Method and system for labeling and organizing data for summarizing and referencing content via a communication network

Systems and methods of the present technology generally provide computer implemented assistance for data summary, including organizing and generating a summary of data selected form source documents. In accordance with the present technology, a user identifies a subset of information from one or more source documents, assigns an identifier to the user-identified information, and may add custom information. The user can repeat the identification and assignment steps using multiple source documents, as many times as desired. The system then analyzes and prioritizes the user-identified information and any custom information, and generates a formatted summary.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present technology generally relates to computer-aided data summary systems and methods that assist users with analyzing data and, more particularly, to a method and system for obtaining, analyzing, labeling, organizing, combining, modifying, and/or summarizing data using single- and multi-action operations.

DESCRIPTION OF RELATED ART

Professionals and students often require the analysis and manipulation of data and information. Such individuals may practice or study in, without limitation, the fields of law, business, finance, medicine, legal education, business education, medical education, graduate education, undergraduate education, and K-12 education.

Existing technology generally requires users to: (i) either obtain pre-sorted data in excess of usability requirements or manually search for, gather, and organize multiple documents from various sources, (ii) obtain and utilize several tools to label and annotate such data, and/or (iii) manually organize, integrate, and summarize the original data with user-created data.

A need exists for a system and/or method that organizes information from multiple sources, allows users to easily and efficiently label such information, allows users to modify such information, allows users to combine and separate such information with other information, and displays all such information in a user-friendly format. Such a system, by automating and streamlining many labor-intensive steps involved in the above processes, would reduce the amount of work for, and increase the efficiency of users.

The systems and methods of the present technology can be used to automate and streamline many of these steps involved in these processes, through, but not limited to, single-action functionality.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Examples of the present technology can include components of a cloud-based (or other Internet-based) or device-based (such as a personal computer, tablet, smartphone, or other device) platform that provides a user with a streamlined interface/display with the functionality to display, label, organize, integrate, modify, and/or summarize information. Additional functionality includes, but is not limited to, simplified information selection, copying, cutting and pasting, labeling/tagging, separation of annotations from information, integration of information, sorting through and displaying similar information or distinguishing dissimilar information, and other functions, either through single-action operation or otherwise, to provide an efficient user experience.

In one aspect, a data summary system is provided that includes at least one user device, at least one system server, and a communication link that operatively connects the at least one user device and the at least one system server. The at least one user device can include at least one user device processor and at least one user device non-transitory computer readable medium. The at least one system server can include at least one system server including at least one system processor and at least one system non-transitory computer readable medium. Program instructions can be stored on the at least one system non-transitory computer readable medium, which can be executed by the at least one system processor. When executed, the program instructions can cause the system server to perform steps of: receiving a first dataset from the at least one user device, the first dataset including user-identified information, a unique identifier associated with the user-identified information, and a user identifier; storing the user-identified information and the unique identifier in a user profile based on the user identifier; receiving subsequent datasets if necessary; storing subsequent information; and generating a summary including the user-identified information.

Additionally, or alternatively, the user device can include offline capability, allowing a user to use the user device to enter and store data, and even generate summaries, such as in examples where the communications link is not immediately available when the user uses the system. Accordingly, program instructions can be stored on the at least one user device non-transitory computer readable medium, which can be executed by the at least one user device processor. When executed, the program instructions can cause the user device to perform steps of: receiving a first dataset entered by a user, the first dataset including user-identified information, a unique identifier associated with the user-identified information, and a user identifier; storing the first dataset; receiving subsequent datasets if necessary; storing the subsequent datasets; generating a summary including the user-identified information; and synchronizing information on the at least one system server when the communications link is available.

In another aspect, a method is provided that can be implemented by a data summary system comprising at least one user device, at least one system server, and a communication link that operatively connects the at least one user device and the at least one system server. The method can include steps of the at least one system server receiving a first dataset from the at least one user device via the communication link, the first dataset including user-identified information, a unique identifier associated with the user-identified information, and a user identifier; the at least one system server storing the user-identified information and the unique identifier in a user profile based on the user identifier; receiving subsequent datasets if necessary; storing subsequent information; and the at least one system server generating a summary including the user-identified information and custom information.

In an example where the communications link is not immediately available when the user uses the system, the method can include the steps of: the at least one user device receiving a first dataset entered by a user and storing the first dataset, the first dataset including user-identified information, a unique identifier associated with the user-identified information, and a user identifier; the at least one user device receiving and storing subsequent datasets if necessary; the at least one user device generating a summary including the user-identified information and custom information; and the at least one user device synchronizing information on the at least one system server when the communications link is available.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIGS.1and2illustrates an embodiment of the system architecture of one example of a data summary system100of the present technology. As shown inFIGS.1and2, the data organizing system includes at least one user device102and at least one system server104, and a communication link106, through which the user device102and system server104are operatively connected. The term “operatively connected” as used herein means that the at least one user device102and the at least one system server104can send and receive data to one another through the communication link106. The communication link106can include a wired connection or a wireless connection, and can be via a local area network (LAN) connection, or via a wide area network (WAN) connection, such as the Internet.

