XML encoding scheme

• US 20040028049A1
• Filed: 07/07/2003
• Published: 02/12/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 10/06/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Wan, Ernest Yiu Cheong
• Granted Patent: US 7,647,552 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/394
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1101 Session protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/70 Media network packetisation
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/02 based on web technology, e.g. hypertext transfer protocol [HTTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/54 Presence management, e.g. monitoring or registration for receipt of user log-on information, or the connection status of the users
• 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 19/00 Methods or arrangements for coding, decoding, compressing or decompressing digital video signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 19/25 with scene description coding, e.g. binary format for scenes [BIFS] compression
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2353 specifically adapted to content descriptors, e.g. coding, compressing or processing of metadata

Abstract

Disclosed is a method (900) for communicating at least part of a structure of a document (104) described by a hierarchical representation (102). The method identifies (902) the hierarchical representation (eg. the tree structure) of the document (104). The identification is preferably performed using XML tags. The representation is then packetized (906) into a plurality of data packets. At least one link is then created (908) between a pair of the packets, the link acting to represent an interconnection between corresponding components (eg. structure and content) of the representation. The packets are then formed (910) into a stream for communication. The links maintain the hierachical representation within the packets.

Claims

1. A method of communicating at least part of a structure of a document described by a hierarchical representation, said method comprising the steps of:

identifying said representation of said document;

packetizing said representation into a plurality of data packets, said packets having a predetermined size, said packetizing comprising creating at least one link between a pair of said packets, said link representing an interconnection between corresponding components of said representation; and

forming said data packets into a stream for communication wherein said links maintain said representation within said packets.

2. A method according to claim 1 further comprising the steps of:

receiving said stream;

decoding said packets from said stream to identify said links;

using said links to reconstruct said representation for those portions of said representation not packetized with one packet of said stream.

3. A method according to claim 1 or 2 wherein said corresponding components comprise at least one structure component and a one content component of said document.

5. A method according to any one of claims 1 to 4 wherein said hierarchical representation comprises a tree representation.

6. A method according to any one of claims 1 to 5 wherein said document comprises an XML document.

7. A method according to any one of claims 1 to 6 wherein said predetermined size is a predetermined maximum size.

22. A packetized bitstream formed using the method of any one of claims 1 to 14.

4. A method of communicating at least part of the structure of a document described by a hierarchical representation, said method comprising the steps of:

identifying at least one part of said representation and packetizing said parts into at least one packet of predetermined size; and

where any one or more of said parts of said representation do not fit within one said packet, defining at least one link from said one packet to at least one further said packet into which said non-fitting parts are packetized, said link maintaining the hierarchical structure of said document in said packets.

8. A method of facilitating access to the structure of an XML document, said method comprising the steps of:

identifying a hierarchical representation of said document;

packetizing said representation into a plurality of packets of predetermined packet size;

forming links between said packets to define those parts of said representation not able to be expressed within a packet thereby enabling reconstruction of said representations after de-packetizing.

9. A method of encoding an XML document, said method comprising the steps of:

examining said XML document to identify each data type forming part of said XML document;

identifying a first set of said data types for which a corresponding special encoding format is available;

first encoding each part of said XML document having a data type in said first set with the corresponding special encoding format;

second encoding each remaining part of said XML document with a default encoding format corresponding to the data type of said remaining part;

forming a representation of information referencing at least each said data type in said first set with the corresponding special encoding format; and

associating said representation and said encoded parts as an encoded form of said XML document.

10. A method according to claim 9 wherein said encoding separately encodes structure and content parts of said XML document, and said representation is retained in a header portion of the encoded form of said XML document.

11. A method according to claim 9 or 10 wherein said representation is retained in said header portion as a table.

12. A method according to claim 10 wherein said separately encoded parts comprise packets of at least one bitstream.

13. A method according to claim 9 wherein said first encoding comprises examining said special data type and said corresponding part and determining a one of said encoding formats to be applied to said part.

14. A method according to claim 9 wherein said encoding comprises selecting one of a plurality of said encoding formats corresponding to a data type of said part and encoding said part with said selected encoding format.

15. A method of decoding an encoded XML document, said method comprising the steps of:

examining said encoded XML document to identify an encoding format associated with each data type forming part of said XML document; and

decoding each said part using a decoder complementing the encoding format with which the corresponding data type was encoded.

