System and method for accessing content from selected sources via a document processing device

• US 7,644,067 B2
• Filed: 06/14/2006
• Issued: 01/05/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 06/14/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba (Toshiba Corporation), Toshiba Tec Corporation (Toshiba Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba (Toshiba Corporation), Toshiba Tec Corporation (Toshiba Corporation)
• Inventors: Yeung, Michael, Mathur, Alok, Garg, Man Mohan
• Primary Examiner(s): Pham; Khanh B
• Assistant Examiner(s): LODHI, ANDALIB FT
• Application Number:
  US11/453,130
• Publication Number:
  US 20070294204A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,301 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 707/770
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/93 Document management systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9574 of access to content, e.g. by caching
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/972 Access to data in other repository systems, e.g. legacy data or dynamic Web page generation

Abstract

The subject application is directed to a system and method for the content retrieval and routing via a document processing device. The document processing device first receives output routing data from an associated user corresponding to a desired destination for retrieved content. The device then receives a content query from the user corresponding to desired content data available from an external source. The query is then routed to the external source and content data in response to the query is retrieved by the document processing device. The content data is then routed from the document processing device to the designated output destination. The document processing device then periodically monitors for changes to the content data at the external source and when any changes are detected, updated content data is retrieved and forwarded to the output destination.

Claims

1. A content retrieval and routing via a document processing device having a CPU and further comprising:

means for receiving identification data corresponding to an associated user via a user interface of an associated document processing device;

means for receiving at least one electronic document selected by the associated user;

means for receiving routing data representative of at least one desired output destination;

means for receiving query data from the associated user, which query data is representative of desired content from at least one of a plurality of external data sources;

means for executing a query on the at least one external data source in accordance with received query data;

means for generating link data corresponding to received query data;

means for merging link data corresponding to the received query data with the at least one electronic document so as to form a composite electronic document inclusive of the electronic document and the link data;

means for receiving a plurality of document rendering requests corresponding to the composite electronic document;

means for retrieving content data from the at least one external data source in accordance with the execution of the query in accordance with link data merged with the electronic document;

integration means for integrating the at least one electronic document and the retrieved content data into a contiguous hybrid electronic document so as to form an electronic document formed from a merger thereof;

routing means for routing the hybrid electronic document to the at least one associated output in accordance with received routing data;

output means for outputting the hybrid electronic document in accordance with received routing data;

means for storing the electronic document and merged link data in an associated data storage;

means for selectively retrieving the stored electronic document and merged link data from the associated data storage;

means for re-executing the query on the at least one external data source in accordance with the link data merged with the electronic document;

means for receiving secondary routing data corresponding to the stored electronic document and merged link data retrieved from the associated data storage;

means for retrieving updated content data from the at least one external data source in accordance with the re-executed query;

wherein the integration means includes means for integrating the at least one updated hybrid electronic document and updated content data into an updated contiguous hybrid electronic document so as to form an updated electronic document output formed from the merger thereof; and

means for commencing operation of the routing means and output means in connection with the updated hybrid electronic document in accordance with received secondary routing data.

2. The content retrieval and routing document processing device of claim 1 wherein the at least one output is comprised of at least one of a print, electronic mail, data file, wireless transmission and visual display.

3. The content retrieval and routing document processing device of claim 1 further comprising:

monitoring means for monitoring changes in content data; and

means for initializing the means for retrieving updated content data upon a detection of changed content data by the monitoring means.

4. The content retrieval and routing document processing device of claim 1 further comprising network interface means for routing the query data to the at least one external data source via an associated network.

5. The content retrieval and routing document processing device of claim 1 wherein the content data includes at least one of financial data, weather data, schedule data, event data, website data and map data.

