Data processing method to provide a generalized link from a reference point in an on-line book to an arbitrary multimedia object which can be dynamically updated

• US 5,367,621 A
• Filed: 09/06/1991
• Issued: 11/22/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 09/06/1991
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Moran, Michael E., Cohen, Amy S. C., Gleason, Christopher F., Hyatt, Donald R., Wecker, Alan J., Stevens, Jeffrey N.
• Primary Examiner(s): Herndon, Heather R.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Feild, Joseph H.
• Application Number:
  US07/755,709
• Time in Patent Office: 1,173 Days
• Field of Search: 395/153, 395/154, 395/275, 395/600, 395/148, 395/144, 340/717, 340/721, 340/345, 345/1, 345/2, 364/282.1
• US Class Current: 715/209
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/93 Document management systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/12 Use of codes for handling textual entities
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/134 Hyperlinking
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/137 Hierarchical processing, e.g. outlines

Abstract

A generalized link is provided in a data processing system to enable referencing from a point within an organized hierarchy of an on-line softcopy text, to an arbitrary multimedia object. The multimedia object may be represented by data which is also contained within the softcopy book or alternately which may be separate from the book as a separate file or a separate data base. This enables an author at the time of writing the softcopy book, to specify specific multimedia hardware and software support for the display of multimedia presentations accompanying the text in the book. Provision is made for the author to specify alternate forms of multimedia presentation, where a particular specified multimedia apparatus or supporting software is not present at a workstation. An improved method for dynamically updating a softcopy book to a new edition is also disclosed.

Claims

1. A method in a data processing system including a processor, for providing a link from a reference point within a hierarchy of a formatted text stream in an on-line book, to a multimedia object, comprising the steps of:

storing a formatted text stream in said data processing system, said formatted text stream including a link description which includes multimedia device-type information, object location information and multimedia control information for a target multimedia object, said formatted text stream further including a link tag associated with said link description said tag identifying a source location in said formatted text stream from which a link is established to said target multimedia object;

storing said multimedia object in said data processing system at a location identified by said location information, said object including multimedia data representing a multimedia presentation;

storing a multimedia handler program in said data processing system, said processor controlling operations of a multimedia output device characterized by said multimedia device-type information, when said processor executes said handler program;

displaying said formatted text stream in said data processing system;

activating said link tag in said data processing system and in response thereto, transferring from said link description to said processor, said multimedia control information;

executing said multimedia handler program in said processor using said control information and in response thereto, transferring from said location identified by said location information to said multimedia output device, said multimedia data from said multimedia object;

producing said multimedia presentation with said multimedia output device in using said multimedia data from said multimedia object;

said link description includes a first object name, a first object location and first device control information for a first multimedia object and said link description further includes a second object name, a second object location and second device control information for a second device control information for a second multimedia object;

(a) determining with said processor executing said multimedia handler program whether said multimedia output device is capable of producing said multimedia presentation with said first multimedia object;

(b) producing said multimedia presentation with said multimedia output device using said multimedia data from said first multimedia object, upon determining that said multimedia output device is capable of producing said presentation;

(c) determining with said processor executing said multimedia handler program whether said multimedia output device is capable of producing said multimedia presentation with said second multimedia object upon determining that said multimedia output device is not capable of producing said presentation with said first object;

(d) producing said multimedia presentation with said multimedia output device using multimedia data from said second multimedia object upon determining that said multimedia output device is not capable of producing said presentation with said first object.

2. A method in a data processing system including a processor, for providing a link from a reference point within a hierarchy of a formatted text stream in an on-line book, to a multimedia object, comprising the steps of:

storing a formatted text stream in said data processing system, said formatted text stream including a link description which includes multimedia device-type information, object location information and multimedia control information for a target multimedia object, said formatted text stream further including a link tag associated with said link description said tag identifying a source location in said formatted text stream from which a link is established to said target multimedia object;

storing said multimedia object in said data processing system at a location identified by said location information, said object including multimedia data representing a multimedia presentation;

storing a multimedia handler program in said data processing system, said processor controlling operations of a multimedia output device characterized by said multimedia device-type information, when said processor executes said handler program;

displaying said formatted text stream in said data processing system;

activating said link tag in said data processing system and in response thereto, transferring from said link description to said processor, said multimedia control information;

executing said multimedia handler program in said processor using said control information and in response thereto, transferring from said location identified by said location information to said multimedia output device, said multimedia data from said multimedia object;

producing said multimedia presentation with said multimedia output device in using said multimedia data from said multimedia object;

storing an I/O support profile in said data processing system, specifying said multimedia output device which is coupled to said data processing system;

determining with said processor executing said multimedia handler program to determine whether said multimedia output device is capable of producing said multimedia presentation with said multimedia object;

producing said multimedia presentation with said multimedia output device using said multimedia data from said multimedia object, upon determining that said multimedia output device is capable of producing said presentation.