16. A method according to claim 15 wherein said encoded document comprises separately encoded structure parts and content parts of said XML document and said examining comprises identifying from within at least one structure part a representation associating an encoded part of said XML document with the corresponding encoding format.

17. A method according to claim 16 wherein said encoded XML document is formed as a plurality of packets and said representation is formed within a header of at least one said packet.

18. A method according to claim 17 wherein said representation comprises a table.

19. A method according to any one of claims 16 to 18 wherein said representation comprises a URI.

20. A method according to claim 16 wherein said representation relates to at least a set of special data types having corresponding decoding formats

21. A method according to claim 15 wherein if a decoder is not available to decode a part of said encoded XML document, said method comprises ignoring said part.

23. Apparatus for encoding an XML document, said apparatus comprising:

means for examining said XML document to identify each data type forming part of said XML document;

means for identifying a first set of said data types for which a corresponding special encoding format is available;

means for first encoding each part of said XML document having a data type in said first set with the corresponding special encoding format;

means for second encoding each remaining part of said XML document with a default encoding format corresponding to the data type of said remaining part;

means for forming a representation of information referencing at least each said data type in said first set with the corresponding special encoding format; and

means for associating said representation and said encoded parts as an encoded form of said XML document.

24. A computer readable medium, having a program recorded thereon, where the program is configured to make a computer execute a procedure for communicating at least part of a structure of a document described by a hierarchical representation, said program comprising steps for:

identifying said representation of said document;

packetizing said representation into a plurality of data packets, said packets having a predetermined size, said packetizing comprising creating at least one link between a pair of said packets, said link representing an interconnection between corresponding components of said representation; and

forming said data packets into a stream for communication wherein said links maintain said representation within said packets.

25. A computer readable medium according to claim 24 further comprising the steps for:

receiving said stream;

decoding said packets from said stream to identify said links;

using said links to reconstruct said representation for those portions of said representation not packetized with one packet of said stream.

26. A computer readable medium according to claim 24 or 25 wherein said corresponding components comprise at least one structure component and a one content component of said document.

28. A computer readable medium according to any one of claims 24 to 27 wherein said hierarchical representation comprises a tree representation.

29. A computer readable medium according to any one of claims 24 to 28 wherein said document comprises an XML document.

30. A computer readable medium according to any one of claims 24 to 29 wherein said predetermined size is a predetermined maximum size.

27. A computer readable medium, having a program recorded thereon, where the program is configured to make a computer execute a procedure for communicating at least part of the structure of a document described by a hierarchical representation, said program comprising steps for:

identifying at least one part of said representation and packetizing said parts into at least one packet of predetermined size; and

where any one or more of said parts of said representation do not fit within one said packet, defining at least one link from said one packet to at least one further said packet into which said non-fitting parts are packetized, said link maintaining the hierarchical structure of said document in said packets.

31. A computer readable medium, having a program recorded thereon, where the program is configured to make a computer execute a procedure to facilitating access to the structure of an XML document, said program comprising steps for:

identifying a hierarchical representation of said document;

packetizing said representation into a plurality of packets of predetermined packet size;

forming links between said packets to define those parts of said representation not able to be expressed within a packet thereby enabling reconstruction of said representations after de-packetizing.

32. A computer readable medium, having a program recorded thereon, where the program is configured to make a computer execute a procedure to encode an XML document, said program comprising steps for:

examining said XML document to identify each data type forming part of said XML document;

identifying a first set of said data types for which a corresponding special encoding format is available;

first encoding each part of said XML document having a data type in said first set with the corresponding special encoding format;

second encoding each remaining part of said XML document with a default encoding format corresponding to the data type of said remaining part;

forming a representation of information referencing at least each said data type in said first set with the corresponding special encoding format; and

associating said representation and said encoded parts as an encoded form of said XML document.

33. A computer readable medium according to claim 32 wherein said encoding separately encodes structure and content parts of said XML document, and said representation is retained in a header portion of the encoded form of said XML document.

34. A computer readable medium according to claim 32 or 33 wherein said representation is retained in said header portion as a table.

35. A computer readable medium according to claim 33 wherein said separately encoded parts comprise packets of at least one bitstream.

36. A computer readable medium according to claim 32 wherein said first encoding comprises examining said special data type and said corresponding part and determining a one of said encoding formats to be applied to said part.

