Structured-document processing

• US 20060041579A1
• Filed: 06/08/2005
• Published: 02/23/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 06/10/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Nakamura, Yuichi, Takase, Toshiro, Tatsubori, Michiaki, Miyashita, Hisashi, Makino, Satoshi, Tamura, Kent
• Granted Patent: US 7,536,711 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/143 Markup, e.g. Standard Generalized Markup Language [SGML] or Document Type Definition [DTD]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/166 Editing, e.g. inserting or deleting
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/194 Calculation of difference between files

Abstract

Provides structured-document processing device for detecting a relationship of approximateness between structured documents effectively. State-transition-diagram information storing means stores information concerning a state transition diagram where source nodes of a source structured document transit in order of occurrence from the head thereof. Extracting means extracting, a pair consisting of a new node and a corresponding source node in accordance with order of occurrence. Matching means determining whether the source and new nodes in the selection pair have matchingness, on the basis of their descriptions. Node qualifying means qualifying the source node as a node to be used for the new node. Transition-history information generating means generates, as transition-history information, information concerning a transition history regarding the node to be used. Degree-of-approximateness detecting means detects a degree of approximateness between the source structured document and the new structured document on the basis of the transition-history information.

Claims

1. A structured document processing device comprising:

state-transition-diagram information storing means for storing, as state-transition-diagram information, information concerning a state transition diagram in which a plurality of source nodes of a source structured document transit in order of occurrence from the head of the source structured document, with regard to the source structured document which is designed to be able to be partitioned into the plurality of source nodes as a plurality of nodes concerning structured partitions;

selection-pair extracting means for extracting, as a selection pair, a pair consisting of one of a plurality of new nodes in a new structured document and corresponding one of the source nodes in the state transition diagram in accordance with order in which the new nodes occur from the head of the new structured document, and in accordance with order in which the source nodes transit from one to another in the state transition diagram, with regard to the new structured document which is designed to be able to be partitioned into the plurality of new nodes as a plurality of nodes concerning structured partitions;

matchingness check means for determining whether or not there is matchingness between the source node and the new node in each of the selection pairs, on the basis of descriptions respectively of the source node and the new node;

node qualifying means for qualifying the source node as a node to be used for the new node with regard to the source node and the new node in the selection pair, when it is decided that there is matchingness between the source node and the new node in the same selection pair;

transition-history information generating means for generating, as transition-history information, information concerning a transition history which goes on through a plurality of nodes to be used in the state transition diagram in order of transition; and

degree-of-approximateness detecting means for detecting a degree of approximateness between the source structured document and the new structured document, on the basis of the transition-history information.

2. The structured document processing device according to claim 1, further comprising:

result-of-parsing storing means for storing a result of parsing each of the nodes in the source structured document;

use qualifying means for qualifying the source structured document as a structured document to be used for the new structured document, when the approximateness between the source structured document and the new structured document is higher than a criterion value; and

source-structured-document using means for using a result of parsing a node to be used for the new node, the node being a node in the structured document to be used for the new structured document, as a result of parsing the new node of the new structured document.

33. A computer program product comprising a computer usable medium having computer readable program code means embodied therein for causing structured document processing, the computer readable program code means in said computer program product comprising computer readable program code means for causing a computer to effect the functions of claim 1.

3. A structured document processing method comprising:

a state-transition-diagram information storing step of storing, as state-transition-diagram information, information concerning a state transition diagram in which a plurality of source nodes of a source structured document transit in order of occurrence from the head of the source structured document, with regard to the source structured document which is designed to be able to be partitioned into the plurality of source nodes as a plurality of nodes concerning structured partitions;

a selection-pair extracting step of extracting, as a selection pair, a pair consisting of one of a plurality of new nodes in a new structured document and corresponding one of the source nodes in the state transition diagram in accordance with order in which the new nodes occur from the head of the new structured document, and in accordance with order in which the source nodes transit from one to another in the state transition diagram, with regard to the new structured document which is designed to be able to be partitioned into the plurality of new nodes as a plurality of nodes concerning structured partitions;

a matchingness check step of determining whether or not there is matchingness between the source node and the new node in each of the selection pairs, on the basis of descriptions respectively of the source node and the new node;

a node qualifying step of qualifying the source node as a node to be used for the new node with regard to the source node and the new node in the selection pair, when it is decided that there is matchingness between the source node and the new node in the same selection pair;

a transition-history information generating step of generating, as transition-history information, information concerning a transition history which goes on through a plurality of nodes to be used in the state transition diagram in order of transition; and

a degree-of-approximateness detecting step of detecting a degree of approximateness between the source structured document and the new structured document, on the basis of the transition-history information.

