U.S. patent application number 11/849918 was filed with the patent office on 2008-03-06 for systems, methods, software, and interfaces for formatting legal citations.
This patent application is currently assigned to Thomson Global Resources. Invention is credited to David Steensgard.
Application Number | 20080059435 11/849918 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 39136647 |
Filed Date | 2008-03-06 |
United States Patent
Application |
20080059435 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Steensgard; David |
March 6, 2008 |
SYSTEMS, METHODS, SOFTWARE, AND INTERFACES FOR FORMATTING LEGAL
CITATIONS
Abstract
The present inventor devised, among other things, a citation
formatting system, method, and software. The exemplary system
provides the citation formatting function in a client-server
architecture, receiving citations from a user's client access
device over a computer network and communicating citation format
suggestions back to the client access device for possible insertion
into a document on the access device.
Inventors: |
Steensgard; David;
(Burnsville, MN) |
Correspondence
Address: |
SCHWEGMAN, LUNDBERG & WOESSNER, P.A.
P.O. BOX 2938
MINNEAPOLIS
MN
55402
US
|
Assignee: |
Thomson Global Resources
|
Family ID: |
39136647 |
Appl. No.: |
11/849918 |
Filed: |
September 4, 2007 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
60842058 |
Sep 1, 2006 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 ;
707/999.003; 707/E17.008 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G06F 16/2228 20190101;
G06F 16/955 20190101; G06F 40/186 20200101; G09B 7/02 20130101;
G06Q 50/18 20130101; G06F 16/258 20190101; G06Q 10/00 20130101;
G06F 16/252 20190101 |
Class at
Publication: |
707/003 ;
707/E17.008 |
International
Class: |
G06F 17/30 20060101
G06F017/30 |
Claims
1. A system comprising: a legal-research database including caselaw
documents; and a server operatively coupled to the legal research
database for receiving and answering content queries originating
from browser-equipped client access devices, wherein the server is
further configured to receive one or more legal citations from
documents on one or more of the client access devices and to
provide formatted citation data corresponding to each of the legal
citations for insertion into the work product documents.
2. The system of claim 1, wherein the formatted citation data
includes one or more parallel citations and the formatted citation
data is formatted according to one or more jurisdictional
selections made by and associated with users of the
browser-equipped client access devices.
3. The system of claim 1, wherein one or more of the formatted
citations are provided in combination with one or more indicators
for indicating whether or how legal reasoning in a caselaw document
referenced by the one or more of the formatted citations has been
treated in other legal cases.
4. The system of claim 1, wherein the jurisdictional selections
identify one or more state or local court jurisdictions.
5. The system of claim 1, wherein the formatted citation data
includes formatted citation data for one or more legal cases
historically related to one or more of the received legal
citations.
6. The system of claim 1, wherein the server is further configured
to receive requests to produce tables-of-authorities based on the
work-product documents.
7. A system comprising: a legal-research database including caselaw
documents; and means, operatively coupled to the legal-research
database, for receiving legal citations extracted from documents on
browser-equipped client access devices and providing formatted
citation data corresponding to each of the legal citations for
insertion into the documents.
8. The system of claim 7, wherein the formatted citation data
includes one or more parallel citations and the formatted citation
data is formatted according to one or more jurisdictional or
standard selections made by and associated with users of the
browser-equipped client access devices.
9. The system of claim 7, wherein one or more of the formatted
citations are provided in combination with one or more indicators
for indicating whether or how legal reasoning in a caselaw document
referenced by the one or more of the formatted citations has been
treated in other legal cases.
10. The system of claim 7, wherein the formatted citation data
includes formatted citation data for one or more legal cases
historically related to one or more of the received legal
citations.
11. The system of claim 7, wherein the server is further configured
to receive requests to produce tables-of-authorities based on the
work-product documents.
12. A method of operating an online legal research service, the
method comprising: providing a server for the online legal research
service; receiving at the server one or more legal citations from a
document on a client access device; and in response to receiving
the one or more legal citations, communicating one or more
formatted legal citations corresponding to the received legal
citations to the client access device for insertion into document.
Description
RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional
Application 60/842,058, which was filed on Sep. 1, 2006, and which
is incorporated herein by reference.
COPYRIGHT NOTICE AND PERMISSION
[0002] One or more portions of this patent document contain
material subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has
no objection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent
document or the patent disclosure, as it appears in the Patent and
Trademark Office patent files or records, but otherwise reserves
all copyrights whatsoever. The following notice applies to this
document: Copyright.COPYRGT.2005, Thomson Global Resources.
