Systems and methods for data interchange among autonomous processing entities

• US 20050204282A1
• Filed: 12/08/2004
• Published: 09/15/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 12/08/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kofax Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Notable Solutions (Microsoft Corporation)
• Inventors: Parsee, Kaveh, Tehranchi, Mehdi, Harutunian, Henric
• Granted Patent: US 7,752,603 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/200
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/54 Interprogram communication

Abstract

Data element values are shared between a first software component and a second software component of a document processing framework. The components can capture, process, or route a digital image of a document and access a configuration file that is generated for the image. A data element attribute and value pair is placed in the configuration file. The value of the data element is a tag that includes an identifier identifying the first software component and a tag name. The first software component is executed on the image, produces a tag value corresponding to the tag name, searches the configuration file for the tag by the identifier, replaces the tag with the tag value in the configuration file, and terminates. The second software component is executed on the image after the first software component has terminated and reads the data element attribute and value pair.

Claims

1. A system for sharing data element values among software components of a document processing framework that capture, process, and route a digital image of a document, comprising:

a configuration file, wherein the configuration file is generated for the digital image and is used to store the data element values of the software components;

a first software component of the document processing framework; and

a second software component of the document processing framework, wherein the configuration file is accessible to the first software component and the second software component, wherein at least one data element attribute and value pair is placed in the configuration file to be read by the second software component, wherein the value comprises a tag comprising a start tag delimiter, an identifier identifying the first software component, an identifier and tag name separator, a tag name, and an end tag delimiter, wherein the first software component is executed on the digital image, produces a tag value corresponding to the tag name, searches the configuration file for the tag by the identifier, replaces the tag with the tag value in the configuration file, and terminates, and wherein the second software component is executed on the digital image after the first software component has terminated and reads the at least one data element attribute and value pair, wherein the value comprises the tag value.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the start tag delimiter comprises a tilde character, the identifier and tag name separator comprises two colons, and the end tag delimiter comprises a tilde character.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the identifier comprises three characters identifying the first processing entity.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the tag name comprises one of a reserved name, a field name, and a special set name.

5. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a second software component of the document processing framework, wherein the configuration file is accessible to the first software component and the second software component, wherein at least one data element attribute and value pair is placed in the configuration file to be read by the second software component, wherein the value comprises a tag comprising a start tag delimiter, an identifier identifying the first software component, an identifier and executable script separator, an executable script, and an end tag delimiter, wherein the first software component is executed on the digital image, searches the configuration file for the tag by the identifier, executes the executable script to produce a tag value, replaces the tag with the tag value in the configuration file, and terminates, and wherein the second software component is executed on the digital image after the first software component has terminated and reads the at least one data element attribute and value pair, wherein the value comprises the tag value.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the executable script comprises variables, variable assignments, conditional statements, loops, conditional loops, functions, operators, arithmetic operators, input functions, and output functions.

7. The system of claim 5, wherein the executable script comprises one of Visual Basic™

syntax and Java™

syntax.

8. A method for sharing data element values among software components of a document processing framework that capture, process, and route a digital image of a document, comprising:

creating a configuration file corresponding to the digital image;

selecting a first software component of the document processing framework to be executed on the digital image;

selecting a second software component of the document processing framework to be executed on the digital image, wherein the second software component is executed sequentially after the first software component;

placing at least one data element attribute and value pair in the configuration file to be read by the second software component, wherein the value comprises a tag comprising a start tag delimiter, an identifier identifying the first software component, an identifier and tag name separator, a tag name, and an end tag delimiter;

executing the first software component on the digital image;

the first software component producing a tag value corresponding to the tag name;

the first software component searching the configuration file for the tag by the identifier;

the first software component replacing the tag with the tag value in the configuration file and terminating;

executing the second software component on the digital image; and

the second software component reading the at least one data element attribute and value pair, wherein the value comprises the tag value.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the start tag delimiter comprises a tilde character, the identifier and tag name separator comprises two colons, and the end tag delimiter comprises a tilde character.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the identifier comprises three characters identifying the first processing entity.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein the tag name comprises one of a reserved name, a field name, and a special set name.

12. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

placing at least one data element attribute and value pair in the configuration file to be read by the second software component, wherein the value comprises a tag comprising a start tag delimiter, an identifier identifying the first software component, an identifier and executable script separator, an executable script, and an end tag delimiter;

executing the first software component on the digital image;

the first software component searching the configuration file for the tag by the identifier;

the first software component executing the executable script to produce a tag value;

the first software component replacing the tag with the tag value in the configuration file and terminating;

executing the second software component on the digital image; and

the second software component reading the at least one data element attribute and value pair, wherein the value comprises the tag value.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the executable script comprises variables, variable assignments, conditional statements, loops, conditional loops, functions, operators, arithmetic operators, input functions, and output functions.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein the executable script comprises one of Visual Basic™

syntax and Java™

syntax.

15. A system for sharing information among autonomous processing entities that manipulate an instance of digital content, comprising:

a shared memory space corresponding to the instance;

a first autonomous processing entity; and

a second autonomous processing entity,

wherein at least one attribute and value pair is placed in the shared memory to be read by the second autonomous processing entity, wherein the value comprises a tag comprising an identifier identifying the first autonomous processing entity and a tag name, wherein the first autonomous processing entity is executed on the instance, produces a tag value corresponding to the tag name, searches the shared memory space for the tag by the identifier, replaces the tag with the tag value in the shared memory, and terminates, and wherein the second autonomous processing entity is executed on the instance after the first autonomous processing entity has terminated and reads the at least one attribute and value pair, wherein the value comprises the tag value.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the instance of digital content comprises digital data created by one of a digital camera, a digital audio recorder, a digital video recorder, a digital audio player, a digital video player, a fax, a multifunctional peripheral, a scanners, a printer, a computer, a point of sale machine, an automated teller machine, a mail server, an address book manager, and a database.

17. The system of claim 15, wherein the instance of digital content comprises a digital image, a digital audio recording, a digital video recording, a binary file, and a text file.

18. The system of claim 15, wherein the shared memory space comprises one of a configuration file and a location in volatile memory.

19. The system of claim 15, wherein first autonomous processing entity comprises one of a capture software component, a processing software component, and a routing software component.

20. The system of claim 15, wherein second autonomous processing entity comprises one of a capture software component, a process software component, and a route software component.

21. The system of claim 15, wherein the tag format comprises a tilde character, followed by the identifier, followed by two colons, followed by the tag name, and ended with another tilde character.

22. The system of claim 15, wherein the identifier comprises three characters identifying the first processing entity.

23. The system of claim 15, wherein the tag name comprises one of a reserved name, a field name, and a special set name.

24. The system of claim 15, further comprising:

a second autonomous processing, wherein at least one attribute and value pair is placed in the shared memory to be read by the second autonomous processing entity, wherein the value comprises a tag comprising an identifier identifying the first autonomous processing entity and an executable script, wherein the first autonomous processing entity is executed on the instance, searches the shared memory space for the tag by the identifier, executes the executable script to produce a tag value, replaces the tag with the tag value in the shared memory, and terminates, and wherein the second autonomous processing entity is executed on the instance after the first autonomous processing entity has terminated and reads the at least one attribute and value pair, wherein the value comprises the tag value.

25. The system of claim 24, wherein the executable script comprises variables, variable assignments, conditional statements, loops, conditional loops, functions, operators, arithmetic operators, input functions, and output functions.

26. The system of claim 24, wherein the executable script comprises one of Visual Basic™

syntax and Java™

syntax.

27. A method for sharing information among autonomous processing entities that manipulate an instance of digital content, comprising:

allocating a shared memory space corresponding to the instance;

selecting a first autonomous processing entity to be executed on the instance;

selecting a second autonomous processing entity to be executed on the instance, wherein the second autonomous processing entity is executed sequentially after the first autonomous processing entity;

placing at least one attribute and value pair in the shared memory to be read by the second autonomous processing entity, wherein the value comprises a tag comprising an identifier identifying the first autonomous processing entity and a tag name;

executing the first autonomous processing entity on the instance;

the first autonomous processing entity producing a tag value corresponding to the tag name;

the first autonomous processing entity searching the shared memory space for the tag by the identifier;

the first autonomous processing entity replacing the tag with the tag value in the shared memory and terminating;

executing the second autonomous processing entity on the instance; and

the second autonomous processing entity reading the at least one attribute and value pair, wherein the value comprises the tag value.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein the instance of digital content comprises digital data created by one of a digital camera, a digital audio recorder, a digital video recorder, a digital audio player, a digital video player, a fax, a multifunctional peripheral, a scanners, a printer, a computer, a point of sale machine, an automated teller machine, a mail server, an address book manager, and a database.

