Generic infrastructure for converting documents between formats with merge capabilities

• US 7,478,170 B2
• Filed: 03/05/2002
• Issued: 01/13/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 03/05/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Oracle America, Inc. (Oracle Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Sun Microsystems Incorporated (Oracle Corporation)
• Inventors: Ong, Herbert T., Cameron, Brian A., Mak, Mingchi S., Arora, Akhil K., Rank, Paul J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Caldwell; Andrew
• Assistant Examiner(s): FORD, GRANT M
• Application Number:
  US10/091,204
• Publication Number:
  US 20030182450A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,506 Days
• Field of Search: 709/217, 709/246, 709/201, 709203-204, 709/230, 709/219, 709/227, 707/1, 707/10, 707/200, 707/201, 707/3, 707/100, 715/501, 715522-524, 715/864, 715/501.1, 715/513, 719/311
• US Class Current: 709/246
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/93 Document management systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/2871 Implementation details of single intermediate entities
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/565 Conversion or adaptation of application format or content adding application control or application functional data H04L67/561
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols

Abstract

A generic conversion framework that allows developers to develop custom plug-in conversion algorithms and/or merge algorithms (referred to as pluggable modules). In one embodiment, document merging may be split into two processes including a document differencing process and a document merging process. The converter, differencing and merger processes may be implemented as separate pluggable modules, allowing multiple, independent passes of implementations of the differencing process and the merge process. The framework may accept document converter plug-in modules, merger plug-in modules and/or differencing plug-in modules to be added, updated or replaced as needed. In one embodiment, the modules may be plugged into the framework dynamically at runtime. In one embodiment, a plug-in module of one type may be used with two or more different modules of another type.

Claims

1. A system, comprising:

a server configured to store documents in one or more server formats each supported by one or more applications of the server, wherein the documents are available to one or more devices via a network;

a small device configured to couple to the server;

wherein the server is further configured to plug a converter module into a framework configured to accept one or more pluggable modules;

wherein the converter module is configured to generate a document in a small device format from one of the documents in one of the one or more server formats;

wherein the server is further configured to provide the document in the small device format to the small device; and

wherein the converter module is further configured to;

receive a modified version of the document in the small device format from the small device; and

generate a modified version of the document in the server format from the modified version of the document in the small device format.

2. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the server formats include office document formats.

3. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein, to generate a document in one of the one or more small device formats, the converter module is further configured to exclude one or more format features of the document in the server format from the document in the small device format.

4. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein, to generate a modified version of the document in the server format from the modified version of the document in the small device format, the converter module is further configured to restore one or more format features of the document in the server format excluded from the document in the small device format.

5. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the server is further configured to plug a merger module into the framework;

and

wherein the merger module is configured to merge the modified version of the document in the server format with the document in the server format to generate a synchronized version of the document in the server format.

6. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the server is further configured to:

plug a merger module into the framework;

plug a differencing module into the framework;

generate a version of the document in an interim format from the document in the server format;

wherein the converter module is further configured to generate a modified version of the document in the interim format from the modified version of the document in the small device format;

wherein the differencing module is configured to determine differences between the modified version of the document in the interim format and the version of the document in the interim format, wherein each determined difference indicates changed content of the modified version of the document in the interim format;

wherein, for each of the determined differences, the merger module is further configured to merge corresponding changed content of the modified version of the document in the interim format with the version of the document in the interim format to generate a synchronized version of the document in the interim format.

7. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the server is further configured to:

unplug the converter module from the framework;

plug a different converter module into the framework.

8. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the server is further configured to plug a merger module into the framework, wherein the merger module is configured to merge modified versions of documents in the server format with corresponding original versions of the documents in the server format to generate synchronized versions of the documents in the server format.

9. The system as recited in claim 5, wherein the server is further configured to plug a differencing module into the framework, and wherein the differencing module is configured to:

determine differences between the modified version of the document in the server format and the document in the server format; and

provide the determined differences to the merger module, wherein each determined difference indicates changed content of the modified version of the document in the server format.

10. The system as recited in claim 6, wherein the server is further configured to generate a synchronized version of the document in the server format from the synchronized version of the document in the interim format.

11. The system as recited in claim 7, wherein the different converter module is configured to:

generate documents in a different one of the one or more small device formats from documents in a different one of the one or more server formats; and

generate modified versions of documents in the different server format from modified versions of documents in the different small device format.

12. The system as recited in claim 8, wherein the server is further configured to plug a differencing module into the framework, wherein the differencing module is configured to determine differences between modified versions of documents in the server format and corresponding original versions of the documents in the server format.

13. The system as recited in claim 9, wherein, for each of the determined differences, the merger module is further configured to merge corresponding changed content of the modified version of the document in the server format with the document in the server format.

14. The system as recited in claim 12, wherein the server comprises a converter factory configured to generate the converter module, the merger module and the differencing module for plugging into the framework.

