System and method for publishing manuscripts

Abstract

A publishing system includes a database that is adapted to store a plurality of documents, a plurality of computers, each of which is adapted to be coupled to the database; a network connecting the plurality of computers together for communication of data relating to the plurality of documents among the plurality of computers and the database, means for submitting a new document to the database, means for reviewing the new document, means for relating the new document to the plurality of documents, and means for publishing a journal of a selected portion of the plurality of documents. The plurality of computers includes a server and a plurality of clients, and the server is a web server with the plurality of clients each further including a browser.

1 . A publishing system, comprising:
 a database adapted to store a plurality of documents;   a plurality of computers, each of which is adapted to be coupled to said database;   a network connecting said plurality of computers together for communication of data relating to said plurality of documents among said plurality of computers and said database;   means for submitting a new document to said database;   means for reviewing said new document including means for translating the new document into a reviewable submission, the reviewable submission being electronic and in different format and having a set of aspects, and for providing a reviewer with access to all aspects from the set of aspects associated with the reviewable submission;   means for relating said new document to said plurality of documents; and   means for publishing a journal of a selected portion of said plurality of documents.   
   
   
       2 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein said plurality of computers comprises a server and a plurality of clients. 
   
   
       3 . The system according to  claim 2 , wherein said server comprises a web server and said plurality of clients each further comprise a browser. 
   
   
       4 . The system according to  claim 3 , wherein said submitting means further comprises first means for translating said new document from a first data format to a second data format. 
   
   
       5 . The system according to  claim 4 , wherein said first data format comprises a native word processor format and said second data format comprises a format compatible to said browser. 
   
   
       6 . The system according to  claim 5 , wherein said publishing means further comprises second means for translating said selected portion of said plurality of documents from said second data format to a third data format. 
   
   
       7 . (canceled) 
   
   
       8 . The system according to  claim 2 , wherein said server further comprises means for searching said database. 
   
   
       9 . The system according to  claim 4 , wherein said second data format comprises a mark-up language format. 
   
   
       10 . The system according to  claim 8 , further comprising a removable medium that is adapted to store said database and includes said means for searching said database. 
   
   
       11 . The system according to  claim 10 , wherein said removable medium further comprises means for communicating with said server. 
   
   
       12 . The system according to  claim 11 , wherein said communicating means comprises said browser. 
   
   
       13 . A publishing method, comprising the steps of:
 providing a computer system at one location, said computer system comprising a database that is adapted to store a plurality of documents, a plurality of computers including a web server and a plurality of clients, each of which is adapted to be coupled to said database through a browser, and a network connecting said plurality of computers together for communication of data relating to said plurality of documents among said plurality of computers and said database;   inputting a new document to said computer system from another location displaced remotely from said one location, said new document having been input in a native word processor format;   translating said new document from said native word processor format to a format compatible with said browser;   storing said new document within said database in said browser-compatible format;   relating said new document to said plurality of documents;   accessing said new document in said browser-compatible format;   collaboratively reviewing said new document in said browser-compatible format the new document having a set of aspects, and providing a reviewer with access to all aspects from the set of aspects associated with the new document;   translating said new document from said browser-compatible format to a typesetting format; and   publishing a journal of a selected portion of said plurality of documents in said typesetting format.   
   
   
       14 . The method according to  claim 13 , further comprising the step of publishing said journal in said browser-compatible format. 
   
   
       15 . The method according to  claim 13 , further comprising the step of publishing said journal in a format compatible with a removable medium. 
   
   
       16 . The method according to  claim 13 , further comprising the steps of:
 assigning a plurality of peer reviewers to review said new document, said plurality of peer reviewers being located at a third location displaced remotely from said one location and said other location; and   notifying said plurality of peer reviewers through said network that said new document is available for review.   
   
   
       17 . The method according to  claim 16 , further comprising the steps of:
 associating a review and grading form to said new document;   sending a copy of said associated form and said new document to each of said plurality of peer reviewers;   providing means in said associated form for said plurality of peer reviewers to enter their grades and comments;   collecting said associated form from each of said plurality of peer reviewers; and   providing means in an editor center to make decisions regarding publication of said new document.   
   
   
       18 - 20 . (canceled) 
   
   
       21 . A computer-implemented method for reviewing electronic submissions, the method comprising:
 receiving an initial submission, the initial submission being electronic and essentially complete and in an initial format;   translating the initial submission into a reviewable submission, the reviewable submission being electronic and in a second format and having a set of aspects; and   providing access to all aspects from the set of aspects associated with the reviewable submission.   
   
