Data object oriented repository system

• US 20030149708A1
• Filed: 11/08/2002
• Published: 08/07/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 11/09/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Yozosoft Company Limited
• Original Assignee: WUXI Evermore Software Incorporated
• Inventors: Tsao, Sheng A.
• Granted Patent: US 7,376,895 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 707/104.1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/10 File systems; File servers
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/289 Object oriented databases
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/71 Version control security arrangements therefor G06F21/57; Configuration management
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99945 Object-oriented database structure processing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99948 Application of database or data structure, e.g. distributed, multimedia, or image

Abstract

An integrated multi-application data processing system including means for generating, storing, and retrieving data files, each data file having a multi-dimensional array of data cells, and a program framework providing a common user interface for at least one application program for user interaction with one or more of the data files. Each of the data cells, which can contain a single data object that includes an object type code and object content, has a unique multi-dimensional cell address with respect to all cells in data files generated by the system. The object content can be self-contained and/or defined in terms of object content of other data objects, and the object type code is indicative of the object content being any of a number, a formula, a date, a text, a page, media data, and binary data other than a number, a formula, a date, or a text. The media data type can be at least a picture, a sound track, or a video clip. The binary data type can be a computer program, an address, or a macro, or other type.

Claims

1. An integrated multi-application data processing system, comprising:

(a) means for generating, storing, and retrieving data files, each data file comprising a multi-dimensional array of data cells, wherein;

(i) each data cell has a unique multi-dimensional cell address with respect to all cells in data files generated by the system;

(ii) each data cell can contain a single data object;

(iii) each data object includes an object type code and object content being elf-contained and/or defined in terms of object content of other data objects;

(iv) the object type code corresponds to the object content being any of a number, a formula, a date, a text, a page, media data, and binary data other than a number, a formula, a date, and a text; and

(b) a program framework providing a common user interface for at least one application program for user interaction with one or more of the data files.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the media data in the means for generating is at least one of a picture, a sound track, and a video clip.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the binary data in the means for generating is at least one of a computer program, an address, and a macro.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein each data file further comprises a file header, and the unique cell address comprises a first portion identifying the data file and a second portion corresponding to the position of the cell within the data file.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the data objects comprises a link type code and information defining the content of that data object in terms of the object content of other data objects, as identified by respective unique identifiers of the other data objects.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein each object type code is associated with a data type group being one of a basic data type group wherein the object content is self-contained, a composed data type group wherein each data object comprises references to other data objects and information further defining the object content as reflecting a relationship among the referenced data objects, and a compound data type group wherein the data objects each comprise both self-contained data and references to other data objects.

7. The system of claim 6, comprising one or more of the data files containing data objects of each of the basic data type group, the composed data type group, and the compound data type group.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein each data object includes an attribute code for defining one or more attributes of the object content.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the attribute codes are defined for a set of attributes comprising physical data size, display height, display font, display color, display border, display format, a sound attribute, and an image attribute.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the common user interface is operational with plural types of application programs.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the plural types of application programs the common user interface is operational with include a database program, a word processor program, a spreadsheet program, and a graphics program.

12. The system of claim 10, wherein the common user interface is operational with the plural types of application programs having user interaction with a single data file.

13. The system of claim 10, wherein the common user interface is operational with plural application programs having incompatible native data file formats.

14. The system of claim 10, wherein data files present in the system are defined according to a single file format.

15. The system of claim 1, wherein the program framework is operational for activating a data file for processing in accordance with the user interaction.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the common user interface is further operational for recording in a non-activated data file information defining processing to be performed with respect to data objects of the non-activated file.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the common user interface is further operational for initiating the processing to be performed upon activation of the non-activated data file.

18. An integrated multi-application data processing system, comprising:

(a) a multi-dimensional array of data cells;

(b) means for generating, storing, and retrieving data files, each data file comprising some data cells from the array, wherein;

(i) each data cell has a unique multi-dimensional cell address with respect to all cells in data files generated by the system,;

(ii) each data cell can contain a single data object;

(iii) each data object includes an object type code, object content being self-contained and/or defined in terms of object content of other data objects, each object type code being associated with a basic data type group wherein the object content is self-contained, a composed data type group wherein each data object comprises references to other objects and information further defining the object content as reflecting a relationship among the referenced data objects, or a compound data type group wherein the data objects each comprise both self-contained data and references to other data objects, and an attribute code for defining one or more attributes of the object content;

(iv) the object type code corresponds to the object content being any of at least a number, a formula, a date, a text, a page, media data, and binary data other than a number, a formula, a date, and a text; and

(b) a program framework providing a common user interface for plural types of application programs including database programs, word processor programs, spreadsheet programs, and graphics programs, including plural application programs having incompatible native data file formats, for user interaction with a single one or plural ones of the data files.