Importance

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Abstract

A system and method are provided for determining a relationship between first and second data elements by using a relationship element. The first and second data elements are each protected elements being bound to first and second indices for providing referential integrity. The relationship is determined by reading the relationship element in response to a request and the second element is identified based on information read from the relationship element. The relationship element is in a different data collection than at least one of the first and second elements. This structure provides a robust and flexible means to create and maintain relationships between existing documents stored in various electronic libraries, while minimizing changes to exiting system software and requiring no change to application software. The invention also is directed to relating a data element in a protected resource with meta-data in a relationship resource, where the protected resource and relationship resource are arranged in a distributed manner.

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First Claim