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0003] Various embodiments of the present invention concern
document-processing applications, particularly those tailored to
assist in the authoring and production of legal documents.
BACKGROUND
[0004] The American legal system relies heavily on both written
laws (statutes) and judicial opinions that apply these laws to
resolve particular legal disputes. In resolving these disputes,
lawyers arguing for their clients produce written documents, such
as motions, briefs, and so forth arguing for their clients. These
written documents commonly cite, or reference, relevant opinions,
statutes, and scholarly articles, collectively known as legal
authority, supporting the arguments they make.
[0005] The courts that receive these documents generally require
that the legal authority be cited using very specific formatting
rules or citation standards. One common set of citation standards
is A Uniform of System of Citation, widely known as the Bluebook.
Many U.S. law schools have now standardized on the ALWD Citation
Manual, published by Aspen Law & Business. The complexity of
the rules is fairly high and it is generally a time-consuming task
not only to initially format the cites according to the standards,
but also to verify compliance with the standards during proofing of
the document prior to filing with a court. Moreover, various courts
or jurisdictions have their own specific rules, which means that
lawyers frequently need to be familiar with more than one set.
[0006] In recent years, computer tools have emerged to save some
time in the citation process. For example, a software application,
called "Shepard's StyleCheck.TM." marketed by Reed Elsevier plc,
checks word processing documents for Bluebook stylistic errors. The
program, which operates as a separate stand-alone application on a
desktop or laptop computer, receives a word-processing document as
input and automatically generates a written report that lists
potential errors in the citation formats found in the document.
Users manually review the report and edit the legal document to
correct any citation errors. Another stand-alone program,
"CiteIt.TM." by Sidebar Software, Inc., allows users to capture
excerpts of case law during online research into a notes file and
stores these excerpts in combination with various full and short
citation formats. A user can then select the excerpts and the
appropriate citation form for insertion into a word-processing
document.
SUMMARY
[0007] To address this and/or other needs, the present inventor
devised, among other things, a citation formatting system, method,
and software. The exemplary system includes a citation finder
module and a cite formatter module. The finder module "plugs into"
a document-processing application, such as a word processor and
finds one or more citations within an active document, and sends
them via a network communications link, such an the Internet, to
the citation formatter. The citation formatter receives the found
citations, formats them according to a selected citation format,
and returns the formatted citations to the document-processing
application for selective insertion into the document.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0008] FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an exemplary online document
processing and information-retrieval system 100 corresponding to
one or more embodiments of the present invention.
[0009] FIG. 2 is a flow chart of an exemplary method of operating
system 100 and thus corresponds to one or more embodiments of the
present invention.
[0010] FIG. 3 is a facsimile of a graphical user interface 300
which may be incorporated into system 100 and which corresponds to
one or more embodiments of the invention.
[0011] FIG. 4 is a facsimile of a graphical user interface 400
which may be incorporated into system 100 and which corresponds to
one or more embodiments of the invention.
[0012] FIG. 5 is a facsimile of a graphical user interface 500
which may be incorporated into system 100 and which corresponds to
one or more embodiments of the invention.
[0013] FIG. 6 is a facsimile of a graphical user interface 600
which may be incorporated into system 100 and which corresponds to
one or more embodiments of the invention.
[0014] FIG. 7 is a facsimile of a graphical user interface 700
which may be incorporated into system 100 and which corresponds to
one or more embodiments of the invention.
[0015] FIG. 8 is a facsimile of a graphical user interface 800
which may be incorporated into system 100 and which corresponds to
one or more embodiments of the invention.
[0016] FIG. 9 is a facsimile of a graphical user interface 900
which may be incorporated into system 100 and which corresponds to
one or more embodiments of the invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS
[0017] This description, which references and incorporates the
above-identified Figures, describes one or more specific
embodiments of an invention. These embodiments, offered not to
limit but only to exemplify and teach the invention, are shown and
described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art
to implement or practice the invention. Thus, where appropriate to
avoid obscuring the invention, the description may omit certain
information known to those of skill in the art.
[0018] Exemplary Document-Processing and Information-Retrieval
System
[0019] FIG. 1 shows an exemplary document-processing and
information-retrieval system 100, which may be adapted to
incorporate the capabilities or functions described above. System
100 includes one or more databases 110, one or more servers 120,
and one or more access devices 130.
