Apparatus and method for meta-document creation and processing

Abstract

A graphical user interface (“GUI”) is described for creating and managing a meta-document comprising: a sub-documents region for receiving and storing graphical indications of a plurality of different types of documents responsive to user input; a personal note region for receiving and storing a text message related to the plurality of different types of sub-documents; and a send document graphic which, when selected by a user, transmits the meta-document including all of the sub-documents to one or more destinations.

1 . A graphical user interface (“GUI”) for creating and managing a meta-document comprising: 
 a sub-documents region for receiving and storing graphical indications of a plurality of different types of documents responsive to user input;    a personal note region for receiving and storing a text message related to the plurality of different types of sub-documents; and    a send document graphic which, when selected by a user, transmits the meta-document including all of the sub-documents to one or more user-specified destinations.    
   
   
       2 . The GUI as in  claim 1  further comprising: 
 a document destinations region for storing one or more of the destinations to which the meta-document may be sent.    
   
   
       3 . The GUI as in  claim 2  wherein one of the destinations is a file transfer protocol (“FTP”) site.  
   
   
       4 . The GUI as in  claim 2  wherein one of the destinations is a World Wide Web site.  
   
   
       5 . The GUI as in  claim 1  further comprising: 
 a browse dialog to allow the user to browse and select sub-documents to be included within the sub-documents region of the meta-document.    
   
   
       6 . A machine-readable medium having program code stored thereon which, when executed by a machine, causes the machine to generate a GUI comprising: 
 a sub-documents region for receiving and storing graphical indications of a plurality of different types of documents responsive to user input;    a personal note region for receiving and storing a text message related to the plurality of different types of sub-documents; and    a send document graphic which, when selected by a user, transmits the meta document including all of the sub-documents to one or more user-specified destinations.    
   
   
       7 . The machine-readable medium as in  claim 6  wherein the GUI further comprises: 
 a document destinations region for storing one or more of the destinations to which the meta document may be sent.    
   
   
       8 . The machine-readable medium as in  claim 7  wherein one of the destinations is a file transfer protocol (“FTP”) site.  
   
   
       9 . The machine-readable medium as in  claim 7  wherein one of the destinations is a World Wide Web site.  
   
   
       10 . The machine-readable medium as in  claim 6  wherein the GUI further comprises: 
 a browse dialog to allow the user to browse and select sub-documents to be included within the sub-documents region of the meta-document.    
   
   
       11 . A method comprising: 
 combining a plurality of sub-documents into a single meta-document;    defining security information for providing access to the sub-documents within the meta-document;    transmitting the meta-document to a particular storage area on a network;    transmitting an indication of the location of the meta-document to one or more users;    receiving a request to access the meta-document from a user;    requesting the security information from the user;    providing the user with access to the sub-documents only if the user provides the correct security information; and    transmitting an electronic receipt to a creator/sender of the meta-document indicating that the user was provided access to the meta-document.    
   
   
       12 . The method as in  claim 11  wherein the security information comprises a password unique to the meta-document.  
   
   
       13 . The method as in  claim 11  wherein the storage area comprises a file transfer protocol (“FTP”) site or a Web server.  
   
   
       14 . The method as in  claim 11  wherein the indication of the location of the meta-document is transmitted via an email message.  
   
   
       15 . The method as in  claim 14  wherein the security information comprises a password transmitted in the email message along with the indication of the location of the meta-document.  
   
   
       16 . A machine-readable medium having program code stored thereon which, when executed by a machine, causes the machine to perform the operations of: 
 combining a plurality of sub-documents into a single meta-document;    defining security information for providing access to the sub-documents within the meta-document;    transmitting the meta-document to a particular storage area on a network;    transmitting an indication of the location of the meta-document to one or more users;    receiving a request to access the meta-document from a user;    requesting the security information from the user;    providing the user with access to the sub-documents only if the user provides the correct security information; and    transmitting an electronic receipt to a creator/sender of the meta-document indicating that the user was provided access to the meta-document.    
   
   
       17 . The method as in  claim 16  wherein the security information comprises a password unique to the meta-document.  
   
   
       18 . The method as in  claim 16  wherein the storage area comprises a file transfer protocol (“FTP”) site or a Web server.  
   
   
       19 . The method as in  claim 16  wherein the indication of the location of the meta-document is transmitted via an email message.  
   
   
       20 . The method as in  claim 19  wherein the security information comprises a password transmitted in the email message along with the indication of the location of the meta-document.