29. The method of claim 27, wherein the instance of digital content comprises a digital image, a digital audio recording, a digital video recording, a binary file, and a text file.

30. The method of claim 27, wherein the shared memory space comprises one of a configuration file and a location in shared volatile memory.

31. The method of claim 27, wherein first autonomous processing entity comprises one of a capture software component, a processing software component, and a routing software component.

32. The method of claim 27, wherein second autonomous processing entity comprises one of a capture software component, a process software component, and a route software component.

33. The method of claim 31, wherein the capture software component comprises one of a digital sender reader, an address book manager exporter, an extensible markup language reader, a Hewlett-Packard™

multifunctional peripheral 4100 and 9000 interface, a Hewlett-Packard LaserJet™

multifunctional peripheral 9055 and 9065 interface, a poll directory software component, a content management queue software component, a batch importer, a post office protocol 3 email importer, and a Hewlett-Packard™

Digital Sender 9100c application extractor.

34. The method of claim 31, wherein the process software component comprises one of an extensible markup language processing software component, an optical character recognition software component, a basic image management utility, an encryption and decryption software component, a portable datafile 417 barcode reader, a file options utility, a notification software component, a professional image management utility, an open database connectivity interface, a data interchange software component, a watermark creation software component, and a Visual Basic™

and Java™

scripting software component.

35. The method of claim 31, wherein the route software component comprises one of a send to fax software component, a send to a directory software component, a send to printer software component, a Microsoft™

SharePoint Portal Server interface, an interface to enterprise content management software, an open database connectivity interface, and an interface to a relational database.

36. The method of claim 32, wherein the capture software component comprises one of a digital sender reader, an address book manager exporter, an extensible markup language reader, a Hewlett-Packard™

multifunctional peripheral 4100 and 9000 interface, a Hewlett-Packard LaserJet™

multifunctional peripheral 9055 and 9065 interface, a poll directory software component, a content management queue software component, a batch importer, a post office protocol 3 email importer, and a Hewlett-Packard™

Digital Sender 9100c application extractor.

37. The method of claim 32, wherein the process software component comprises one of an extensible markup language processing software component, an optical character recognition software component, a basic image management utility, an encryption and decryption software component, a portable datafile 417 barcode reader, a file options utility, a notification software component, a professional image management utility, an open database connectivity interface, a data interchange software component, a watermark creation software component, and a Visual Basic™

and Java™

scripting software component.

38. The method of claim 32, wherein the route software component comprises one of a send to fax software component, a send to a directory software component, a send to printer software component, a Microsoft SharePoint™

Portal Server interface, an interface to enterprise content management software, an open database connectivity interface, and an interface to a relational database.

39. The method of claim 27, wherein the tag format comprises a tilde character, followed by the identifier, followed by two colons, followed by the tag name, and ended with another tilde character.

40. The method of claim 27, wherein the identifier comprises three characters identifying the first processing entity.

41. The method of claim 27, wherein the tag name comprises one of a reserved name, a field name, and a special set name.

42. The method of claim 27, further comprising:

placing at least one attribute and value pair in the shared memory to be read by the second autonomous processing entity, wherein the value comprises a tag comprising an identifier identifying the first autonomous processing entity and an executable script;

executing the first autonomous processing entity on the instance;

the first autonomous processing entity searching the shared memory space for the tag by the identifier;

the first autonomous processing entity executing the executable script to produce a tag value;

the first autonomous processing entity replacing the tag with the tag value in the shared memory and terminating;

executing the second autonomous processing entity on the instance; and

the second autonomous processing entity reading the at least one attribute and value pair, wherein the value comprises the tag value.

43. The method of claim 42, wherein the executable script comprises variables, variable assignments, conditional statements, loops, conditional loops, functions, operators, arithmetic operators, input functions, and output functions.

44. The method of claim 42, wherein the executable script comprises one of Visual Basic™

syntax and Java™

syntax.

45. A method for managing digital content, comprising:

capturing the digital content;

processing the digital content; and

routing the digital content, wherein data elements are shared among the capturing, the processing, and the routing using at least one runtime replacement tag.