15. A server, comprising:

a processor;

a memory operable to store program instructions, wherein the program instructions are executable by the processor to;

implement a framework configured to receive pluggable converter modules configured to convert documents in one or more office document formats to and from one or more small device document formats;

plug one of the converter modules into the framework; and

wherein the converter module is executable by the processor to generate a small device document in a particular one of the one or more small device formats from one of the documents in a particular one of the one or more office document formats;

wherein the program instructions are farther executable by the processor to send the small device document to a small device coupled to the server;

wherein the converter module is further executable by the processor to;

receive a modified version of the small device document from the small device; and

generate a modified version of the document in the particular office document format from the modified version of the small device document in the particular small device format.

16. The server as recited in claim 15, wherein, to generate a small device document in a particular one of the one or more small device formats from one of the documents in a particular one of the one or more office document formats, the converter module is farther executable by the processor to exclude one or more format features of the document from the small device document.

17. The server as recited in claim 15, wherein, to generate a modified version of the document in the particular office document format from a modified version of the small device document in the particular small device format, the particular converter module is farther executable by the processor to restore one or more format features of the document excluded from the small device document.

18. The server as recited in claim 15, wherein the program instructions are further executable by the processor to plug a merger module into the framework;

and

wherein the merger module is executable by the processor to merge the modified version of the document in the particular office document format with the document in the particular office document format to generate a synchronized version of the document in the particular office document format.

19. The server as recited in claim 15, wherein the program instructions are further executable by the processor to:

plug a merger module into the framework;

plug a differencing module into the framework;

generate a version of the document in an interim format from the document in the server format;

wherein the converter module is executable by the processor to generate a modified version of the document in the interim format from the modified version of the document in the small device format;

wherein the differencing module is executable by the processor to determine differences between the modified version of the document in the interim format and the version of the document in the interim format, wherein each determined difference indicates changed content of the modified version of the document in the interim format;

wherein, for each of the determined differences, the merger module is further executable by the processor to merge corresponding changed content of the modified version of the document in the interim format with the version of the document in the interim format to generate a synchronized version of the document in the interim format.

20. The server as recited in claim 15, wherein the program instructions are further executable by the processor to plug a different converter module into the framework;

and

wherein the different converter module is executable by the processor to generate a small device document in a different one of the one or more small device formats from one of the documents in a different one of the one or more office document formats.

21. The server as recited in claim 15, wherein the framework is further configured to receive pluggable merger modules configured to merge modified versions of small device documents with corresponding documents in one of the office document formats to generate synchronized versions of the documents.

22. The server as recited in claim 18, wherein the program instructions are further executable by the processor to plug a differencing module into the framework, and wherein the differencing module is executable by the processor to:

determine differences between the modified version of the document in the particular office document format and the document in the particular office document format; and

provide the determined differences to the merger module, wherein each determined difference indicates changed content of the modified version of the document in the particular office document format.

23. The server as recited in claim 19, wherein the program instructions are further executable by the processor to generate a synchronized version of the document in the server format from the synchronized version of the document in the interim format.

24. The server as recited in claim 21, wherein the framework is further configured to receive pluggable differencing modules configured to determine differences between modified versions of small device documents and corresponding documents in one of the office document formats.

25. The server as recited in claim 22, wherein, for each of the determined differences, the merger module is further executable by the processor to merge corresponding changed content of the modified version of the document in the particular office document format with the document in the particular office document format.

26. The server as recited in claim 24, wherein the program instructions are further executable by the processor to implement a converter factory configured to generate the converter modules, the merger modules and the differencing modules for plugging into the framework.

27. A method, comprising:

plugging a pluggable converter module into a framework configured to receive one or more pluggable modules, wherein the converter module is configured to convert office documents in an office document format to and from small device documents in a small device format;

the converter module generating a small device document in the small device format from an office document in the office document format;

wherein said generating a small device document in the small device format comprises excluding one or more format features of the office document from the small device document;

modifying the small device document;

the converter module generating a modified version of the office document in the office document format from the modified version of the small device document in the small device format; and

wherein said generating a modified version of the office document in the office document format comprises restoring the one or more format features of the office document excluded from the small device document.

28. The method as recited in claim 27, further comprising:

plugging a pluggable merger module into the framework; and

the pluggable merger module merging the modified version of the office document in the office document format with the office document in the office document format to generate a synchronized version of the office document in the office document format.

29. The method as recited in claim 27, further comprising:

plugging a pluggable differencing module into the framework;

plugging a pluggable merger module into the framework;

the differencing module determining differences between the modified version of the office document and the office document, wherein each determined difference indicates changed content of the modified version of the office document; and

for each of the determined differences, the merger module merging corresponding changed content of the modified version of the office document in the particular office document format with the document in the particular office document format to generate a synchronized version of the office document in the office document format.

