Method and apparatus for repurposing formatted content

• US 20020129067A1
• Filed: 03/06/2001
• Published: 09/12/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 03/06/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Tan, Ji Whee, wright, Lenora E., Wang, Fang, Reich, David E., Dames, Dwayne
• Granted Patent: US 7,546,527 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/523
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/143 Markup, e.g. Standard Generalized Markup Language [SGML] or Document Type Definition [DTD]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/186 Templates

Abstract

A method and system for reformatting data. The method involves a series of steps which can include identifying a template which corresponds to a specified document. The specified document can contain formatted data. Additionally, the step of applying a template to the specified document can be extracting data from the formatted content. The step of formatting the data using a different markup language can be performed.

Claims

1. A method for converting formatted content comprising:

identifying a template which corresponds to a specified document, said specified document including said formatted content;

applying said template to said specified document, said application extracting data from said formatted content; and

formatting said data using a different markup language;

wherein said formatting produces a second document.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said extracted data is unformatted data.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a content request, said content request specifying a network location from which said specified document can be retrieved; and

,

retrieving said specified document from said network location.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

presenting said second document through a user interface.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein said user interface is a speech interface.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein said extracting data comprises reading data in said formatted content from an offset within said specified document, said offset identified by a content marker within said template.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising reading a data identifier from said content marker.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein said formatted content is formatted using a markup language selected from the group consisting of hypertext markup language (HTML), extensible markup language (XML), standard generalized markup language (SGML), wireless markup language (WML), handheld device markup language (HDML), and VoiceXML.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein said formatted content is hypertext markup language (HTML) formatted content.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein said different markup language is selected from the group consisting of hypertext markup language (HTML), extensible markup language (XML), standard generalized markup language (SGML), wireless markup language (WML), handheld device markup language (HDML), and VoiceXML.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein said different markup language is voice extensible markup language (VoiceXML).

12. The method of claim 1, wherein said second document and said specified document are of a different modality.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein said templates have at least one content marker for locating data within said formatted content.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein said content marker has an identifier for identifying data within said formatted content.

17. The system of claim 14 wherein said formatted content is formatted using a markup language selected from the group consisting of hypertext markup language (HTML), extensible markup language (XML), standard generalized markup language (SGML), wireless markup language (WML), handheld device markup language (HDML), and VoiceXML.

18. The system of claim 14, said formatted content is hypertext markup language (HTML) formatted content.

19. The system of claim 14, wherein said different markup language is selected from the group consisting of hypertext markup language (HTML), extensible markup language (XML), standard generalized markup language (SGML), wireless markup language (WML), handheld device markup language (HDML), and VoiceXML.

20. The system of claim 14, wherein said second markup language is voice extensible markup language (VoiceXML).

21. The system of claim 14, wherein said first and second markup languages are of a different modality.

13. A method of configuring a content converter comprising:

determining at least one data location within at least one specified document containing formatted content;

constructing at least one template having one or more content markers which correspond to said data location, each said template corresponding to a specified document; and

,

mapping said templates to said specified documents using a template table.

14. A system for reformatting data comprising:

a buffer for receiving documents formatted in a first markup language;

one or more templates for extracting data from formatted content in said documents, each said template corresponding to at least one document;

a table of said templates associating said templates with said corresponding documents; and

,

a formatter for formatting said data using a second markup language.

22. A machine readable storage, having stored thereon a computer program having a plurality of code sections executable by a machine for causing the machine to perform the steps of:

identifying a template which corresponds to a specified document, said specified document including formatted content;

applying said template to said specified document, said application extracting data from said formatted content; and

formatting said data using a different markup language, wherein said formatting step produces a second document.

23. The machine readable storage of claim 22, further causing the machine perform the steps of:

receiving a content request, said content request specifying a network location from which said specified document can be retrieved; and

,

retrieving said specified document from said network location.

24. The machine readable storage of claim 22, further causing the machine perform the steps of:

presenting said second document through a user interface.

25. The machine readable storage of claim 24, wherein said user interface is a speech interface.

26. The machine readable storage of claim 22, wherein said extracting data comprises reading data in said formatted content from an offset within said specified document, said offset identified by a content marker within said template.

27. The machine readable storage of claim 26, further comprising reading a data identifier from said content marker.

28. The machine readable storage of claim 22, wherein said formatted content is formatted using a markup language selected from the group consisting of hypertext markup language (HTML), extensible markup language (XML), standard generalized markup language (SGML), wireless markup language (WML), handheld device markup language (HDML), and VoiceXML.

29. The machine readable storage of claim 22, wherein said formatted content is hypertext markup language (HTML) formatted content.

30. The machine readable storage of claim 22, wherein said different markup language is selected from the group consisting of hypertext markup language (HTML), extensible markup language (XML), standard generalized markup language (SGML), wireless markup language (WML), handheld device markup language (HDML), and VoiceXML.

31. The machine readable storage of claim 22, wherein said different markup language is voice extensible markup language (VoiceXML).

32. The machine readable storage of claim 22, wherein said second document and said specified document are of a different modality.