Data processing system and method for organizing, analyzing, recording, storing and reporting research results

Claim 1

A data processing system for organizing, analyzing, recording, storing, tracking, and reporting research results on multiple research projects across multiple users, propositions, authorities, and matters underlying the research projects, while enforcing uniform categories of analysis data across all users, comprising: (a) a computer having a memory, a central processing unit, and an input/output unit; (b) a first data structure recorded in said memory, said first data structure encoding a plurality of research projects; (c) a second data structure recorded in said memory, said second data structure encoding a plurality of propositions, each of said plurality of proposition: (i) being associated with at least one of said plurality of research projects; (ii) being adapted to contain at least one word search description associated with each of said plurality of propositions, said word search description further comprising a word search performed by the user; (iii) being adapted to contain a plurality of database search results associated with said word search, each of said plurality of database search results further comprising a database identifier, the date on which said word search was last performed, and a list of authority citations found by said word search in the database identified by each said database identifier; (iv) being adapted to contain a listing of proposition data associated with said word search from other of said research projects; (v) being adapted to contain a plurality of internet search results associated with said word search, each of said plurality of intermit search results further comprising an internet site identifier in hyper-link text, the date on which said word search was last performed, and a list of authority citations found by said word search in each internet site identified by said internet site identifier; (d) a third data structure recorded in said memory, said third data structure encoding a plurality of authorities, wherein: (i) each of said plurality of authorities is associated with at least one of said plurality of research projects; (ii) each of said plurality of authorities is adapted to contain a plurality of citatory service search results associated with said authority resulting from a search of at least one citatory service; (iii) selected ones of said plurality of authorities are associated with an associated proposition selected from said plurality of propositions; and (iv) each of said plurality of authorities further comprises uniform categories of analysis data, said uniform categories of analysis data comprising; an authority proposition similar or contrary to said associated proposition; authority excerpts relevant to said associated proposition; other authorities cited by said authority which are relevant to said associated proposition; and comments associated with said associated proposition; (e) a computer program executing in said central processing unit, said computer program defining structural and functional relationships among said plurality of research projects, said plurality of propositions, and said plurality of authorities, said computer program receiving information on said plurality of research projects, said plurality of propositions, and said plurality of authorities from an operator through said input/output unit, and said computer program organizing said information and displaying relationships among said plurality of research projects, said plurality of propositions, said plurality of authorities, and said information to the operator through said input/output unit.