Distribution mechanism for reuse of web based image data

• US 6,539,420 B1
• Filed: 06/04/1999
• Issued: 03/25/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 06/04/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Fields, Duane Kimbell, Hassinger, Sebastian Daniel, Hurley, William Walter II, Gregg, Thomas Preston
• Primary Examiner(s): Sheikh, Ayaz
• Assistant Examiner(s): DINH, KHANH Q
• Application Number:
  US09/325,400
• Time in Patent Office: 1,390 Days
• Field of Search: 709/201, 709/203, 709/224, 709/227, 709/232, 709/248, 709/222, 709/205, 709/206, 358/1.2, 710/10
• US Class Current: 709/206
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9577 Optimising the visualization of content, e.g. distillation of HTML documents
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/972 Access to data in other repository systems, e.g. legacy data or dynamic Web page generation

Abstract

A method for reuse of image data in a distributed computer network is operative at a web server in response to a request from a client browser for a web page. At the web server, a determination is made regarding whether the web page includes a given object reference. If so, a template defining a composite image is retrieved. The template identifies at least one image object to be retrieved from another location, typically from a host remote to the web server. Once the image object is retrieved, a given transform is applied to the image object to generate a transformed image object. The given transform, for example, is selected from a group of transforms such as: scaling, mirroring, cutting, cropping, inverting, flipping, reversing, rotating, color shifting, and combinations of the above. Thereafter, the transformed image object is mapped into the composite image according to the template. After the composite image is created, it is served within the web page originally requested by the client.

Claims

1. A method for processing image data, the method comprising:

responsive to a request from a client browser for a web page, determining whether the web page includes a given object reference;

if the web page includes the given object reference, retrieving at least first and second image objects;

applying a given transform to the first image object to produce a modified first image object in accordance with a template, wherein the template defines a missing graphical area within a background image;

generating a composite image object with the modified first image object positioned within a graphical area in the second image object as the background image in accordance with the template; and

serving the web page including the composite image object to the client browser in response to the request.

2. The method as described in claim 1 wherein the first image object or the second image object is retrieved from a content server.

3. The method as described in claim 1 wherein the first image object or the second image object is retrieved from a local server.

4. The method as described in claim 1 wherein the missing graphical area has a given shape.

5. The method as described in claim 1 wherein the given transform is selected from a set of transforms consisting essentially of:

scaling, mirroring, cutting, cropping, inverting, flipping, reversing, rotating, color shifting, and combinations thereof.

6. The method as described in claim 1 wherein the given transform is a null transform.

7. The method as described in claim 1 wherein the template file is selected as a function of given information in the request.

8. The method as described in claim 1 wherein the template file is associated with the given object reference.

9. A computer program product in a computer readable medium for use in a data processing system, the computer program product comprising:

means for determining, responsive to a request from a client browser for a web page, whether the web page includes a given object reference;

means for retrieving at least first and second image objects if the web page includes the given object reference;

means for applying a given transform to the first image object to produce a modified first image object in accordance with a template, wherein the template defines a missing graphical area within a background image;

means for generating a composite image object with the modified first image object positioned within a graphical area in the second image object as the background image in accordance with the template; and

means for serving the web page including the composite image object to the client browser in response to the request.

10. The computer program product as described in claim 9 wherein the first image object or the second image object is retrieved from a content server.

11. The computer program product as described in claim 9 wherein the first image object or the second image object is retrieved from a local server.

12. The computer program product as described in claim 9 wherein the missing graphical area has a given shape.

13. The computer program product as described in claim 9 wherein the given transform is selected from a set of transforms consisting essentially of:

scaling, mirroring, cutting, cropping, inverting, flipping, reversing, rotating, color shifting, and combinations thereof.

14. The computer program product as described in claim 9 wherein the given transform is a null transform.

15. The computer program product as described in claim 9 wherein the template file is selected as a function of given information in the request.

16. The computer program product as described in claim 9 wherein the template file is associated with the given object reference.

17. An apparatus for processing image data, the apparatus comprising:

means for determining, responsive to a request from a client browser for a web page, whether the web page includes a given object reference;

means for retrieving at least first and second image objects if the web page includes the given object reference;

means for applying a given transform to the first image object to produce a modified first image object in accordance with a template, wherein the template defines a missing graphical area within a background image;

means for generating a composite image object with the modified first image object positioned within a graphical area in the second image object as the background image in accordance with the template; and

means for serving the web page including the composite image object to the client browser in response to the request.

18. The apparatus as described in claim 17 wherein the first image object or the second image object is retrieved from a content server.

19. The apparatus as described in claim 17 wherein the first image object or the second image object is retrieved from a local server.

20. The apparatus as described in claim 17 wherein the missing graphical area has a given shape.

21. The apparatus as described in claim 17 wherein the given transform is selected from a set of transforms consisting essentially of:

scaling, mirroring, cutting, cropping, inverting, flipping, reversing, rotating, color shifting, and combinations thereof.

22. The apparatus as described in claim 17 wherein the given transform is a null transform.

23. The apparatus as described in claim 17 wherein the template file is selected as a function of given information in the request.

24. The apparatus as described in claim 17 wherein the template file is associated with the given object reference.