Selective multiple protocol transport and dynamic format conversion in a multi-user network

• US 5,848,415 A
• Filed: 12/18/1996
• Issued: 12/08/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 12/18/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Unisys Corporation
• Inventors: Guck, Randal Lee
• Primary Examiner(s): Black, Thomas G.
• Assistant Examiner(s): WALLACE, MICHAEL J
• Application Number:
  US08/768,386
• Time in Patent Office: 720 Days
• Field of Search: 707/10, 707/103, 707/1, 707/2, 707/100, 707/104, 707/200, 395/200, 395/200.48, 395/200.36, 395/200.31, 395/200.49, 395/683
• US Class Current: 707/831
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/258 Data format conversion from or to a database
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/913 Multimedia
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/917 Text
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/956 Hierarchical
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/959 Network

Abstract

A content server using an object database supports a network of multiple User clients. The database is loaded with virtual objects which constitute source documents in the form of a multiplicity of resource objects, which may be file-oriented objects or message-oriented objects, which enable the format of any source document to be converted to another format compatible for transport via an appropriate protocol to a requesting client User. The resource objects include a multiplicity of converter objects which are defined and placed in the database to provide format transformation from the format of the original source document content into the format required by a calling requester. The object database will be searched to find the proper converter object to transform the contents of the source document into the required format for the calling requester'"'"'s facilities or for transmittal to a digital appliance in a protocol appropriate to the receiving requester or digital appliance.

Claims

1. In a computer network having multiple sending-receiving appliances and supporting multiple User-clients who can function as a User-author or User-requester, where each User-client utilizes a computer terminal serviced by a server module with an object database, a method for enabling a client User of any one of said appliances to communicate with any other client User of said appliances, comprising the steps of:

(a) creating a source document in a first format as an object in said database, said document constituting a file or a message as an object in said database;

(b) establishing a plurality of database objects, said objects including a hierarchy of resource objects which include (i) a virtual file object utilizing a MIME format which provides multiple sub-objects for text file, image file, audio file, video file, application file, message file, multi-part file and experimental file, (ii) a virtual message object providing virtual message sub-objects designated mail message, news message, chat message, miscellaneous message, and, (iii) a message board object providing sub-objects designated mail folder, news group, chat channel, message reflector, file reflector, and miscellaneous message board, and additionally, a class of converter objects which (iv) provide a file converter object, a message converter object, and a message board converter object, each of which provides sub-objects which provide transformation between the file converters, message converters and board converters;

(c) enabling any User-client to install a source document in said object database and to transmit the content of said source document to each one of the client Users and appliances connected to the network, in a format and transport protocol compatible with each of the receiving clients, or appliances, capabilities.

(d) utilizing a dynamic format conversion search and transformation means for locating the appropriate converter objects in said database and to utilize their format transformation functions to provide compatible formats for transmission to each one of said receiving appliances and client-Users, together with a protocol compatible to the said appliances and users.

2. In a computer network having multiple sending-receiving appliances and client-Users, each having different format requirements and operating protocols, wherein said network is supported by a server using an object database, a method for enabling any one of said appliances or client-Users to communicate with any other of said appliances or client-Users comprising the steps of:

(a) establishing, by a client-User, a source document in a first format as an object in said database;

(b) establishing an organized hierarchy of database objects which define the document content via a virtual file object, a virtual message object, or a message board object, each said virtual file object, virtual message object, and virtual message board object, including multiple sub-objects, said virtual file objects utilizing the MIME format to communicate with multiple subsets of file objects, said virtual message object communicating with multiple subsets of objects for mail message, news message, chat message, and said message board object, including a subset of message board objects for mail folder, newsgroup, chat channel, message reflector, file reflector and miscellaneous message boards;

(c) establishing an organized hierarchy of database objects organized in a class of converter objects which provide a file converter, a message converter, and message board converter, where each said file converter object, message converter object, and message board converter objects provide multiple subset objects which transform documents between files, messages, and message boards;

(d) receiving call requests and "get content" requests from said client users;

(e) identifying the protocol and format utilizable by each of said client Users or receiving appliances;

(f) searching said database and identifying the appropriate converter for transforming the format of said source document, said search involving the utilization of a converter object hierarchy which involves a file converter object, a message converter object, and a message board converter object, each of which has subset objects which relate files to message boards;

(g) transmitting said source document in a format and protocol compatible to a client user connected to the network.

