Method and system for enabling real-time, collaborative generation of documents having overlapping subject matter
A method and system is described that enable a plurality of co-authors to generate and edit work product to be incorporated into different documents customized to suit the interests of different audiences. A first user authors a text passage that pertains to a certain subject matter, intending to use this passage in a particular document. The passage is made available over a network to other users who may wish to include the text passage or a derivative thereof in another document being authored. A second user may link to the text passage to incorporate it into another document. When that occurs, changes that either the first user or a copy editor, as a third user, makes to the passage can be made simultaneously in the other document being generated by the other user. If instead, the second user wishes to edit the text passage, the link can be broken and a derivative text passage can be created for inclusion in that second user's document.
1. A system for collaborative generation of a plurality of customized documents, each comprising a plurality of text passages, the system comprising:
a server connected to a network for maintaining storage of a plurality of text passages in a database; and
at least one networked client computer in communication with the server and configured to receive user input from an author for generating documents comprising a plurality of text passages by at least one of (i) generating new text passages, (ii) selecting already-generated text passages authored by others, and (iii) modifying already-generated text passages, wherein different authors are responsible for generating different documents and different text passages, and
wherein the server is configured such that:
when a new text passage is generated for inclusion in a document, the server stores the new text passage in the database and creates a link of a first type between the new text passage and the document, and
when an already-generated text passage is selected for a document, the server creates a link of a second type between the selected text passage and the document,
wherein the first type of link is a static copy link, and the second type of link is selectable by the author of the document to be either a static or dynamic copy link; and
when a text passage having a link of the first type to a first document is being modified for the first document, and the text passage also has a link of the second type as a static copy link to a second document, the server
breaks the existing link of the first type,
stores a different text passage containing the text passage in its modified form, and
creates a link of the first type between the different text passage and the first document,
wherein the second document maintains the static copy link to the original text passage without the modifications.
2. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of networked client computers in communication with the server via the network, wherein a subset of different client computers receive user input from a plurality of authors for generating a plurality of documents and for (i) generating new text passages and (ii) selecting already-generated text passages authored by others, wherein the new and selected text passages are to be included or modified for inclusion in the plurality of documents.
3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the server is further configured such that:
when a text passage is being modified for a first document having a link of a first type, the modifications are also made to any second document having a dynamic copy link to the text passage.
4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the server is further configured such that:
when a text passage having a first type of link to a first document is being modified for a second document having a link of the second type, the server:
breaks the existing link of the second type,
stores a different text passage containing the text passage in its modified form, and
creates a link of the first type between the second document and the different text passage,
wherein the first document maintains the link of the first type to the original text passage without the modifications.
5. The system of claim 4 , wherein a text passage is associated with metadata, and wherein the server is configured to generate a back link from the different text passage to the original text passage without modifications, and at least a portion of the metadata is made available for the different text passage through the back link.
6. The system of claim 1 , wherein a document is divided into a plurality of sections, and the new and selected text passages are included into in respective sections of the document.
7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the customized documents are news briefings prepared for customers, and wherein the text passages are stories summarizing news events.
8. A method for collaboratively generating a plurality of customized documents, each comprising a plurality of text passages, the method comprising:
maintaining storage of a plurality of text passages in a database;
in response to user input to generate a new text passage, storing the new text passage in the database and creating a link of a first type between the authored text passage and a document; and
in response to user input to select an already-stored text passage, creating a link of a second type between the selected text passage and the document,
wherein the first type of link is a static copy link, and a second type of link is selectable by the author of the document to be either a static or dynamic copy link; and
when a text passage is being modified for a first document having a link of a first type, and the text passage also has a link of the second type to a second document as a static copy link,
breaking the existing link of the first type,
storing a different text passage containing the text passage in its modified form, and
creating a link of the first type between the different text passage and the first document,
wherein the second document maintains the static copy link to the original text passage without the modifications.
9. The method of claim 8 , further comprising:
generating a plurality of different documents in response to user input from a plurality of users, wherein links of the second type are to text passages generated by different users for inclusion in different documents.
10. The method of claim 8 , further comprising:
when a text passage is being modified for a first document having a link of a first type, modifying any second document having a dynamic copy link to the text passage.
