the table 302 aligned, formatted and / or in a font that matches the preferences of the operator. Similarly, the picture may 306 be positioned and / or aligned according to the preferences of the operator.

Elements of the placeholder template 300 , such as the identifier 304 , the picture 306 and / or the table 302 may include placeholder elements. The placeholder elements represent aspects and / or features of the document where the operator wishes to be dynamically deployed and / or updated by properties of data objects and / or based on the properties of data objects. For example, the identifier wildcard 304 a placeholder, which is replaced by an identifier associated with an object selected by the person requesting a document, based on the template. For example, the identifier wildcard 304 be replaced by the name of a person who may correspond to one or more name properties associated with a person data object. Similarly, the other placeholder elements, such as the image 306 and the size placeholder, the contact placeholder, and the partner placeholder in table 302 Properties of one or more objects (eg, person objects) selected by the requesting operator.

A template can be in various formats. For example, a template may contain documents and / or formats such as, but not limited to, Microsoft Word, Microsoft Powerpoint, Microsoft Excel, HTML (Hypertext Markup Language), a database format, XML (extensible markup language), JSON, CSV file formats (delimited file formats), a proprietary file format of the template system 100 , and / or any other format. 3B For example, shows an XML document of a placeholder template in an XML-based document format. For example, the Microsoft Office document formats, such as, but not limited to, Microsoft Word, Powerpoint, Excel, or any other document format, may include XML-based document formats. In other words, for example, a Word document may be an archive file, corresponding to, but not limited to, a Zip format of XML documents. As such, an operator, using an archival application or any other application, may open a document file archive to view and / or edit the one or more XML documents containing the document.

The sample XML document 310A can be the placeholder template 300 from 3A which may be in a document archive format containing one or more XML files, including the XML document 301A , The example markers in the XML document 310 are illustrative and may not correspond to a specific XML format of a document.

As by the XML document 310A An operator can view this when opening the XML document 310A with a text editing application, an XML editing application, and / or any other application identifying wildcard elements. For example, "<text> NAME PLACEHOLDER </ text>" may be identifiable based on the text "PLACEHOLDER". Thus, an operator may have one or more documents 310 that contain the template (for example, there may be multiple XML and / or other document types that are part of a single Microsoft Word document) search the special string used in the template to identify wildcards , In the example of 3 For example, the operator may search for the string "PLACEHOUSE" to easily identify files and / or locations in the files where wildcards exist and executable code should be used to enable those wildcards to access data obtained associated with one or more objects. Thus, the use of wildcards may be useful because the various files that make up a single output format (eg, a Microsoft Word document) can be very large and complex and / or otherwise difficult to navigate identify the matching locations where placeholders with executable code are to be replaced. For example, a single XML document can contain thousands of rows with hundreds of different markers. Thus, identifying portions of the XML document can be accomplished by searching for wildcards in the XML document. In addition, an operator can edit and / or modify the XML document without completely understanding a complex XML-based document format because, due to the placeholders, the operator can concentrate on editing and / or modifying the important portions of the XML.

It is XML in the document 310A however, the template system may support other previously mentioned document formats and / or any other document format. For example, an HTML template can be used, and the placeholders can be inserted into an HTML document.

Referring again to 1 generates the template generator in action 2 104 a template, in that the placeholder in the placeholder template 110 (or the placeholder template 300 from 3A ) are replaced by executable code segments to obtain data as replacement data for these wildcards. In some embodiments, some or all of the embedded code instructions associated with wildcards may be in the wildcard template 110 provided by the user computing device 102 over the network 160 to the template generator 104 is sent, used or included in this. For example, the user may 102 the code segments based on using one by the template generator 104 provided programming interface, which in various embodiments on the user computing device 102 partially or fully implemented. Thus, the template generator 104 be configured to receive executable instructions to be included in a document template, either by the user 102 and / or by another user having greater programming skills who are useful in writing and / or selecting code associated with a respective placeholder. For example, the template generator 104 a text editing application operated by an operator who inserts the embedded code instructions based on the code placeholders. In some embodiments, the template generator may be 104 an automated process that is the template 110 with code placeholders and receives the Code statement wildcards replaced with embedded statements. In some embodiments, template generation is automatic, manual, or any combination of these. The template generator 104 can output the generated template with embedded code instructions and / or in the template storage device 106 to save.

3C shows the template with inserted executable code statements that are used by the wildcard template (eg. 3B ) can be distinguished. The XML document 310A from 3B may have been modified to be the coded XML document 310B to create. The executable code statements in the coded XML document 310 are illustrative and therefore may not correspond to any specific programming language or include syntactically complete and / or correct instructions. The template system may be configured to support one or more interpreted programming languages, such as, but not limited to, eRuby (embedded Ruby), JRuby, Groovy, BASIC, Perl, Python, Jython, and / or LISP. The template system may also be configured to support other programming languages such as, but not limited to, Java, Lua, C, C ++, and / or C #.

