Composite Document Editing with Embedded Reference Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current document creation and editing tools require users to manually locate and view referenced documents, leading to a cluttered and difficult-to-navigate workspace, and do not allow for efficient editing of referenced content without opening each document separately.

Innovation Solution

The creation of composite documents that embed referenced content from other documents, allowing users to view and edit this content within the base document, with control marks for selective display and editing, enabling multi-level nesting of references.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of information

If users manually locate and view referenced documents in separate windows or tabs, then they can access reference content, but the workspace becomes cluttered and difficult to navigate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaccess to reference contentVSAvoidworkspace organization

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of informationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges reference document content with the base document by embedding extracted reference data directly into the base document structure. This combining of separate documents into a unified composite document eliminates the need for multiple windows or tabs, thereby reducing workspace clutter while maintaining access to all reference content through a single organized interface

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements nesting by embedding reference document content within the base document structure, where reference data is contained within the parent base document. This hierarchical nesting allows users to access reference content through controlled marks within the base document without opening separate documents, thus simplifying workspace organization while preserving information access

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

2Ease of manufacture

If users open each referenced document separately to make changes, then they can edit reference content, but the environment becomes cluttered and difficult to manage

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveediting capabilityVSAvoiddocument management

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines editing capabilities for both base documents and reference documents within a single composite document interface. Users can edit embedded reference content directly in the composite document without opening separate reference documents, thereby maintaining ease of editing while significantly improving document management and reducing workspace clutter

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The composite document structure serves multiple functions: it acts as both the base document and a container for reference documents, providing a universal interface for viewing and editing both types of content. This multi-functionality allows users to manage base and reference documents through a single system, simplifying operations while maintaining full editing capabilities

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Loss of time

If automatic solutions identify and display referenced documents, then retrieval time is reduced, but the user still cannot edit referenced content without opening separate documents

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedocument retrieval timeVSAvoidcontent editing

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of timeVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges retrieval and editing functions by embedding reference content directly in the composite document. Users benefit from automatic identification and extraction of reference data (fast retrieval) while simultaneously gaining the ability to edit this embedded content in-place (easy operation), eliminating the need to open separate documents for editing

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

4Loss of information

If the entire referenced document is viewed, then complete information is available, but the user is overwhelmed with more information than is relevant

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinformation completenessVSAvoidinformation navigation

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of informationVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts only the relevant portions of reference documents needed for the base document and embeds only this extracted content in the composite document. This selective extraction provides complete information about the relevant reference material while filtering out unnecessary content, thereby maintaining information completeness while improving navigability and reducing information overload

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Data Source

PatentUS11238209B2Systems and methods for viewing and editing composite documents

Publication Date: 2022.02.01 ORACLE INT CORP

AI summary

Embodiments of the present invention are directed to creating, viewing, and/or editing a composite document. A composite document can be created based on a base document. The base document can include references to content in reference documents. References can be identified based on reference definitions, and reference data can be extracted from the reference document and embedded into the base document. A control mark can be added to the base document corresponding to the reference. A user can select the control mark to display or hide the embedded reference data. This adds the relevant referenced content from the reference document to the base document. This allows the user to quickly and efficiently review the referenced content while viewing the base document, without the human and computing overhead required for the user to manually find the reference document and identify the relevant portion of the reference document.