Patent ID: 7181445
Filing Date: 2007-02-20
Classification: G06F,Y10S

Abstract:
1. A method for aggregating and retrieving a variety of data and associated metadata within a computer database and making the data accessible via an online user interface over a distributed network wherein the data comprises one or more document visuals, the method comprising: loading the data and the associated metadata into the computer database via a content manager wherein the computer database comprises a repository and the content manager comprises an administrative user interface for loading the document visuals each document visual having one or more attributes into the repository and wherein loading the data and associated metadata comprises: receiving from a user a request to access the data; in response to receiving the request, launching the online user interface displaying at least one view of the computer database wherein the content manager is operative to assign a primary repository role to each user based on the primary geographic or business division assigned to the user wherein the primary repository role of the user determines the at least one view of the database and wherein a secondary repository role may be assigned to each user such that the online user interface further displays a second view that includes the document visuals and the visual presentations having the geographic or business division associated with the secondary repository role assigned as an attribute; receiving a selection of one or more functions of the online user interface, the selection representing a desired query; in response to receiving the desired query, searching the data arid the associated metadata to retrieve one or more results that match the desired query wherein the associated metadata comprises the attributes of each document visual and each geographic or business division has an established view of the database, each established view providing access to just document visuals and visual presentations having as an attribute the primary and graphic or business division assigned to the user and wherein searching the data and associated metadata comprises searching just the document visuals, the visual presentations, and the attributes provided by the established view; displaying the results that match the desired query via the online user interface; associating one or more of the results to add to an existing association of data or to create a new association of data; and displaying the existing or new association of data via the online user interface wherein each association of data comprises a visual presentation; wherein the repository comprises one or more attribute tables and one or more relational tables defining linking relationships between the attributes of the document visuals and the document visuals such that multiple attributes may be assigned to each document visual and wherein one copy of each document visual is loaded into the repository and the one copy of a document visual is retrieved in response to the document visual matching the desired query.