Multiple integrated document assembly data processing system

Claim 2

An automated multiple file assembly system comprising: means for storing a plurality of primary files into at least one storage area, where each primary file contains one of at least two types of data fields, and where at least one of the types of data fields is a constant value data field type and where at least a second one of the types of data fields is a variable data field type, and where at least one of the plurality of primary files contains at least one data field of the variable data field type; file selection means responsive to an external input for enabling selection, from the plurality of primary files stored by the means for storing, of a subset of the primary files to be used for file assembly; variable data field compilation means responsive to the file selection means for creating a set of nonredundant variable data elements and associating each element of the set of nonredundant variable data elements with one or more respective variable data fields in one or more of the primary files comprising the subset of primary files; variable data entry prompting means for prompting provision of file completion data elements associated with each of the nonredundant variable data elements; variable data entry means for enabling file completion data elements corresponding to the nonredundant variable data elements to be provided in response to the variable data entry prompting means; file completion instruction means for creating a set of instructions for creating a set of new files from the subset of primary files, where the set of instructions contains at least one instruction for substituting at least one file completion data element in place of a particular corresponding variable data field in at least one of the new files comprising the set of new files; and file processing means for executing the set of instructions created by the file completion instruction means to create the set of new files from the subset of primary files.

Claim 3

An automated multiple file assembly system according to claim 1, wherein the variable data entry prompting means includes means for generating a form for data entry, where the form for data entry provides a user of the automated multiple file assembly system with an opportunity to supply the file completion data elements associated with each of the nonredundant variable data elements.

Claim 4

An automated multiple file assembly system according to claim 2, wherein the means for generating a form for data entry includes means for displaying the form to a user, wherein the means for displaying operates in conjunction with the variable data entry means.

Claim 5

An automated multiple file assembly system according to claim 3, further including means for printing any file contained in the plurality of primary files, the subset of primary files or the set of new files.

Claim 6

An automated multiple file assembly system according to claim 4, wherein the file processing means includes means for controlling the printing means to link and sequentially print each new file.

Claim 7

An automated multiple file assembly system according to claim 5, wherein the means for controlling the printing means includes a data entry means for entering an instruction to initiate the sequential printing of each of the new files.

Claim 8

An automated multiple file assembly system according to claim 6, wherein the data entry means for entering an instruction to initiate the sequential printing of each of the new files is activated by a single user input.

Claim 9

An automated multiple file assembly system according to claim 7, wherein the data entry means for entering an instruction to initiate the sequential printing of each of the new files is a keyboard, and wherein the single user input is a depression of a single key on the keyboard.

Claim 10

An automated multiple file assembly system according to claim 2, wherein the means for generating a form for data entry includes means for printing the form for data entry.

Claim 11

An automated multiple file assembly system according to claim 1, wherein the means for storing the plurality of primary files includes organizing means for organizing the plurality of primary files into a library of files, wherein the library of files is further organized by the organizing means into a plurality of volumes with each of the volumes organized into a plurality of chapters each chapter containing at least one of the primary files.

Claim 12

An automated multiple file assembly system according to claim 10, wherein the organizing means includes a means for storing an index file associating each chapter with a description of each primary file contained in that chapter.

Claim 13

An automated multiple file assembly system according to claim 11, wherein the file selection means includes means for accessing the index file associating each chapter with a description of each primary file contained in that chapter and for building a menu that provides the description of a particular primary file associated with an external file query input that is associated with that particular primary file.

Claim 14

An automated multiple file assembly system according to claim 12 wherein the external file query input is provided by a user of the automated multiple file assembly system through a data entry means associated with the file selection means.

Claim 15

An automated multiple file assembly system according to claim 10, wherein the organizing means includes means for generating a table of contents of a chapter.

Claim 16

An automated multiple file assembly system according to claim 1, further including means for storing into at least one new file storage area subsets of new files created by the file processing means.

Claim 17

An automated multiple file assembly system according to claim 15, wherein means for storing into at least one new file storage area subsets of new files created by the file processing means includes means for designating each of the subsets of new files by a unique reference name.

