Method and apparatus for providing a central dictionary and glossary server

A data processing system for updating a plurality of dictionaries or glossaries, the data processing system comprising:

• executing means for executing an application on a first client, wherein the application accesses a local copy of a dictionary or glossary;
• first identifying means for identifying a term or word to be added to the local copy of the dictionary or glossary;
• sending means for sending a request to update a master dictionary or glossary with said term or word;
• updating means for updating said master dictionary or glossary at a server;
• second identifying means for identifying, accordance with predetermined update criteria for determining which files to update, said update criteria specifying that an update to a dictionary or glossary at a particular organizational level of a plurality of organizational levels is to be disseminated to said first client and at least a second client within said particular organizational level, at least one file of the local copy of the dictionary or glossary to update;
• and
• server means for serving the update to the master dictionary or glossary to the application on the first client to update the at least one file of the local copy of the dictionary or glossary, wherein a dictionary comprises spellings and definitions of terns or words, and wherein a glossary comprises explanatory words or explanatory phrases for a list of terms or words found in an associated document or datastream.

A computer program product in a computer-readable medium for use in a data processing system for updating a plurality of dictionaries or glossaries, the computer program product comprising:

• first instructions for executing an application on a first client, wherein the application accesses a local copy of a dictionary or glossary;
• second instructions for identifying a term or word to be added to the local copy of the dictionary or glossary;
• third instructions for sending a request to update a master dictionary or glossary with said term or word;
• fourth instructions for updating said master dictionary or glossary at a server;
• fifth instructions for identifying, in accordance with a predetermined update criteria for determining which files to update, said update criteria specifying that an update to a dictionary or glossary at a particular organizational level of a plurality of organizational levels is to be disseminated to said first client and at least a second client within said particular organizational level, at least one file of the local copy of the dictionary or glossary to update;
• and
• sixth instructions for serving the update to the master dictionary or glossary to the application on the first client to update the at least one file of the local copy of the dictionary or glossary, wherein a dictionary comprises spellings and definitions of terms or words, and wherein a glossary comprises explanatory words or explanatory phrases for a list of terms or words found in an associated document or datastream.