   
       22 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the initial format and the second format are substantially equivalent. 
   
   
       23 . The method of  claim 21  further comprising producing complete proofs of the initial submission for approval. 
   
   
       24 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the second format comports with an internal tool of a reviewing entity thereby facilitating review of the initial submission. 
   
   
       25 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the initial format is based on at least one of PDF, MS Word, WordPerfect, Text, RTF, EPS, GIF, JPEG, TFF, PowerPoint, Excel. 
   
   
       26 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the second format is based at least in part on a markup language. 
   
   
       27 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the initial format may be received in a plurality of file formats. 
   
   
       28 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the set of aspects includes one or more of: abstract; bibliography; background; publication; document; multimedia document; reference; summary; graphic; picture; video; audio; links; image; text; title; author data; affiliation data; key word data; date data; comment; reviewer note; status; decision; table; figure; equation; symbol; character; correspondence; article type data; and submission identifying data. 
   
   
       29 . The method of  claim 21  further comprising receiving a revised version of the initial submission in either of the initial format or the second format. 
   
   
       30 . The method of  claim 21  further comprising reviewing by a reviewer the reviewable submission and receiving from the reviewer an input related to the reviewing step. 
   
   
       31 . The method of  claim 30  further comprising selecting from a set of reviewers a subset of reviewers to perform the reviewing step. 
   
   
       32 . The method of  claim 31  wherein the selecting step is based on qualifying criteria, wherein said qualifying criteria includes at least one of (i) a reviewer's area of specialty, (ii) a reviewer's prior review history, (iii) a reviewer's professional associations, (iv) a reviewer's availability, or (v) said author's preference for or against at least one reviewer. 
   
   
       33 . The method of  claim 21  wherein the initial submission is submitted by an author and further comprising sending to the author a message related to the initial submission. 
   
   
       34 . The method of  claim 21  wherein the initial submission may comprise a plurality of related submissions. 
   
   
       35 . The method of  claim 34  wherein one or more of the plurality of related submissions is not translated. 
   
   
       36 . The method of  claim 21  further comprising presenting to a user via a graphical user interface a set of user-related selections including at least one of author, editor, member, reviewer, and administrator. 
   
   
       37 . The method of  claim 21  further comprising prompting a user for one or more of author information, submission identification information, author affiliation information, member information, meeting information, related document information, reference information, and subject matter information. 
   
   
       38 . The method of  claim 21  further comprising publishing a document based on the initial submission. 
   
   
       39 . The method of  claim 21  further comprising: receiving a plurality of initial submissions, each of the initial submissions representing abstracts or meeting transactions; selecting a set of the plurality of initial submissions; and publishing a set of documents based on the set of initial submissions. 
   
   
       40 . The method of  claim 39  further comprising organizing the set of documents based on subject matter. 
   
   
       41 . The method of  claim 21  further comprising analyzing the contents of the initial submission and determining if the contents satisfy a set of predetermined conditions. 
   
   
       42 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the initial submission is one of a group consisting of: articles, manuscripts, government grants, industry grants, academic applications, academic examinations, proposals, contracts, promotional materials, written data, video, multimedia, streaming video, research proposals, and grant-related documentation, 
   
   
       43 . A computer program product comprising a computer useable medium including control logic stored therein, said control logic enabling management and review of documents, said control logic, when executed by a processor, causes the processor to carry out steps comprising:
 receiving an initial submission, the initial submission being electronic and essentially complete and in an initial format;   translating the initial submission into a reviewable submission, the reviewable submission being electronic and in a second format and having a set of aspects; and   providing access to all aspects from the set of aspects associated with the reviewable submission.   
   
   
       44 . The computer program product of  claim 43 , wherein the initial format and the second format are substantially equivalent. 
   
   
       45 . The computer program product of  claim 43 , wherein the control logic further causes the processor to carry out the step of producing complete proofs of the initial submission for approval. 
   
   
       46 . The computer program product of  claim 43 , wherein the second format comports with an internal tool of a reviewing entity thereby facilitating review of the initial submission. 
   
   
       47 . The computer program product of  claim 43 , wherein the initial format is based on at least one of PDF, MS Word, WordPerfect, Text, RTF, EPS, GIF, JPEG, TFF, PowerPoint, Excel. 
   
   
       48 . The computer program product of  claim 43 , wherein the second format is based at least in part on a markup language. 
   
   
       49 . The computer program product of  claim 43 , wherein the initial format may be received in a plurality of file formats. 
   