3. In a network having digital appliances and User clients with computer terminals connected via a switching network to a content server, a method for enabling a source document created in said content server to be transmitted to any of said digital appliances or said client-Users:

(a) creating a source document as a resource object in an object database which has a plurality of resource objects working through a MIME file object including file-oriented objects and message-oriented objects, and including a plurality of specialized converter objects;

(b) enabling a client User-requester to request said source document;

(c) searching said object database to select a converter object which can dynamically convert said source document from a first format into a second format compatible to said client User-requester'"'"'s requirement or said digital appliance'"'"'s requirement;

(d) utilizing a selected converter object in said object database to convert the content of a requested document to a format compatible with a user-reauester'"'"'s format and protocol, said converter object utilizing a hierarchical converter object and subset objects which include a file converter object, a message converter object and a message board converter object, whereupon each of said file converter object, message converter object and message board object have subset objects which can inter-relate and transform files to messages to message boards or vice-versa;

(e) enveloping said second document content format with a protocol transmittable to said client User-requester or digital appliance.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein utilizing said selected converter object of step (d) includes the steps of:

(i) converting a resource object having a message orientation to a resource object having a file-orientation;

(ii) converting a resource object having a file-orientation to a resource object having a message orientation.

5. The method of claim 3 wherein step (e) includes the step of:

(e1) utilizing a resource object having a specialized converter object to initiate a protocol envelope to deliver document content from a file protocol orientation to a message protocol orientation.

6. The method of claim 3 wherein step (e) includes the step of:

(e2) utilizing a resource object having a specialized converter object to initiate a protocol envelope to deliver document content from a message protocol orientation to a file protocol orientation.

7. In a network wherein digital appliances and multiple User clients each having a computer terminal are connected via a switching network to a content server, a system for enabling the creation of a source document in an object database and for enabling transmission of said source document to a client-User requester or a digital appliance comprising:

(a) means to originate and store a source document as an object in an object database, said object being designated as a resource object;

(b) said object database for holding objects designated as resource objects which include Virtual File objects based on a MIME file object, Virtual Message objects and Message Board objects, including a class of objects designated as Converter objects;

(c) means for requesting said source document by a User-requester from said object database;

(d) means to search and find the required source document as an object in said object database;

(e) means for selecting a converter object to modify the characteristics of said source document to render said source document in a format compatible to said user-requester, said converter object organized on a hierarchical basis wherein said converter object is selected to operate through a file converter object based on a MIME file object, a message converter object, or a message board converter object, whereupon each of said file converter, message converter and message board converter objects are connected to subset objects which correlate transformation of files to messages, messages to files, files to message boards and vice-versa, messages to message boards and vice-versa;

(f) means to package said reformatted source document into the appropriate protocol envelope for delivery to said User-requester.

8. In a data processing network including at least one content server, a plurality of digital appliances and client-Users, which may include a User-author and User-requester, for generating an operation call, each operation call specifying an operation to be performed between each User-client and said server, a system for dynamically reformatting the content of a source document and utilizing the appropriate protocol for delivery of said content to a client User-requester or a digital appliance, comprising:

(a) a content server connected to said digital appliances and said client-Users via a switching network, including;

(a1) an object database for holding Resource objects, said Resource objects including Virtual File objects based on a MIME file object, Virtual Message objects, and Message Board objects and including a class of objects designated as Converter objects, each of said Converter objects including;

(a1a) means to transform the source document'"'"'s format into a resultant format usable by said client User-requester;

(a2) a database manager means for connecting a server processes module means to said object database and including;

(a2a) means for passing said operating call request and a "get content" request from said client User-requester to said object database;

(a3) said service processes module means having a specific port connecting each of said client Users, said port operating on a protocol utilizable by said client-User and including;

(a3a) dynamic search means to select a Converter object in said database necessary to transform the format content of said source document into the format required by said client-User-requester, said converter object providing a hierarchical organization of objects where a file converter object uses the MIME format, and said hierarchy further includes a message converter object and a message board converter object, wherein each said file converter, message converter and message board converter objects are connected to subsets of objects which inter-relate transformation between files, messages and message boards;

(a3b) means to envelop the content of said reformatted source document in the protocol utilizable by said client User-requester;

(a3c) means to transmit said reformatted document content via the protocol appropriate for transmission to said client User-Requester.