Apparatus and process for distributing information using an electronic package representation

• US 5,870,089 A
• Filed: 11/24/1997
• Issued: 02/09/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 10/27/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Dazel Corp. (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Fabbio, Robert, Rothfus, Eric
• Primary Examiner(s): Katbab, A.
• Application Number:
  US08/978,505
• Time in Patent Office: 442 Days
• Field of Search: 345/329, 345/330, 345/331, 345/335, 345/971, 345/968, 395/200.3, 395/200.31, 395/200.33, 395/200.57, 395/200.62, 395/200.66, 395/200.76
• US Class Current: 715/733
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04817 using icons graphical or visual programming using iconic symbols G06F8/34

Abstract

A system and a method are both described for transferring data throughout computer systems, computer networks, data transmission facilities, and the like from an originating location to destination devices (50) at various physical locations. An electronic package data structure (10) is also described that includes document references (14), destination references (16), and package attributes (18, 28, 40). The document references (14) may be document names and locations or actual document contents. Destination references (16) identify printers, e-mail addresses, facsimile machines, electronic pagers and the like. A graphical user interface or GUI (140) serves to allow a user (52) to select documents, destinations, and additional package attributes that create the electronic package data structure (10). Once the components and attributes are assembled, the GUI is used to send the package (10) to a delivery service (12). The delivery service (12) receives the package (10) and operates on instructions and data in the package to interpret the instructions and actually deliver the documents in the package to the desired destinations.

Claims

1. A method of creating a metaphor for an electronic package through the use of a graphical user interface, the electronic package used in delivering information to various output resources accessible by a computer network and comprising document references, destination references, and package attributes, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) displaying within the graphical user interface an assembly workspace which may be used to assemble all document references and destination references within the electronic package;

(b) for each document reference selected within the electronic package, displaying in the assembly workspace a document icon representing the particular document reference;

(c) for each destination reference within the electronic package, displaying in the assembly workspace a destination icon representing the particular destination reference;

(d) through the graphical user interface, adding package attributes to the electronic package, the package attributes controlling the delivery of a document associated with each document reference within the electronic package to a destination associated with a particular destination reference within the electronic package; and

(e) displaying within the graphical user interface a package icon, the package icon representing the electronic package and having associated therewith the document reference for each document icon displayed in the assembly workspace for the electronic package, the destination reference for each destination icon displayed in the assembly workspace for the electronic package, and the package attributes added for the electronic package.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of:

(a) displaying within the graphical user interface a document display area in which at least one document name and location may be displayed for selection in the electronic package.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of:

(a) displaying within the graphical user interface a destination workspace in which at least one destination icon may be displayed for selection in the electronic package.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of:

(a) displaying within the graphical user interface a package workspace in which the package icon may be displayed, the package workspace being delineated from the assembly workspace.

5. The method of claim 4 further comprising the step of:

(a) displaying within the package workspace at least one open package icon with a package content boundary enclosing the open package icon, each document icon and destination icon within the electronic package being contained within the package content boundary.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of displaying an assembly workspace comprises:

(a) displaying within the graphical user interface a shelf workspace.

7. The method of claim 6 further comprising the steps of:

(a) displaying within the graphical user interface a destination workspace separate from the shelf workspace in which at least one destination icon may be displayed; and

(b) displaying within the graphical user interface a package workspace in which at least one package icon may be displayed.

8. An electronic data structure constructed on a digital computer and encapsulating the definition of an electronic package, the electronic data structure identifying information to be transferred from its originating location to a destination over a data transmission system such as a local area network, wide area network, telecommunication lines, and the like, the electronic data structure comprising:

(a) a document reference including a name, location, and format type of a document to be delivered, the document reference being stored within a first computer memory location and further including at least one document specific attribute selected from a group consisting of document size, document creation time, and document owner;

(b) a destination reference including a name and location of a destination to which the document is to be delivered and at least one destination specific attribute, the destination reference being stored within the first computer memory location along with the document reference; and

(c) package attributes which control the delivery of the document to the destination, the package attributes being stored within the first computer memory location along with the document reference and the destination reference.

9. The electronic data structure of claim 8 wherein the destination reference includes a destination type and the destination specific attributes are selected from the group consisting of number of copies, page start number, page stop number, page scaling options, header information, footer information, page numbering options, multiple paging options, banner sheet options, page length, page width, line wrapping options, and delivery messages.

10. The electronic data structure of claim 8 wherein the destination reference includes a destination type attribute and the destination type includes an identifier for a particular type of destination selected from the group consisting of at least post-script printers, text printers, facsimile machines, pagers, electronic mail accounts, electronic message handlers, and personal accounts.