Claim 18

An automated multiple file assembly system according to claim 16, wherein the means for designating each of the subsets of new files by a unique reference name includes means for accessing each subset of new files by the unique reference name by which such subset of new files is designated.

Claim 19

An automated multiple file assembly system according to claim 1, wherein the selection means includes means for associating with each primary file of the subset of primary files a file identifying name.

Claim 20

An automated multiple file assembly system according to claim 18, wherein the subset of primary files has associated therewith a subset file list containing each file identifying name associated with each primary file contained in the subset of primary files.

Claim 21

An automated multiple file assembly system according to claim 19, further including means for storing a plurality of subset file lists associated with previously selected subsets of primary files, wherein the external input to which the file selection means is responsive directs the file selection means to select, as the subset of primary files to be used for file assembly, the subset of primary files associated with a particular subset file list.

Claim 22

An automated multiple file assembly system according to claim 1, wherein the number of primary files in the subset of primary files is equal to the number of new files in the set of new files created by the file processing means.

Claim 23

An automated multiple file assembly system according to claim 21, wherein each of primary files in the subset of primary files is uniquely associated with a particular new file in the set of new files created by the file processing means.

Claim 24

An automated multiple file assembly system according to claim 21, wherein each of new files in the set of new files created by the file processing means is uniquely associated with a particular primary file in the subset of primary files.

Claim 25

An automated multiple file assembly system according to claim 21, wherein each of new files in the set of new files created by the file processing means corresponds one-to-one with a particularly primary file in the subset of primary files.

Claim 26

An automated multiple file assembly system according to claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of primary files is unique.

Claim 27

An automated multiple document assembly system comprising: means for storing a plurality of primary documents into at least one storage area, where each primary document contains one of at least two types of data fields, and where at least one of the types of data fields is a constant value data field type and where at least a second one of the types of data fields is a variable data field type, and where at least one of the plurality of primary documents contains at least one data field of the variable data field type; document selection means responsive to an external input for enabling selection, from the plurality of primary documents stored by the means for storing, of a subset of the primary documents to be used for document assembly; variable data field compilation means responsive to the document selection means for creating a set of nonredundant variable data elements and associating each element of the set of nonredundant variable data elements with one or more respective variable data fields in one or more of the primary documents comprising the subset of primary documents; variable data entry prompting means for prompting provision of document completion data elements associated with each of the nonredundant variable data elements; variable data entry means for enabling document completion data elements corresponding to the nonredundant variable data elements to be provided in response to the variable data entry prompting means; document completion instruction means for creating a set of instructions for creating a set of new documents from the subset of primary documents, where the set of instructions contains at least one instruction for substituting at least one document completion data element in place of a particular corresponding variable data field in at least one of the new documents comprising the set of new documents; and document processing means for executing the set of instructions created by the document completion instruction means to create the set of new documents from subset of primary documents.

Claim 28

An automated multiple document assembly system comprising: means for storing a plurality of primary documents into at least one storage area, where each primary document contains one of at least two types of data fields, and where at least one of the types of data fields is a constant value data field type and where at least a second one of the types of data fields is a variable data field type, and where at least one of the plurality of primary documents contains at least one data field of the variable data field type; document selection means responsive to an external input for enabling selection, from the plurality of primary documents stored by the means for storing, of a subset of the primary documents to be used for document assembly; variable data field compilation means responsive to the document selection means for creating a set of nonredundant variable data elements and associating each element of the set of nonredundant variable data elements with one or more respective variable data fields in one or more of the primary documents comprising the subset of primary documents; variable data entry prompting means for prompting provision of document completion data elements associated with each of the nonredundant variable data elements; variable data entry means for enabling document completion data elements corresponding to the nonredundant variable data elements to be provided in response to the variable data entry prompting means; document completion instruction means for creating a set of instructions for creating a set of new documents from the subset of primary documents, where the set of instructions contains at least one instruction for substituting at least one document completion data element in place of a particular corresponding variable data field in at least one of the new documents comprising the set of new documents; and document processing means for executing the set of instructions created by the document completion instruction means to create the set of new documents from subset of primary documents.

