Hierarchical Document Comparison via Depth-First Traversal
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods fail to effectively compare and track changes between hierarchical document representations generated by different document display or editing programs, such as Microsoft Word and code libraries, due to differences in node structures and ordering.
Innovation Solution
A system and method using depth-first traversal with cursors to maintain synchronization between two tree representations, employing resynchronization strategies to handle mismatches and ignore or match nodes based on domain-dependent logic, allowing for the tracking of content and position changes between document versions without modifying the documents.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If document representations are obtained from different document display or editing programs, then the text content is largely the same, but the node structures and ordering differ
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a common reference hierarchy as an intermediary representation that both document representations can be mapped against. This mediator hierarchy serves as a standardized framework that reconciles differences between representations from different programs, allowing accurate text content comparison while abstracting away structural variations.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transforms the comparison problem by changing the parameter space from direct node-to-node comparison to mapping-based correspondence. By introducing mapping relationships and correspondence scores as new parameters, the system can handle structural differences while maintaining text content accuracy.
2Ease of operation
If hierarchical representations from different programs are compared directly, then structural differences cause comparison failures, but modifying the documents to standardize structure is not desirable
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a copy of the hierarchical structure in the form of a common reference hierarchy that mirrors the essential structure without requiring modifications to the original documents. This reference copy serves as a standardized template that enables comparison while preserving the original document representations intact.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the comparison task into multiple independent mapping operations. Instead of comparing entire hierarchies directly, it breaks down the comparison into node-level mappings against the common reference hierarchy, allowing each node to be independently evaluated and matched.
3Adaptability or versatility
If node structures are made flexible to accommodate different representations, then adaptability improves, but measurement precision of correspondence decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback through correspondence scoring and validation mechanisms. Each mapping between nodes is evaluated with a correspondence score that provides feedback on the quality of the match. This feedback loop allows the system to adjust and refine mappings to maintain precision while accommodating structural flexibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces dynamic mapping relationships that can adapt to different hierarchical structures. The mapping relationships are not fixed but can be dynamically established and adjusted based on the specific characteristics of the document representations being compared, allowing the system to maintain precision across varying structures.
Data Source
AI summary
This invention discloses a novel system and method for comparing electronic documents that are created on different software platforms or that are in different data formats by traversing the two hierarchical representations of the documents in a manner so as to selectively ignore nodes in the hierarchy and attempt to resynchronize the sequence of traversing when nodes have no matching content.