Method and apparatus for structured streaming of an XML document

• US 20030236903A1
• Filed: 06/20/2002
• Published: 12/25/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 06/20/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. (Koninklijke Philips N.V.), US Philips Corporation (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Original Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Inventors: Piotrowski, Daniel J.
• Granted Patent: US 7,251,697 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/231
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/957 Browsing optimisation, e.g. caching or content distillation
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/02 based on web technology, e.g. hypertext transfer protocol [HTTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/06 specially adapted for file transfer, e.g. file transfer protocol [FTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/61 taking into account QoS or priority requirements
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/62 Establishing a time schedule for servicing the requests
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00209 Transmitting or receiving image data, e.g. facsimile data, via a computer, e.g. using e-mail, a computer network, the internet, I-fax

Abstract

A method and apparatus are disclosed for streaming an XML document/content in a structured manner that allows the receiver to decode prioritized portions of an XML document. Document models, such as XML Schemas, are utilized in converting XML documents into prioritized portions that are transmitted according to a predefined scheme. Thus, the present invention allows the XML receiver to begin processing the most important XML portions of an XML stream first as well as in mid-transmission and allowing a user to end the transmission before lower priority XML portions are received.

Claims

1. A method of transmitting XML documents, comprising the steps of:

generating XML portions of the XML document for transmitting; and

prioritizing the XML portions according to a predetermined scheme; and

transmitting the XML prioritized portions.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said predetermined scheme is in accordance with a specified XML Schema document, wherein each XML Schema element is prioritized.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the step of prioritizing the XML portions includes adding an XML Schema identifier.

4. The method of claim 1, further including the step of a user terminating the transmitting step after a first XML portion is transmitted.

5. A method of encoding an XML document comprising the steps of:

decomposing the XML document into a plurality of XML portions according to a predefined prioritized manner; and

independently transmitting each of the XML portions with information indicating how the XML document is positioned within the larger XML document.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the information indicating how the XML portions are positioned within the larger XML document is transmitted in one XML portion.

7. A method for receiving a streamed XML document, the XML document including a plurality of XML portions, said method comprising the steps of:

extracting from at least one received XML portion predetermined structure information or portion thereof, wherein the predetermined structure information is used to prioritize the XML portions;

processing the XML portions directly; and

recompiling the XML document from the received XML portions and structure information.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the processing step further comprises the step of displaying the information.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the processing step further comprises the step of storing the information.

10. The method of claim 7, further comprising the step of terminating further reception of XML portions after a first XML portion is received.

11. The method of claim 7, further comprising the step of continuing to process subsequent XML portions even if one of the XML portions is not properly received.

12. An XML transmitter comprising:

a memory for storing an XML document and computer readable code; and

a processor operatively coupled to said memory, said processor configured to;

generate portions of the XML document for transmitting, wherein the portions are prioritized according to a predetermined scheme; and

transmit the prioritized portions according to their respective priority.

13. The XML transmitter of claim 12, wherein the predetermined scheme is in accordance with a specified XML Schema document, wherein each XML Schema element is prioritized.

14. The XML transmitter of claim 13, wherein the prioritized portions include an XML Schema identifier.

15. The XML transmitter of claim 12, wherein the processor is operable to allow a user to terminate the transmitting of the prioritized portions after at least a first prioritized portion is transmitted.

16. An XML transmitter comprising:

a memory for storing an XML document and computer readable code; and

a processor operatively coupled to said memory, said processor configured to;

decompose the XML document into a plurality of XML portions according to a predefined prioritized manner; and

independently transmit each of the XML portions with information indicating how the XML portion is positioned within the larger XML document.

17. An XML receiver for receiving a streamed XML document, said XML document including a plurality of XML portions, comprising:

a memory for storing computer readable code; and

a processor operatively coupled to the memory, said processor configured to;

extract from at least received XML portion predetermined structure information or portion thereof, wherein the predetermined structure information is used to prioritize the XML portions;

process the XML portion directly; and

recompile the XML document from the received XML portions and structure information.

18. The XML receiver of claim 17, wherein the processor is operable to allow a user to terminate further transmission of the XML portions after at least a first XML portion is transmitted.

19. The XML receiver of claim 17, wherein the predetermined structure information is in accordance with a specified XML Schema document, wherein each XML Schema element is prioritized.

20. The XML receiver of claim 19, wherein the received XML portions include an XML Schema identifier.