The use of embedded code statements in the coded XML document 310B can enable dynamic document generation based on data objects. For example, the code statement "<% print (object.getName)%>" may be the template system 100 from 1 (and / or the later explained template processor 109 ) to read the Name property of a selected object (or objects) and to print that name property into the document. As previously mentioned, the operator and / or a template generator may recognize where to place the special code statement in this XML element due to the "name placeholder" indicator of the XML document 310A in 3B , Similarly, the operator and / or the template generator may add embedded code instructions by accessing data object properties based on the placeholders in the template that correspond to the image 306 , and / or the table 302 from 3A equivalent.

In some embodiments, there may be some variation in how the embedded code instructions are executed. For example, the template system 100 from 1 (and / or the later explained template processor 109 ) for executing interpreted programming languages such as, but not limited to, Ruby and / or Groovy, which execute embedded code instructions at runtime without compiling the embedded code instructions. In some embodiments, the template system 100 from 1 (and / or the later explained template processor 109 ) for executing compiled or partially compiled programming languages such as, but not limited to, Java and / or C ++, have a compiler unit that compiles the extracted code instructions to be able to execute those code instructions.

In some embodiments, the template generator may be 104 and / or the template system 100 from 1 Have tools and / or applications for editing XML-based document formats and / or other document formats. For example, an XML-based document formatting application may allow an operator to open an XML-based document format and directly edit the XML-based document format XML files. As previously discussed, an XML-based document format may include a file library of XML documents. Thus, without an application and / or a tool for formatting an XML-based document, an operator may need to open the file library containing the XML-based document prior to editing the XML files and / or re-archive the XML files after they made the changes to the XML. An application and / or tool for formatting an XML-based document may allow the operator to readily perform opening, editing, and / or storing of XML documents in an XML-based document format, comprising the steps of archiving and / or re-archiving automatically.

The use of embedded code statements in the document 310B can provide user-customized programming logic for document generation. For example, the code statement includes 312 "If object.getphone number is not null" an if statement. Therefore, the following code statement 314 "Println (, phone number: '+ object.getphone number)" will only be executed if the evaluation of the if statement 312 returns the Boolean value True. Thus, a programming logic in the document 310B enable condition logic based on data object properties. The code statement block 316 can illustrate another programming logic. For example, a person's object may have multiple records associated with the person, and each record may have a size property, and therefore a person may have multiple size properties. However, it may be desired be to display the most commonly used ("most common") size of a person. Therefore, the code statement "size = frequencyMap (records, 'size'). GetMostCommon" at 316 determine the most commonly used size property, which will then be printed in the document.

The use of embedded code statements in the document 310B can enable efficient generation of a customized document. For example, the first and last shown code statement <% for any object in objects%> or <% end%> that can loop, can be the template processor 109 upon execution of the code, causing operations to be performed within the loop for each of the one or more data objects. Using a For loop can be efficient, as these two lines of embedded code instructions cause the template system to loop across any number of objects and the static text and / or code within the For loop to repeat. For example, the For loop may be the respective elements, according to the identifier 304 , the picture 306 and / or the table 302 from 3A enclose. Therefore, when executing the embedded code statements in a template, a page and / or section is created for each data object (each corresponding to a single loop of the For loop). For example, if ten-person objects have been selected, designated, accessed, and / or loaded and sent to the template system, ten pages and / or sections, each corresponding to a single person object, can be generated.

Exemplary selection and execution of a template

Referring again to 1 describe the actions 1 to 2 operations that can be performed when generating a code-containing template. Once a code-containing template has been generated and stored in the template storage device 106 has been stored, this template having the code may be selected by the operator and / or any other user for use in creating a document based on the template. The actions 3 to 5 of 1 show exemplary processes that may be performed by a user when selecting a template, selecting one or more objects from which to use information in the document generated based on the template, and generating the document based on the object properties ,

In action 3, the user selects the user computing device 102 one or more objects to be included in the document / report. For example, if the user is a law enforcement officer and wants a report containing information regarding ten suspects each, these ten suspects may be selected. Referring to 4A is for example a user interface 400 a software application configured to provide data regarding objects and to allow the user to select one or more of the data objects. The exemplary user interface 400 has a search box 402 , an object display area 404 and a menu bar 406 on. An operator, for. B. the user of the user computing device 102 , can by means of a keyboard and / or otherwise entering data in the search box 402 load, look up, and / or retrieve one or more data objects. For example, by keystroke the name of a person, such as "John Doe," the Person object 410 in the object display area 404 are displayed. The other person objects 412 (which the objects 412A . 412B and or 412C can) automatically and / or after user interaction of the operator with the person object 410 are displayed. For example, an operator may select the person object 410 Select and choose an option to partner and / or persons with the person object 410 are related to display. The links 414A . 414B and or 414C can relationships between the person object 410 and the related person objects 412A . 412B respectively. 412C Show. For example, the person objects 412 related to the person object 410 For example, but not limited to, partners, acquaintances or family members. The user interface 400 may be able to display any type of data object and / or may not be limited to displaying person-data objects.