11. A method for interpreting delivery instructions and delivering information to output resources accessible by a network of computers, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) creating an electronic package data structure comprising a software object which includes a document reference including a name of a document to be delivered, a destination reference including a name of a destination to which the document is to be delivered, and package attributes;

(b) transferring the electronic package data structure to a delivery service software system; and

(c) in response to the receipt of the electronic package data structure at the delivery service software system,

(i) retrieving the document identified by the document reference;

(ii) storing the document locally to a delivery manager;

(iii) identifying a delivery request broker associated with the destination;

(iv) transferring the document reference, destination reference, and package attributes to the identified delivery request broker;

(v) transferring the document reference, destination reference, and package attributes to a delivery supervisor responsible for communication to the destination;

(vi) with the delivery supervisor, interpreting the package attributes associated with the destination reference; and

(vii) delivering the document from the delivery supervisor to the destination.

12. The method of claim 11 including the step of storing the document destination reference and package attributes to a queue associated with the delivery request broker.

13. The method of claim 12 further including the step of determining access rights to the document with the delivery request broker.

14. The method of claim 11 further including the step of:

(a) converting the document from an original format to the converted format responsive to a destination type attribute associated with the destination reference.

15. A method for creating an electronic package object type which is an encapsulation of information to be delivered, the destination to which the information is to be delivered, and instructions for the delivery process, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) defining a document containing information to be delivered;

(b) creating a document reference at a first computer memory location in response to the act of defining the document, the document reference including a name, location, and format type of the document along with at least one document specific attribute selected form a group consisting of document size, document creation time, and document owner;

(c) defining a destination to which the document is to be delivered;

(d) creating a destination reference at the first computer memory location in response to the act of defining the destination, the destination reference including attributes of the destination to which the document is to be delivered;

(e) defining delivery instructions affecting the delivery of the information to be delivered; and

(f) creating package attributes at the first computer memory location in response to the act of defining the delivery instructions.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein the destination reference includes a destination type and the destination type includes an identifier for a particular type of destination selected from the group consisting of post-script printers, text printers, facsimile machines, pagers, electronic mail accounts, and electronic message handlers.

17. The method of claim 15 wherein the destination reference includes a destination location and a destination type which identifies the type of device comprising the destination to which the document is to be delivered.

18. An apparatus for creating a metaphor for an electronic package through the use of a graphical user interface, the electronic package used in delivering information to various output resources accessible by a computer network and comprising document references, destination references, and package attributes, the apparatus comprising:

(a) workspace display means programmed in a digital computer for displaying within the graphical user interface an assembly workspace which may be used to assemble all document references and destination references within the electronic package;

(b) document defining means programmed in the digital computer for displaying in the assembly workspace a document icon for each document reference within the electronic package, each document icon representing a particular document reference;

(c) destination defining means programmed on the digital computer for displaying in the workspace a destination icon for each destination reference within the electronic package, each destination icon representing a particular destination reference;

(d) package attribute defining means programmed in the digital computer for adding package attributes to the electronic package, the package attributes controlling the delivery of a document associated with each document reference within the electronic package to a destination associated with a particular destination reference within the electronic package; and

(e) package defining means programmed on the digital computer for displaying within the graphical user interface a package icon, the package icon representing the electronic package and having associated therewith the document reference for each document icon displayed in the assembly workspace for the electronic package, the destination reference for each destination icon displayed in the assembly workspace for the electronic package, and the package attributes added for the electronic package.

19. The apparatus of claim 18 further comprising:

(a) document display area means programmed in the digital computer for displaying within the graphical user interface a list of document names and locations for selecting a document to be included in the electronic package.

20. The apparatus of claim 18 further comprising:

(a) destination display means programmed in the digital computer for displaying within the graphical user interface a list of destination names and locations for selecting a destination to be included in the electronic package.

21. The apparatus of claim 20 further comprising:

(a) destination workspace display means programmed in the digital computer for displaying a destination workspace within the graphical user interface in which at least one destination icon may be displayed for selection in the electronic package.

22. The apparatus of claim 18 further comprising:

(a) package workspace display means programmed in the digital computer for displaying a package workspace within the graphical user interface in which the package icon may be displayed, the package workspace being delineated from the assembly workspace.

23. An apparatus for creating an object type electronic package which is an encapsulation of information to be delivered, the destination to which the information is to be delivered, and instructions for the delivery process, the apparatus comprising:

(a) data defining means programmed on a digital computer for defining a document containing information to be delivered, a destination to which the document is to be delivered, and delivery instructions affecting the delivery of the information to be delivered;

(b) document reference developing means programmed in the digital computer for creating a document reference at a first computer memory location when the document is defined by the data defining means, the document reference including a name, location, and format type of the document along with at least one document specific attribute selected from a group consisting of document size, document creation time, and document owner;

(c) destination developing means programmed in the digital computer for creating a destination reference at the first computer memory location when the data defining means defines the destination, the destination reference including attributes of the destination to which the document is to be delivered; and

(d) package attribute developing means programmed on the digital computer for creating package attributes at the first computer memory location when the data defining means defines the delivery instructions.

