System and method for providing a runtime environment for active web based document resources

• US 20040128616A1
• Filed: 12/28/2002
• Published: 07/01/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 12/28/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Kraft, Reiner
• Granted Patent: US 7,634,728 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/513
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/93 Document management systems

Abstract

A computer program product provides an active interactive document resource with an active shell surrounding its data. The shell operates in a runtime environment, a nest, and can operate with a helper process for the coordination and distribution of tasks. The active document in conjunction with its shell provides functionality in basic document management features, interactivity features, search, and other miscellaneous features such as imbedding dynamically generated content. Basic document features include automatic update or synchronization of document content, maintaining a list of similar documents, adding related or updated content, automatic update of the document'"'"'s index, and automatic update and conversion of the underlying document format. Interactivity features include interacting with other documents within the same nest or other nests, interacting with users, and maintaining security.

Claims

1. A method for providing a runtime environment comprising:

generating a first active document; and

creating a first shell for the first active document;

wherein the first shell comprises;

an executable code that provides management and connectivity features to the first active document; and

an interface to provide access to the first active document; and

wherein the first shell operates in the runtime environment to coordinate the management and connectivity features and to distribute tasks.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising the first shell sending a command to at least a second shell of a second active document.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising the second active document interpreting the command from the first shell.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the second active document executing the command from the first shell.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the second active document automatically transmitting a response generated as a result of the execution of the command, to the first active document.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein generating the first active document comprises converting a passive document to an active document.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the passive document is a web based document.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising registering the first shell within the runtime environment.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising registering a first helper within the runtime environment.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein generating the first active document comprises analyzing a format of the first active document.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising converting the format of the first active document to a standardized format.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the standardized format comprises XML.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising indexing a content of the first active document as a first index.

14. The method of claim of claim 13, further comprising storing the first index and associated metadata in a storage that is external to the first active document.

15. The method of claim 13, further comprising the first shell automatically updating the first index when the content of the first active document is modified.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising sending a notification request to other shells when the first index is modified, to verify whether or not the other shells are similar to the first shell.

17. The method of claim 1, further comprising the first shell maintaining a first feature vector.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising the first shell exchanging the first feature vector with the other shells.

19. The method of claim 18, further the first shell calculating an angle between the first feature vector and feature vectors of the other shells.

20. The method of claim 15, wherein the first shell registers the first index with a search engine supporting active documents, to creating an active search architecture.

21. The method of claim 20, further comprising the first active document sending an erase request to a search engine in the event the first active document is deleted.

22. The method of claim 21, further comprising the first active document maintaining a reference list of search engines with which the first active document is registered.

23. The method of claim 10, wherein the first shell converts the format of the first active document to a target format of another document.

24. A computer program product having instruction codes for providing a runtime environment, comprising:

a first set of instruction codes for generating a first active document; and

a second set of instruction codes for creating a first shell for the first active document;

wherein the first shell comprises;

an executable code that provides management and connectivity features to the first active document; and

an interface to provide access to the first active document; and

wherein the first shell operates in the runtime environment to coordinate the management and connectivity features and to distribute tasks.

25. The computer program product of claim 24, wherein the first shell sends a command to at least a second shell of a second active document.

26. The computer program product of claim 25, wherein the second active document interprets the command from the first shell.

27. The computer program product of claim 26, wherein the second active document executes the command from the first shell.

28. The computer program product of claim 27, wherein the second active document automatically transmits a response generated as a result of the execution of the command, to the first active document.

29. The computer program product of claim 24, wherein the first set of instruction codes generates the first active document by converting a passive document to an active document.

30. The computer program product of claim 29, wherein the passive document is a web based document.

31. The computer program product of claim 24, further comprising a third set of instruction codes for registering the first shell within the runtime environment.

32. The computer program product of claim 24, wherein the third set of instruction codes further registers a first helper within the runtime environment.

33. The computer program product of claim 24, wherein the first set of instruction codes generates the first active document by analyzing a format of the first active document.

34. The computer program product of claim 33, wherein the first set of instruction codes further converts the format of the first active document to a standardized format.

35. The computer program product of claim 34, wherein the standardized format comprises XML.

37. The system of claim 24, wherein the first shell sends a command to at least a second shell of a second active document.

38. The system of claim 25, wherein the second active document interprets the command from the first shell.

39. The system of claim 26, wherein the second active document executes the command from the first shell.

40. The system of claim 27, wherein the second active document automatically transmits a response generated as a result of the execution of the command, to the first active document.

36. A system for providing a runtime environment, comprising:

means for generating a first active document; and

means for creating a first shell for the first active document;

wherein the first shell comprises;

an executable code that provides management and connectivity features to the first active document; and

an interface to provide access to the first active document; and

wherein the first shell operates in the runtime environment to coordinate the management and connectivity features and to distribute tasks.