Dedicated processor for efficient processing of documents encoded in a markup language

• US 7,013,424 B2
• Filed: 05/04/2001
• Issued: 03/14/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 05/04/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Rajaraman, Bala, James, Zachary A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bashore, William
• Assistant Examiner(s): Ries, Laurie Anne
• Application Number:
  US09/848,828
• Publication Number:
  US 20040205694A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,775 Days
• Field of Search: 715/513, 712/32, 712/30, 712/36, 712/29, 712/28, 712/1
• US Class Current: 715/239
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/143 Markup, e.g. Standard Generalized Markup Language [SGML] or Document Type Definition [DTD]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/151 Transformation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/205 Parsing
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/221 Parsing markup language streams streaming G06F40/149

Abstract

A dedicated processor for efficient processing of documents encoded in a markup language, such as XML. The dedicated processor is capable of performing traditional parsing, transformation and manipulation processes on the document. The special purpose processor frees a general purpose processor to perform other tasks, resulting in an increase in system performance. In one embodiment, the dedicated processor includes a general purpose processor and suitable software which is provided in addition to the general purpose processor which has been traditionally used for processing. In such an embodiment, the dedicated processor may be implemented in a multi-processor system. In another embodiment, the dedicated processor is implemented in special purpose hardware, e.g. as an integrated circuit embodied in silicon in one or more chips. In either embodiment, the dedicated processor may be provided to offload processing locally or remotely.

Claims

1. A method for efficient processing of a document encoded in a markup language, the method comprising the step of:

communicating a data model representing the document through a bus of a printed circuit board from a special purpose processor configured for processing the document encoded in the markup language, to a general purpose processor configured for further processing of the encoded document as processed by the special purpose processor, each of said special purpose processor and said general purpose processor being provided as a respective integrated circuit on said printed circuit board, wherein said data model represents a document encoded in mXML.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said data model represents, a document encoded in XML.

3. A method for efficient processing of a document encoded in a markup language, the method comprising the steps of:

receiving a document intended for delivery to a target;

processing the document using a special purpose processor dedicated to processing of documents encoded in the markup language, said special purpose processor being provided as a first integrated circuit on a printed circuit board; and

passing, by communicating through a bus of a printed circuit board, the processed document to the target for further processing by a general purpose processor including a microprocessor that is provided as a second integrated circuit, separate from the special purpose processor, on the printed circuit board, wherein said processing step comprises creating an array-based model of the document.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein said processing step comprises performing a transformation on the document.

5. A method for efficient processing of a document encoded in a markup language, the method comprising the steps of:

receiving a document intended for delivery to a target;

processing the document using a special purpose processor dedicated to processing of documents encoded in the markup language, said special purpose processor being provided as a first integrated circuit on a printed circuit board; and

passing, by communicating through a bus of a printed circuit board, the processed document to the target for further processing by a general purpose processor including a microprocessor that is provided as a second intergrate circuit, separate from the special purpose processor, on the oriented circuit board, wherein said processing step comprises creating a tree-based model of the document.

6. A method for efficient processing of a document encoded in a markup language, the method comprising the steps of:

receiving a document intended for delivery to a target;

processing the document using a special purpose processor dedicated to processing of documents encoded in the markup language, said special purpose processor being provided as a first integrated circuit on a printed circuit board; and

gassing, by communicating through a bus of a printed circuit board, the processed document to the target for further processing by general purpose processor including a microprocessor that is provided as a second integrated circuit, separate from the special purpose processor, on the printed circuit board, wherein said special purpose processor as specially configured for parsing the document.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein said passing step comprises communicating the document, as processed, to an application process through a bus of a printed circuit board.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein said passing step comprises communicating the document, as processed, to a target via a communications network.

9. The method of claim 6, wherein the target is a local application process.

10. The method of claim 6, wherein the target is a remote device.

11. A method for efficient processing of a document encoded in a markup language, the method comprising the steps of:

receiving a document intended for delivery to a target;

processing the document using a special purpose processor dedicated to processing of documents encoded in the markup language, said special purpose processor being provided as a first integrated circuit on a printed circuit board; and

passing, by communicating through a bus of a printed circuit board, the processed document to the target for further processing by a general purpose processor including a microprocessor that is provided as a second integrated circuit, separate from the special purpose processor, on the printed circuit board, wherein said special purpose processor comprises a supplemental general purpose microprocessor for executing computer readable code for parsing the document, said supplemental general purpose microprocessor being distinct from a primary general purpose microprocessor.

12. A system for efficient processing of a document encoded in a markup language, the system comprising

a memory provided on a printed circuit board;

a general purpose processor provided on said printed circuit board and being operatively connected to said memo for executing computer readable code stored in said memory, said computer readable code configuring said general purpose processor to perform processing distinct from certain processing of documents encoded in the markup language; and

a special purpose processor provided as an integrated circuit on said printed circuit board and being operatively connected to said memory said special purpose processor being specially configured for certain processing of documents encoded in the markup language;

wherein said special purpose processor is a dedicated processor, and wherein said special purpose processor is configured for parsing documents encoded in machine-oriented extensible markup language (mXML).

13. The system of claim 12, wherein said special purpose processor is configured for transforming documents encoded in extensible markup language (XML).

14. A system for efficient processing of a document encoded in a markup language, the system comprising:

a memory provided on a printed circuit board;

a general purpose processor provided on said printed circuit board and being operatively connected to said memory for executing computer readable code stored in said memory, said computer readable code configuring said general purpose processor to perform processing distinct from certain processing of documents encoded in the markup language; and

a special purpose processor provided as an integrated circuit on said printed circuit board and being operatively connected to said memory said special purpose processor being a specially configured for certain processing of documents encoded in the markup language;

wherein said special purpose processor is a dedicated processor, and wherein said special purpose processor comprises a dedicated integrated circuit that is specially configured for processing the document.

15. The system of claim 14, further comprising:

a telecommunications device operatively connected to said general purpose processor and capable of communicating via a communications network; and

a first program stored in said memory and executable by said general purpose processor for controlling said special purpose processor to process the document, and for communicating the document, as processed, to a target.

16. The system of claim 15, further comprising:

a second program stored in the memory and executable by said general purpose processor for recognizing the document as encoded in the markup language and responsively controlling said special purpose processor to process the document.

17. The system of claim 14, wherein said special purpose processor comprises a supplemental general purpose processor for executing computer readable code for processing the document.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein said computer readable code is configured for processing the document in machine-oriented extensible markup language (mXML).

19. The system of claim 14, further comprising:

a telecommunications device operatively connected to said general purpose processor and capable of communicating via a communications network; and

a first program stored in said memory and executable by said general purpose processor for controlling said special purpose processor to process the document, and for communicating the document, as processed, to a target.

20. The system of claim 19, further comprising:

a second program stored in the memory and executable by said general purpose processor for recognizing the document as encoded in the markup language and responsively controlling said special purpose processor to process the document.