Method and Apparatus for Communicating During Automated Data Processing

• US 20110126199A1
• Filed: 05/19/2010
• Published: 05/26/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 09/08/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Original Assignee: Corel Corporation (Corel Holdings LP)
• Inventors: Simone, Kenneth, Zurawski, John, Gharbia, Nezar, Knutson, Loren
• Granted Patent: US 8,271,576 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 718/100
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/4494 data driven
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/54 Interprogram communication

Abstract

A number of items of data from a data source (12) can be processed and supplied to a data destination (16, 17). The data can include image data, text data, numeric data or other types of data, or a combination of these types of data. The processing of the data is controlled by a project definition (14, 71, 101), which includes a plurality of modules selected from a variety of available modules (Tables 1-4). The modules have input and output ports which are interrelated by binding information. Where a project definition is complex and/or is assigned to process a large data set, capability is provided to launch multiple instances of the same project definition, each of which processes a respective portion of the data. Further, capability is provided to launch multiple instances of the same or different project definitions on each of one or more computers, in order to efficiently execute project definitions in a centralized processing facility.

Claims

1. The method comprising the steps of:

executing in a computer system a first procedure which selectively launches execution in said computer system of a predetermined project definition of a set of predetermined project definitions in response to respective requests for execution thereof, the predetermined project definition relating to a second procedure upon another computer system and wherein each said predetermined project definition for processing data and comprising;

a plurality of function portions which each correspond to one of a plurality of predetermined function definitions that are different, each predetermined function definition defining a process to be applied to the data and at least one input port and at least one output port that are functionally related according to the corresponding function definition;

a further portion which includes a source portion identifying a data source and defining an output port through which data from the data source can be produced, and which includes a destination portion identifying a data destination and defining an input port through which data can be supplied to the data destination; and

binding information which includes binding portions that each associate a respective said input port with one of said output ports.

2. The method according to claim 1 wherein,

the first and second computer systems are at least one of the same computer system, different processors within the same computer system, different computers forming part of a cluster, and different computers connected via a data communications network.

3. The method according to claim 1 wherein,

the data destination of the destination portion of the predetermined project definition is at least one of a memory location within at least one of the first computer system, the second computer system, and a third computer system and is associated with at least one of a web page, a document, an audio-visual file, an object employing an hypertext markup language,

4. The method according to claim 1 wherein,

execution of the predetermined project definition at least one of can only occur when the second procedure is already in execution and results in the second procedure at least of starting, executing operations, and shutting down.

5. The method according to claim 1 wherein,

the second procedure performs a function upon the data transferred from execution of the predetermined project definition, the function being at least one of only that function explicitly called in the predetermined project definition, a combination of program functions within the second procedure that in combination provide the function explicitly called, and a function not accessible to a user of the second procedure through normal operation.

6. The method according to claim 1 wherein,

the predetermined project definition at least one of results in a branching operation wherein the data processed from the second procedure is directed in dependence upon at least one of an input provided by a user during execution of the predetermined project definition and an entry entered into the predetermined project definition by a user prior to execution of the first procedure.

7. The method according to claim 6 wherein,

the user is associated with at least one of execution of the first procedure and the data being processed.

8. The method according to claim 6 wherein,

the entry relates to at least one of the function to be performed by the second procedure, the second procedure to execute, a location of the second procedure, and a credential associated with accessing the second procedure.

9. A method comprising:

executing in a first computer system a first procedure which selectively launches execution in said computer system of a predetermined project definition of a set of predetermined project definitions in response to respective requests for execution thereof, the predetermined project definition relating to a second procedure upon another computer system;

triggering execution in a second computer system of the second procedure; and

performing a specific function within the second procedure determined in dependence upon at least a predetermined portion of the content of the predetermined project definition.

10. The method according to claim 9 wherein;

wherein each said predetermined project definition relates to processing data and comprises;

a plurality of function portions which each correspond to one of a plurality of predetermined function definitions that are different, each predetermined function definition defining a process to be applied to the data and at least one input port and at least one output port that are functionally related according to the corresponding function definition;

a further portion which includes a source portion identifying a data source and defining an output port through which data from the data source can be produced, and which includes a destination portion identifying a data destination and defining an input port through which data can be supplied to the data destination; and

binding information which includes binding portions that each associate a respective said input port with one of said output ports.

11. The method according to claim 9 wherein,

the first and second computer systems are at least one of the same computer system, different processors within the same computer system, different computers forming part of a cluster, and different computers connected via a data communications network.

12. The method according to claim 9 wherein,

the data destination of the destination portion of the predetermined project definition is at least one of a memory location within at least one of the first computer system, the second computer system, and a third computer system and is associated with at least one of a web page, a document, an audio-visual file, an object employing an hypertext markup language,

13. The method according to claim 9 wherein,

execution of the predetermined project definition at least one of can only occur when the second procedure is already in execution and results in the second procedure at least of starting, executing operations, and shutting down.

14. The method according to claim 9 wherein,

the second procedure performs a function upon the data transferred from execution of the predetermined project definition, the function being at least one of only that function explicitly called in the predetermined project definition, a combination of program functions within the second procedure that in combination provide the function explicitly called, and a function not accessible to a user of the second procedure through normal operation.

15. The method according to claim 9 wherein,

the predetermined project definition at least one of results in a branching operation wherein the data processed from the second procedure is directed in dependence upon at least one of an input provided by a user during execution of the predetermined project definition and an entry entered into the predetermined project definition by a user prior to execution of the first procedure.

