Dedicated processor for efficient processing of documents encoded in a markup language

• US 20040205694A1
• Filed: 05/04/2001
• Published: 10/14/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 05/04/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Rajaraman, Bala, James, Zachary A.
• Granted Patent: US 7,013,424 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 717/104
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/143 Markup, e.g. Standard Generalized Markup Language [SGML] or Document Type Definition [DTD]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/151 Transformation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/205 Parsing
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/221 Parsing markup language streams streaming G06F40/149

Abstract

A dedicated processor for efficient processing of documents encoded in a markup language, such as XML. The dedicated processor is capable of performing traditional parsing, transformation and manipulation processes on the document. The special purpose processor frees a general purpose processor to perform other tasks, resulting in an increase in system performance. In one embodiment, the dedicated processor includes a general purpose processor and suitable software which is provided in addition to the general purpose processor which has been traditionally used for processing. In such an embodiment, the dedicated processor may be implemented in a multi-processor system. In another embodiment, the dedicated processor is implemented in special purpose hardware, e.g. as an integrated circuit embodied in silicon in one or more chips. In either embodiment, the dedicated processor may be provided to offload processing locally or remotely.

Claims

1. A method for efficient processing of a document encoded in a markup language, the method comprising the step of:

communicating an array-based data model representing the document to an application process through a bus of a printed circuit board.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said data model represents a document encoded in XML.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said data model represents a document encoded in XML.

4. A method for efficient processing of a document encoded in a markup language, the method comprising the steps of:

receiving a document intended for delivery to a target;

processing the document using a special purpose processor; and

passing the processed document to the target for further processing by a general purpose processor.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein said processing step comprises parsing the document.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein said processing step comprises performing a transformation on the document.

7. The method of claim 4, wherein said processing step comprises creating an array-based model of the document.

8. The method of claim 4, wherein said processing step comprises creating a tree-based model of the document.

9. The method of claim 4, wherein said special purpose processor comprises an integrated circuit configured for parsing the document.

10. The method of claim 4, wherein said special purpose processor comprises a supplemental general purpose processor for executing computer readable code for parsing the document, said supplemental general purpose processor being distinct from a primary general purpose processor.

11. The method of claim 4, wherein said passing step comprises communicating the document, as processed, to an application process through a bus of a printed circuit board.

12. The method of claim 4, wherein said passing step comprises communicating the document, as processed, to a target via a communications network

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the target is a local application process.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the target is a remote device.

15. A system for efficient processing of a document encoded in a markup language, the system comprising:

a memory;

a general purpose processor operatively connected to said memory for executing computer readable code stored in said memory; and

a special purpose processor operatively connected to said memory for processing documents encoded in the markup language;

wherein said special purpose processor is a dedicated processor.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein said special purpose processor is configured for parsing documents encoded in machine-oriented extensible markup language (mXML).

18. The system of claim 15, wherein said special purpose processor is configured for transforming documents encoded in machine-oriented extensible markup language (mXML).

19. The system of claim 15, wherein said special purpose processor comprises an integrated circuit configured for processing the document.

20. The system of claim 19, further comprising:

a telecommunications device operatively connected to said general purpose processor and capable of communicating via a communications network; and

a first program stored in said memory and executable by said general purpose processor for controlling said special purpose processor to process the document, and for communicating the document, as processed, to a target.

21. The system of claim 20, further comprising:

a second program stored in the memory and executable by said general purpose processor for recognizing the document as encoded in the markup language and responsively controlling said special purpose processor to process the document.

22. The system of claim 15, wherein said special purpose processor comprises a supplemental general purpose processor for executing computer readable code for processing the document.

23. The system of claim 22, wherein said computer readable code is configured for processing the document in machine-oriented extensible markup language (mXML).

24. The system of claim 22, further comprising:

a telecommunications device operatively connected to said general purpose processor and capable of communicating via a communications network; and

a first program stored in said memory and executable by said general purpose processor for controlling said special purpose processor to process the document, and for communicating the document, as processed, to a target.

25. The system of claim 24, further comprising:

a second program stored in the memory and executable by said general purpose processor for recognizing the document as encoded in the markup language and responsively controlling said special purpose processor to process the document.

26. A printed circuit board comprising:

a general purpose processor for executing computer readable code stored in a memory; and

a special purpose processor operably connected to said general purpose processor for communicating therewith, said special purpose processor being configured for processing documents encoded in a markup language.

27. The printed circuit board of claim 26, wherein said special purpose processor comprises an integrated circuit configured for processing the document.

28. The printed circuit board of claim 27, wherein said processing includes parsing and/or transforming of the document.

29. The printed circuit board of claim 26, wherein said special purpose processor comprises a supplemental general purpose processor.

30. The printed circuit board of claim 29, further comprising:

a memory operably connected to said supplemental general purpose processor; and

computer readable code stored in said memory and executable by said supplemental general purpose processor for processing the document.