Exemplary Databases
[0020] Databases 110 includes a set of legal research databases. In
the exemplary embodiment, these include a caselaw database 111, a
statutes databases 112, an administrative reports and decisions
database 113, a regulations database 114, and a law review and
periodicals database 115. Caselaw database 111 includes judicial
opinion documents from one or more local, state, federal, and/or
international jurisdictions. Statutes database 112 includes statute
documents, including legislative history, from one or more local,
state, federal, and/or international jurisdictions. Administrative
reports and decisions database 113 includes administrative reports
and decisions from one or more local, state, federal, and/or
international administrative agencies. Regulations database 114
includes administrative regulations, rules, or codes for one or
more local, state, federal, and/or international administrative
agencies. And, the law review and periodicals database 115 includes
law review and other legal periodical documents.
[0021] Additionally, each of the documents within database 110 is
associated with an indexed citation data structure, of which a
citation data structure 1111 is generally representative. Citation
data structure 1111 includes a document identifier 1111A, which is
logically associated with a first citation 1111B, a second citation
1111C, and a third citation 1111D. Document identifier 1111A
uniquely identifies its corresponding document within a universe of
documents. First citation 1111B represents one or more citations of
the corresponding document according to a first citation standard,
such as the Bluebook. Second citation 1111C represents one or more
citation of the corresponding document according a second citation
standard such as ALWD, and third citation represents one or more
citations of the corresponding document according a third citation
standard. In some embodiments, the citations for the corresponding
data includes parallel citations and/or normalized citations that
are readily convertible to any other citation format. Some
embodiments include fewer or greater numbers of citation data sets.
Also, in some embodiments, each of documents is associated with one
or more status indicators indicating whether the document itself or
one or more cases within the document has a compromised legal
authority. In some embodiments, the documents are also associated
with historically related legal cases.
[0022] Databases 110, which take the exemplary form of one or more
electronic, magnetic, or optical data-storage devices, include or
are otherwise associated with respective indices (not shown). Each
of the indices includes terms and phrases in association with
corresponding document addresses, identifiers, and other
conventional information. Databases 110 are coupled or couplable
via a wireless or wireline communications network, such as a
local-, wide-, private-, or virtual-private network, to server
120.
Exemplary Server
[0023] Server 120, which is generally representative of one or more
servers for serving data in the form of webpages or other markup
language forms with associated applets, ActiveX controls,
remote-invocation objects, or other related software and data
structures to service clients of various "thicknesses." More
particularly, server 120 includes a processor module 121, a memory
module 122, a subscriber database 123, a search module 124, and a
citation-tools module 125.
[0024] Processor module 121 includes one or more local or
distributed processors, controllers, or virtual machines. In the
exemplary embodiment, processor module 121 assumes any convenient
or desirable form.
[0025] Memory module 122, which takes the exemplary form of one or
more electronic, magnetic, or optical data-storage devices, stores
subscriber database 123, search module 124, secondary search module
125, and information-integration-tools module 126. (Also, in some
embodiments, one or more citation data structures resembling data
structure 1111 may be stored in memory 122.)
[0026] Subscriber database 123 includes subscriber-related data for
controlling, administering, and managing pay-as-you-go or
subscription-based access of databases 110. In the exemplary
embodiment, subscriber database 123 includes one or more preference
data structures, of which data structure 1231 is representative.
Data structure 1221 includes a customer or user identifier portion
123 1A, which is logically associated with one or more operational,
configuration, or usage preferences or related data for
citation-tools module 125, such as preferences 1231B, 1231C, and
1231D.
[0027] Preferences 1231B includes one or more default values
governing whether citation-tools module 125 (described below) is
accessible by the associated user or customer and/or one or more
citation format preferences, such as the Bluebook or ALWD
standards. Preferences 1231C includes one or more default values
governing one or more table-of-authority formatting preferences for
the associated user or customer. For example, the exemplary
embodiment includes user preferences for use of one- or two-line
table formats or use of italics and pin-point pagination
information. Pricing preferences 1231D includes default values
governing one or more other aspects of pricing for usage of
citation-tools module 125, such as a whether pricing is per cite or
per document, and what the per-cite or per-document price is. (In
the absence of a temporary user override, for example, an override
during a particular query or session, the default value governs.)
In some embodiments, preference data may be stored locally on a
user's access device in a local copy of one or more
information-integration tools.
[0028] Search module 124 includes one or more search engines and
related user-interface components, for receiving and processing
user queries against one or more of databases 110. In the exemplary
embodiment, one or more search engines associated with search
module 124 provide Boolean, tf-idf, natural-language search
capabilities.
