Method and apparatus for launching files created by non-resident application programs
First Claim
1. A method in a computer system for processing a document created previously by an application program which is not currently accessible by the computer system, comprising the steps of:
- determining that the application program that created the document is not accessible by the computer system;
identifying application programs that are accessible by the computer system that are different from the application program that created the document and are capable of translating the document;
calculating translation paths from the document to the accessible application programs;
selecting one of the accessible application programs capable of translating the document; and
using the selected application program to translate the document into a format acceptable to an accessible application program.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method in a computer system enables the translation and opening of a document which was created by an application program no longer resident in the computer system. The method begins by identifying the file format of the target document, Subsequently, all computer resident applications capable of opening the document are identified and translation paths from the document to the accessible application programs are calculated. Each of the available application programs and corresponding translation paths are listed in order of fidelity, with an indicia identifying the preferred path. One of the translation paths is selected and the document is translated into the acceptable format. Following translation of the program, the application is launched and the newly translated document is opened.
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Citations
21 Claims
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1. A method in a computer system for processing a document created previously by an application program which is not currently accessible by the computer system, comprising the steps of:
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determining that the application program that created the document is not accessible by the computer system; identifying application programs that are accessible by the computer system that are different from the application program that created the document and are capable of translating the document; calculating translation paths from the document to the accessible application programs; selecting one of the accessible application programs capable of translating the document; and using the selected application program to translate the document into a format acceptable to an accessible application program. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. An apparatus for processing a document created previously by an application program which is not accessible by a computer system, comprising:
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means for determining that the application program that created the document is not accessible to the computer system; means for identifying application programs that are accessible by the computer system that are different from the application program that created the document and are capable of translating the document; means for calculating translation paths from the document to the accessible application programs; means for selecting one of the accessible application programs capable of translating the document; and means for using the selected application program to translate the document into a format acceptable to an accessible application program. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A computer usable information storage medium storing computer readable program code means for causing a computer to perform the steps of:
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displaying a list of document files for selection by a user of the computer; detecting a user'"'"'s selection eta listed document file; determining that the application program that created the selected document file is not accessible by the computer system; identifying application programs accessible by the computer system that are different from the application program that created the document and are capable of translating the document file; calculating translation paths from the document to the accessible application programs; selecting one of the accessible application programs capable of translating the document file; and using the selected program to translate the document file into a format acceptable to an accessible application program.
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17. A method for computer system processing of a document file created previously, comprising the steps of:
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using the computer to display a list of document files; selecting a document file; determining whether the application program that created the document file is currently accessible by the computer system, and if not then identifying application programs accessible by the computer system that are different from the application program that created the document and which are capable of translating the document file; calculating translation paths from the document to the accessible application programs; selecting from the identified application programs a application program capable of translating the document file; and using the selected application program to translate file document file. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19)
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20. An apparatus for processing a document file created previously, comprising:
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computer system memos for listing document files; means for selecting a document file listed by the computer system means; means for determining that the application program that created the document file is not accessible by the computer system means; means for identifying application programs accessible by the computer system means that are different from the application program that created the document and that are capable of translating the document file; means for calculating translation paths from the document to the accessible application programs; means for selecting one of the identified application programs; and means for using the selected application program to translate the document file.
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21. A computer usable information storage medium storing computer readable program code means for causing a computer to perform the steps of:
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displaying a list of document flies for selection by a user of the computer; detecting a user is selection of a listed document file; determining that the application program that created the selected document file is not accessible by the computer; identifying application programs accessible by the computer that are different from the application program that created the document and that are capable of translating the document file; calculating translation paths from the document to the accessible application programs; and using the selected application program to translate the document file.
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Specification