11. The method of claim 8 , further comprising:
when a text passage having a first type of link to a first document is being modified for a second document having a link of the second type,
breaking the existing link of the second type,
storing a different text passage containing the text passage in its modified form, and
creating a link of the first type between the second document and the different text passage,
wherein the first document maintains the link of the first type to the original text passage without the modifications.
12. The method of claim 11 , wherein a text passage is associated with metadata, the method further comprising:
generating a back link from the different text passage to the original text passage, and
making the metadata available for the document linked to the different text passage.
13. The method of claim 8 , further comprising:
generating a plurality of sections for the document in response to user input, wherein each new text passage and each selected text passage is specified by the user for inclusion in a respective section of the document.
14. The method of claim 8 , wherein the customized documents are news briefings prepared for customers, and wherein the text passages are stories summarizing news events.
15. A system for collaborative generation of a plurality of customized documents, each comprising a plurality of text passages, the system comprising:
a server connected to a network for maintaining storage of a plurality of text passages in a database; and
at least one networked client computer in communication with the server and configured to receive user input from an author for generating documents comprising a plurality of text passages by at least one of (i) generating new text passages, (ii) selecting already-generated text passages authored by others, and (iii) modifying already-generated text passages, wherein different authors are responsible for generating different documents and different text passages, and
wherein the server is configured such that:
when a new text passage is generated for inclusion in a document, the server stores the new text passage in the database and creates a link of a first type between the new text passage and the document,
when an already-generated text passage is selected for a document, the server creates a link of a second type between the selected text passage and the document,
wherein the first type of link is a static copy link, and the second type of link is selectable by the author of the document to be either a static or dynamic copy link; and
when a text passage having a first type of link to a first document is being modified for a second document having a link of the second type, the server:
breaks the existing link of the second type,
stores a different text passage containing the text passage in its modified form, and
creates a link of the first type between the second document and the different text passage,
wherein the first document maintains the link of the first type to the original text passage without the modifications.
16. The system of claim 15 , further comprising a plurality of networked client computers in communication with the server via the network, wherein a subset of different client computers receive user input from a plurality of authors for generating a plurality of documents and for (i) generating new text passages and (ii) selecting already-generated text passages authored by others, wherein the new and selected text passages are to be included or modified for inclusion in the plurality of documents.
17. The system of claim 15 , wherein the server is further configured such that:
when a text passage is being modified for a first document having a link of a first type, the modifications are also made to any second document having a dynamic copy link to the text passage.
18. The system of claim 15 , wherein a text passage is associated with metadata, and wherein the server is configured to generate a back link from the different text passage to the original text passage without modifications, and at least a portion of the metadata is made available for the different text passage through the back link.
19. The system of claim 15 , wherein a document is divided into a plurality of sections, and the new and selected text passages are included into in respective sections of the document.
20. The system of claim 15 , wherein the customized documents are news briefings prepared for customers, and wherein the text passages are stories summarizing news events.
21. A method for collaboratively generating a plurality of customized documents, each comprising a plurality of text passages, the method comprising:
maintaining storage of a plurality of text passages in a database;
in response to user input to generate a new text passage, storing the new text passage in the database and creating a link of a first type between the authored text passage and a document; and
in response to user input to select an already-stored text passage, creating a link of a second type between the selected text passage and the document,
wherein the first type of link is a static copy link, and a second type of link is selectable by the author of the document to be either a static or dynamic copy link,
when a text passage having a first type of link to a first document is being modified for a second document having a link of the second type,
breaking the existing link of the second type,
storing a different text passage containing the text passage in its modified form, and
creating a link of the first type between the second document and the different text passage,
wherein the first document maintains the link of the first type to the original text passage without the modifications.
22. The method of claim 21 , further comprising:
generating a plurality of different documents in response to user input from a plurality of users, wherein links of the second type are to text passages generated by different users for inclusion in different documents.
23. The method of claim 21 , further comprising:
when a text passage is being modified for a first document having a link of a first type, modifying any second document having a dynamic copy link to the text passage.
24. The method of claim 21 , wherein a text passage is associated with metadata, the method further comprising:
generating a back link from the different text passage to the original text passage, and
making the metadata available for the document linked to the different text passage.
25. The method of claim 21 , further comprising:
generating a plurality of sections for the document in response to user input, wherein each new text passage and each selected text passage is specified by the user for inclusion in a respective section of the document.
26. The method of claim 21 , wherein the customized documents are news briefings prepared for customers, and wherein the text passages are stories summarizing news events.