The hardware components of each of the user device102and the system server104include at least one processor, and at least one non-transient computer readable storage medium, such as a memory. As shown inFIG.1, the user device102includes at least one user device processor108and at least one user device memory110, and the system server includes at least one system processor112and at least one system memory114. The user device102can also include an input device134, that the user can use to input commands to the user device102, such as selection of user-identified information. The input device134can include one or more of a keyboard, a mouse, an electronic pointing device, a touch screen, or any other suitable device.

Examples of system architecture components of each of the user device102and the system server104are illustrated inFIG.2.

As shown, the user device102includes a browser116, which is assigned a unique user identifier118. The user identifier118is an identifier that identifies the user device102to the server system104. The user identifier may be stored in a file referred to as a “cookie.” In one example, the server system104can assign and send the user identifier118to the user device102once, when the user device102first interacts with the server system104. Once the user device102receives the user identifier118, the user device stores the user identifier118, such as in the user device memory110, and provides it with every message sent to the server system104. The server system104, which can have communication links with any number of user devices, can thus identify the user device102as being the source of the message.

As also shown inFIG.2, the system server104can include a server engine120, user profile database122including a stored user profile132associated with each user identifier, a website database124including web pages, a unique identifier database126, a user-identified information database128, and a custom information database130. Each database of the server system104can be stored in the system memory114. The server engine120can include at least the system processor112.

In the illustrated example, the server system104associates, and operatively links, each user identifier118with a user profile132stored in the user profile database122, unique identifiers, user-identified information identified by the user device102, and custom information received from the user device102.

In some examples, the server engine120receives HTTP requests from a user device102to access web pages identified by URLs, and provides the requested web pages from the website database124to the user device102. However, one of ordinary skill in the art would appreciate that the summary techniques described herein could be used in various environments other than the Internet. For example, the summaries could also be in an electronic mail environment. Also, a server system104or user device102may include any combination of hardware or software suitable for performing the methods described herein. For example, a user device102may comprise any combination of hardware or software that can interact with the server system104. Either the user device102or the server system104can include one or more handheld devices, personal computers or television- or tablet-based systems, or various consumer computer products through which information may be generated.

FIG.3illustrates one example of a data summary method of the present technology. At step202, a user uses the user device102to identify user-identified information in a source document. The source document can be any electronic document, such as digital text, media, web pages, or other content to be included in the summary. The user can identify the user-identified information by selecting a subset of text in a source document, such as by highlighting the text and clicking a mouse to select the text. Once the user has selected the user-identified information, the user may be prompted to associate such user-identified information with a unique identifier. At step204, the user associates a unique identifier with the user-identified information. The user can select the unique identifier associated with the user-identified information from a plurality of predefined unique identifiers, such as a listing of unique identifiers presented in a drop-down menu. Alternatively, the unique identifiers can be customized by the user. At step206, the summary system allows the user to input or modify additional custom information under the unique identifier. The user device102then sends a first dataset to the server system104via the communication link106. The first data set includes the user identifier118, the user-identified information, and the unique identifier associated with the user-identified information. The server system104receives the first dataset, recognizes the user identifier, and stores the user-identified information in the user's profile. If the user did not input or modify additional custom information, the server system104saves the user-identified information under the unique identifier chosen by the user. However, if the user did modify or input custom information, the server system104saves the new or modified custom information, along with the user-identified information.

At step210, the summary system determines whether the user is done creating user-identified information. If the user is not done, the method repeats steps202through208, with the user selecting user-identified information from any one or more source documents, which can be the same or different from the original source document and each other. If the user has completed identifying user-identified information, the method progresses to step212.

At step212, the server system enables the generation of a data summary. In some examples, the user can cause the server system104, or the user device102, to generate the summary with a single action. For example, the user can enter a single command, such as a mouse click on a button in a selection box displayed by the user device102, which the user device102sends to the system server104, in order to cause the server system104to create a summary of the user-identified information and any custom information. In an example where the user device is being used offline, the user can enter the single command in order to cause the user device102to create a summary of the user-identified information and any custom information. If the user enters the command, summary system100proceeds to step214, where the summary system100, either through the server system104or the user device102, reformats the user-identified information and the associated unique identifier, and reformats the information in order to generate a summary. Generating a summary includes prioritizing and formatting the information received from the user. For example, if custom information is present under a unique identifier, the summary system100can format the custom information in the summary, including prioritizing the custom information relative to, such as above or below, the user-identified information for any given unique identifier at step216. Additionally, at step218, the system formats the user-identified information into the summary. In generating the summary, the summary system100can link the summarized information to the original information and vice versa at step220. Finally, at step222, the summary system100can provide the generated summary to the user. If the server system104generated the summary, the summary can be provided to the user by sending the generated summary to the user device102via the communication link106.

