US Patent 8005877 Document mapping system and method

Documents having a structured nature such as contracts, legislation, etc. can be graphically depicted to emphasize their logical structure. In a document mapping method, a set of logical operator classes each representing a logical operator may be defined. Each logical operator class may also have a dedicated mapping symbol. Through a mapping interface, logically structured document sections may be mapped. Each document section will typically include a logical operator and one or more requirements logically associated with the logical operator. The mapping symbol may depict the logical operator in a node structure and the unique requirements in branch structures extending from the logical operator node. Multiple document sections may be graphically and logically linked, including embedding document structures within the requirement fields of parent structures. The document map may be used to determine compliance with a document, costs of compliance, etc.