Automated Document Template Generation via Composition Element Clustering

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Solution Overview

Problem

Users face inefficiencies and human errors when creating documents that require specific formatting, as default word processor templates do not match guidelines, and manually setting up each document is tedious and prone to errors.

Innovation Solution

An automated system generates document templates by clustering documents with similar composition elements, analyzing patterns, and grouping them to provide users with relevant templates that match their specific needs, reducing the need for manual formatting and ensuring consistency.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If users manually set up document formatting for each new document, then the document can be customized to match specific guidelines, but the process becomes tedious and time-consuming

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveformatting precisionVSAvoidtime for document setup
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary action by automatically analyzing past documents and pre-configuring templates before the user needs to create new documents. The automated template generation system detects composition element patterns, clusters documents with similar structures, and generates ready-to-use templates that match formatting guidelines, eliminating the need for manual setup each time.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system creates templates by copying and adapting patterns from existing documents. It analyzes composition elements (styles, formatting settings, content structure) from past documents and generates new templates that replicate successful patterns, allowing users to create documents faster without manually reconfiguring formatting each time.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

2Adaptability or versatility

If users manually assemble documents from existing documents by cutting and pasting, then the document structure can be customized, but additional processing steps are required and human error increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedocument structure flexibilityVSAvoidprocessing steps
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system segments documents into distinct composition elements (styles, formatting settings, content blocks) and analyzes their patterns separately. This segmentation allows the system to identify reusable components and generate templates with proper structure, reducing manual assembly steps while maintaining flexibility in document creation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The automated template generation system performs self-service by automatically analyzing past documents, identifying patterns, and generating templates without requiring user intervention in the analysis process. The system independently detects composition element sequences, clusters documents, and creates templates, reducing human error and processing complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

3Ease of operation

If default word processor templates are used, then document creation is simple, but the templates do not match specific guidelines or user needs

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetemplate usabilityVSAvoidformatting accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The system uses feedback from analyzing user's past documents and formatting preferences to generate customized templates. By detecting patterns in previously created documents and identifying composition element sequences that match guidelines, the system creates templates that are both easy to use and accurately formatted according to specific requirements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes template parameters (formatting settings, composition elements, structure) based on analysis of past documents and identified patterns. It adapts default templates by modifying parameters to match user-specific guidelines and preferences, creating customized templates that maintain ease of operation while achieving formatting precision.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

4Productivity

If users create and save custom templates, then future documents can be created faster, but the system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedocument creation speedVSAvoidtemplate management
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The automated template generation system performs self-service by automatically analyzing past documents, identifying patterns, and generating templates without requiring manual user input for template creation. This automation maintains high productivity while reducing the complexity of template management, as the system handles template creation and maintenance autonomously.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The system replaces the mechanical process of manual template creation and management with automated computational processes. Instead of users manually creating and maintaining templates, the system uses algorithms to detect patterns, cluster documents, and generate templates automatically, reducing complexity while maintaining or improving productivity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Data Source

PatentUS10839149B2Generating templates from user's past documents
Publication Date: 2020.11.17 MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING LLC
  • US10839149B2 patent drawing
  • US10839149B2 patent drawing
  • US10839149B2 patent drawing

AI summary

Automatic generation of document templates based on recognized composition element patterns in a group of clustered documents is provided. Composition elements used in documents are typically unique to a particular user or to a group of users. An automated template generation system detects composition element patterns in documents associated with a given user. Sequences of composition elements from one document are aligned with sequences of composition elements of one or more other documents. The aligned sequences are scored to generate a document distance matrix. The documents are clustered together based on the alignment scores and a document template is generated for each corresponding cluster of documents. In one or more aspects, selecting a document template and updating it results in a modified document template or, in certain cases, a new document template. The generated document templates are displayed in a user interface for selection by a user.