In examples where the user can cause the summary to be generated with a single action, once the user initiates the single-action (via a mouse click, keystroke, or otherwise), the system generates a formatted summary. The summary system100can also allow the user to modify the generated summary. In general, the user need only enter the user-identified information, and any custom information, under each unique identifier, and then execute the single action in order to generate a summary. Such systems can allow the user to efficiently and reliably generate a summary of digital text, media, web pages, or other content.

In alternative examples, a multi-action operation can be used, which can include defining a custom summary format through multiple mouse clicks and/or keystrokes prior to generating the summary.

FIG.4illustrates one embodiment of how the user can assign a unique identifier300to a selection of user-identified information302. In this example, once the user-identified information302is selected by the user, a unique identifier selection box304is displayed by the user device102, providing the user with various predefined or common unique identifiers300. These may include, as examples only, Fact, Issue, Procedure, Reasoning, Rule, Holding, Notes. The user can then select the unique identifier300to be associated with the user-identified information302through a single action (via a mouse click or otherwise) or multiple actions. Once a particular unique identifier300is selected by the user (via a mouse click or otherwise), the summary system100associates that unique identifier300with the particular selection of user-identified information302, and saves such association for possible further processing. The summary system100can allow the user to modify and customize the unique identifiers300and the unique identifier selection box304.

FIG.5illustrates one example of content where the user has identified user-identified information400, and associated the user-identified information400with unique identifiers402and the system has saved such information under the user's profile. In some instances, the user has input custom information404under the unique identifiers. The summary system100stores the user-identified information400, the unique identifiers402, and the custom information404in the system server104in association with the user identifier118.

FIG.6illustrates one example of a summary500generated by the system server104of the summary system100. The summary500includes a listing of each unique identifier502. Under each unique identifier502, any custom information504and user-identified information506associated with the unique identifier502are listed. The custom information504is illustrated as being prioritized over the user-identified information506for each unique identifier502. The system can, however, be customized to prioritize custom and user-identified information in any order.

The summary system100can also aggregate multiple summaries, and allow the user to view user-identified information and/or custom information by unique identifier across multiple summaries.FIG.7illustrates one example of how multiple summaries600can be aggregated and how unique identifiers can be used to filter and/or distinguish information from multiple summaries. In this example, a unique identifier activation box602is used to allow the user to select desired unique identifiers604, by checking the indicated selection box(es). The summary system100generates a display of all of the user-identified information606and custom information608associated with the selected unique identifiers602. An information type selection box610can be used to display user-identified information606, custom information608, or both. In this example, the information type selection box610differs from the unique identifier activation box602in that the information type selection box610allows the user to choose to display either user-identified information606or custom information608, or both, across multiple summaries, while the unique identifier activation box602allows the user to choose to display information (either user-identified information606or custom information608, or both) associated with certain unique identifiers (and exclude others) across multiple summaries600. Thus, a compilation of summaries can be created by the summary system100.

FIG.8illustrates an integrated view of source document702and a summary704in a split-screen display700. The source document702includes the original digital text, media, web pages, or other content. As shown, the summary system can link the summarized information to the original information in the source document, and vice versa. This example also includes a notes area706, for the user to input additional information.

FIG.9is a flow diagram of a process for generating the split screen view ofFIG.8. At step802, the server system104generates the summary, which can be in accordance with the process illustrated inFIG.3. At step804, the summary system enables the user to select a split view, such as by displaying a selection box to the user via the user device and sending a user selection to the system server104. At step806, the split screen is generated by the server system104, and sent to the user device102to be displayed to the user. In generating the split screen, the summary system100can maintain the links between the source document and the user-identified information. Additionally, at step808, the summary system can also generate the notes area706, which can be sent to the user device102to be displayed to the user, where the user can input additional information.

From the foregoing, it will be appreciated that although specific examples have been described herein for purposes of illustration, various modifications may be made without deviating from the spirit or scope of this disclosure. It is therefore intended that the foregoing detailed description be regarded as illustrative rather than limiting, and that it be understood that it is the following claims, including all equivalents, that are intended to particularly point out and distinctly claim the claimed subject matter.