Method for document transformation

Abstract

A method for document transformation is provided. Documents for different types of transactions are obtained. Each document includes one or more form elements and each form element is represented by a data box to receive data from a user. A library of document templates is generated based on the obtained documents by assigning a common identifier to each of the form elements that match in the obtained documents and receiving a common definition for association with each of the matching form elements. At least a portion of the form elements in in one or more of the document templates are auto populated with the data values received from the user based on the identifiers associated with the form elements in the portion.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for document transformation, comprising:
 obtaining documents for different types of transactions, wherein each document comprises one or more form elements, each form element represented by a data box to receive data from a user;   generating a library of document templates based on the obtained documents, comprising:
 assigning a common identifier to each of the form elements that match within the obtained documents; and 
 receiving a common definition for association with each of the matching form elements; 
   automatically populating at least a portion of the form elements in in one or more of the document templates with the data values received from the user based on the identifiers associated with the form elements in the portion.   
     
     
         2 . A method according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 obtaining the data values received from the user via one of the document templates.   
     
     
         3 . A method according to  claim 2 , further comprising:
 associating one of the identifiers associated with one of the data values received from the user based on the form element in which the data value is received in the document template.   
     
     
         4 . A method according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 generating a data model comprising the data values received from the user and the identifiers associated with each data value.   
     
     
         5 . A method according to  claim 4 , wherein the document templates are each automatically populated using the data model, comprising:
 determining the identifiers associated with the form elements in one such document template; and   selecting from the data model, the data value for input in each of the form elements in the document template that is associated with the determined identifier for that form element.   
     
     
         6 . A method according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 performing a review of the automatically populated document templates.   
     
     
         7 . A method according to  claim 6 , wherein the review comprises a check for completeness, consistency, correctness, and compliance of the automatically populated document templates. 
     
     
         8  . A method according to  claim 7 , further comprising:
 providing the automatically populated document templates to the user and the review is performed. 
 
     
     
         9 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein each of the data field identifiers comprises an editing string. 
     
     
         10 . method according to  claim 1 , wherein the data received from the user comprises at least one of a location associated with the transaction or a type of the transaction and the data is used to select a set of documents comprising the one or more document templates. 
     
     
         11 . A method for document transformation, comprising:
 obtaining documents for different types of transactions, wherein each document comprises one or more form elements, each form element represented by a data box to receive data from a user;   generating a library of document templates based on the obtained documents, comprising:
 assigning a common identifier to each of the form elements that match within the obtained documents; and 
 receiving a common definition for association with each of the matching form elements; 
   receiving data values from a user regarding a transaction;   selecting a set of the document templates from the library based on the data values received from the user;   automatically populating at least a portion of the form elements in the selected set of document templates with the data values received from the user based on the identifiers associated with the form elements in the portion.   
     
     
         12 . A method according to  claim 11 , further comprising:
 obtaining the data values received from the user via one of the document templates.   
     
     
         13 . A method according to  claim 12 , further comprising:
 associating one of the identifiers associated with one of the data values received from the user based on the form element in which the data value is received in the document template.   
     
     
         14 . method according to  claim 11 , further comprising:
 generating a data model comprising the data values received from the user and the identifiers associated with each data value.   
     
     
         15 . A method according to  claim 14 , wherein the selected set of document templates is populated using the data model, comprising:
 determining the identifiers associated with the form elements in the selected set of document templates; and   selecting from the data model, the data value for input in each of the form elements in the selected set of document templates that is associated with the determined identifier for that form element.   
     
     
         16 . A method according to  claim 11 , further comprising:
 performing a review of the automatically populated set of document templates.   
     
     
         17 . method according to  claim 16 , wherein the review comprises a check for completeness, consistency, correctness, and compliance of the automatically populated set of document templates. 
     
     
         18 . method according to  claim 17 , further comprising:
 providing the automatically populated set of document templates to the user and the review is performed.   
     
     
         19 . A method according to  claim 11 , wherein each of the data field identifiers comprises an editing string. 
     
     
         20 . A method according to  claim 11 , wherein the data received from the user comprises at least one of a location associated with the transaction or a type of the transaction.