Method and apparatus for maintaining relationships between parts in a package

• US 7,836,094 B2
• Filed: 01/25/2006
• Issued: 11/16/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 04/30/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Shur, Andrey, Jones, Brian, Pollock, Josh, Foehr, Oliver, Sheth, Sarjana, Dunietz, Jerry, Hillberg, Mike, MacKenzie, Bruce, Paoli, Jean, Emerson, Daniel, Ornstein, David
• Primary Examiner(s): ALAM, SHAHID AL
• Application Number:
  US11/275,721
• Publication Number:
  US 20060143195A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,756 Days
• Field of Search: 707/9, 707/10, 707/100, 707/104.1, 707/803, 715/204, 715/234, 717/108
• US Class Current: 707/803
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/103 Formatting, i.e. changing of presentation of documents automatic justification G06F40/189; automatic line break hyphenation G06F40/191
• 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: 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
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99945 Object-oriented database structure processing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99953 Recoverability

Abstract

Modular content framework and document format methods and systems are described. The described framework and format define a set of building blocks for composing, packaging, distributing, and rendering document-centered content. These building blocks define a platform-independent framework for document formats that enable software and hardware systems to generate, exchange, and display documents reliably and consistently. The framework and format have been designed in a flexible and extensible fashion. In addition to this general framework and format, a particular format, known as the reach package format, is defined using the general framework. The reach package format is a format for storing paginated documents. The contents of a reach package can be displayed or printed with full fidelity among devices and applications in a wide range of environments and across a wide range of scenarios.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

identifying a package containing a plurality of parts, wherein the package defines a document, wherein the document and parts of the document are described using an extensible markup language (XML);

identifying relationships associated with the plurality of parts, wherein each relationship defines a first related part, a second related part and a nature of the relationship between the first related part and the second related part, wherein the relationships are described using the extensible markup language (XML);

discovering at least one connection between the plurality of parts in the package, wherein a connection is discovered by analyzing the relationship associated with the one or more parts in the package;

retrieving at least one part from the package based on information contained in the identified relationships; and

rendering the package containing the plurality of parts.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising storing information regarding relationships associated with the plurality of parts.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising retrieving relationship information associated with the package.

4. A computer-readable media including computer instructions executable on a computer to perform acts comprising:

identifying a package containing a plurality of parts, wherein the package defines a document, wherein the document and parts of the document are described using an extensible markup language (XML);

identifying relationships associated with the plurality of parts, wherein each relationship defines a first related part, a second related part and a nature of the relationship between the first related part and the second related part, wherein the relationships are described using the extensible markup language (XML);

discovering at least one connection between the plurality of parts in the package, wherein a connection is discovered by analyzing the relationship associated with the one or more parts in the package;

retrieving at least one part from the package based on information contained in the identified relationships; and

rendering the package containing the plurality of parts.

5. The computer-readable media of claim 4, further comprising storing information regarding relationships associated with the plurality of parts.

6. The computer-readable media of claim 4, further comprising retrieving relationship information associated with the package.