4. The structured document processing method according to claim 3, further comprising:

a result-of-parsing storing step of storing a result of parsing each of the nodes in the source structured document;

a use qualifying step of qualifying the source structured document as a structured document to be used for the new structured document, when the approximateness between the source structured document and the new structured document is higher than a criterion value; and

a source-structured-document using step of using a result of parsing a node to be used for the new node, the node being a node in the structured document to be used for the new structured document, as a result of parsing the new node of the new structured document.

30. A program storage device readable by machine, tangibly embodying a program of instructions executable by the machine to perform method steps for structured document processing, said method steps comprising the steps of claim 3.

5. A structured-document processing device, which parses a structured document in response to a request from an application program to parse the structured document, thereby posting a result of parsing the structured document to the application program, the structured-document processing device comprising:

storage means for storing, as source contents, contents of a source structured document as a structured document which has been parsed, and for storing, as a source result of parsing, a result of parsing the same source structured document;

distinction means for comparing contents of a new structured document and the contents of the source structured document by use of their respective contents parts which have a predetermined corresponding relationship therebetween, and for distinguishing each of the contents parts of the new structured document between a first contents part and a second contents parts;

the first contents part being a contents part of the new structured document for which the source result of parsing concerning the source structured document can be used, the second contents part being a contents part of the new structured document for which the result of parsing concerning the source structured document can not be used, with regard to the new structured document as a structured document which the application program has requested to be parsed;

parsing means for parsing the second contents part of the new structured document, and for outputting a new parsed part as the result of the parsing; and

posting means for posting to the application program a part representing the source result of parting concerning the source structured document corresponding to the first contents part as a result of parsing the first content of the new structured document, and for posting to the application program the new parsed part as a result of parsing the second content part of the new structured document.

34. A computer program product comprising a computer usable medium having computer readable program code means embodied therein for causing structured document processing, the computer readable program code means in said computer program product comprising computer readable program code means for causing a computer to effect the functions of claim 5.

6. A structured-document processing device, which parses a structured document in response to a request from an application program to parse the structured document, thereby posting a series of events, as a result of parsing the structured document, to the application program, the structured-document processing device comprising:

storage means for storing, as source contents, contents of a source structured document as a structured document which has been parsed, and for storing, as a source parsed partition, a result of parsing each of the structured partitions of the same source structured document;

matching check means for performing a matching check on whether or not source contents of the source structured document and contents of a new structured document as a structured document, which the application program has requested to be parsed, match each other by comparing one of the structured partitions of the source structured document and corresponding one of the structured partitions of the new structured document, one by one in order from the heads respectively of the source and new structured documents;

classification means for classifying each of the structured partitions of the new structured document into two categories, that is a first-class structured partition and a second-class structured partition, on the basis of a result of performing the matching check concerning the structured partition;

parsing means for parsing a structured partition which the classification means has classified as a second-class structured partition, and for generating a new parsed partition as a result of parsing the structured partition; and

posting means for posting to the application program an event concerning each of the structured partitions in order from a structured partition in the head of the new structured document to a structured partition in the tail of the same new structured document, the posting means posting to the application program an event concerning a source parsed partition of a source structured document corresponding to each of the structured partitions of the new structured document as a result of parsing the structured partition, if the structured partition is a first-class structured partition, the posting means posting to the application program an event concerning a new parsed partition concerning a structured partition as a result of parsing the structured partition, if the structured partition is a second-class structured partition.