[0029] Citation-tools module 125 includes coded machine readable
and/or executable instruction sets for wholly or partly defining
software and related user interfaces having one or more portions
thereof that integrate or cooperate with one or more
document-processing applications. Exemplary document-processing (or
document-authoring or -editing) applications include
word-processing applications, such as Microsoft Word and Corel
WordPerfect applications. In addition to integration into a
document-processing application, the exemplary citation-tools
module also supports access to its functionality via a direct web
interface or through a tab or link in an online-legal-research
service, such as the Westlaw system.
[0030] More particularly, module 125 includes a cite-identifier
module 1251, a citation formatting module 1252, a
table-of-authority module 1253, and a billing module 1254.
[0031] Cite-identifier module 1251 includes coded instructions for,
among other things, parsing documents and identifying one or more
cites and portions thereof within the document and communicating
the cites or portions thereof individually or in a batch to
citation formatter 1252. In the exemplary embodiment, the
cite-identifier module includes document-processing integrating
structures for allowing the cite-identifier to integrate or plug-in
to a document-processing application, such as word-processing
application, hosted by an access device, such as access device
130.
[0032] Citation-formatting module 1252 includes coded
machine-readable and/or executable instructions for, among other
things, retrieving citation data from documents corresponding to
one or more set of cite data received from cite-identifier module
1251, which as noted may be communicated from an access device or
from a copy of a document stored on the server. In some
embodiments, citation-formatting module 1252 includes one or more
conversion programs (instruction sets) or tables that are used to
convert the citation data from a given format, such as stored in
association with a corresponding document in database 110, into one
or more other formats contingent on the user selected citation
standard. Those formats will include The Bluebook, A Uniform System
of Citation (Bluebook), the ALWD Citation Manual, A Professional
System of Citation (ALWD) and the formats required by all local
Jurisdictions (States and Territories). Exemplary state
jurisdictions include California, New York, Illinois, Texas and
Florida.
[0033] Table-of-authorities module 1253 includes coded
machine-readable and/or executable instructions for processing a
document having citations and building a table of authorities
according stored user preferences or session-specific user
selections and inserting the table into a document on the server or
within a document on an access device, such as access device 130.
Exemplary formatting aspects which are controllable include format
of party names and titles, use of Italics and underlining, removal
of pinpoint page references from table entries.
[0034] Billing module 1254 includes coded machine-readable and/or
executable instructions for updating billing data 1231 in
subscriber database 123 (or other separate billing system) based on
pricing data 1231D associated with a user. To support the pricing
or billing model, the billing module also tracks and records usage
statistics in the billing data, such as time and date of usage,
number of documents, filenames of documents, number of citations
processed, and so forth.
Exemplary Access Device
[0035] Access device 130 is generally representative of one or more
access devices. In the exemplary embodiment, access device 130
takes the form of a personal computer, workstation, personal
digital assistant, mobile telephone, or any other device capable of
providing an effective user interface with a server or database.
Specifically, access device 130 includes a processor module 131 one
or more processors (or processing circuits) 131, a memory 132, a
display 133, a keyboard 134, and a graphical pointer or selector
135.
[0036] Processor module 131 includes one or more processors,
processing circuits, or controllers. In the exemplary embodiment,
processor module 131 takes any convenient or desirable form.
Coupled to processor module 131 is memory 132.
[0037] Memory 132 stores code (machine-readable or executable
instructions) for an operating system 136, a browser 137,
document-processing software 138 In the exemplary embodiment,
operating system 136 takes the form of a version of the Microsoft
Windows operating system, and browser 137 takes the form of a
version of Microsoft Internet Explorer. Operating system 136 and
browser 137 not only receive inputs from keyboard 134 and selector
135, but also support rendering of graphical user interfaces on
display 133. In the exemplary embodiment, document processing
software 138 includes Microsoft Word or Corel WordPerfect
word-processing software. Document processing software is shown
integrated with one or more portions 1381 of citation-tools modules
125, which are downloaded from server 120 via a wired or wireless
communication link. In one embodiment, launching of
document-processing software 138 or launching and pointing of
browser 137 results in defining in memory and rendering one or more
portions of graphical-user interface 139 on display 133.
