Patent ID: 7401068

Claim:
A method for providing web-based electronic research and presentation functions via a document creation application, comprising: scanning an active document on a computer device operable for identifying relevant keywords; searching at least one database for reference materials relating to said relevant keywords; automatically displaying relevant reference materials on said computer device; converting said reference materials if said reference materials are in a format different from a format used in creating said active document; and displaying said reference materials on said computer device; wherein said active document includes data currently being entered or edited by a user on said computer device; and wherein said scanning an active document on a computer device operable for identifying relevant keywords is performed by an intelligent search agent, said method further including: scanning text of said active page for said active document for at least one of: frequently appearing terms; frequently appearing phrases; and specific terms requested by said user; determining relevance of found terms or phrases resulting from said scanning, said determining relevance of found terms or phrases based upon rules prescribed by said intelligent agent; and storing relevant results in a temporary storage location operable for performing said searching, the method further comprising deploying, accessing, and executing process software for providing said web-based electronic research and presentation functions via a document creation application, said deploying, accessing, and executing process software implemented through a virtual private network, comprising: determining if a virtual private network is required; checking for remote access to said virtual private network when it is required; if said remote access does not exist, identifying a third party provider to provide secure, encrypted connections between a private network and remote users; identifying said remote users; setting up a network access server operable for downloading and installing client software on desktop computers for remote access of said virtual private network; accessing said process software; transporting said process software to at least one remote user's desktop computer; executing said process software on said at least one remote user's desktop computer; determining if said virtual private network has a site-to-site configuration for providing site-to-site access, and if said virtual private network is not so available, installing equipment required to establish a site-to-site configuration for said virtual private network; installing large scale encryption into said site-to-site virtual private network; and accessing said process software through said site-to-site configuration with large scale encryption.