7. The structured document processing device according to claim 6, comprising:

the parsing means including, in its parsing of a structured partition, a check which is made on the basis of a result of the parsing, and which is on whether or not a new structured document is a non well-formed structured document,

the matching check means for holding a matching check on a structured partition following a structured partition until a non well-formed check by the parsing means concerning the latter structured partition is completed if a result of performing the matching check on the latter structured partition of the new structured document is NO, and for aborting a matching check on the new structured document if it is decided by the check that the new structured document is non well-formed; and

posting means for posting to the application program a notice that the new structured document is a non well-formed structured document, instead of posting an event, if it is decided by the check that the new structured document is non well-formed.

8. The structured document processing device according to claim 6, comprising:

the storage means for storing a source content and a source parsed partition concerning a plurality of source structured document which are different from one another;

most-approximate-structured document selecting means for selecting, as the most approximate structured document, a source structured document whose source contents are the most approximate to contents of the new structured document, out of the plurality of source structured documents, the source contents and source parsed partitions of which have been stored in the storage means; and

the matching check means for turning the source structured document concerning the matching check into the most approximate structured document.

9. The structured document processing device according to claim 6, comprising:

server-and-the-like detecting means for detecting a server, and an operation, which have been requested, on the basis of a request, while the structured document is concerned with a response of the server to the request from a client in a Web service; and

most-approximate-structured document selecting means for selecting a most approximate structured document on the basis of the server and operation thus detected.

10. The structured document processing device according to claim 8, comprising:

URL detecting means for detecting an URL to which a request is going to be sent, while the structured document is concerned with the request for a Web service; and

the most-approximate-structured document selecting means for selecting a most approximate structured document on the basis of the URL thus detected.

11. The structured document processing device according to claim 6, comprising:

difference amount calculating means for increasing the difference amount between a content of the new structured document and a content of the source structured document by one unit, each time it is decided that a result of performing the matching check is NO; and

the classification means for classifying, as second-class structured partitions, all of the structured partitions from a structured partition, on which the matching check has been performed for the last time, to a structured partition in the tail of the document, after the difference amount exceeds a threshold value.

12. The structured document processing device according to claim 6, comprising:

difference amount calculating means for increasing the difference amount between a content of the new structured document and a content of the source structured document by one unit, each time it is decided that a result of performing the matching check is NO; and

the matching check means for replacing the current source structured document with another source structured document, and for performing, once again, the same process which has been performed on the new structured document and the pre-replaced source structured document, on the new structured document and the post-replaced source structured document from its beginning, after the difference exceeds a threshold.

13. The structured document processing device according to claim 6, further comprising:

the parsing means including, in its parsing of a structured partition, a check which is made on the basis of a result of the parsing, and which is on whether or not a new structured document is a non well-formed structured document,

the matching check means for holding a matching check on a structured partition following a structured partition until a non well-formed check by the parsing means concerning the latter structured partition is completed if a result of performing the matching check on the latter structured partition of the new structured document is NO, and for aborting a matching check on the new structured document if it is decided by the check that the new structured document is non well-formed;

posting means for posting to the application program a notice that the new structured document is a non well-formed structured document, instead of posting an event, if it is decided by the check that the new structured document is non well-formed;

the storage means for storing a source content and a source parsed partition concerning a plurality of source structured document which are different from one another;

most-approximate-structured document selecting means for selecting, as the most approximate structured document, a source structured document whose source contents are the most approximate to contents of the new structured document, out of the plurality of source structured documents, the source contents and source parsed partitions of which have been stored in the storage means; and

the matching check means for turning the source structured document concerning the matching check into the most approximate structured document;

server detecting means for detecting a server, and an operation, which have been requested, on the basis of a request, while the structured document is concerned with a response of the server to the request from a client in a Web service; and

most-approximate-structured document selecting means for selecting a most approximate structured document on the basis of the server and operation thus detected URL detecting means for detecting an URL to which a request is going to be sent, while the structured document is concerned with the request for a Web service;

the most-approximate-structured document selecting means for selecting a most approximate structured document on the basis of the URL thus detected;

difference amount calculating means for increasing the difference amount between a content of the new structured document and a content of the source structured document by one unit, each time it is decided that a result of performing the matching check is NO; and

the classification means for classifying, as second-class structured partitions, all of the structured partitions from a structured partition, on which the matching check has been performed for the last time, to a structured partition in the tail of the document, after the difference amount exceeds a threshold value; and

the matching check means for replacing the current source structured document with another source structured document, and for performing, once again, the same process which has been performed on the new structured document and the pre-replaced source structured document, on the new structured document and the post-replaced source structured document from its beginning, after the difference exceeds a threshold, wherein the structured document is an XML document, and wherein the structured partition is a partition which can be associated with an SAX event.