Claim 29

An automated multiple document assembly system according to claim 26, wherein the variable data entry prompting means includes means for generating a form for data entry, where the form for data entry provides a user of the automated multiple document assembly system with an opportunity to supply the document completion data elements associated with each of the nonredundant variable data elements.

Claim 30

An automated multiple document assembly system according to claim 27, wherein the means for generating a form for data entry includes means for printing the form for data entry.

Claim 31

An automated multiple document assembly system according to claim 28, wherein the means for generating a form for data entry includes means for displaying the form to a user, wherein the means for displaying operates in conjunction with the variable data entry means.

Claim 32

An automated multiple document assembly system according to claim 29, further including means for printing any document contained in the plurality of primary documents, the subset of primary documents or the set of new documents.

Claim 33

An automated multiple document assembly system according to claim 30, wherein the document processing means includes means for controlling the printing means to link and sequentially print each new document.

Claim 34

An automated multiple document assembly system according to claim 31, wherein the means for controlling the printing means includes a data entry means for entering an instruction to initiate the sequential printing of each of the new documents.

Claim 35

An automated multiple document assembly system according to claim 32, wherein the data entry means for entering an instruction to initiate the sequential printing of each of the new documents is activated by a single user input.

Claim 36

An automated multiple document assembly system according to claim 33, wherein the data entry means for entering an instruction to initiate the sequential printing of each of the new documents is a keyboard, and wherein the single user input is a depression of a single key on the keyboard.

Claim 37

An automated multiple document assembly system according to claim 28, further including means for storing into at least one new document storage area subsets of new documents created by the document processing means.

Claim 38

An automated multiple document assembly system according to claim 35, wherein means for storing into at least one new document storage area subsets of new documents created by the document processing means includes means for designating each of the subsets of new documents by a unique reference name.

Claim 39

An automated multiple document assembly system according to claim 36, wherein the means for designating each of the subsets of new documents by a unique reference name includes means for accessing each subset of new documents by the unique reference name by which such subset of new files is designated.

Claim 40

An automated multiple document assembly system according to claim 37, wherein the external document query input is provided by a user of the automated multiple document assembly system through a data entry means associated with the document selection means.

Claim 41

An automated multiple document assembly system according to claim 27, wherein the means for storing the plurality of primary documents includes organizing means for organizing the plurality of primary documents into a library of documents, wherein the library of documents is further organized by the organizing means into a plurality of volumes with each of the volumes organized into a plurality of chapters each chapter containing at least one of the primary documents.

Claim 42

An automated multiple document assembly system according to claim 39, wherein the organizing means includes means for generating a table of contents of a chapter.

Claim 43

An automated multiple document assembly system according to claim 40, wherein the document selection means includes means for accessing the index document associating each chapter with a description of each primary document contained in that chapter and for building a menu that provides the description of a particular primary document associated with an external document query input that is associated with that particular primary document.

Claim 44

An automated multiple document assembly system according to claim 39, wherein the organizing means includes a means for storing an index document associating each chapter with a description of each primary document contained in that chapter.

Claim 45

An automated multiple document assembly system according to claim 26, wherein the selection means includes means for associating with each primary document of the subset of primary documents a document identifying name.

Claim 46

An automated multiple document assembly system according to claim 43, wherein the subset of primary documents has associated therewith a subset document list containing each document identifying name associated with each primary document contained in the subset of primary documents.

Claim 47

An automated multiple document assembly system according to claim 44, further including means for storing a plurality of subset document lists associated with previously selected subsets of primary documents, wherein the external input to which the document selection means is responsive directs the document selection means to select, as the subset of primary documents to be used for document assembly, the subset of primary documents associated with a particular subset document list.

Claim 48

An automated multiple document assembly system according to claim 26, wherein each of the plurality of primary documents is unique.

Claim 49

An automated multiple document assembly system according to claim 26, wherein the number of primary documents in the subset of primary documents is equal to the number of new documents in the set of new documents created by the document processing means.

