Method and system for auto-formatting a document using an event-based rule engine to format a document as the user types

A method for automatically formatting a word processing document comprising:

• storing event-based rules in a rule-base having predefined event interval sections;
• intercepting user input events as entered into a word processing document;
• analyzing the user input events to determine whether the user input events corresponds to predefined events;
• if a predefined event is detected, then scheduling dependent event-based rules or other predefined events;
• evaluating the dependent event-based rules or other predefined events in an event interval section when a predefined event interval corresponding to the event interval section is detected;
• and
• in response to evaluating a event-based autoformat action rule, performing an autoformat action.

A method for interactively formatting a word processing document in a word processor system including a programmed computer, a display device, and an input device, the method comprising the steps of:

• (a) intercepting user input events received from the input device as a user enters input events while preparing a word processing document;
• (b) analyzing the user input events as the user enters the input events to determine whether the user input events correspond to predefined events, where the predefined events are arguments to expressions of autoformat rules, and the expressions are conditions that need to be satisfied for the autoformat rules to generate autoformat actions;
• (c) scheduling a rule for evaluation by placing that rule on an evaluation queue in response to detecting that the at least one predefined event has occurred and is an argument to the rule;
• (d) as the user enters the input events, evaluating an autoformat rule in response to detecting that at least one of the predefined events has occurred;
• and
• (e) in response to evaluating the rule, performing an autoformat action corresponding to the rule automatically as the user enters the input events while preparing the word processing document.

A method for interactively formatting a word processing document in a word processor system including a programmed computer, a display device, and an input device, the method comprising the steps of:

• (a) intercepting user input events received from the input device as a user enters input events while preparing a word processing document;
• (b) analyzing the user input events as the user enters the input events to determine whether the user input events correspond to predefined events, where the predefined events are arguments to expressions of autoformat rules, and the expressions are conditions that need to be satisfied for the autoformat rules to generate autoformat actions;
• (c) scheduling rules for evaluation that depend on the at least one predefined event in response to detecting that the at least one predefined event has occurred;
• (d) as the user enters the input events, evaluating the rules that depend on the at least on predefined event in response to detecting that at least one of the predefined events has occurred;
• (e) in response to evaluating the rules, scheduling additional rules;
• and
• (f) in response to evaluating the rule, performing an autoformat action corresponding to the rule automatically as the user enters the input events while preparing the word processing document.

A method for interactively formatting a word processing document in a word processor system including a programmed computer, a display device, and an input device, the method comprising the steps of:

• (a) intercepting user input events received from the input device as a user enters input events while preparing a word processing document;
• (b) analyzing the user input events as the user enters the input events to determine whether the user input events correspond to predefined events, where the predefined events are arguments to expressions of autoformat rules, and the expressions are conditions that need to be satisfied for the autoformat rules to generate autoformat actions;
• (c) scheduling an action rule for evaluation that depends on the at least one predefined event in response to detecting that the at least one predefined event has occurred;
• (d) as the user enters the input events, evaluating the rules that depend on the at least on predefined event in response to detecting that at least one of the predefined events has occurred;
• (e) in response to evaluating the action rule, placing a delayed action in a delayed action queue;
• (f) in response to evaluating the rule, performing an autoformat action corresponding to the rule automatically as the user enters the input events while preparing the word processing document;
• and
• (g) performing the delayed action to carry out the autoformat action.

A method for interactively formatting a word processing document in a word processor system including a programmed computer, a display device, and an input device, the method comprising the steps of:

• (a) storing rules in pre-defined event interval sections in a rule-base;
• (b) intercepting user input events received from the input device as a user enters input events while preparing a word processing document;
• (c) analyzing the user input events as the user enters the input events to determine whether the user input events correspond to predefined events, where the predefined events are arguments to expressions of autoformat rules, and the expressions are conditions that need to be satisfied for the autoformat rules to generate autoformat actions;
• (d) scheduling rules for evaluation that depend on a first predefined event in response to detecting that the first predefined event has occurred;
• (e) as the user enters the input events, evaluating an autoformat rule in response to detecting that at least one of the predefined events has occurred;
• (f) evaluating rules in a first pre-defined event interval section in response to detecting that an event interval has occurred for the first pre-defined event interval section;
• and
• (g) in response to evaluating the rule, performing an autoformat action corresponding to the rule automatically as the user enters the input events while preparing the word processing document.