35. A computer program product comprising a computer usable medium having computer readable program code means embodied therein for causing structured document processing, the computer readable program code means in said computer program product comprising computer readable program code means for causing a computer to effect the functions of claim 6.

14. A structured document processing method, which parses a structured document in response to a request from an application program to parse the structured document, thereby posting a result of parsing the structured document to the application program, the structured-document processing method comprising:

a storage step of storing, as source contents, contents of a source structured document as a structured document which has been parsed, and for storing, as a source result of parsing, a result of parsing the same source structured document;

a distinction step of comparing contents of a new structured document and the contents of the source structured document by use of their respective contents parts which have a predetermined corresponding relationship therebetween, and for distinguishing each of the contents parts of the new structured document between a first contents part and a second contents parts;

the first contents part being a contents part of the new structured document for which the source result of parsing concerning the source structured document can be used, the second contents part being a contents part of the new structured document for which the result of parsing concerning the source structured document can not be used, with regard to the new structured document as a structured document which the application program has requested to be parsed;

a parsing step of parsing the second contents part of the new structured document, and for outputting a new parsed part as the result of the parsing; and

a posting step of posting to the application program a part representing the source result of parting concerning the source structured document corresponding to the first contents part as a result of parsing the first content of the new structured document, and for posting to the application program the new parsed part as a result of parsing the second content part of the new structured document.

15. A structured-document processing method, which parses a structured document in response to a request from an application program to parse the structured document, thereby posting a series of events, as a result of parsing the structured document, to the application program, the structured-document processing method comprising:

a storage step of storing, as source contents, contents of a source structured document as a structured document which has been parsed, and for storing, as a source parsed partition, a result of parsing each of the structured partitions of the same source structured document;

a matching check step of performing a matching check on whether or not source contents of the source structured document and contents of a new structured document as a structured document, which the application program has requested to be parsed, match each other by comparing one of the structured partitions of the source structured document and corresponding one of the structured partitions of the new structured document, one by one in order from the heads respectively of the source and new structured documents;

a classification step of classifying each of the structured partitions of the new structured document into two categories, that is a first-class structured partition and a second-class structured partition, on the basis of a result of performing the matching check concerning the structured partition;

a parsing step of parsing a structured partition which the classification means has classified as a second-class structured partition, and for generating a new parsed partition as a result of parsing the structured partition; and

a posting step of posting to the application program an event concerning each of the structured partitions in order from a structured partition in the head of the new structured document to a structured partition in the tail of the same new structured document, the posting step posting to the application program an event concerning a source parsed partition of a source structured document corresponding to each of the structured partitions of the new structured document as a result of parsing the structured partition, if the structured partition is a first-class structured partition, the posting step posting to the application program an event concerning a new parsed partition concerning a structured partition as a result of parsing the structured partition, if the structured partition is a second-class structured partition.

16. The structured document processing method according to claim 15, comprising:

the parsing step of performing a check which is made on the basis of a result of a parsing, and which is on whether or not a new structured document is a non well-formed structured document, inclusively in the parsing of a structured partition;

the matching check step of holding a matching check on a structured partition following a structured partition until a non well-formed check by the parsing step concerning the latter structured partition is completed if a result of performing the matching check on the latter structured partition of the new structured document is NO, and for aborting a matching check on the new structured document if it is decided by the check that the new structured document is non well-formed; and

the posting step of posting to the application program a notice that the new structured document is a non well-formed structured document, instead of posting an event, if it is decided by the check that the new structured document is non well-formed.

