Short case name generating method and apparatus

A short case name generator transforms the long case name of a lawsuit into a short case name format. The text of the long case name is converted to low-level tokens using dictionaries and heuristic rules. Selected tokens are eliminated and other selected tokens are consolidated into higher level tokens. Each of a sequence of stages receives the output tokens from the preceding stage and produce tokens at a higher level of abstraction. Ultimately, the highest level tokens are produced. Selected high-level tokens are deleted and the surviving tokens are broken down to their component tokens, selected ones of which are also deleted. Next, the surviving tokens are converted back into the text they represent. Editing rules are then applied to that text which results in the short case name format.