30. The method as recited in claim 27, further comprising:

the converter module generating a modified version of the office document in an interim format from the modified version of the small device document in the small device format;

generating a version of the office document in the interim format from the office document in the office document format;

plugging a pluggable merger module into the framework;

the pluggable merger module merging the modified version of the office document in the interim format with the office document in the interim format to generate a synchronized version of the office document in the interim format.

31. The method as recited in claim 27, further comprising:

the converter module generating a modified version of the office document in an interim format from the modified version of the small device document in the small device format;

generating a version of the office document in the interim format from the office document in the office document format;

plugging a pluggable differencing module into the framework;

plugging a pluggable merger module into the framework;

the differencing module determining differences between the modified version of the office document in the interim format and the office document in the interim format, wherein each determined difference indicates changed content of the modified version of the office document in the interim format; and

for each of the determined differences, the merger module merging corresponding changed content of the modified version of the office document in the interim format with the office document in the interim format to generate a synchronized version of the office document in the interim format.

32. The method as recited in claim 27, further comprising plugging a pluggable differencing module into the framework, wherein the differencing module is configured to determine differences between modified versions of small device documents in the small device format and corresponding office documents in the office document format.

33. The method as recited in claim 27, further comprising plugging a pluggable merger module into the framework, wherein the merger module is configured to merge modified versions of small device documents in the small device format with corresponding office documents in the office document format to generate synchronized versions of the office documents.

34. The method as recited in claim 27, further comprising plugging a different pluggable converter module into the framework, wherein the different converter module is configured to convert office documents in a different office document format to and from small device documents in a different small device format.

35. The method as recited in claim 30, further comprising generating a synchronized version of the office document in the office format from the synchronized version of the office document in the interim format.

36. The method as recited in claim 31, further comprising generating a synchronized version of the office document in the office format from the synchronized version of the office document in the interim format.

37. The method as recited in claim 34, further comprising plugging a pluggable differencing module into the framework, wherein the differencing module is configured to determine differences between modified versions of small device documents in the different small device format and corresponding office documents in the different office document format.

38. The method as recited in claim 34, further comprising plugging a pluggable merger module into the framework, wherein the merger module is configured to merge modified versions of small device documents in the different small device format with corresponding office documents in the different office document format to generate synchronized versions of the office documents.

39. A tangible, computer-accessible storage medium, comprising program instructions, wherein the program instructions are computer-executable to implement:

plugging a pluggable converter module into a framework configured to receive one or more pluggable modules, wherein the converter module is configured to convert office documents in an office document format to and from small device documents in a small device format;

the converter module generating a small device document in the small device format from an office document in the office document format;

wherein said generating a small device document in the small device format comprises excluding one or more format features of the office document from the small device document;

modifying the small device document;

the converter module generating a modified version of the office document in the office document format from the modified version of the small device document in the small device format; and

wherein said generating a modified version of the office document in the office document format comprises restoring the one or more format features of the office document excluded from the small device document.

40. The tangible, computer-accessible storage medium as recited in claim 39, wherein the program instructions are further computer-executable to implement:

plugging a pluggable differencing module into the framework;

plugging a pluggable merger module into the framework;

the differencing module determining differences between the modified version of the office document and the office document, wherein each determined difference indicates changed content of the modified version of the office document; and

for each of the determined differences, the merger module merging corresponding changed content of the modified version of the office document in the particular office document format with the document in the particular office document format to generate a synchronized version of the office document in the office document format.

41. The tangible, computer-accessible storage medium as recited in claim 39, wherein the program instructions are further computer-executable to implement:

the converter module generating a modified version of the office document in an interim format from the modified version of the small device document in the small device format;

generating a version of the office document in the interim format from the office document in the office document format;

plugging a pluggable merger module into the framework;

the pluggable merger module merging the modified version of the office document in the interim format with the office document in the interim format to generate a synchronized version of the office document in the interim format; and

generating a synchronized version of the office document in the office format from the synchronized version of the office document in the interim format.

42. The tangible, computer-accessible storage medium as recited in claim 39, wherein the program instructions are further computer-executable to implement plugging a different pluggable converter module into the framework, wherein the different converter module is configured to convert office documents in a different office document format to and from small device documents in a different small device format.

43. The tangible, computer-accessible storage medium as recited in claim 42, wherein the program instructions are further computer-executable to implement plugging a pluggable differencing module into the framework, wherein the differencing module is configured to determine differences between modified versions of small device documents in the different small device format and corresponding office documents in the different office document format.

44. The tangible, computer-accessible storage medium as recited in claim 42, wherein the program instructions are further computer-executable to implement plugging a pluggable merger module into the framework, wherein the merger module is configured to merge modified versions of small device documents in the different small device format with corresponding office documents in the different office document format to generate synchronized versions of the office documents.