17. The structured document processing method according to claim 15, comprising:

the storage step of storing a source content and a source parsed partition concerning a plurality of source structured document which are different from one another (hereinafter, this step will be referred to as a “

storage step”

);

a most-approximate-structured document selecting step of selecting, as the most approximate structured document, a source structured document whose source contents are the most approximate to contents of the new structured document, out of the plurality of source structured documents, the source contents and source parsed partitions of which have been stored in the storage step; and

the matching check step of turning the source structured document concerning the matching check into the most approximate structured document.

18. The structured document processing method according to claim 17, comprising:

a server-and-the-like detecting step of detecting a server, and an operation, which have been requested, on the basis of a request, while the structured document is concerned with a response of the server to the request from a client in a Web service; and

the most-approximate-structured document selecting step of selecting a most approximate structured document on the basis of the server and operation thus detected.

19. The structured document processing method according to claim 17, comprising:

a URL detecting step of detecting an URL to which a request is going to be sent, while the structured document is concerned with the request for a Web service; and

the most-approximate-structured document selecting step of selecting a most approximate structured document on the basis of the URL thus detected.

20. The structured document processing method according to claim 15, comprising:

a difference amount calculating step of increasing the difference amount between a content of the new structured document and a content of the source structured document by one unit, each time it is decided that a result of performing the matching check is NO; and

the classification step of classifying, as second-class structured partitions, all of the structured partitions from a structured partition, on which the matching check has been performed for the last time, to a structured partition in the tail of the document, after the difference amount exceeds a threshold value.

21. The structured document processing method according to claim 15, comprising:

a difference amount calculating step of increasing the difference amount between a content of the new structured document and a content of the source structured document by one unit, each time it is decided that a result of performing the matching check is NO; and

the matching check step of replacing the current source structured document with another source structured document, and for performing, once again, the same process which has been performed on the new structured document and the pre-replaced source structured document, on the new structured document and the post-replaced source structured document from its beginning, after the difference exceeds a threshold.

31. A program storage device readable by machine, tangibly embodying a program of instructions executable by the machine to perform method steps for structured document processing, said method steps comprising the steps of claim 15.

22. A structured document processing device comprising:

state-transition-diagram information storing means for storing, as state-transition-diagram information, information concerning a state transition diagram in which a plurality of source nodes of each of a plurality of source structured documents transit from one to another in order of occurrence from the head of the source structured document with regard to the plurality of source structured documents, each of which is designed to be able to be partitioned into the plurality of source nodes as a plurality of nodes concerning the respective structured partitions, the state-transition-diagram information storing means for storing a state transition, which would occur commonly in some of the plurality of source structured documents, as a single common state transition in the state transition diagram;

selection-pair extracting means for extracting, as a selection pair, a pair consisting of one of a plurality of new nodes of a new structured document and corresponding one of the plurality of source nodes in the state transition diagram, in accordance with order in which the new nodes occur from the head of the new structured document, and in accordance with order in which the source nodes transit from one to anther in the state transition diagram, with regard to the new structured document which is designed to be able to be partitioned into the plurality of new nodes as a plurality of nodes concerning the respective structured partitions;

matchingness check means for determining whether or not there is matchingness between the source node and the new node in each of the selection pairs, on the basis of descriptions respectively of the source node and the new node;

node qualifying means for qualifying the source node in a selection pair as a node to be used for the new node in the same selection pair when it is decided that there is matchingness between the source node and the new node in the selection pair;

transition-history information generating means for generating, as transition-history information, information concerning a transition history which goes on through a plurality of nodes to be used in the state transition diagram in order of transition;

structured-document-to-be-used selecting means for selecting a single source structured document as a structured document to be used for the new structured document on the basis of the transition-history information; and

source-structured-document using means for using, as a result of parsing a new node of the new structured document, a result of parsing a node to be used for the new node in the structured document to be used for the new structured document.

