XML printer system

• US 7,959,083 B2
• Filed: 07/06/2007
• Issued: 06/14/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 07/17/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Zebra Technologies Corporation
• Original Assignee: ZIH Corp. (Zebra Technologies Corporation)
• Inventors: Alleshouse, Bruce N.
• Primary Examiner(s): LE, THIEN MINH
• Application Number:
  US11/774,152
• Publication Number:
  US 20080030771A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,439 Days
• Field of Search: 235/462.01, 235/432, 235/383, 235/375, 235/487
• US Class Current: 235/462.01
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1208 resulting in improved quality of the output result, e.g. print layout, colours, workflows, print preview
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1243 Variable data printing, e.g. document forms, templates, labels, coupons, advertisements, logos, watermarks, transactional printing, fixed content versioning
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1246 by handling markup languages, e.g. XSL, XML, HTML
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1285 Remote printer device, e.g. being remote from client or server
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/106 Display of layout of documents; Previewing
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/117 Tagging; Marking up details of markup languages G06F40/143; Designating a block; Setting of attributes style sheets, e.g. eXtensible Stylesheet Language Transformation [XSLT], G06F40/154
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/143 Markup, e.g. Standard Generalized Markup Language [SGML] or Document Type Definition [DTD]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/154 Tree transformation for tree-structured or markup documents, e.g. XSLT, XSL-FO or stylesheets

Abstract

An XML processing system for use in a barcode printer apparatus includes a computer system operatively coupled to the barcode printer apparatus. The computer system further includes an XML processor configured to receive, parse, and process an XML input data stream and obtain schema identified in the XML data stream from a schema repository. The XML processor validates the XML data stream based upon the schema obtained. Also included is an XSLT processor configured to obtain a stylesheet identified in the XML data stream from a stylesheet repository. The XSLT processor transforms data in the XML input data stream into transformed XML data based upon the stylesheet obtained. Also, an XSLFO processor formats the transformed XML data into formatted XML data based upon XSLFO instructions contained in the stylesheet. A barcode rendering subsystem then receives the formatted XML data and generates a bit map representative of the bar code label. Alternatively, the system includes a SAX processor configured to receive and process the XML input data stream, a ZPL processor configured to receive and process a format template, a variable data integrator configured to develop an association between the XML data contained in the XML input data stream and the format template, a formatting engine configured to format the associated XML data according to a format governed by the format template, and a barcode rendering engine configured to receive the associated and formatted XML data and generate a bit map representative of the bar code label.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

a processor configured to receive an extensible markup language (XML) input data stream, and associate XML data contained in the XML input data stream and a format template,

wherein the processor is configured to format the associated XML data according to a format governed by the format template, and

wherein the processor is configured to generate a printable representation of at least a portion of a media based on the formatted XML data.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the format template is configured to govern formatting of data in accordance with a proprietary programming language.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to function as an SAX processor to receive the XML input data stream.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the processor is operatively couplable to a print head mechanism, the processor and printer being located in a common enclosure.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the processor is operatively couplable to a printer, the processor and printer being located in separate enclosures.

6. An apparatus comprising:

a processor configured to receive an extensible markup language (XML) data stream,

wherein the processor is configured to obtain a stylesheet either from the XML data stream or a stylesheet repository, and further, to transform the data in the XML data stream based upon the stylesheet, the data being transformed for subsequent generation of a printable representation of at least a portion of a media based thereon.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the processor being configured to obtain a stylesheet includes being configured to obtain a stylesheet identified in the XML data stream.

8. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the processor is further configured to format the transformed XML data into formatted XML data based upon XSLFO instructions contained in the stylesheet, generation of the printable representation being based in part upon the formatted XML data.

9. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the processor is further configured to obtain a schema identified in the XML data stream, and validate at least a portion of the XML data stream based on the schema.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the processor being configured to validate at least a portion of the XML data stream includes being configured to validate at least a portion of the XML data stream according to a Document Type Definition (DTD).

11. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the schema is stored in a remote repository, the processor being configured to obtain the schema remotely.

12. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the processor is configured to transform the data in response to a request from an external source to generate the printable representation of at least a portion of the media.

13. A computer-readable storage medium having computer-readable program code portions stored therein, the computer-readable program code portions comprising:

a first executable portion configured to receive an extensible markup language (XML) input data stream, and associate XML data contained in the XML input data stream and a format template;

a second executable portion configured to format the associated XML data according to a format governed by the format template; and

a third executable portion configured to generate a printable representation of at least a portion of a media based on the formatted XML data.

14. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 13, wherein the format template is configured to govern formatting of data in accordance with a proprietary programming language.

15. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 13, wherein the first executable portion is configured to function as an SAX processor to receive the XML input data stream.

16. A computer-readable storage medium having computer-readable program code portions stored therein, the computer-readable program code portions comprising:

a first executable portion configured to receive an extensible markup language (XML) data stream;

a second executable portion configured to obtain a stylesheet either from the XML data stream or a stylesheet repository; and

a third executable portion configured to transform the data in the XML data stream based upon the stylesheet, the data being transformed for subsequent generation of a printable representation of at least a portion of a media based thereon.

17. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 16, wherein the second executable portion being configured to obtain a stylesheet includes being configured to obtain a stylesheet identified in the XML data stream.

18. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 16, wherein the computer-readable program code portions further comprise a fourth executable portion configured to format the transformed XML data into formatted XML data based upon XSLFO instructions contained in the stylesheet, generation of the printable representation being based in part upon the formatted XML data.

19. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 16, wherein the computer-readable program code portions further comprise a fourth executable portion configured to obtain a schema identified in the XML data stream, and validate at least a portion of the XML data stream based on the schema.

20. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 19, wherein the fourth executable portion being configured to validate at least a portion of the XML data stream includes being configured to validate at least a portion of the XML data stream according to a Document Type Definition (DTD).

21. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 19, wherein the schema is stored in a remote repository, the fourth executable portion being configured to obtain the schema remotely.

22. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 16, wherein the third executable portion is configured to transform the data in response to a request from an external source to generate the printable representation of at least a portion of the media.