Dynamic web object row count in hyper text markup language

• US 6,671,854 B1
• Filed: 11/05/1999
• Issued: 12/30/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 11/05/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Dunsmoir, John W., Jacobs, Sandra H., Reech, Christopher Daniel
• Primary Examiner(s): Feild, Joseph H.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nguyen, Maikhanh
• Application Number:
  US09/435,006
• Time in Patent Office: 1,516 Days
• Field of Search: 707/513, 707/101, 707/102, 715/501.1, 715/526
• US Class Current: 715/207
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/88 Mark-up to mark-up conversion conversion for visualization in web browsing G06F16/9577
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/143 Markup, e.g. Standard Generalized Markup Language [SGML] or Document Type Definition [DTD]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/177 of tables; using ruled lines
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99942 Manipulating data structure, e.g. compression, compaction, compilation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99943 Generating database or data structure, e.g. via user interface

Abstract

The disclosed method, system and computer program product converts static, fixed-count multi-row web objects in web pages, such as HTML tables and lists, to dynamic, variable-count multi-row web objects by first copying one of the row formats from the original static web object into a plurality of string variables which are preferably organized as an array, then inserting new content information into each row format definition contained within each string variable, and finally creating a new multi-row web object based upon the final contents of the string variables. This process of creating a variable row-count web object using an array of string variables supports dynamic web page content generation needs of many web server systems.

Claims

1. A method for converting fixed-count multi-row web objects in a web document to variable-count multi-row web objects in a web document for distribution to and display on a web browser computer, each row of said web object having a row format definition and row content definition;

said method comprising the steps of;

scanning one or more lines of a web object for a row format definition which matches a definition in a system dictionary;

extracting a matching row format definition from a fixed-count multi-row web object;

storing said extracted row format definition into the values of a plurality of string variables embodied in a computer readable media;

inserting content definition into each row format definition in each string variable value; and

converting the values of the string variables into a variable-count multi-row web object in a computer readable medium such that said variable-count multi-row web object may be included or appended to a web document for distribution to and display by a web browser computer system.

2. A method for converting fixed-count multi-row web objects to variable-count web objects according to claim 1 wherein said step of extracting a row format definition from a fixed-count multi-row web object further comprises the steps of:

scanning a string of Hyper Text Markup Language for multi-row web object tags; and

extracting said Hyper Text Markup Language multi-row web object tags.

3. A method for converting fixed-count multi-row web objects to variable-count multi-row web objects according to claim 2 wherein said step of scanning a string of Hyper Text Markup Language includes scanning for table format definition tags.

4. A method for converting fixed-count multi-row web objects to variable-count multi-row web objects according to claim 2 wherein said step of scanning a string of Hyper Text Markup Language includes scanning for ordered list definition tags.

5. A method for converting fixed-count multi-row web objects to variable-count multi-row web objects according to claim 2 wherein said step of scanning a string of Hyper Text Markup Language includes scanning for unordered list definition tags.

6. A method for converting fixed-count multi-row web objects to variable-count multi-row web objects according to claim 1 further comprising the step of creating an array of string variables in a computer readable medium for retention of said string variable values.

7. A method for converting fixed-count multi-row web objects to variable-count multi-row web objects according to claim 1 wherein said step of converting the values of the string variables into a variable-count multi-row web object in a computer readable medium further comprises converting the values of the string variables into a Hyper Text Markup Language multi-row web object.

8. A method for converting fixed-count multi-row web objects to variable-count multi-row web objects according to claim 7 wherein said step of converting said values of the string variables into a Hyper Text Markup Language multi-row web object further comprises creating a Hyper Text Markup Language table object.

9. A method for converting fixed-count multi-row web objects to variable-count multi-row web objects according to claim 7 wherein said step of converting said values of the string variables into a Hyper Text Markup Language multi-row web object further comprises creating a Hyper Text Markup Language unordered list object.

10. A method for converting fixed-count multi-row web objects to variable-count multi-row web objects according to claim 7 wherein said step of converting said values of the string variables into a Hyper Text Markup Language multi-row web object further comprises creating a Hyper Text Markup Language ordered list object.

11. A method for converting fixed-count multi-row web objects to variable-count multi-row web objects according to claim 1 wherein said step of converting the values of the string variables into a variable-count multi-row web object in a computer readable medium further comprises storing said variable-count multi-row web object in a Hyper Text Markup Language computer readable text file.

12. A system for conversion of fixed-row count web objects to variable-row count web objects for inclusion of said web objects into web pages for distribution and display on a web browser computer, said fixed-row count web object having a plurality of row format and row content definitions, said system comprising:

a means for scanning one or more lines of a web object for a row format definition which matches a definition in a system dictionary;

a means for extracting a matching row format definition from a fixed-row count web object;

a means for storing said extracted row format definition into a plurality of string variable values in a computer readable medium;

a means for inserting content definitions into each value of said string variables; and

a means for converting said values of the plurality of string variables into a variable-row count web object suitable for inclusion in a web document for distribution to and display by a web browser computer.