24. A program product for creating a metaphor for an electronic package through the use of a graphical user interface, the electronic package used in delivering information to various output resources accessible by a computer network and comprising document references, destination references and package attributes, the program product comprising:

(a) a computer-readable storage medium;

(b) work space display means stored on the medium for displaying within the graphical user interface an assembly work space which may be used to assemble all document references and destination references within the electronic package;

(c) document defining means stored on the medium for displaying in the assembly work space a document icon for each document reference within the electronic package, each document icon representing a particular document reference;

(d) destination defining means stored on the medium for displaying in the work space a destination icon for each destination reference within the electronic package, each destination icon representing a particular destination reference;

(e) package attribute defining means stored on the medium for adding package attributes to the electronic package, the package attributes controlling the delivery of a document associated with each document reference within the electronic package to a destination associated with a particular destination reference within the electronic package; and

(f) package defining means stored on the medium for displaying within the graphical user interface a package icon, the package icon representing the electronic package and having associated therewith the document reference for each document icon displayed in the assembly work space for the electronic package, the destination reference for each destination icon displayed in the assembly work space for the electronic package, and the package attributes added for the electronic package.

25. The program product of claim 24 further comprising:

(a) destination work space display means stored on the medium for displaying within the graphical user interface a destination work space in which at least one destination icon may be displayed for selection in the electronic package.

26. The program product of claim 24 further comprising:

(a) package work space display means stored on the medium for displaying within the graphical user interface a package work space in which at least one package icon may be displayed for representing a previously created electronic package.

27. A program product for creating an object type electronic package which is an encapsulation of information to be delivered, the destination to which the information is to be delivered, and instructions for the delivery process, the program product comprising:

(a) a computer-readable storage medium;

(b) data defining means stored on the medium for defining a document containing information to be delivered, a destination to which the document is to be delivered, and delivery instructions affecting the delivery of the information to be delivered;

(c) document reference developing means stored on the medium for creating a document reference at a first computer memory location when the document is defined by the data defining means, the document reference including a name, location, and format type of the document along with at least one document specific attribute selected from a group consisting of document size, document creation time, and document owner;

(d) destination developing means stored on the medium for creating a destination reference at the first computer memory location when the data defining means defines the destination, the destination reference including attributes of the destination to which the document is to be delivered; and

(e) package attribute developing means stored on the medium for creating package attributes at the first computer memory location when the data defining means defines the delivery instructions.

28. An apparatus for interpreting delivery instructions and delivering information to output resources accessible by a network of computers, the apparatus comprising:

(a) data input means for creating an electronic package data structure comprising a software object which includes a document reference including a name of a document to be delivered, a destination reference including a name of a destination to which the document is to be delivered, and package attributes;

(b) package input means programmed on a digital computer for transferring the electronic package data structure to a delivery service software system;

(c) delivery manager means programmed on a digital computer for retrieving and storing the document, interfacing with a name service to obtain an identification for a delivery request broker means associated with the destination, and transferring the document reference, a destination reference, and package attributes to the delivery request broker means associated with the destination;

(d) delivery request broker means programmed on a digital computer for transferring the document reference, destination reference, and package attributes to a delivery supervisor means responsible for communicating to the destination; and

(e) delivery supervisor means programmed on a digital computer for receiving the document reference, destination reference, and package attributes and interpreting the document reference to determine the format of the data which comprises the document to be delivered, interpreting the destination reference to determine the format of the data required by the destination to which the document is to be delivered, and interpreting the package attributes, and for converting the document identified by the document reference to a converted format comprising the data format required by the destination reference, and delivering the document to the destination in the converted format.

29. The apparatus of claim 28 wherein the request broker means stores the document, destination reference, and package attributes in a delivery queue.

30. The apparatus of claim 28 further including:

(a) document converting means associated with the delivery supervisor means for converting the document from an original format to the converted format dictated by destination attributes associated with the destination reference.

31. A program product for operating on a network of computers to interpret delivery instructions and deliver information to output resources accessible by the network of computers, the program product comprising:

(a) a computer-readable storage medium;

(b) data input means stored on the medium for creating an electronic package data structure, the electronic package data structure comprising a software object which includes a document reference including a name of a document to be delivered, a destination reference including a name of a destination to which the document is to be delivered, and package attributes;

(c) package input means stored on the medium for transferring the electronic package data structure to a delivery service software system;

(d) delivery manager means stored on the medium for retrieving and storing the document, interfacing with a name service to obtain an identification for a delivery request broker means associated with the destination, and transferring the document reference, a destination reference, and package attributes to the delivery request broker means associated with the destination;

(e) delivery request broker means stored on the medium for transferring the document reference, destination reference, and package attributes to a delivery supervisor means responsible for communicating to the destination; and

(f) delivery supervisor means stored on the medium for receiving the document reference, destination reference, and package attributes and interpreting the document reference to determine the format of the data which comprises the document to be delivered, interpreting the destination reference to determine the format of the data required by the destination to which the document is to be delivered, and interpreting the package attributes, and for converting the document identified by the document reference to a converted format comprising the data format required by the destination reference, and delivering the document to the destination in the converted format.