   
       50 . The computer program product of  claim 43 , wherein the set of aspects includes one or more of: abstract; bibliography; background; publication; document; multimedia document; reference; summary; graphic; picture; video; audio; links; image; text; title; author data; affiliation data; key word data; date data; comment; reviewer note; status; decision; table; figure; equation; symbol; character; correspondence; article type data; and submission identifying data. 
   
   
       51 . The computer program product of  claim 43 , wherein the control logic further causes the processor to carry out the step of receiving a revised version of the initial submission in either of the initial format or the second format. 
   
   
       52 . The computer program product of  claim 43 , wherein the control logic further causes the processor to carry out the step of reviewing by a reviewer the reviewable submission and receiving from the reviewer an input related to the reviewing step. 
   
   
       53 . The computer program product of  claim 52 , wherein the control logic further causes the processor to carry out the step of selecting from a set of reviewers a subset of reviewers to perform the reviewing step. 
   
   
       54 . The computer program product of  claim 53 , wherein the selecting step is based on qualifying criteria, wherein said qualifying criteria includes at least one of (i) a reviewer's area of specialty, (ii) a reviewer's prior review history, (iii) a reviewer's professional associations, (iv) a reviewer's availability, or (v) said author's preference for or against at least one reviewer. 
   
   
       55 . The computer program product of  claim 43 , wherein the initial submission is submitted by an author and further comprising sending to the author a message related to the initial submission. 
   
   
       56 . The computer program product of  claim 43 , wherein the control logic further causes the processor to carry out the step of presenting to a user via a graphical user interface a set of user-related selections including at least one of author, editor, member, reviewer, and administrator. 
   
   
       57 . The computer program product of  claim 43 , wherein the control logic further causes the processor to carry out the step of prompting a user for one or more of author information, submission identification information, author affiliation information, member information, meeting information, related document information, reference information, and subject matter information. 
   
   
       58 . The computer program product of  claim 43 , wherein the control logic further causes the processor to carry out the step of publishing a document based on the initial submission. 
   
   
       59 . The computer program product of  claim 43 , wherein the control logic further causes the processor to carry out the steps of: receiving a plurality of initial submissions, each of the initial submissions representing abstracts or meeting transactions; selecting a set of the plurality of initial submissions; publishing a set of documents based on the set of initial submissions; and organizing the set of documents based on subject matter. 
   
   
       60 . The computer program product of  claim 43 , wherein the control logic further causes the processor to carry out the step of analyzing the contents of the initial submission and determining if the contents satisfy a set of predetermined conditions. 
   
   
       61 . The computer program product of  claim 43 , wherein the initial submission is one of a group consisting of: articles, manuscripts, technology transfer request, governmental grants, agency grants, private industry grants, academic applications, academic examinations, proposals, contracts, promotional materials, written data, video, multimedia, streaming video, research proposals, and grant-related documentation, 
   
   
       62 . A system for managing and reviewing documents, said system comprising:
 a computer having a processor adapted to execute software code and being connectable over a communication link to receive electronic communications;   a memory adapted to store software for execution by the processor; and   a database for receiving and storing electronic submissions; and   managing and reviewing software for execution by the processor and comprising code adapted to:
 receive an initial submission, the initial submission being electronic and essentially complete and in an initial format; 
 translate the initial submission into a reviewable submission, the reviewable submission being electronic and in a second format and having a set of aspects; and 
 provide access to all aspects from the set of aspects associated with the reviewable submission to a reviewer. 
   
   
   
       63 . The system of  claim 62 , wherein the code is further adapted to provide a common score sheet specific to a meeting to user, and enable entry of recommendation information related to the initial submission. 
   
   
       64 . The system of  claim 62 , wherein the submission includes data in the form of text, images, graphics, or multimedia. 
   
   
       65 . The system of  claim 62 , wherein the initial submission includes information related to one or more of an author, subject matter of said submission, proposed publication date, proposed presentation date, or proposed meeting or journal for inclusion of the initial submission. 
   
   
       66 . The system of  claim 62 , wherein the code is further adapted to select a set of reviewers for reviewing the reviewable submission based on qualifying criteria, wherein said qualifying criteria includes at least one of (i) a reviewer's area of specialty, (ii) a reviewer's prior review history, (iii) a reviewer's professional associations, (iv) a reviewer's availability, or (v) said author's preference for or against at least one reviewer. 
   
   
       67 . The system of  claim 62 , wherein a plurality of reviewers are provided with access to the reviewable submission simultaneously.