In some embodiments, the embedded code instructions may determine one or more additional data objects based on the one or more selected objects. For example, for a selected person object, known partner objects and / or the arrest register objects may be programmatically determined from the embedded code instructions, for example, using methods discussed in U.S. Patent Application Serial Number. 13 / 968,265 and US patent application serial no. 13 / 968,123, the disclosures of which are hereby incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. For example, the selected person data object may be a starting point for associating one or more additional related data objects determine. For example, a theft vehicle register object having the color property "red" may be selected by the operator, and the embedded code instructions of a template may identify data objects associated with images of red cars driving at excessive speed nearby the location of the stolen vehicle (for example, as indicated in the object properties of these data objects).

In some embodiments, the embedded code instructions may access data from other servers and / or Web sites located either within and / or outside the template system. For example, the embedded code instructions may access and / or load an image of "Google Street View". The image of Google Street View may be associated with the location property of a data object. By executing the code statement using the template system 100 from 1 (and / or the later explained template processor 109 ), other data may be accessed and / or loaded, including, but not limited to, currency rates, weather data, news stories, and / or any other information available.

In addition to visually searching and / or presenting data objects and / or relationships between data objects, the user interface may 400 allow various other manipulations. For example, data objects may be reviewed (eg, by viewing properties and / or associated data of the data objects), filtered (eg, by narrowing down the set of objects into sets and subsets by properties or relationships), and statistically aggregated will be numerically summed based on summation criteria, among other operations and visualizations.

If a user has selected the appropriate objects for use in the generated document, he may then select one or more of various available templates to use in generating a document that includes properties of the selected objects. For example 4B the user interface 400 from 4A with a specific template selected for use in generating a document based on the selected objects (all displayed objects in this embodiment). In this example, the operator has the template "My template" 426 selected by accessing a selected "DETERMINATION" menu 420 , Selecting the "Data Export" menu item 422 , and then by selecting the template 426 from a list 424 any templates available to the user. In some embodiments, selecting a specific template (eg, "My Template") 426 ), the initiation of the process of generating a customized document based on all data objects in the objects in the display area 404 are displayed. In some embodiments, the template user interface may 400 allow the operator to select data objects individually or in a group, regardless of whether these objects are in the display area 404 stay visible or not. Thus, when selecting the template menu item 426 , a custom document will be generated from the selected data objects.

In some embodiments, the template system may include an interface that accepts the sending and / or uploading of templates, such that the templates are in the menu list 424 can be present. For example, after creating and / or generating a template with embedded code instructions, which may correspond to an XML-based document format containing the XML document 310B in 3C an operator then upload the template to the template system. The menu list 424 The user interface can then be automatically populated with the latest list of available templates.

Referring again to 1 As soon as the template and the objects to be included in the generated document are selected, the selection made to the template system will be made 100 transferred for use by the selection unit 108 to get properties of the selected objects for use in the generated document and to access the selected template. For example, the data selection made 120 from the user computing device 102 over the network to the selection unit 108 be sent. As noted previously, the data selection made 120 include one or more selected data objects and / or selected templates. The selection unit 108 Can the template from the template storage device 106 load and / or retrieve based on the data selection 120 , The selection unit 108 may have data regarding those in the selection 120 identified data objects from the object storage device 130 request, receive and / or load. The selection unit 108 can copy the template and / or the data objects to the template processor 109 send.

In action 5, the template processor generates the custom document 150 based on the template with embedded executables Instructions and the data objects 140 (and / or properties of data objects) referenced by the object storage device 130 was accessed. The custom document 150 with properties of the data objects used by the template processor 109 can be issued over the network 160 to the user computing device 120 be sent. Thus, the template processor is 109 configured to identify executable code in the template, access properties of the selected, determined and / or loaded objects based on the executable code, and replace the executable code with the output of the particular executable code segment. 3D shows the exemplary XML document of 3C wherein the embedded code instructions are replaced by information concerning selected data objects. The output XML document may be configured for interpretation by viewer software, such as a word processor (eg, Microsoft Word), a browser, and / or other software to display a customized document containing the object data.

In this example, the element "<text> John Doe </ text>" illustrates that what was originally the DESIGNARY PLACEHOLDER of the placeholder template has been replaced with the name property value of a person object based on a Execution of executable code "<% = print (object.getName)%>" was accessed in the template. Similarly, an image name corresponding to the person object "John Doe" is used instead of the image placeholder in the output XML document 320 contain. The other PLACEHOLDER elements of the table 302 were also replaced by properties of the selected object, in response to execution of the corresponding code segments by the template processor 109 the placeholders have been replaced.

Although illustrates the output XML document 320 however, an output that results from executing embedded instructions from a single person data object shows the ellipsis 322 that multiple person data objects may have been accessed and appropriate embedded code instructions executed. As a result, the ellipsis 322 include multiple sections and / or pages of the output document that may correspond to multiple person-data objects. For example, if the object selection 120 the four in 4A contains identified person-objects, the output XML-document 320 include separate sections (eg, corresponding to separate sections of a document, pages of the document, or separate documents) for each of the selected objects.

