Patent ID: 7107525

Claim:
A method of constraint-based generation of documents comprising: (a) electronically inputting user specified constraints; (b) specifying, electronically and in accordance with inputted were specified constraints, document area problem variables by identifying a plurality of document areas which have associated constraints; (c) specifying, electronically and in accordance with the inputted user specified constraints, document parameter problem variables by identifying document parameters that can be changed; (d) specifying, electronically, document area value domains for each document area problem variable by identifying content pieces appropriate for the document areas having associated constraints; (e) specifying, electronically, document parameter value domains for each document parameter problem variable by identifying valid ranges for each document parameter; (f) specifying, electronically, a layout constraint which further constrains the value domain of the document parameter; (g) specifying, electronically, content constraints which further constrain the value domains of the document areas having associated constraints; (h) determining, electronically, a layout for a document such that the user specified constraints are satisfied; and (i) generating, electronically, a document in accordance with the determined layout that satisfies the user specified constraints.