[0038] Graphical user interface 139 presents data in association
with one or more interactive control features (or user-interface
elements). In the exemplary embodiment, each of these control
features takes the form of a hyperlink or other browser-compatible
command input. In the exemplary embodiment, interface 139 includes
a word-processing application interface region 1391, an online
legal-research interface region 1392, and a browser interface
region 1393, which provide three access points for the
functionality of citation-tools module 125 as further described
below. Although FIG. 1 shows regions 1391-1393 as being
simultaneously displayed, some embodiments present them at separate
times.
[0039] More particularly, word-processing application interface
region 1391 includes document-processing tool bar region 1391A, a
citation and/or table-of-authorities function control element
1391B, a document edit region 1391C, and an option and prompt
region 1391D.
Exemplary Method(s) of Operation
[0040] FIG. 2 shows a flow chart 200 of one or more exemplary
methods of operating a system, such as system 100. Flow chart 200
includes blocks 210-250, which are arranged and described in a
serial execution sequence in the exemplary embodiment. However,
other embodiments execute two or more blocks in parallel using
multiple processors or processor-like devices or a single processor
organized as two or more virtual machines or sub processors. Other
embodiments also alter the process sequence or provide different
functional partitions to achieve analogous results. For example,
some embodiments may alter the client-server allocation of
functions, such that functions shown and described on the server
side are implemented in whole or in part on the client side, and
vice versa. Moreover, still other embodiments implement the blocks
as two or more interconnected hardware modules with related control
and data signals communicated between and through the modules.
Thus, the exemplary process flow applies to software, hardware, and
firmware implementations.
[0041] Block 210 entails identifying one or more citations in a
document. In one word-processing-oriented embodiment, this entails
a user directing a browser in a client access device, such as
access device 130, to internet-protocol (IP) address for an online
information-retrieval (legal research) system, such as the Westlaw
system, and then logging onto the system using a username and/or
password. Successful login results in a web-based interface being
output from server 120, stored in memory 132, and displayed by
client access device 130.
[0042] The interface includes an option for initiating download and
installation of one or portions of citation-tools module 125 with
corresponding toolbar plug-ins for a word-processing application.
Next, this embodiment entails the user launching the
word-processing application and creating or opening a document
containing one or more legal citations within a document editing
window or region of the word-processing application, as shown for
example in interface 1391 in FIG. 1. Interface 1391 includes a
tool-bar button 1391B for launching or initiating a check citations
function and a tool-bar button 1391C for launching or initiating a
table of authorities building function. FIG. 3 shows a facsimile of
another interface 300, which also includes similarly numbered
buttons 3391B and 3391C.
[0043] At this point, selection or activation of the check
citations function causes a processor within client access device
130 to perform according to a locally stored version of citation
identification module 1251 and thereby parse and identify one or
more citations within the document editing window. In the exemplary
embodiment, this identification entails identifying the beginning
and end points of each of the one or more citations and the text
between these beginning and end points. Execution then continues at
block 220.
[0044] Block 220 entails communicating one or more of the
identified legal citations to server 120. In the exemplary
embodiment, this entails communicating the one or more legal
citations over an Internet or other type of wired or wireless
network connection to server 120.
[0045] Block 230 entails formatting the identified legal citations
according to one or more selected citation standards. In the
exemplary embodiment, this formatting is performed based on a
predefined user preference stored in association with user data for
an online legal research system. However, in other embodiments, the
citation standards are defined on a session-specific basis at the
time of service request via an interface, described below relative
to FIG. 5.
[0046] The specific processing performed by the server--or more
precisely citation formatting module 1252 in FIG. 1. After the
server processes the citation text string, it returns a formatted
version of the citation to the word processing program, which
presents the user an option to replace the original citation with
the formatted version.
[0047] More particularly, citation text is parsed into constituent
components such as volume, reporter, page, etc. and the components
are passed to a case control system or component within or without
citations-tools module 125 to determine if there is a match to an
existing case, statute, regulation, administrative decision, or
article exists. In some embodiments, the citation (or normalized
version thereof) is classified to one of these types of documents
prior to seeking a match. If a match is found, citation data stored
in or otherwise associated with the matching case data is obtained
and formatted according to the desired case citation standard using
specific conversion tables. In some embodiments, the citation data
associated with the case is preformatted according one or more
citation standards, meaning that one can automatically selected
without additional processing once a matching case is
identified.
[0048] If a citation cannot be matched to a existing document, an
error message may be displayed indicating that no corresponding
citation could be found using the supplied data. Absence of a
corresponding citation may be due to an error in the citation as
originally presented in the user's document, or to a lag in adding
the cited document to database 110. Some embodiments may request
and use additional information from the user's document, for
example, subject matter or concept data or co-occurrence statistics
with other citations, to determine a set of one or more candidate
citations if the citation dates for example suggest that failure to
match is not a database update problem, but rather an error in the
citation itself. Execution proceeds to block 240.
