Real-time-on-demand dynamic document generation

• US 6,763,500 B2
• Filed: 12/01/2000
• Issued: 07/13/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 12/01/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Toyoshima, Tim A., Black, Jason E., Kelly, Sean D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Shah, Sanjiv
• Application Number:
  US09/681,046
• Publication Number:
  US 20030033330A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,320 Days
• Field of Search: 715/513, 715/515, 715/516, 715/526, 715/501, 707/1, 707/100, 704/9, 705/26
• US Class Current: 715/234
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/131 Fragmentation of text files, e.g. creating reusable text-blocks; Linking to fragments, e.g. using XInclude; Namespaces
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/143 Markup, e.g. Standard Generalized Markup Language [SGML] or Document Type Definition [DTD]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/226 Validation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99932 Access augmentation or optimizing

Abstract

Real-time, on-demand dynamic document generation is disclosed. A merging logic integrates one or more auxiliary files with a main file to dynamically generate a displayed document. The merging logic determines the number and the locations of the auxiliary files. The logic validates each auxiliary file against a schema that defines how the auxiliary files can modify the main file. After validation, the merging logic merges the auxiliary files with the main file in accordance with the schema to generate the document.

Claims

1. A method for dynamically generating a displayed document from a main file and at least one auxiliary file in real time and on demand, comprising:

validating each auxiliary file against a predetermined schema, the schema specifying how the at least one auxiliary file can modify the main file; and

,

merging external information from each auxiliary file with information in the main file, in accordance with the predetermined schema, to generate the document.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the main file is consistent with a predetermined markup language.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the predetermined markup language is one of HyperText Markup Language (HTML) and extended Markup Language (XML).

4. The method of claim 1, wherein each of the at least one auxiliary file and the predetermined schema is consistent with a predetermined markup language.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the predetermined markup language is eXtended Markup Language (XML).

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the main file stands on its own, such that the document can include the information within the main file where no auxiliary files are present.

7. The method of claim 1, further initially comprising referencing a database to determine a number of the at least one auxiliary file, and a location of each of the at least one auxiliary file.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the database is a registry database.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the external information retrieved from each of one or more of the at least one auxiliary file deletes existing information in the main file.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the external information retrieved from each of one or more of the at least one auxiliary file changes existing displayable information in the main file.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the external information retrieved from each of one or more of the at least one auxiliary file augments existing displayable information in the main file.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the method is performed by execution of a computer program stored on a machine-readable medium by a processor.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the computer program is written in one of JavaScript and Visual Basic script.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the method embodies a merging logic for generating the displayed document from the main file and the at least one auxiliary file.

15. A system for dynamically generating a displayed document in real time and on demand comprising:

a main file of information;

a predetermined schema specifying how the main file of information can be modified;

at least one auxiliary file, each auxiliary file having external information consistent with the predetermined schema; and

,

a merging logic referenced by the main file to generate the displayed document in real time and on demand from the main file and the at least one auxiliary file in accordance with the predetermined schema, such that calling the main file causes execution of the merging logic.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the merging logic merges the external information from the at least one auxiliary file with the information in the main file.

17. The system of claim 15, wherein the merging logic validates each auxiliary file against the predetermined schema.

18. The system of claim 15, further comprising a database storing a number and a location of each of the at least one auxiliary file.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the merging logic references the database to determine the number and the location of each auxiliary file.

20. The system of claim 15, wherein the main file stands on its own, such that the document can include the information within the main file where no auxiliary files are present.

21. The system of claim 15, further comprising a redirection program referenced by each auxiliary file, such that calling an auxiliary file causes execution of the redirection program, the redirection program redirecting execution to the main file.