Method and Apparatus for Utilizing an Extensible Markup Language Data Structure For Defining a Data-Analysis Parts Container For Use in a Word Processor Application

• US 20080162530A1
• Filed: 01/03/2007
• Published: 07/03/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 01/03/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Blue Reference, Inc. (Waters Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Blue Reference, Inc. (Waters Corporation)
• Inventors: van Eikeren, Joshua S., van Eikeren, Paul
• Application Number:
  US11/619,316
• Publication Number:
  US 20080162530A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 707/102
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/106 Display of layout of documents; Previewing
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/143 Markup, e.g. Standard Generalized Markup Language [SGML] or Document Type Definition [DTD]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/169 Annotation, e.g. comment data or footnotes

Abstract

A computer-readable extensible markup language data structure comprising structural elements for defining a data-analysis parts container in a data-analysis template comprising a word processor document is disclosed. The computer-readable data structure is comprised of at least one properties element for receiving properties associated with the data-analysis parts container and at least one data-analysis parts element for receiving data-analysis parts, wherein the properties and data-analysis parts elements define the data-analysis container. The computer-readable extensible markup language data structure allows the user/programmer to perform data analysis within the familiar environment of a word processor application using data-analysis templates. The extensible markup language data structure also allows the user/programmer to generate a programmable object model for accessing XLM-defined resources of the data-analysis parts container.

Claims

1. A computer-readable extensible markup language data structure comprising structural elements for defining a data-analysis parts container in a data-analysis template comprising a word processor document, the computer-readable data structure comprising:

at least one properties element for receiving properties associated with the data-analysis parts container; and

at least one data-analysis parts element for receiving data-analysis parts,

wherein the at least one properties element and the at least one data-analysis parts element define the data-analysis parts container in the data-analysis template comprising a word processor document.

2. The computer-readable extensible markup language data structure of claim 1, wherein the properties element comprises at least one attribute for identifying a data-analysis processor.

3. The computer-readable extensible markup language data structure of claim 1, wherein the data-analysis parts element comprises at least one element comprising at least one attribute for defining a data-analysis part wherein the part is selected from a group of data-analysis part types comprising:

a data set;

an object;

a code block;

an expression;

a chemical structure;

a chemical reaction structure;

a reaction table;

a formulations table;

a process pathway;

a spectrum; and

a chromatogram.

4. The computer-readable extensible markup language data structure of claim 1, wherein the data-analysis parts element comprises at least one element selected from a group of elements, the group of elements comprising:

an element for defining a data-analysis part associated with a data set;

an element for defining a data-analysis part associated with an object;

an element for defining a data-analysis part associated with a code block;

an element for defining a data-analysis part associated with an expression;

an element for defining a data-analysis part associated with a chemical structure;

an element for defining a data-analysis part associated with a chemical reaction structure;

an element for defining a data-analysis part associated with a reaction table;

an element for defining a data-analysis part associated with a formulations table;

an element for defining a data-analysis part associated with a process pathway;

an element for defining a data-analysis part associated with a spectrum; and

an element for defining a data-analysis part associated with a chromatogram.

5. A computer-implemented method for utilizing a computer-readable extensible markup language data structure comprising structural elements for defining a data-analysis parts container in a data-analysis template comprising a word processor document, the method comprising:

defining at least one properties element for receiving properties associated with the data-analysis parts container; and

defining at least one data-analysis parts element for receiving data-analysis parts,

wherein the at least one properties element and the at least one data-analysis parts element define the data-analysis parts container in the data-analysis template comprising a word processor document.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 5, wherein defining the at least one properties element comprises assigning to the properties element an attribute identifying a data-analysis processor.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 5, wherein defining the at least one data-analysis parts element comprises assigning to the parts element at least one attribute defining a data-analysis part wherein the part is selected from a group of data-analysis part types comprising:

a data set;

an object;

a code block;

an expression;

a chemical structure;

a chemical reaction structure;

a reaction table;

a formulations table;

a process pathway;

a spectrum; and

a chromatogram.

8. The computer-implemented method of claim 5, wherein defining the at least one data-analysis parts element comprises assigning at least one element selected from a group of elements, the group of elements comprising:

an element for defining a data-analysis part associated with a data set;

an element for defining a data-analysis part associated with an object;

an element for defining a data-analysis part associated with a code block;

an element for defining a data-analysis part associated with an expression;

an element for defining a data-analysis part associated with a chemical structure;

an element for defining a data-analysis part associated with a chemical reaction structure;

an element for defining a data-analysis part associated with a reaction table;

an element for defining a data-analysis part associated with a formulations table;

an element for defining a data-analysis part associated with a process pathway;

an element for defining a data-analysis part associated with a spectrum; and

an element for defining a data-analysis part associated with a chromatogram.