37. A computer readable medium according to claim 32 wherein said encoding comprises selecting one of a plurality of said encoding formats corresponding to a data type of said part and encoding said part with said selected encoding format.

38. A computer readable medium, having a program recorded thereon, where the program is configured to make a computer execute a procedure to decode an encoded XML document, said program comprising steps for:

examining said encoded XML document to identify an encoding format associated with each data type forming part of said XML document; and

decoding each said part using a decoder complementing the encoding format with which the corresponding data type was encoded.

39. A computer readable medium according to claim 38 wherein said encoded XML document comprises separately encoded structure parts and content parts of said XML document and said examining comprises identifying from within at least one structure part a representation associating an encoded part of said XML document with the corresponding encoding format.

40. A computer readable medium according to claim 39 wherein said encoded XML document is formed as a plurality of packets and said representation is formed within a header of at least one said packet.

41. A computer readable medium according to claim 40 wherein said representation comprises a table.

42. A computer readable medium according to any one of claims 39 to 41 wherein said representation comprises a URI.

43. A computer readable medium according to claim 42 wherein said representation relates to at least a set of special data types having corresponding decoding formats

44. A computer readable medium according to claim 43 wherein if a decoder is not available to decode a part of said encoded XML document, said method comprises ignoring said part.

45. Apparatus for communicating at least part of a structure of a document described by a hierarchical representation, said apparatus comprising:

an identifying unit which identifies said representation of said document;

a packetizing unit which packetizes said representation into a plurality of data packets, said packets having a predetermined size, said packetizing comprising creating at least one link between a pair of said packets, said link representing an interconnection between corresponding components of said representation; and

a forming unit which forms said data packets into a stream for communication wherein said links maintain said representation within said packets.

46. Apparatus for encoding an XML document, said apparatus comprising:

an examining unit which examines said XML document to identify each data type forming part of said XML document;

an identifying unit which identifies a first set of said data types for which a corresponding special encoding format is available;

a first encoding unit which encodes each part of said XML document having a data type in said first set with the corresponding special encoding format;

a second encoding unit which encodes each remaining part of said XML document with a default encoding format corresponding to the data type of said remaining part;

a forming unit which forms a representation of information referencing at least each said data type in said first set with the corresponding special encoding format; and

an associating unit which associates said representation and said encoded parts as an encoded form of said XML document.

47. A method of communicating at least part of a structure of a document described by a hierarchical representation, said method comprising the steps of:

identifying said representation of said document;

packetizing said representation into a plurality of data packets, said packets having a predetermined size, said packetizing comprising creating at least one link between a pair of said packets, said link representing an interconnection between corresponding components of said representation;

forming said data packets into a stream for communication wherein said links maintain said representation within said packets;

receiving said stream;

decoding said packets from said stream to identify said links; and

using said links to reconstruct said representation for those portions of said representation not packetized with one packet of said stream.

48. A method of communicating at least part of a structure of a document described by a hierarchical representation, said method comprising the steps of:

identifying said representation of said document;

packetizing said representation into a plurality of data packets, said packets having a predetermined size, said packetizing comprising creating at least one link between a pair of said packets, said link representing an interconnection between corresponding components of said representation, said corresponding components comprising at least one structure component and a one content component of said document; and

forming said data packets into a stream for communication wherein said links maintain said representation within said packets.

49. A computer readable medium, having a program recorded thereon, where the program is configured to make a computer execute a procedure for communicating at least part of a structure of a document described by a hierarchical representation, said program comprising steps for:

identifying said representation of said document;

packetizing said representation into a plurality of data packets, said packets having a predetermined size, said packetizing comprising creating at least one link between a pair of said packets, said link representing an interconnection between corresponding components of said representation;

forming said data packets into a stream for communication wherein said links maintain said representation within said packets;

receiving said stream;

decoding said packets from said stream to identify said links; and

using said links to reconstruct said representation for those portions of said representation not packetized with one packet of said stream.

50. A computer readable medium, having a program recorded thereon, where the program is configured to make a computer execute a procedure for communicating at least part of a structure of a document described by a hierarchical representation, said program comprising steps for:

identifying said representation of said document;

packetizing said representation into a plurality of data packets, said packets having a predetermined size, said packetizing comprising creating at least one link between a pair of said packets, said link representing an interconnection between corresponding components of said representation, said corresponding components comprising at least one structure component and a one content component of said document; and

forming said data packets into a stream for communication wherein said links maintain said representation within said packets.