16. The method according to claim 15 wherein,

the user is associated with at least one of execution of the first procedure and the data being processed.

17. The method according to claim 15 wherein,

the entry relates to at least one of the function to be performed by the second procedure, the second procedure to execute, a location of the second procedure, and a credential associated with accessing the second procedure.

18. One or more computer-readable media storing a computer program which is operable when executed to facilitate:

executing in a computer system a first procedure which selectively launches execution in said computer system of a predetermined project definition of a set of predetermined project definitions in response to respective requests for execution thereof, the predetermined project definition relating to a second procedure upon another computer system and wherein each said predetermined project definition for processing data and comprising;

a plurality of function portions which each correspond to one of a plurality of predetermined function definitions that are different, each predetermined function definition defining a process to be applied to the data and at least one input port and at least one output port that are functionally related according to the corresponding function definition;

a further portion which includes a source portion identifying a data source and defining an output port through which data from the data source can be produced, and which includes a destination portion identifying a data destination and defining an input port through which data can be supplied to the data destination; and

binding information which includes binding portions that each associate a respective said input port with one of said output ports.

19. The computer-readable media according to claim 18 wherein,

the first and second computer systems are at least one of the same computer system, different processors within the same computer system, different computers forming part of a cluster, and different computers connected via a data communications network.

20. The computer-readable media according to claim 18 wherein,

the data destination of the destination portion of the predetermined project definition is at least one of a memory location within at least one of the first computer system, the second computer system, and a third computer system and is associated with at least one of a web page, a document, an audio-visual file, an object employing an hypertext markup language,

21. The computer-readable media according to claim 18 wherein,

execution of the predetermined project definition at least one of can only occur when the second procedure is already in execution and results in the second procedure at least of starting, executing operations, and shutting down.

22. The computer-readable media according to claim 18 wherein,

the second procedure performs a function upon the data transferred from execution of the predetermined project definition, the function being at least one of only that function explicitly called in the predetermined project definition, a combination of program functions within the second procedure that in combination provide the function explicitly called, and a function not accessible to a user of the second procedure through normal operation.

23. The computer-readable media according to claim 18 wherein,

the predetermined project definition at least one of results in a branching operation wherein the data processed from the second procedure is directed in dependence upon at least one of an input provided by a user during execution of the predetermined project definition and an entry entered into the predetermined project definition by a user prior to execution of the first procedure.

24. The computer-readable media according to claim 23 wherein,

the user is associated with at least one of execution of the first procedure and the data being processed.

25. The computer-readable media according to claim 23 wherein,

the entry relates to at least one of the function to be performed by the second procedure, the second procedure to execute, a location of the second procedure, and a credential associated with accessing the second procedure.

26. One or more computer-readable media storing a computer program which is operable when executed to facilitate:

executing in a first computer system a first procedure which selectively launches execution in said computer system of a predetermined project definition of a set of predetermined project definitions in response to respective requests for execution thereof, the predetermined project definition relating to a second procedure upon another computer system;

triggering execution in a second computer system of the second procedure; and

performing a specific function within the second procedure determined in dependence upon at least a predetermined portion of the content of the predetermined project definition.

27. The computer-readable media according to claim 26 wherein;

wherein each said predetermined project definition relates to processing data and comprises;

a plurality of function portions which each correspond to one of a plurality of predetermined function definitions that are different, each predetermined function definition defining a process to be applied to the data and at least one input port and at least one output port that are functionally related according to the corresponding function definition;

a further portion which includes a source portion identifying a data source and defining an output port through which data from the data source can be produced, and which includes a destination portion identifying a data destination and defining an input port through which data can be supplied to the data destination; and

binding information which includes binding portions that each associate a respective said input port with one of said output ports.

28. The computer-readable media according to claim 26 wherein,

the first and second computer systems are at least one of the same computer system, different processors within the same computer system, different computers forming part of a cluster, and different computers connected via a data communications network.

29. The computer-readable media according to claim 26 wherein,

the data destination of the destination portion of the predetermined project definition is at least one of a memory location within at least one of the first computer system, the second computer system, and a third computer system and is associated with at least one of a web page, a document, an audio-visual file, an object employing an hypertext markup language,

30. The computer-readable media according to claim 26 wherein,

execution of the predetermined project definition at least one of can only occur when the second procedure is already in execution and results in the second procedure at least of starting, executing operations, and shutting down.

31. The computer-readable media according to claim 26 wherein,

the second procedure performs a function upon the data transferred from execution of the predetermined project definition, the function being at least one of only that function explicitly called in the predetermined project definition, a combination of program functions within the second procedure that in combination provide the function explicitly called, and a function not accessible to a user of the second procedure through normal operation.

32. The computer-readable media according to claim 26 wherein,

the predetermined project definition at least one of results in a branching operation wherein the data processed from the second procedure is directed in dependence upon at least one of an input provided by a user during execution of the predetermined project definition and an entry entered into the predetermined project definition by a user prior to execution of the first procedure.

33. The computer-readable media according to claim 31 wherein,

the user is associated with at least one of execution of the first procedure and the data being processed.

34. The computer-readable media according to claim 31 wherein,

the entry relates to at least one of the function to be performed by the second procedure, the second procedure to execute, a location of the second procedure, and a credential associated with accessing the second procedure.