Patent ID: 7472343

Claim:
A computer-implemented method of generating data representing a master document for use in an automated document generation system, the master document including predetermined elements of document content selected by rules operating on input information, comprising: storing data representing a first mark-up notation or style and data representing a second mark-up notation or style different to the first mark-up notation or style; storing data representing a mapping between the first and second mark-up notations or styles; receiving data representing a precedent or master document written in the first mark-up notation or style; analyzing the received data, dependent upon the data representing the first mark-up notation or style, to determine component elements of the first precedent or master document and the interrelationships of the component elements; generating data representing a precedent or master document written in the second mark-up notation or style based on the analysis and dependent upon the data representing the mapping and the data representing the second mark-up notation or style; generating a user interface to capture unknown information relating to component elements or information resolving errors or ambiguities in any component elements or in their interrelationships; generating data representing a clarified or partially clarified precedent or master document based on the captured information and the data representing the precedent or master document; and outputting the generated data.