9. A computer-readable medium comprising computer-readable instructions, which when executed on a computer perform a method for utilizing a computer-readable extensible markup language data structure comprising structural elements for defining a data-analysis parts container in a data-analysis template comprising a word processor document, the method comprising:

defining at least one properties element for receiving properties associated with the data-analysis parts container; and

defining at least one data-analysis parts element for receiving data-analysis parts,

wherein the at least one properties element and the at least one data-analysis parts element define the data-analysis parts container in the data-analysis template comprising a word processor document.

10. The computer-readable medium of claim 9, wherein defining the at least one properties element comprises assigning to the properties element an attribute identifying a data-analysis processor.

11. The computer-readable medium of claim 9, wherein defining the at least one data-analysis parts element comprises assigning to the parts element an attribute defining a data-analysis part wherein the part is selected from a group of data-analysis part types comprising:

a data set;

an object;

a code block;

an expression;

a chemical structure;

a chemical reaction structure;

a reaction table;

a formulations table;

a process pathway;

a spectrum; and

a chromatogram.

12. The computer-readable medium of claim 9, wherein defining a data-analysis parts element comprises assigning at least one element selected from a group of elements, the group of elements comprising:

an element for defining a data-analysis part associated with a data set;

an element for defining a data-analysis part associated with an object;

an element for defining a data-analysis part associated with a code block;

an element for defining a data-analysis part associated with an expression;

an element for defining a data-analysis part associated with a chemical structure;

an element for defining a data-analysis part associated with a chemical reaction structure;

an element for defining a data-analysis part associated with a reaction table;

an element for defining a data-analysis part associated with a formulations table;

an element for defining a data-analysis part associated with a process pathway;

an element for defining a data-analysis part associated with a spectrum; and

an element for defining a data-analysis part associated with a chromatogram.

13. A programmable object model for accessing the resources of a data-analysis parts container comprising a computer-readable extensible markup language data structure, the model comprising:

an application programming interface for allowing a user to programmatically access resources defined in the computer-readable extensible markup language data structure defining a data-analysis parts container;

said application programming interface comprising at lease one message call for requesting association of one or more XML-defined resources to a data-analysis parts container object; and

said application programming interface operative to receive at least one return value from the data-analysis parts container object responsive to association of the one or more XML-defined resources to the data-analysis parts container object.

14. The programmable object model of claim 13, wherein the data-analysis parts container is a component of a data-analysis template comprising a word processor document.

15. The programmable object model of claim 14, wherein the word processor document is generated using Word developed by Microsoft Corporation.

16. A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instruction for performing steps comprising:

calling a data-analysis parts container via an object-oriented message call;

accessing an object property or method on the data-analysis parts container, the object property or method being associated with a resource defined in the data-analysis parts container; and

in response to the message call and the object property or method passed to the data-analysis parts container, receiving access to the resource defined in the data-analysis parts container associated with the object property or method passed to the data-analysis parts container.

17. The computer-readable medium of claim 16, wherein the data-analysis parts container is a component of a data-analysis template comprising a word processor document.

18. The computer-readable medium of claim 17, wherein the word processor document is generated using Word developed by Microsoft Corporation.

19. A computer-readable medium comprising a data-analysis template for use in data analysis in a word processor application, the data-analysis template comprising:

a serialized word processor document, wherein presentation content and data content may be separated;

at least one serialized data-analysis parts container; and

at least one program module for communicating at least one data-analysis part between the word processor document and the data-analysis parts container.

20. The computer-readable medium of claim 19, wherein the word processor document is generated using Word developed by Microsoft Corporation.

21. The computer-readable medium of claim 19, wherein the serialized data-analysis parts container is selected from a group of file types comprising:

an extensible markup language file;

a binary file; and

a text file.

22. The computer-readable medium of claim 19, wherein the serialized data-analysis parts container is embedded in the data content of the word processor document.

23. The computer-readable medium of claim 19, wherein the serialized data-analysis parts container is embedded in a bookmark in the word processor document.

24. The computer-readable medium of claim 19, wherein the serialized data-analysis parts container is embedded in a field in the word processor document.

25. The computer-readable medium of claim 19, wherein the program modules are generated using smart document technology.

26. The computer-readable medium of claim 25, wherein smart document technology is implemented using Visual Studio Tools for Office developed by Microsoft Corporation.