System and method for a data propagation file format

• US 6,662,186 B1
• Filed: 07/14/2000
• Issued: 12/09/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 07/14/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Esquibel, Daniel M, Simske, Steven J
• Primary Examiner(s): Alam, Shahid Al
• Assistant Examiner(s): Hwang, Joon Hwan
• Application Number:
  US09/616,670
• Time in Patent Office: 1,243 Days
• Field of Search: 707/100-104, 707/200-205, 717/120-123, 715/511, 715/517-525
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/258 Data format conversion from or to a database
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99942 Manipulating data structure, e.g. compression, compaction, compilation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99953 Recoverability

Abstract

A system and method for propagating data from one file format to another file format analyzes the file format of saved data to determine whether the file can be opened by the requesting application program. If the file is of a format or version different than that of the requesting application program, the data propagation logic analyzes the file to determine the available file formats attached thereto and launches an executable module, either attached to the file or remotely accessible via a resource indicator, to convert the file to a new file of a format and/or version readable by the requesting application program.

Claims

1. A system located on a computer for propagating data saved in one file format to another file format, comprising:

a first real data file saved in a first file format on a computing device;

a software module appended to and part of said first real data file, said software module including at least one additional file format definition; and

an executable software module appended to and part of said first real data file, said executable software module configured to associate said additional file format with said first real data file and change the file format of the first real data file to create a new real data file associated with said additional file format, the new real data file located on the computing device, wherein said first real data file initiates the operation of said executable software module, and wherein said software module and said executable software module are updated and appended to and become part of said new real data file.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein said executable software module is accessible through any of the group consisting of a pull-down menu, a pop-up menu and a voice activated menu.

3. The system of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of file format definitions associated with said software module.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein an updated executable software module is associated with said first real data file.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein an updated software module is associated with said first real data file.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein said executable software module uses said additional file format to create a second real data file, said second real data file being of said additional file format.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein said executable software module is accessed remotely via a resource indicator attached to said first real data file.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein said executable software module is accessible via the World Wide Web (WWW).

9. The system of claim 1, wherein said executable software module is automatically activated by said first real data file.

10. A method for propagating data saved in one file format to another file format, the method comprising the steps of:

saving a first real data file in a first file format on a computing device;

appending a software module to said first real data file, said software module including at least one additional file format definition;

associating, using an executable software module appended to said first real data file, said additional file format with said first real data file; and

changing the file format of the first real data file to create a new real data file associated with said additional file format, the new real data file located on the computing device, wherein said first real data file initiates the operation of said executable software module, and wherein said software module and said executable software module are updated and appended to and become part of said new real data file.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising the step of accessing said executable software module through any of the group consisting of a pull-down menu, a pop-up menu and a voice activated menu.

12. The method of claim 10, further comprising the step of associating a plurality of file format definitions with said software module.

13. The method of claim 10, further comprising the step of updating said executable software module associated with said first real data file.

14. The method of claim 10, further comprising the step of updating said software module associated with said first real data file.

15. The method of claim 10, further comprising the step of creating a second real data file having said additional file format.

16. The method of claim 10, further comprising the step of accessing said executable software module remotely using a resource indicator attached to said first real data file.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising the step of accessing said executable software module remotely via the World Wide Web (WWW).

18. The method of claim 10, further comprising the step of automatically activating said executable software module using said first real data file.

19. A computer readable medium having a program for propagating data saved in one file format to another file format, the program including logic for performing the steps of:

saving a first real data file in a first file format on a computing device;

appending a software module to said first real data file, said software module including at least one additional file format definition;

associating, using an executable software module appended to said first real data file, said additional file format with said first real data file; and

changing the file format of the first real data file to create a new real data file associated with said additional file format, the new real data file located on the computing device, wherein said first real data file initiates the operation of said executable software module, and wherein said software module and said executable software module are updated and appended to and become part of said new real data file.

20. The program of claim 19, further comprising logic for performing the step of accessing said executable software module through any of the group consisting of a pull-down menu, a pop-up menu and a voice activated menu.

21. The program of claim 19, further comprising logic configured to perform the step of associating a plurality of file format definitions with said software module.

22. The program of claim 19, further comprising logic configured to perform the step of updating said executable software module associated with said first real data file.

23. The program of claim 19, further comprising logic configured to perform the step of updating said software module associated with said first real data file.

24. The program of claim 19, further comprising logic configured to perform the step of creating a second real data file having said additional file format.

25. The program of claim 19, further comprising logic configured to perform the step of accessing said executable software module remotely using a resource indicator attached to said first real data file.

26. The program of claim 19, further comprising logic configured to perform the step of accessing said executable software module via the World Wide Web (WWW).

27. The program of claim 19, further comprising logic configured to perform the step of automatically activating said executable software module using said first real data file.