3E shows an exemplary user-customized document that may be returned to a user, such as the customized document 150 from 1 , In one embodiment, the customized document becomes 330 through the template processor 109 generated what with regard to block 210 from 2 will be explained further. The exemplary user-customized document 330 Figure 4 shows how an output user-customized document is perceived by an operator holding the user-customized document 330 in a document processing application (e.g., the user of the user computing device 102 looking at the document in a word processor). For example, the identifier matches 332 , the picture 334 and / or the table 336 the XML elements of the custom XML document 320 from 3D , As shown, the customized document includes 330 a plurality of pages that may correspond to multiple person objects processed by the template system, such as the four example objects included in the user interface of FIG 4A were selected.

The template system can be the user-customized document 330 efficiently, as it can be based on a template. For example, the template system may execute and / or replace the embedded code instructions of the template document, such as by the modified XML document 310B shown. Thus, the template system may reuse all of the static text and / or all but the embedded instructions of the template document to generate the customized document. It is also possible that the template system does not know the specific details of a particular document format such as, but not limited to, Microsoft Word. Similar to a template that may include an XML-based document format, the customized document 330 also include an XML-based document format. Thus, the customized document 330 the custom XML document 320 from 3D include.

The template system can be the user-customized document 330 in which properties of data objects were used and / or its document format, format, layout etc. with the template document 300 from 3A which may have been originally generated by the operator.

In some embodiments, the user computing device may 102 , the master system 100 and the object storage device 130 on the same computing device or multiple computing devices. For some Embodiments may include communication between the user computing device 102 , the master system 100 and the object storage device 130 without using the network 160 respectively. For example, if the user computing device 102 , the master system 100 and the object storage device 130 On the same computing device, the communication could be done without using a network.

data objects

In some embodiments, data is conceptually structured according to an object data model represented by an ontology. The conceptual data model may be independent of any specific and / or specific type of data store. For example, each object of the conceptual data model may correspond to one or more rows in a relational database and / or an object in an in-memory cache.

In some embodiments, as noted above, an ontology may include stored information that provides a data model for storing data in a data store. The ontology may be defined by one or more object types, each of which may be associated with one or more property types.

At the highest level of abstraction, a data object is a container of information that represents things in the material world. For example, a data object may represent an entity such as a person, a place, an organization, a market instrument, and / or the like. Data objects may represent an event occurring at a time and / or during a period of time. Data objects may represent a document and / or other unstructured data sources, such as an e-mail message, a news report, a document, and / or an article. Each data object may have a unique identifier that uniquely identifies the data object in the data store.

Different types of data objects can have different property types. For example, a "person" data object might have an "eye color" property type, and an "event" data object might have a "data" property type. Each property, as represented by data in the data store, can have a property type defined by the ontology used in the data store.

Objects can be instantiated in the data store according to the corresponding object definition for the corresponding object in the ontology. For example, a specific monetary payment (for example, an event-type object) may be $ 30.00 (for example, a currency type property) that takes place on March 27, 2009 (e.g. Date property) in the data store as an event object with associated currency and date properties as defined in the ontology.

The data objects defined in the ontology can support a property multiplicity. For example, a data object may have more than one property of the same property type. For example, a "person" data object might have multiple "address" properties or multiple "name" properties.

In some embodiments, the data objects that the template system receives correspond to an ontology according to the systems, methods, and / or techniques disclosed in the ontology citation.

Exemplary document generation process

2 FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating a process of generating a document from a template, in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure. The procedure of 2 can through the template system 100 from 1 be performed, for example, the various components of 1 previously discussed, including the template processor 109 , Depending on the embodiment, the method of 2 include a smaller or larger number of blocks and / or the blocks may be executed in a different order than shown.

Starting at block 202 The properties of one or more data objects are accessed. For example, a person object that includes some or all of the properties of that person object may be from the template system 100 be received. The Person object may have one or more properties, such as one or more of the following, including names, addresses, and other data.

At block 204 a template is received and / or accessed. The template may correspond to one or more of the previously explained formats. For example, the template may be a Word document.

At block 206 Executable code statements are parsed from the template. One or more escape characters may be used to designate a block of an executable code statement in the template. For example, the characters "<%" and "%>" may designate, respectively, the beginning and the end of a block of executable code instruction and / or a set of executable code instructions. Additional escape characters and / or awards may be used to designate executable code statements in a template. The executable code instructions may correspond to one or more programming languages.

At block 208 The executable code statements are executed by the template. Data objects and / or properties of the data objects can be accessed through the executable code instructions. The executable code instructions may also include programming logic. For example, executable code instructions may access a person object, check for properties such as residences, and / or print only the address of the most recent residence.

At block 210 a user-customized document is generated. The customized document may include properties of the received data objects and / or summary data regarding the properties of the received data objects. The document may be of the same format and / or type as the template and / or type. For example, if the template was a Word document, the document could also be a Word document. The document can be generated by replacing the executable code statements in the template with the corresponding generated output. It is possible that the actual template document will not be modified. For example, a copy of the template document can be created, and the executable code instructions in the template copy can be replaced.