[0049] Block 240 entails communicating one or more of the formatted
citations from server 120 to access device 130. In the exemplary
embodiment, this entails server 120 communicating the one or more
formatted citations to the word processing application via the
client-side portion 1381 of citation-tools module 1381.
[0050] Block 250 entails presenting the one or more formatted
citations to the user. In the exemplary embodiment, this
presentation entails presenting a citation format suggestion dialog
box to the user, with the dialog box including a display of the
original extracted citation and the corresponding formatted
citation provided by server 120. FIG. 4 shows an exemplary version
of such an interface 400, which can substituted for that interface
1391 in FIG. 1.
[0051] Interface 400 includes an original citation display region
410, a suggested formatted citation region 420, an ignore-next
command feature 430, a change-next command feature 440, and a
change-all command feature 450. Original citation display region
410 displays the text of the original found citation and suggested
formatted citation region 420 displays the text of the
server-provided suggestion citation format, based on the selected
or preferred citation standard, in this case the Bluebook
format.
[0052] Ignore-next command feature 430 enables a user to reject the
suggested citation format and simultaneously automatically command
the system to display the next found cite in the document and its
suggested formatted version within respective regions 410 and 420.
Change-next command feature 440 similarly allows the user to accept
the suggested citation, which causes replacement of the original
citation text with the suggested citation, while advancing display
to the next original citation and suggested citation pair.
Change-all command feature 450 cause automatic replacement of all
found citations with their suggested replacements citations.
[0053] FIG. 5 shows an exemplary interface 500 which may be
incorporated into interface 139 of System 100 and which allows a
user to define certain aspects of how the citation-tools module 125
functions, particular in regards to the citation standard and
actual textual format of the suggested citations.
[0054] FIGS. 6, 7, and 8 respectively show exemplary interfaces
600, 700, and 800 that provide alternative access points to the
functionality of citation-tools module 125. Interface 600, a
portion of an interface for an online legal research system,
includes a variety of link lists, with a list 610 including links
that are selectable to initiate one or more portions of
citation-tools module 125. In FIG. 7, interface 700 provides access
to the citation-tools module via a tab-style interface 710.
[0055] FIG. 8 shows interface 800, which allows direct-web access
to the citations-tools functionality via a browser. In this
interface, the user simply identifies the filename of a client side
document using a filename entry field 810 and/or a browse selection
feature 820 to select from a file directory stored on or accessible
via access device 130. The user provides her personal access
credentials (or credit card information) at input regions 830 and
initiate citation checking or the building of table of authorities
using command feature 840. Notable, in these cases, the users has
the option of submitting an entire copy of document to server 120
and have the server returned a newly named modified version of the
document with all suggested citations changes as well as a table of
authorities.
[0056] FIG. 9 shows an interface 900 which may be incorporated into
interface 139 and which allows a user to specify formatting
options, such as options 910-980, for building a table of
authorities. Option 910 allows a uses to select the location of the
table. Option 920 allows the user to select the citation standard
to use in the table. Option 930 allows the user to select the
citation style, such as legal brief or legal memorandum. Option 940
allows the user to specify what types of citations to include in
the table, such as only cases; only cases, statutes, and
administrative codes; or all materials, which would include cases,
statutes, administrative codes, law reviews, and bar journals and
other cited material.
[0057] Option 950 allows the uses to select case-name font options,
such as underlining, italicizing, bolding, and small caps. Option
960 allows uses to define whether the table combines or separates
state and federal categories. Option 970 allows a user to define
theftable entries as one-line or two-line entries, with two-line
entries automatically placing the case name on a separate line from
the remainder of the citation (which may take more the one line),
and one-line entries running the case name and remainder of the
citation on the same line. Option 980 allows a user to define
whether to include document numbers in the citations. And option
990 allows the user to save the selected options, for example to a
preference storage area on the server. In some embodiments, the
user may name the selected options for reuse later, enabling the
user to in essence having a profile of multiple table of authority
formats which can be selected by name from another
table-of-authority menu.
CONCLUSION
[0058] The embodiments described above are intended only to
illustrate and teach one or more ways of practicing or implementing
the present invention, not to restrict its breadth or scope. The
actual scope of the invention, which embraces all ways of
practicing or implementing the teachings of the invention, is
defined only by the issued claims and their equivalents.
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