Claim 50

An automated multiple document assembly system according to claim 26, wherein each of new documents in the the set of new documents created by the document processing means corresponds one-to-one with a particular primary document in the subset of primary documents.

Claim 53

A method according to claim 49, wherein the providing step includes a step for generating a form for data entry for a user of the method to supply document completion data elements associated with each of the nonredundant variable data elements.

Claim 54

A method according to claim 50, wherein the generating step includes a printing step for the printing of the form for data entry.

Claim 55

A method according to claim 51, wherein the generating step includes the step of displaying the form to a user.

Claim 56

A method according to claim 49, wherein the step for storing the plurality of primary documents includes a step organizing the plurality of primary documents into a library of documents, wherein the library of documents is further organized in the organizing steps into a plurality of volumes with each of the volumes organized into a plurality of chapters each chapter containing at least one of the primary documents.

Claim 57

A method according to claim 53, wherein the organizing step includes the step of storing an index document associating each chapter with a description of each primary document contained in that chapter.

Claim 58

A method according to claim 49, further including a step for storing into at least one new document storage area subsets of new documents created as a result of the execution step.

Claim 61

A method according to claim 56, wherein after the executing step, a step of printing each of the new files.

Claim 62

A method according to claim 56, wherein the printing step includes a step for storing subsets of the new files and further includes a step of printing a particular subset of new files.

Claim 63

A multiple file assembly data processing system comprising: at least one storage area for storage of a plurality of primary files, where each primary file contains one of at least two types of data fields, and where at least one of the types of data fields is a constant value data field type and where at least a second one of the types of data fields is a variable data field type, and where at least one of the plurality of primary files contains at least one data field of the variable data field type; a file selector responsive to an external input for enabling selection, from the plurality of primary files, of a subset of the primary files to be used for file assembly; a variable data field extractor responsive to the file selector for creating a set of nonredundant variable data elements and associating each element of the set of nonredundant variable data elements with one or more respective variable data fields in one or more of the primary files comprising the subset of primary files; a variable data entry prompter, for prompting the supply of file completion data elements associated with each of the nonredundant variable data elements; a variable data entry device for enabling file completion data elements corresponding to the nonredundant variable data elements to be provided in response to the variable data entry prompter; a file completion instructor, for creating a set of instructions for creating a set of new files from the subset of primary files, where the set of instructions contains at least one instruction for substituting at least one file completion data element in the place of a particular corresponding variable data field in at least one of the new files comprising the set of new files; and a file processor for executing the set of instructions created by the file completion instructor to create the set of new files from the subset of primary files.

Claim 64

A multiple file assembly data processing system comprising: at least one storage area for storage of a plurality of primary files, where each primary file contains one of at least two types of data fields, and where at least one of the types of data fields is a constant value data field type and where at least a second one of the types of data fields is a variable data field type, and where at least one of the plurality of primary files contains at least one data field of the variable data field type; a file selector responsive to an external input for enabling selection, from the plurality of primary files, of a subset of the primary files to be used for file assembly; a variable data field extractor responsive to the file selector for creating a set of nonredundant variable data elements and associating each element of the set of nonredundant variable data elements with one or more respective variable data fields in one or more of the primary files comprising the subset of primary files; a variable data entry prompter, for prompting the supply of file completion data elements associated with each of the nonredundant variable data elements; a variable data entry device for enabling file completion data elements corresponding to the nonredundant variable data elements to be provided in response to the variable data entry prompter; a file completion instructor, for creating a set of instructions for creating a set of new files from the subset of primary files, where the set of instructions contains at least one instruction for substituting at least one file completion data element in the place of a particular corresponding variable data field in at least one of the new files comprising the set of new files; and a file processor for executing the set of instructions created by the file completion instructor to create the set of new files from the subset of primary files.

Claim 65

A multiple file assembly data processing system according to claim 59, wherein the new files created are compatible with a word processing program.

Claim 66

A multiple file assembly data processing system according to claim 59, wherein the new files created are documents that contain only text.

Claim 67

A multiple file assembly data processing system according to claim 59, wherein the file processor includes a printing processor that, in response to at least one print command, prints any subset of the new files created by the file processor.