Make changes to a finished template

It is possible that it may be desired, desired, and / or necessary for an operator to modify the appearance, design, formatting, and / or layout of a completed template after the embedded instructions have been added to the template. For example, the operator may modify the original placeholder template, which did not yet contain any of the embedded code instructions, in a word processing application such as, but not limited to, Microsoft Word. The operator or an automated process and / or tool can then copy the embedded instructions from the existing template to the new template template. As a result, a new template is created with the design, formatting, and / or layout changes in the updated document format, but still contains the appropriate embedded code instructions. Thus, an operator may make the necessary changes in the word processing application, which may make it almost unnecessary for the operator to understand and / or make changes to a complex document format such as, but not limited to, an XML-based document format.

Exemplary User Interfaces

4A . 4B and 4C show exemplary user interfaces of the template system, or a subset thereof, in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure. In some embodiments, the user interfaces described above and below may be displayed in any suitable computer system and / or application, including but not limited to, for example, a window of a web browser and / or a stand-alone software application. In addition, the functionality and / or user interfaces of the system, as in 4A . 4B and or 4C illustrated, implemented in one or more computer processors and / or computing devices as described with reference to FIG 5 has been described. As noted previously, in some embodiments, the user interface 400 used for object and data selection 120 , as in 1 shown. In some embodiments, when selecting a specific template menu item 426 creates a custom document containing object data associated with the selected objects. As noted before 4A the user interface 400 representing multiple objects 410 . 412 as well as connections 414 between the objects. Depending on the software application (eg the Gotham software from Palantir), objects can be selected in different ways. As previously explained 4B exemplary menu options that may be used to select a particular template to use in generating an output document containing information regarding the selected objects.

Referring to 4C has the exemplary user interface 400 an evaluation tool 430 on, that is an input field 432 , a Run button 434 and / or an output field 436 includes. An operator can do that evaluation tool 430 use to evaluate and / or test executable code statements to view their trial printout before embedding them and / or similar instructions in a template.

An exemplary use case and / or a scenario for the evaluation tool 430 can be the following. As previously explained, an operator may use data objects 410 and or 412 load and / or retrieve, and then select none, one, some or all of the data objects. An operator may then enter a keyboard input and / or otherwise enter code instructions into the input field 432 carry out. For example, some or all of the code statements of 3C and / or any other code statements in the input field 432 be entered. An operator may then click, tap, and / or touch the execute button 432 perform what the template system can do, the code statements in the input field 432 perform. In some embodiments, after the template system has executed the code instructions, the output field may be automatically populated with the output of the executed code instructions. For example, if the code statements in the input field 432 "<% = Print (object.getName)%>" could be in the output field 436 "John Doe" will be displayed, which may correspond to the Name property of a selected data object. In some embodiments, the template processor 109 from 1 the code statements from the input field 432 To run.

In some embodiments, an operator may use the evaluation tool 430 to efficiently generate a template document. For example, an operator may perform a test, test, and / or preview of code instructions by looking at what the output of those code instructions might look like before embedding those instructions in a template. The evaluation tool 430 may allow the operator to resolve any problem cases and / or issues with the code instructions before uploading a template to the template system. Without the evaluation tool 430 It would be necessary for the operator to create a template, upload it to the template system, and then run the template on data objects to see what the output of those code statements would look like. Thus, the evaluation tool 430 save the operator time and / or reduce the time required to generate a template.

Snippets

In some embodiments, the template system may be used to insert snippets into a customized document in accordance with the systems, methods, and / or techniques disclosed in the snippet references. For example, the embedded code instructions of a template may be evaluated to import data related to snippet objects into the document, for example to import the text portion of the returned snippets into the body of the report and / or the citation portion of the snippet into a footnote to import. In this way, a particular snippet can be automatically added to the report (and future reports based on the same template) without human intervention.

implementation mechanisms

The various illustrated here computing device (s), for example, the template system 100 from 1 Generally, operating system software such as, but not limited to, iOS, Android, Chrome OS, Windows XP, Windows Vista, Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows Server, Windows CE, Unix, Linux, SunOS, Solaris, Macintosh OS X , VxWorks, or other compatible operating systems controlled and coordinated. In further embodiments, the computing devices may be controlled by a proprietary operating system. Conventional operating systems control, among other things, computation processes to be executed and their timing, perform memory management, provide a file system, network functionality and input / output services, and provide user interface functionality such as a graphical user interface ("GUI"). The template system 100 may be hosted and / or executed on one or more computing devices having one or more hardware processors and any of the aforementioned operating system software.

5 Figure 3 is a block diagram illustrating example components of the template system 100 represents. True, it does 5 on the template system 100 However, any or all of the components in any of the other computing devices discussed herein may be the same or similar.