3. A method in a data processing system including a processor, for providing a link from a reference point within a hierarchy of a formatted text stream in an on-line book, to a multimedia object, comprising the steps of:

storing a formatted text stream in said data processing system, said formatted text stream including a link description which includes multimedia device-type information, object location information and multimedia control information for a target multimedia object, said formatted text stream further including a link tag associated with said link description said tag identifying a source location in said formatted text stream from which a link is established to said target multimedia object;

storing said multimedia object in said data processing system at a location identified by said location information, said object including multimedia data representing a multimedia presentation;

storing a multimedia handler program in said data processing system, said processor controlling operations of a multimedia output device characterized by said multimedia device-type information, when said processor executes said handler program;

displaying said formatted text stream in said data processing system;

activating said link tag in said data processing system and in response thereto, transferring from said link description to said processor, said multimedia control information;

executing said multimedia handler program in said processor using said control information and in response thereto, transferring from said location identified by said location information to said multimedia output device, said multimedia data from said multimedia object;

producing said multimedia presentation with said multimedia output device in using said multimedia data from said multimedia object;

(a) storing an I/O support profile in said data processing system, specifying said multimedia output device which is coupled to said data processing;

said link description includes a first object name, a first object location and first device control information for a first multimedia object and said link description further includes a second object name, a second object location and second device control information for a second multimedia object;

(b) determining with said processor executing said multimedia handler program whether said multimedia output device is capable of producing said multimedia presentation with said first multimedia object;

(c) producing said multimedia presentation with said multimedia output device using said multimedia data from said first multimedia object, upon determining that said multimedia output device is capable of producing said presentation with said first object;

(d) determining with said processor executing said multimedia handler program whether said multimedia output device is capable of producing said multimedia presentation with said second multimedia object upon determining that said multimedia output device is not capable of producing said presentation with said first object;

(e) producing said multimedia presentation with said multimedia output device using multimedia data from said second multimedia object upon determining that said multimedia output device is not capable of producing said presentation with said first object.

4. A data processing system including a processor, for providing a link from a reference point within a link from a reference point within a hierarchy of a formatted text stream in an on-line book, to a multimedia object, comprising:

a memory in said system for storing a formatted text stream in said data processing system;

said formatted text stream including a link description which includes multimedia device-type information, object location information and multimedia control information for a target multimedia object

said formatted text stream further including a link tag associated with said link description, said tag identifying a source location in said formatted text stream from which a link is established to said target multimedia object;

said memory storing said multimedia object in said data processing system at a location identified by said location information, said object including multimedia data representing a multimedia presentation;

said memory storing a multimedia handler program in said data processing system, said processor controlling operations of a multimedia output device characterized by said multimedia device-type information when said processor executes said handler program;

a display coupled to said memory in said system, for displaying said formatted text stream in said data processing system;

said processor coupled to said memory in said system, for activating said link tag in said data processing system and in response thereto, accessing said multimedia control information;

said processor executing said multimedia handler program sing said control information and in response thereto, transferring from said location identified by said location information to said multimedia output device, said multimedia data from said multimedia object;

said multimedia output device producing said multimedia presentation using said multimedia data from said multimedia object;

said link description includes a first object name, a first object location and first device control information for a first multimedia object and said link description further includes a second object name, a second object location and second device control information for a second multimedia object;

said multimedia output device producing said multimedia presentation using said multimedia data from said first multimedia object, upon determining that said multimedia output device is capable of producing said presentation with said first object;

said processor determining by executing said multimedia handler program whether said multimedia output device is capable of producing said multimedia presentation with said second multimedia object upon determining that said multimedia output device is not capable of producing said presentation with said first object;

said multimedia output device producing said multimedia presentation using multimedia data from said second multimedia object upon determining that said multimedia output device is not capable of producing said presentation with said first object.

5. A data processing system including a processor, for providing a link from a reference point within a link from a reference point within a hierarchy of a formatted text stream in an on-line book, to a multimedia objects, comprising:

a memory in said system for storing a formatted text stream in said data processing system;

said formatted text stream including a link description which includes multimedia device-type information, object location information and multimedia control information for a target multimedia object;

said formatted text stream further including a link tag associated with said link description, said tag identifying a source location in said formatted text stream from which a link is established to said target multimedia object;

said memory storing said multimedia object in said data processing system at a location identified by said location information, said object including multimedia data representing a multimedia presentation;

said memory storing a multimedia handler program in said data processing system, said processor controlling operations of a multimedia output device characterized by said multimedia device-type information when said processor executes said handler program;

a display coupled to said memory in said system, for displaying said formatted text stream in said data processing system;

said processor coupled to said memory in said system, for activating said link tag in said data processing system and in response thereto, accessing said multimedia control information;

said processor executing said multimedia handler program sing said control information and in response thereto, transferring from said location identified by said location information to said multimedia output device, said multimedia data from said multimedia object;

said multimedia output device producing said multimedia presentation using said multimedia data from said multimedia object;

said memory storing an I/O support profile in said data processing system, specifying said multimedia output device which is coupled to said data processing system;

said processor executing said multimedia handler program to determine whether said multimedia output device is capable of producing said multimedia presentation with said multimedia object;

said multimedia output device producing said multimedia presentation using said multimedia data from said multimedia object, upon determining that said multimedia output device is capable of producing said presentation.