23. The structured document processing device according to claim 22, comprising:

source node adding means for newly adding a first new node, as a first source node, onto the state transition diagram, while forming a state transition to the first new node from a source node, the source node having a state transition relationship in which the state transition to the first new node is originated from the source node and being in the state transition diagram, with regard to the first new node as a new node which does not have matchingness with any pairing source node in the state transition diagram although the new node has been caused to have a selection-pair relationship with the pairing source node;

the matchingness check means for checking on matchingness between a source node and a new node in a selection pair to be checked on the recombination of the source node and the new node, which is a selection pair concerning a second new node as a new node posterior to the first new node, in terms of not only their descriptions but also their contexts, while nodes are defined respectively as a prior node or as a posterior node depending on their respective orders of occurrence from the head of the structured document, while a node as an object whose contents are uniquely grasped is termed as an object node, and while each of the contexts is defined as a part representing a description which is included in structured document descriptions from the head of the structured document to immediately before an object node, and which uniquely defines the contents of the object node in cooperation with the description of the object node; and

state transition path adding means for newly adding a state transition path from the first source node to a second source node, when it is decided that there is matchingness between the second new node and the second source node in the selection pair to be checked on the recombination of the second new node and the second source node, in terms of their descriptions and contexts.

24. The structured document processing device according to claim 22, comprising:

the state-transition-diagram information storing means, for which a predetermined source node in the state transition diagram is set in a source node with an attribute variable which a predetermined attribute is defined as;

the matchingness check means for deciding that there is matchingness between the source node and the new node in a selection pair, when the source node in the selection pair is a source node with an attribute variable, and concurrently when the element name and the attribute name of the source node and the new node in the selection pair are the same as those of the new node in the same selection pair;

attribute variable value storing means for storing, as a attribute variable value, an attribute value of the new node in a selection pair which has been decided to have matchingness, when the source node in the selection pair is a source node with an attribute variable; and

the source-structured-document using means for using, as a result of parsing anode to be used for anew node of the new structured document, a result of the parsing which is obtained by substituting an attribute variable value for an attribute variable in a result of parsing the node to be used for the new node of the new structured document, if the node to be used is a source node with an attribute variable, in a case where a result of parsing the node to be used for the new node of the new structured document, the node being a node of a structured document to be used for the new structured document, is used as a result of parsing the new node of the new structured document.

25. The structured document processing device according to claim 22, comprising:

the state-transition-diagram storing means, for which a source node as a predetermined text node in the state transition diagram is set in a text node variable;

the matchingness check means for deciding that there is matchingness between a source node and a new node in a selection pair, when the source node and the new node in the selection pair are respectively a text node variable and a text node;

a text node variable value storing means for storing, as a text node variable value, a text of the new node of a selection pair which has been decided to have matchingness, when the source node in the selection pair is a text node variable; and

the source-structured-document using means for using, as a result of parsing a node to be used for a new node of the new structured document, a result of the parsing which is obtained by substituting an text node variable value for an text node variable in a result of parsing the node to be used for the new node of the new structured document, if the node to be used is the text node variable, in a case where a result of parsing the node to be used for the new node of the new structured document, the node being a node of a structured document to be used for the new structured document, is used as a result of parsing the new node of the new structured document.

29. The structured document processing method according to claim 22, comprising:

the state-transition-diagram storing step, for which a source node as a predetermined text node in the state transition diagram is set in a text node variable;

the matchingness check step of deciding that there is matchingness between a source node and a new node in a selection pair, when the source node and the new node in the selection pair are respectively a text node variable and a text node;

a text node variable value storing step of storing, as a text node variable value, a text of the new node of a selection pair which has been decided to have matchingness, when the source node in the selection pair is a text node variable; and

the source-structured-document using step of using, as a result of parsing a node to be used for a new node of the new structured document, a result of the parsing which is obtained by substituting an text node variable value for an text node variable in a result of parsing the node to be used for the new node of the new structured document, if the node to be used is the text node variable, in a case where a result of parsing the node to be used for the new node of the new structured document, the node being a node of a structured document to be used for the new structured document, is used as a result of parsing the new node of the new structured document.

36. A computer program product comprising a computer usable medium having computer readable program code means embodied therein for causing structured document processing, the computer readable program code means in said computer program product comprising computer readable program code means for causing a computer to effect the functions of claim 22.