The template system 100 can run software, eg. For example, stand-alone software applications, applications within browsers, network applications, etc., whether by the specific application, the operating system or otherwise. Any of the systems discussed here may be replaced by the template system 100 and / or a similar computer system comprising some or all of the components described with respect to 5 were explained.

The template system 100 includes a bus 502 or another communication mechanism for communicating information, and a hardware processor or multiple processors 504 by bus 502 are connected and used for processing information. The hardware processor (s) 504 For example, it may be one or more general-purpose microprocessors.

The template system 100 also includes a main memory 506 For example, RAM (Random Access Memory), a cache, and / or other dynamic storage devices connected to the bus 502 to store information and instructions issued by the processor (s). 504 are to be executed. The main memory 506 can also be used to store temporary variables or other intermediate information during execution by the processor (s) 504 save instructions to be executed. Such instructions, when stored in storage media, make the processor (s) 504 accessible, the template system 100 to a special machine customized to perform the operations specified in the instructions. Such instructions, such as performed by hardware processors, may implement the methods and systems described herein to share security information.

The template system 100 further includes a ROM (read-only memory) 508 or another static storage device connected to the bus 502 static information and instructions for the processor (s) 504 save. A storage device 510 , such as a magnetic disk, an optical disk or a USB stick (flash drive), etc., is provided and to the bus 502 connected to store information and instructions. The master storage device 106 and / or the object storage device 130 from 1 can in main memory 506 and / or the storage device 510 get saved.

In some embodiments, the template storage device is 106 and / or the object storage device 130 from 1 a file system, a relational database such as, but not limited to, MySql, Oracle, Sybase, or DB2, and / or a distributed in-memory caching system such as, but not limited to, Memcache, Memcached, or Java Caching System.

The template system 100 can over the bus 502 with an ad 512 For example, a cathode ray tube (CRT) or an LCD display or a touch screen may be used to display information to a user of the computer. An input device 514 is by bus 502 connected to information and selected commands to the processor 504 to convey. A type of input device 514 is a keyboard that contains alphanumeric keys and additional keys. Another type of input device 514 is a touch screen. Another type of user input device is cursor control 516 such as a mouse, a trackball, a touch screen, or cursor direction keys to the processor 504 Direction information and selected commands and a cursor movement on the display device 512 to control. This input device may have two degrees of freedom in two axes, a first axis (eg x) and a second axis (eg y), which allows the device to designate positions in a plane. In some embodiments, the same directional information and command selection as in cursor control may be implemented by receiving touchscreen touches without a cursor.

The template system 100 may include a user interface unit to implement a GUI, for example 4A . 4B and or 4C which may be stored in a mass storage device as executable software code executed by the computing device (s). These and other entities may include, for example, components such as software components, object-oriented software components, class components and task components, processes, functions, attributes, procedures, subroutines, segments of program code, drivers, firmware, microcode, circuits, data, databases, data structures, tables, Fields and variables include.

Generally, the word "instructions" as used herein refers to logic embodied as hardware or firmware, or to a collection of software units that may have entry and exit points and in a programming language such as, but not limited to, Java, Lua, C, C ++, or C # are written. A software unit can be compiled and linked into an executable program, incorporated into a dynamic program library (Dynamic Link Library), or in an interpreted programming language such as, but not limited to writing BASIC, Perl or Python. It is understood that software units may be invocable by other entities or by themselves, and / or may be invoked in response to detected events or interrupts. Software units configured for execution on computing devices or their hardware processors may be provided on a computer readable medium, such as a CD (compact disk), a DVD (digital video disk), a flash memory drive, a magnetic disk , or any other tangible form of medium, or as a digital download (and may initially be stored in a compressed or installable format requiring installation, decompression or decryption prior to execution). Such software code may be stored, in part or in full, in a memory component of the executing computing device for execution by the computing device. Software instructions may be embedded in firmware, such as an EPROM. It is further understood that hardware modules may include interconnected logic devices, such as gates and flip-flops, and / or may include programmable devices, such as programmable gate arrays or processors. In general, the instructions described here refer to logical modules that may be combined with other modules or sub-modules, regardless of their physical organization or location.

The template system 100 , or components thereof, such as the selection unit 108 and / or the template processor 109 from 1 , can be programmed using executable code instructions in a programming language.

The term "non-transitory media" and similar terms as used herein refers to any media that stores data and / or instructions that cause a machine to work in a specific manner. Such non-transitory media may include non-volatile media and / or volatile media. Non-volatile media include, for example, optical or magnetic disks, such as the storage device 510 , Volatile media include dynamic memory such as main memory 506 one. Common forms of non-transitory media include, for example, a floppy disk, a flexible disk, a hard disk, a solid state drive, a magnetic tape, or any other magnetic data storage medium, a CD-ROM, any other optical data storage medium, any hole pattern physical media, a RAM, a PROM and an EPROM, a Flash EPROM, an NVRAM, and any other memory chip or cartridge, as well as network connected versions thereof.

