Hierarchical document cross-reference system and method

Abstract

A hierarchical document cross-reference system comprises a document server computer remotely accessible by a user computer. The document server computer includes a database which stores the contents of a first document and a second document. The first document contains one or more segments and the second document contains one or more segments. Each segment is identified by a segment identifier. The document server computer also includes a module executable in the document server computer. The module is configured to receive a request to cross-reference the first document and the second document on a key phrase. The module searches the first document and the second document for the key phrase and identifies the segments in the documents containing the key phrase. The module then displays on the user computer a side-by-side display listing the segment identifiers for the identified segments. The segment identifiers for the identified segments in the first document containing the key phrase are displayed in a first list and the segment identifiers for the identified segments in the second document containing the key phrase are displayed in a second list. The user can subsequently select a segment identifier from each list and submit the segment identifiers for display. The module then displays the contents of each segment, with the key phrase highlighted in a distinct color or by other means.

1 - 25 . (canceled)  
   
   
       26 . A system for cross-referencing electronic data, said system comprising: 
 storage which stores said electronic data in a first data set and a second data set, each of said data sets having one or more segments, each of said segments having segment content arranged in one or more segment components and a segment label wherein said segment label is shorter than said segment content;    a processor; and    software executable in said processor, wherein said processor is configured to: 
 receive a request to search said first data set and said second data set for a key phrase composed and input by a user;  
 search said first data set and said second data set for said key phrase;  
 identify said one or more segments that contain said key phrase;  
 display the segment labels of said identified segments in a first display having a first display portion adjacent a second display portion, said first display portion containing said identified segment labels from said first data set, said second display portion containing said identified segment labels from said second data set;  
 display at least a portion of the segment content of a first one and a second one of said identified segments in a second display; and  
 highlight, in said second display, at least one of said segment components that contains said key phrase.  
   
   
   
       27 . The system of  claim 26 , wherein said processor is further configured to highlight said key phrase in said second display.  
   
   
       28 . The system of  claim 27 , wherein said processor is further configured to highlight said key phrase and said segment components containing said key phrase in differing colors.  
   
   
       29 . The system of  claim 26 , wherein said processor is further configured to display only the segment labels, and not the segment content, of said identified segments in said first display.  
   
   
       30 . The system of  claim 26 , wherein said first display comprises a side-by-side display.  
   
   
       31 . The system of  claim 26 , wherein said second display comprises a side-by-side display.  
   
   
       32 . The system of  claim 26 , wherein said first data set comprises a first section of a document, and said second data set comprises a second section of said document.  
   
   
       33 . The system of  claim 26 , wherein said first data set comprises a first document, and said second data set comprises a second document.  
   
   
       34 . A computer-implemented method of cross-referencing electronic data stored in a first data set and a second data set, each of said data sets having one or more segments, each of said segments having segment content arranged in one or more segment components and a segment label wherein said segment label is shorter than said segment content, said method comprising: 
 receiving a request to search said first data set and said second data set for a key phrase composed and input by a user;    searching said first data set and said second data set for said key phrase;    identifying said one or more segments that contain said key phrase;    displaying the segment labels of said identified segments in a first display having a first display portion adjacent a second display portion, said first display portion containing said identified segment labels from said first data set, said second display portion containing said identified segment labels from said second data set;    displaying at least a portion of the segment content of a first one and a second one of said identified segments in a second display; and    highlighting, in said second display, at least one of said segment components that contains said key phrase.    
   
   
       35 . The method of  claim 34 , further comprising highlighting said key phrase in said second display.  
   
   
       36 . The method of  claim 35 , further comprising highlighting said key phrase and said segment components containing said key phrase in differing colors.  
   
   
       37 . The method of  claim 34 , wherein displaying the segment labels of said identified segments in said first display comprises displaying only the segment labels, and not the segment content, of said identified segments in said first display.  
   
   
       38 . The method of  claim 34 , wherein said first display comprises a side-by-side display.  
   
   
       39 . The method of  claim 34 , wherein said second display comprises a side-by-side display.  
   
   
       40 . The method of  claim 34 , wherein said first data set comprises a first section of a document, and said second data set comprises a second section of said document.  
   
   
       41 . The method of  claim 34 , wherein said first data set comprises a first document, and said second data set comprises a second document.  
   
   
       42 . A system for cross-referencing electronic data, said system comprising: 
 storage which stores said electronic data in a document having a first section and a second section, wherein said first section and said second section each include one or more divisions, each of said divisions having division content and a corresponding division label wherein said division label is shorter than said division content;    a processor; and    a module executable in said processor wherein said processor is configured to: 
 receive a request to search said first section and said second section for a key phrase composed and input by a user;  
 search said first section and said second section for said key phrase;  
 identify said one or more divisions that contain said key phrase; and  
 display the labels of said identified divisions in a first display having a first display portion adjacent a second display portion, said first display portion containing said identified division labels from said first section, said second display portion containing said identified division labels from said second section.  
   
   
   
       43 . The system of  claim 42 , wherein said processor is further configured to display only the division labels, and not the division content, of said identified divisions in said first display.  
   
   
       44 . The system of  claim 42 , wherein said first display comprises a side-by-side display.  
   
   
       45 . A computer-implemented method of cross-referencing electronic data stored in a document having a first section and a second section, wherein said first section and said second section each include one or more divisions, each of said divisions having division content and a corresponding division label wherein said division label is shorter than said division content, said method comprising: 
 receiving a request to search said first section and said second section for a key phrase composed and input by a user;    searching said first section and said second section for said key phrase;    identifying said one or more divisions that contain said key phrase; and    displaying the labels of said identified divisions in a first display having a first display portion adjacent a second display portion, said first display portion containing said identified division labels from said first section, said second display portion containing said identified division labels from said second section.    
   
   
       46 . The method of  claim 45 , wherein displaying the division labels of said identified divisions in said first display comprises displaying only the division labels, and not the division content, of said identified divisions in said first display.  
   
   
       47 . The method of  claim 45 , wherein said first display comprises a side-by-side display.