6. A method for content retrieval and routing via a document processing device comprising the steps of:

receiving identification data corresponding to an associated user via a user interface of an associated document processing device;

receiving at least one electronic document selected by the associated user;

receiving routing data representative of at least one desired output destination;

receiving query data from the associated user, which query data is representative of desired content from at least one of a plurality of external data sources;

executing a query on the at least one external data source in accordance with received query data;

generating link data corresponding to received query data;

merging link data corresponding to the received query data with the at least one electronic document so as to form a composite electronic document inclusive of the electronic document and the link data;

receiving a plurality of document rendering requests corresponding to the composite electronic document;

retrieving content data from the at least one external data source in accordance with the execution of the query in accordance with link data merged with the electronic document;

integrating the at least one electronic document and the retrieved content data into a contiguous hybrid electronic document so as to form an electronic document formed from a merger thereof;

routing the hybrid electronic document to the at least one associated output in accordance with received routing data;

outputting the hybrid electronic document in accordance with received routing data;

storing the electronic document and merged link data in an associated data storage;

selectively retrieving the stored electronic document and merged link data from the associated data storage;

re-executing the query on the at least one external data source in accordance with the link data merged with the electronic document;

receiving secondary routing data corresponding to the stored electronic document and merged link data retrieved from the associated data storage;

retrieving updated content data from the at least one external data source in accordance with the re-executed query;

integrating the at least one updated hybrid electronic document and updated content data into an updated contiguous hybrid electronic document so as to form an updated electronic document output formed from the merger thereof; and

commencing operation of the routing and output in connection with the updated hybrid electronic document in accordance with received secondary routing data.

7. The method for content retrieval and routing via a document processing device of claim 6 wherein the at least one output is comprised of at least one of a print, electronic mail, data file, wireless transmission and visual display.

8. The method for content retrieval and routing via a document processing device of claim 6 further comprising the steps of:

monitoring changes in content data; and

commencing the step of updating upon a detection of changed content data.

9. The method for content retrieval and routing via document processing device of claim 6 further comprising the step of routing the query data to the at least one external data source via an associated network.

10. The method for content retrieval and routing via a document processing device of claim 6 wherein the content data includes at least one of financial data, weather data, schedule data, event data, website data and map data.

11. A computer-implemented method for content retrieval and routing via a document processing device comprising the steps of:

receiving identification data corresponding to an associated user via a user interface of an associated document processing device;

receiving at least one electronic document selected by the associated user;

receiving routing data representative of at least one desired output destination;

receiving query data from the associated user, which query data is representative of desired content from at least one of a plurality of external data sources;

executing a query on the at least one external data source in accordance with received query data;

generating link data corresponding to received query data;

merging link data corresponding to the received query data with the at least one electronic document so as to form a composite electronic document inclusive of the electronic document and the link data;

receiving a plurality of document rendering requests corresponding to the composite electronic document;

retrieving content data from the at least one external data source in accordance with the execution of the query in accordance with link data merged with the electronic document;

integrating the at least one electronic document and the retrieved content data into a contiguous hybrid electronic document so as to form an electronic document formed from a merger thereof;

routing the hybrid electronic document to the at least one associated output in accordance with received routing data;

outputting the hybrid electronic document in accordance with received routing data;

storing the electronic document and merged link data in an associated data storage;

selectively retrieving the stored electronic document and merged link data from the associated data storage;

re-executing the query on the at least one external data source in accordance with the link data merged with the electronic document;

receiving secondary routing data corresponding to the stored electronic document and merged link data retrieved from the associated data storage;

retrieving updated content data from the at least one external data source in accordance with the re-executed query;

integrating the at least one updated hybrid electronic document and updated content data into an updated contiguous hybrid electronic document so as to form an updated electronic document output formed from the merger thereof; and

commencing operation of the routing and output in connection with the updated hybrid electronic document in accordance with received secondary routing data.

12. The computer-implemented method for content retrieval and routing via a document processing device of claim 11 wherein the at least one output is comprised of at least one of a print, electronic mail, data file, wireless transmission and visual display and wherein the content data includes at least one of financial data, weather data, schedule data, event data, website data and map data.

13. The computer-implemented method for content retrieval and routing via a document processing device of claim 11 further comprising the steps of:

monitoring changes in content data; and

commencing the step of updating upon a detection of changed content data.

14. The computer-implemented method for content retrieval and routing via document processing device of claim 11 further comprising the step of routing the query data to the at least one external data source via an associated network.