13. A system for conversion of fixed-row count web objects to variable-row count web objects according to claim 12 wherein said means for extracting a row definition from a fixed-row count web object further comprises:

a means for scanning a string of Hyper Text Markup Language for multi-row web object tags; and

a means for extracting said Hyper Text Markup Language multi-row web object tags.

14. A system for conversion of fixed-row count web objects to variable-row count web objects according to claim 13 wherein said means for scanning a string of Hyper Text Markup Language for multi-row web object tags further comprises a means for scanning for table format definition tags.

15. A system for conversion of fixed-row count web objects to variable-row count web objects according to claim 13 wherein said means for scanning a string of Hyper Text Markup Language for multi-row web object tags further comprises a means for scanning for unordered list definition tags.

16. A system for conversion of fixed-row count web objects to variable-row count web objects according to claim 13 wherein said means for scanning a string of Hyper Text Markup Language for multi-row web object tags further comprises a means for scanning for ordered list definition tags.

17. A system for conversion of fixed-row count web objects to variable-row count web objects according to claim 12 further comprising a means for creating an array in a computer readable medium for organizing and managing said plurality of string variable values.

18. A system for conversion of fixed-row count web objects to variable-row count web objects according to claim 12 wherein the means for converting said values of the plurality of string variables into a variable-row count web object further comprises a means for creating a Hyper Text Markup Language multi-row web object.

19. A system for conversion of fixed-row count web objects to variable-row count web objects according to claim 18 wherein said means for creating a Hyper Text Markup Language multi-row web object further comprises a means for creating a Hyper Text Markup Language table object.

20. A system for conversion of fixed-row count web objects to variable-row count web objects according to claim 18 wherein said means for creating a Hyper Text Markup Language multi-row web object further comprises a means for creating a Hyper Text Markup Language unordered list object.

21. A system for conversion of fixed-row count web objects to variable-row count web objects according to claim 18 wherein said means for creating a Hyper Text Markup Language multi-row web object further comprises a means for creating a Hyper Text Markup Language ordered list object.

22. A system for conversion of fixed-row count web objects to variable-row count web objects according to claim 18 wherein said means for creating a Hyper Text Markup Language multi-row web object further comprises a means for storing said multi-row web object in a Hyper Text Markup Language computer readable text file.

23. A computer program product encoded with software for converting fixed-count multi-row web objects to variable-count multi-row web objects for use in web documents to be distributed to and displayed by web browser computers, said fixed-count multi-row web objects including row format definitions and row content definitions, said software comprising:

a scanning program code means for scanning one or more lines of a web object for a row format definition which matches a definition in a system dictionary;

a row format extraction program code means for extracting a matching row format definition from a fixed-count multi-row web object;

a string variable calculating program code means for setting the values of a plurality of string variables to a string value equal to the extracted row format definition;

a content insertion program code means for inserting content definitions into said plurality of string variable values; and

a multi-row web object creation program code means for creating a variable-count multi-row web object based upon the values contained in said plurality of said string variables such that said created variable-count multi-row web object is suitable for inclusion into a web document for distribution to and display by a web browser computer.

24. A computer program product for converting fixed-count multi-row web objects to variable-count multi-row web objects according to claim 23 wherein said row format extraction program code means further comprises computer program means for Hyper Text Markup Language tag scanning and extraction.

25. A computer program product for converting fixed-count multi-row web objects to variable-count multi-row web objects according to claim 24 wherein said Hyper Text Markup Language tag scanning and extraction program code means further comprises computer program means for Hyper Text Markup Language table tag scanning and extraction.

26. A computer program product for converting fixed-count multi-row web objects to variable-count multi-row web objects according to claim 24 wherein said Hyper Text Markup Language tag scanning and extraction program code means further comprises computer program means for Hyper Text Markup Language unordered list tag scanning and extraction.

27. A computer program product for converting fixed-count multi-row web objects to variable-count multi-row web objects according to claim 24 wherein said Hyper Text Markup Language tag scanning and extraction program code means further comprises computer program means for Hyper Text Markup Language ordered list tag scanning and extraction.

28. A computer program product for converting fixed-count multi-row web objects to variable-count multi-row web objects according to claim 23 wherein said multi-row web object creation program code means further comprises a computer program means for creating Hyper Text Markup Language multi-row web objects.

29. A computer program product for converting fixed-count multi-row web objects to variable-count multi-row web objects according to claim 28 wherein said computer program means for creating Hyper Text Markup Language multi-row web objects further comprises computer program means for creating Hyper Text Markup Language tables.

30. A computer program product for converting fixed-count multi-row web objects to variable-count multi-row web objects according to claim 28 wherein said computer program means for creating Hyper Text Markup Language multi-row web objects further comprises computer program means for creating Hyper Text Markup Language unordered lists.

31. A computer program product for converting fixed-count multi-row web objects to variable-count multi-row web objects according to claim 28 wherein said computer program means for creating Hyper Text Markup Language multi-row web objects further comprises computer program means for creating Hyper Text Markup Language ordered lists.

32. A computer program product for converting fixed-count multi-row web objects to variable-count multi-row web objects according to claim 23 wherein said multi-row web object creation program code means further comprises computer program means for creating a Hyper Text Markup Language text file in a computer readable medium.