51. A computer readable medium, having a program recorded thereon, where the program is configured to make a computer execute a procedure for communicating at least part of the structure of a document described by a hierarchical representation, said hierarchical representation comprising a tree representation, said program comprising steps for:

identifying at least one part of said tree representation and packetizing said parts into at least one packet of predetermined size; and

where any one or more of said parts of said tree representation do not fit within one said packet, defining at least one link from said one packet to at least one further said packet into which said non-fitting parts are packetized, said link maintaining the hierarchical structure of said document in said packets.

52. Apparatus for communicating at least part of a structure of a document described by a hierarchical representation, said apparatus comprising:

an identifying unit which identifies said representation of said document;

a packetizing unit which packetizes said representation into a plurality of data packets, said packets having a predetermined size, said packetizing comprising creating at least one link between a pair of said packets, said link representing an interconnection between corresponding components of said representation;

a forming unit which forms said data packets into a stream for communication wherein said links maintain said representation within said packets;

a receiving unit for receiving said stream;

a deconding unit for decoding said packets from said stream to identify said links; and

a reconstructing unit for using said links to reconstruct said representation for those portions of said representation not packetized with one packet of said stream.

53. A method for communicating at least part of a structure of a document described by a hierarchical representation, said method comprising the steps of:

identifying said representation of said document;

packetizing said representation into a plurality of data packets, said packets having a predetermined size, said packetizing comprising creating at least one link between a pair of said packets, said link representing an interconnection between corresponding components of said representation;

forming said data packets into a stream for communication wherein said links maintain said representation within said packets;

receiving said stream;

decoding said packets from said stream to identify said links; and

using said links to reconstruct said representation for those portions of said representation not packetized with one packet of said stream.

54. A computer readable medium, having a program recorded thereon, where the program is configured to make a computer execute a procedure to communicate at least part of a structure of a document described by a hierarchical representation, said program comprising:

code for identifying said representation of said document;

code for packetizing said representation into a plurality of data packets, said packets having a predetermined size, said packetizing comprising creating at least one link between a pair of said packets, said link representing an interconnection between corresponding components of said representation;

code for forming said data packets into a stream for communication wherein said links maintain said representation within said packets;

code for receiving said stream;

code for decoding said packets from said stream to identify said links; and

code for using said links to reconstruct said representation for those portions of said representation not packetized with one packet of said stream.

55. Apparatus for communicating at least part of a structure of a document described by a hierarchical representation, said apparatus comprising:

an identifying unit which identifies said representation of said document;

a packetizing unit which packetizes said representation into a plurality of data packets, said packets having a predetermined size, said packetizing comprising creating at least one link between a pair of said packets, said link representing an interconnection between corresponding components of said representation, said corresponding components comprising at least one structure component and a one content component of said document; and

a forming unit which forms said data packets into a stream for communication wherein said links maintain said representation within said packets.

56. A method for communicating at least part of a structure of a document described by a hierarchical representation, said method comprising the steps of:

identifying said representation of said document;

packetizing said representation into a plurality of data packets, said packets having a predetermined size, said packetizing comprising creating at least one link between a pair of said packets, said link representing an interconnection between corresponding components of said representation, said corresponding components comprising at least one structure component and a one content component of said document; and

forming said data packets into a stream for communication wherein said links maintain said representation within said packets.

57. A computer readable medium, having a program recorded thereon, where the program is configured to make a computer execute a procedure to communicating at least part of a structure of a document described by a hierarchical representation, said program comprising the steps of:

code for identifying said representation of said document;

code for packetizing said representation into a plurality of data packets, said packets having a predetermined size, said packetizing comprising creating at least one link between a pair of said packets, said link representing an interconnection between corresponding components of said representation, said corresponding components comprising at least one structure component and a one content component of said document; and

code for forming said data packets into a stream for communication wherein said links maintain said representation within said packets.

58. A method of encoding a document described by a hierarchical representation substantially as described herein with reference to the drawings.

61. Apparatus for performing the method of any one of claims 58 to 60.

62. A computer readable medium having a computer program recorded thereon for performing the method of any one of claims 58 to 60.

59. A method of decoding a packetized stream incorporating a hierarchical representation substantially as described herein with reference to the drawings.

60. A method of communicating a document described using a hierarchical representation substantially as described herein with reference to the drawings.