Patent ID: 7401289

Claim:
A system for facilitating the creation of a document layout, said system comprising: a layout server configured to receive a connection request from a client computer; said layout server configured to establish an HTTP session with said client computer based on said connection request; said layout server configured to provide a module to said client computer, wherein said module includes a layout editor configured to facilitate creation of a document template within a browser application during said HTTP session at said client computer and, wherein said layout editor performs the steps of: positioning a first container within said document template in response to interaction of said user within a visual interface of said layout editor; setting properties for said first container based on inputs from said user; validating said document template by ensuring that at least one of: defined and entered properties are logically consistent, wherein said validation is performed by a layout manager of said layout editor; generating an HTML stream based on said document template; and transmitting said HTML stream to said layout server; said layout server configured to receive said HTML stream from said client computer; said layout server configured to convert said HTML stream to an XML document, wherein said XML document is stored in a data storage system; a workflow application configured to facilitate approval of said document template, wherein said workflow application performs the steps of: obtaining said document template from said data storage system; selecting an approver based on an identity of said user, wherein said approver is associated with an object representing said user; notifying said approver when said document template requires said approval; and receiving information indicative of at least one of said approval of said document template and non-approval of said document template which facilitates returning said document template for at least one of review and revision; said layout editor configured to generate first web page content at said layout server based on said document template, wherein said first web page content is stored in said data storage system; a content management utility configured to retrieve said first web page content from said data storage system; said content management utility configured to retrieve second web page content from said data storage system; and, said content management utility configured to combine said first web page content with said second web page content.