6. A data processing system including a processor, for providing a link from a reference point within a link from a reference point within a hierarchy of a formatted text stream in an on-line book, to a multimedia object, comprising:

a memory in said system for storing a formatted text stream in said data processing system;

said formatted text stream including a link description which includes multimedia device-type information, object location information and multimedia control information for a target multimedia object;

said formatted text stream further including a link tag associated with said link description, said tag identifying a source location in said formatted text stream from which a link is established to said target multimedia object;

said memory storing said multimedia object in said data processing system at a location identified by said location information, said object including multimedia data representing a multimedia presentation;

said memory storing a multimedia handler program in said data processing system said processor controlling operations of a multimedia output device characterized by said multimedia device-type information when said processor executes said handler program;

a display coupled to said memory in said system, for displaying said formatted text stream in said data processing system;

said processor coupled to said memory in said system, for activating said link tag in said data processing system and in response thereto, accessing said multimedia control information;

said processor executing said multimedia handler program sing said control information and in response thereto, transferring from said location identified by said location information to said multimedia output device, said multimedia data from said multimedia object;

said multimedia output device producing said multimedia presentation using said multimedia data from said multimedia object;

said memory storing an I/O support profile in said data processing system, specifying said multimedia output device which is coupled to said data processing system;

said link description includes a first object name, a first object location and first device control information for a first multimedia object and said link description further includes a second object name, a second object location and second device control information for a second multimedia object;

said processor executing said multimedia handler program to determine whether said multimedia output device is capable of producing said multimedia presentation with said multimedia object;

said multimedia output device producing said multimedia presentation using said multimedia data from said multimedia object, upon determining that said multimedia output device is capable of producing said presentation with said first object;

said processor executing said multimedia handler program to determine whether said multimedia output device is capable of producing said multimedia presentation with said second multimedia object upon determining that said multimedia output device is not capable of producing said presentation with said first object;

said multimedia output device producing said multimedia presentation using multimedia data from said second multimedia object upon determining that said multimedia output device is not capable of producing said presentation with said first object.

7. A method in a data processing system including a processor, for providing a control form a reference point within a hierarchy of a formatted text stream in an on-line book, to a multimedia output device, comprising the steps of:

storing a formatted text stream in said data processing system, said formatted text stream including a link information which identifies a source location in said formatted text stream from which a link is established to a target multimedia object and an object location and multimedia device control information for a multimedia output device;

storing said multimedia object in said data processing system at said object location identified by said link information, said object including multimedia data representing a multimedia presentation;

storing a multimedia handler program in said data processing system, said processor controlling operations of said multimedia output device, when said processor executes said handler program;

activating said link in said data processing system and in response thereto, transferring to said processor said multimedia control information;

executing said multimedia handler program in said processor using said control information and in response thereto, transferring from said object location identified by said link information to said multimedia output device, said multimedia data from said multimedia object;

producing said multimedia presentation of said multimedia data with said multimedia output device under control of said multimedia handler program using said control information;

storing an I/O support profile in said data processing system, specifying said multimedia output device which is coupled to said data processing system;

determining with said processor executing said multimedia handler program whether said multimedia output device is capable of producing said multimedia presentation with said multimedia object;

producing said multimedia presentation with said multimedia output device using said multimedia data from said multimedia object, upon determining that said multimedia output device is capable of producing said presentation.

8. A method in a data processing system including a processor, for providing a control form a reference point within a hierarchy of a formatted text stream in an on-line book, to a multimedia output device comprising the steps of:

storing a formatted text stream in said data processing system, said formatted text stream including a link information which identifies a source location in said formatted text stream from which a link is established to a target multimedia object and an object location and multimedia device control information for a multimedia output device;

storing said multimedia object in said data processing system at said object location identified by said link information, said object including multimedia data representing a multimedia presentation;

storing a multimedia handler program in said data processing system, said processor controlling operations of said multimedia output device, when said processor executes said handler program;

activating said link in said data processing system and in response thereto, transferring to said processor said multimedia control information;

executing said multimedia handler program in said processor using said control information and in response thereto, transferring from said object location identified by said link information to said multimedia output device, said multimedia data from said multimedia object;

producing said multimedia presentation of said multimedia data with said multimedia output device under control of said multimedia handler program using said control information;

(a) storing an I/O support profile in said data processing system, specifying said multimedia output device which is coupled to said data processing system;

said link information includes a first object name and a first object location and said control information includes first device control information for a first multimedia object and said link information further includes second device object name and a second object location and said control information includes a second control information for a second multimedia object;

(b) determining with said processor executing said multimedia handler program to determine whether said multimedia output device is capable of producing said multimedia presentation with said first multimedia object;

(c) producing said multimedia presentation with said multimedia output device using said multimedia data from said first multimedia object, upon determining that said multimedia output device is capable of producing said presentation with said first object;

(d) determining with said processor executing said multimedia handler program to determine whether said multimedia output device is capable of producing said multimedia presentation with said second multimedia object upon determining that said multimedia output device is not capable of producing said presentation with said first object;

(e) producing said multimedia presentation with said multimedia output device using multimedia data from said second multimedia object upon determining that said multimedia output device is capable of producing said presentation with said first object.