Non-transitory media are different from, but may be used in conjunction with, transmission media. Transmission media participate in a transfer of information between storage media. For example, transmission media include coaxial cable, copper wire and optical fiber, including the wires that the bus 502 includes. Transmission media may also take the form of sound or light waves, such as those generated in radio and infrared data communications.

Different forms of media may be involved in the execution of one or more sequences of one or more instructions issued by the processor (s). 504 are to be executed. For example, the instructions may initially be stored on a magnetic disk or a semiconductor drive of a remote computer. The remote computer can load the instructions into its dynamic memory and send the instructions over a telephone line or cable connection using a modem. One at the template system 100 The modem in question may receive the data over the telephone line or a cable connection and use an infrared transmitter to convert the data into an infrared signal. An infrared detector can receive the data carried in the infra-red signal and appropriate circuitry can transfer the data to the bus 502 lay. The bus 502 conveys the data to the main memory 506 from which the processor (s) 504 retrieve and execute the instructions. The main memory 506 received instructions can retrieve and execute the instructions. The main memory 506 Instructions received may optionally be in the storage device 510 stored either before or after being executed by the processor (s) 504 ,

The template system 100 also includes a communication interface 518 by bus 502 connected is. The communication interface 518 provides a two-way data communication connection to a network link 520 ready with a local network 522 connected is. For example, a communication interface 518 an Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN) card, a cable modem, a satellite modem or a modem to provide a data communication connection to a corresponding type of telephone line. As another example, a communication interface 518 A Local Area Network (LAN) card to provide a data communication link to a compatible LAN (or may be a WAN device to communicate with a WAN) Wireless connections can also be implemented and receives a communication interface 518 electrical, electromagnetic or optical signals carrying digital data streams representing various types of information.

The network link 520 typically provides data communication to other data devices over one or more networks. For example, the network link 520 over a local network 522 a connection to a host computer 524 or to data facilities provided by an Internet Service Provider (ISP) 526 operate. The ISP 526 in turn provides data communication services over the worldwide packet data communications network, now commonly referred to as the "Internet" 528 referred to as. Both the local network 522 as well as the internet 528 use electrical, electromagnetic or optical signals that carry digital data streams. The signals passing through the various networks and the signals passing through the network link 520 and via the communication interface 518 Running the digital data to the template system 100 to and from this are exemplary forms of transmission media.

A network, such as the network 160 from 1 , may include, but is not limited to, one or more local area networks (LANs), a Wide Area Network (WAN), a Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN), a WWAN ( Wireless Wide Area Network), the Internet, or any combination of these.

The template system 100 can send and receive messages and data, including code, through the network (s), the network link 520 and the communication interface 518 , In the example of the Internet could be a server 530 a requested code for an application program over the Internet 528 , the ISP 526 , the local network 522 and the communication interface 518 send.

The received code can be processed by the processor (s) 504 unchanged as received, and / or in the storage device 510 or other nonvolatile memory for later execution.

Each of the processes, methods, and algorithms described in the preceding paragraphs may be embodied by and fully or partially automated by code instructions, wherein the code instructions are executed by one or more computer systems or computer processors that include computer hardware. The processes and algorithms may be partially or fully implemented in application specific circuits.

The various features and processes described above may be used independently or may be combined in various ways. All possible combinations and subcombinations are intended to be within the scope of this disclosure. In addition, certain methods or process blocks may be omitted in some implementations. Also, the methods and processes described herein are not limited to any particular sequence, and the related blocks or states may be performed in other suitable sequences. For example, the described blocks or states may be performed in a different order than that specifically disclosed, or multiple blocks or states may be combined into a single block or state. The example blocks or states may be performed in serial, in parallel, or in any other way. Blocks or states may be added to or removed from the disclosed exemplary embodiments. The exemplary systems and components described herein may be performed in ways other than those described. For example, as compared to the disclosed exemplary embodiments, elements may be added, removed, or rearranged.

Any language expressing a reservation, such as, but not limited to, such as, but not limited to, "may," "possibly," or "may be," shall, unless specifically stated otherwise or otherwise understood in the context used, as indicating that: Certain embodiments include certain features, elements, and / or steps, while other embodiments do not. Therefore, such language containing a proviso is not intended to generally imply that features, elements, and / or steps are in any way required for one or more embodiments, or that one or more embodiments necessarily include logic to, with, or without input or input Inquiring the user to decide if these features, elements and / or steps are included or to be performed in any particular embodiment.

Any process descriptions, elements or blocks in the flowcharts described herein and / or illustrated in the accompanying drawings should be understood to potentially represent units, segments or portions of code that include one or more executable instructions for implementation of specific logical functions or steps in the process. Alternative implementations are included within the scope of the embodiments described herein, wherein elements or functions may be removed and may be performed in an order other than shown or discussed, including substantially simultaneously or in reverse order, depending on the associated functionality, such as for professionals is clear.