26. A structured document processing method comprising:

a state-transition-diagram information storing step of storing, as state-transition-diagram information, information concerning a state transition diagram in which a plurality of source nodes of each of a plurality of source structured documents transit from one to another in order of occurrence from the head of the source structured document with regard to the plurality of source structured documents, each of which is designed to be able to be partitioned into the plurality of source nodes as a plurality of nodes concerning the respective structured partitions, and storing a state transition, which would occur commonly in some of the plurality of source structured documents, as a single common state transition in the state transition diagram;

a selection-pair extracting step of extracting, as a selection pair, a pair consisting of one of a plurality of new nodes of a new structured document and corresponding one of the plurality of source nodes in the state transition diagram, in accordance with order in which the new nodes occur from the head of the new structured document, and in accordance with order in which the source nodes transit from one to anther in the state transition diagram, with regard to the new structured document which is designed to be able to be partitioned into the plurality of new nodes as a plurality of nodes concerning the respective structured partitions;

a matchingness check step of determining whether or not there is matchingness between the source node and the new node in each of the selection pairs, on the basis of descriptions respectively of the source node and the new node;

a node qualifying step of qualifying the source node in a selection pair as a node to be used for the new node in the same selection pair when it is decided that there is matchingness between the source node and the new node in the selection pair;

a transition-history information generating step of generating, as transition-history information, information concerning a transition history which goes on through a plurality of nodes to be used in the state transition diagram in order of transition;

a structured-document-to-be-used selecting step of selecting a single source structured document as a structured document to be used for the new structured document on the basis of the transition-history information; and

a source-structured-document using step of using, as a result of parsing a new node of the new structured document, a result of parsing a node to be used for the new node in the structured document to be used for the new structured document.

27. The structured document processing method according to claim 26, comprising:

a source node adding step of newly adding a first new node, as a first source node, onto the state transition diagram, while forming a state transition to the first new node from a source node, the source node having a state transition relationship in which the state transition to the first new node is originated from the source node and being in the state transition diagram, with regard to the first new node as a new node which does not have matchingness with any pairing source node in the state transition diagram although the new node has been caused to have a selection-pair relationship with the pairing source node;

the matchingness check step of checking on matchingness between a source node and a new node in a selection pair to be checked on the recombination of the source node and the new node, which is a selection pair concerning a second new node as a new node posterior to the first new node, in terms of not only their descriptions but also their contexts, while nodes are defined respectively as a prior node or as a posterior node depending on their respective orders of occurrence from the head of the structured document, while a node as an object whose contents are uniquely grasped is termed as an object node, and while each of the contexts is defined as a part representing a description which is included in structured document descriptions from the head of the structured document to immediately before an object node, and which uniquely defines the contents of the object node in cooperation with the description of the object node; and

a state transition path adding step of newly adding a state transition path from the first source node to a second source node, when it is decided that there is matchingness between the second new node and the second source node in the selection pair to be checked on the recombination of the second new node and the second source node, in terms of their descriptions and contexts.

28. The structured document processing method according to claim 26, comprising:

the state-transition-diagram information storing step, for which a predetermined source node in the state transition diagram is set in a source node with an attribute variable which a predetermined attribute is defined as;

the matchingness check step of deciding that there is matchingness between the source node and the new node in a selection pair, when the source node in the selection pair is a source node with an attribute variable, and concurrently when the element name and the attribute name of the source node and the new node in the selection pair are the same as those of the new node in the same selection pair;

an attribute variable value storing step of storing, as a attribute variable value, an attribute value of the new node in a selection pair which has been decided to have matchingness, when the source node in the selection pair is a source node with an attribute variable; and

the source-structured-document using step of using, as a result of parsing a node to be used for a new node of the new structured document, a result of the parsing which is obtained by substituting an attribute variable value for an attribute variable in a result of parsing the node to be used for the new node of the new structured document, if the node to be used is a source node with an attribute variable, in a case where a result of parsing the node to be used for the new node of the new structured document, the node being a node of a structured document to be used for the new structured document, is used as a result of parsing the new node of the new structured document.

32. A program storage device readable by machine, tangibly embodying a program of instructions executable by the machine to perform method steps for structured document processing, said method steps comprising the steps of claim 26.