It is to be noted that many variations and modifications can be made to the above-described embodiments, the elements of which are to be understood as being among other suitable examples. All such modifications and variations are to be understood as included within the scope of this disclosure. The foregoing description describes in detail certain embodiments of the invention. It should be understood, however, that regardless of how detailed the invention has been described in the preceding text, it can be implemented in many ways. As previously indicated, it should be understood that the use of particular terminology in describing certain features or aspects of the invention is not to be understood as implicating the terminology to be redefined to be limited to any to contain specific characteristics of the features or aspects of the invention with which this terminology is associated. The scope of the invention should, therefore, be interpreted in accordance with the appended claims and any equivalents thereof.

Claims (20)

A computer system for generating customized template-based documents, the computer system comprising: a template storage device; and One or more hardware processors programmed using executable code instructions to implement: a template generator configured to: access a placeholder template containing one or more placeholders indicating locations for inserting executable statements; to receive executable instructions to be included in the placeholder template; and storing, in the template storage device, a template containing one or more sets of received executable instructions inserted into corresponding wildcard template placeholders; a template selection unit configured to receive a selection of the template and a selection of one or more data objects to be included in a generated user-customized document based on properties of the one or more data objects; a template processor configured to: parse the one or more sets of executable statements contained in the template; execute each set of executable instructions, wherein at least some sets of executable instructions include instructions to access properties of the selected data objects stored in one or more data sources; generate an output for each set of executable instructions; and generate the customized document by replacing sets of executable instructions in the template with the output generated by executing corresponding sets of executable instructions, wherein at least a part of the output has properties of the selected data objects and / or summary data concerning the properties of the includes selected data objects. The system of claim 1, wherein the template has an XML-based document format. The system of claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the customized document comprises a law enforcement document. The system of any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the wildcard template comprises: a name placeholder; an image placeholder; a contact information placeholder; and an address placeholder. The system of claim 4, wherein the wildcard template further comprises: a cover name placeholder; a partner placeholder; and an arrest history placeholder. The system of any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the template processor comprises: a code interface that is configured to parse code in multiple programming languages. The system of claim 6, wherein the code interface is configured for Groovy. The system of any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the data objects comprise snippet objects, the snippet objects having precharge data properties. The system of any one of claims 1 to 8, further comprising: a user interface unit configured to generate one or more user interfaces configured to display one or more selectable data objects, the selection of the one or more data objects to be included in the user-customized document via the one or more user interfaces Will be received. The system of claim 9, wherein the one or more user interfaces are configured to: receiving executable code instructions from an interactive command line, wherein at least some of the executable code instructions are configured to cause the system to access properties of the selected data objects when executed; and display an output of the received executable code instructions in response to an input from the interactive command line. The system of claim 2, further comprising: an XML document editor, wherein the XML document editor is configured to receive user input to modify the XML documents of an XML-based document. A method of generating customized template-based documents, the method comprising: Receiving a selection of a template, the template including one or more sets of executable instructions; Receiving a selection of one or more data objects to be accessed in response to executing the one or more sets of executable instructions; Executing, by a computer system, each set of executable instructions, wherein at least some sets of executable instructions include instructions to access properties of at least some of the selected data objects; Generating an output for each set of executable instructions; and Generating a customized document by replacing sets of executable instructions in the template with the corresponding generated output, including properties of the selected data objects and / or summary data relating to the properties of the selected data objects. The method of claim 12, wherein the template comprises an XML-based document format. The method of claim 13, further comprising: a user of the computer system is provided with an XML editing user interface, wherein the XML editing user interface is configured to receive user input to modify the XML documents of an XML based document; Receiving an input from the user of static text in a placeholder template, wherein the static text is to be included in the generated user-adapted document; Receiving an entry of a wildcard string at a particular location of a wildcard template; Providing an XML view of the placeholder template, the XML view including elements that can be used by a word processor to generate a visual representation of the placeholder template; Providing identifiers to locate the wildcard string in the XML view; Receiving a first set of executable instructions that replace the wildcard string in the XML view; Save as the template, the placeholder template with the first set of executable statements that replace the placeholder string. The method of any one of claims 12 to 14, wherein the selection of the one or more data objects to be included in the customized document is received via one or more user interfaces. The method of any of claims 12 to 15, wherein the customized document comprises a criminal record containing criminal record relating to a person. A computer storage device containing instructions for causing a computer system to generate customized template-based documents by: receiving a template that has been modified by replacing wildcards with sets of executable instructions; Receiving a selection of the template; Receiving a selection of one or more data objects to be included in a generated user-customized document based on properties of the one or more data objects; Parsing the one or more sets of executable instructions of the template by the computer system; Executing each set of executable instructions, wherein at least some sets of executable instructions include instructions to access properties of the selected data objects stored by one or more data sources; Generating an output for each set of executable instructions; and generating a customized document by replacing sets of executable instructions in the template with the corresponding generated output, including properties of the selected data objects and / or summary data concerning the properties of the selected data objects. The computer storage device of claim 17, wherein the template comprises an XML-based document format. The computer storage device of claim 17 or claim 18, wherein the customized document comprises a law enforcement document. The computer storage device of any one of claims 17 to 19, wherein the selection of the one or more data objects to be included in the customized document is received via one or more user interfaces.

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