US5299304A
Expired / Lapsed
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Method and apparatus for identifying multiple stage document format transformations
Assignee: International Business Machines Corp
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Filing: 1991-04-16
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Granted: 1994-03-29
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Expires: 2011-04-16
Abstract
Abstract Modern electronic office environments often include hundreds of different document format types. Format/object transformation applications exist which are capable of transforming a first selected document/object format into a second selected document/object format; however, the existence of thousands of such transformation applications make it difficult to identify the existence of multiple stage format transformations. Accordingly, a matrix is established having multiple rows and columns of zero value cells. An identification of selected document/object formats is associated with each row and column of the matrix. Thereafter, for each existing transformation capable of directly converting a selected document/object format into a second selected document/object format a value of one is entered into a cell at the intersection of a row of the matrix associated with the selected document/object format and a column of the matrix associated with the second selected document/object format. The existence of a multiple stage transformation from a first particular document/object format into a second particular document/object format is then determined by evaluating the matrix at successive powers from one to N for a nonzero value R in a cell at the intersection of the two document/object identifiers.
Inventors
- 👤 Marvin L. Williams
- 👤 Roselyn H. Yun
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 22:28
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04N; H04N1/00; H04N1/0035; H04N1/00405; H04N1/00408; H04N1/40; H04N1/40068
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
305 words
A method in a data processing system having a processor, memory and a keyboard for identifying the existence of a multiple stage transformation of a first document format into a second document format and implementing that transformation, said method comprising the data processing system implemented steps of: storing within said memory within said data processing system a matrix having a plurality of rows and columns of zero value cells; associating within said data processing system an identification of a selected document format with each of said plurality of rows and each of said plurality of columns; for each existing transformation application within said data processing system for directly transforming a first selected document format into a second selected document format entering a value of one into a cell at the intersection of a row of said matrix associated with an identification of said first selected document format and a column of said matrix associated with an identification of said second selected document format utilizing said keyboard; for a desired transformation from a first particular document format into a second particular document format evaluating said matrix at successive powers from one to N utilizing said processor for detecting a presence of a nonzero value R in a cell at the intersection of a row of said matrix associated with an identification of said first particular document format and a column of said matrix associated with an identification of said second particular document format; displaying to a user an indication of the existence of R transformations for transforming said first particular document format into said second particular document format within N stages in response to said presence of said nonzero value R; and transforming said first particular document format into said second particular document format within said processing system utilizing at least one of said R transformations.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
305 words
A method in a data processing system having a processor, memory and a keyboard for identifying the existence of a multiple stage transformation of a first document format into a second document format and implementing that transformation, said method comprising the data processing system implemented steps of: storing within said memory within said data processing system a matrix having a plurality of rows and columns of zero value cells; associating within said data processing system an identification of a selected document format with each of said plurality of rows and each of said plurality of columns; for each existing transformation application within said data processing system for directly transforming a first selected document format into a second selected document format entering a value of one into a cell at the intersection of a row of said matrix associated with an identification of said first selected document format and a column of said matrix associated with an identification of said second selected document format utilizing said keyboard; for a desired transformation from a first particular document format into a second particular document format evaluating said matrix at successive powers from one to N utilizing said processor for detecting a presence of a nonzero value R in a cell at the intersection of a row of said matrix associated with an identification of said first particular document format and a column of said matrix associated with an identification of said second particular document format; displaying to a user an indication of the existence of R transformations for transforming said first particular document format into said second particular document format within N stages in response to said presence of said nonzero value R; and transforming said first particular document format into said second particular document format within said processing system utilizing at least one of said R transformations.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
70 words
The method in a data processing system for identifying the existence of a multiple stage transformation of a first document format into a second document format according to claim 1, further including the step of iteratively identifying at least one of said R transformations for transforming said fist particular document format into said second particular document format within N stages in response to said presence of said nonzero value R.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
99 words
The method in a data processing system for identifying the existence of a multiple stage transformation of a first document format into a second document format according to claim 1, further including the step of automatically terminating said evaluation of said matrix at a power of M in response to a failure to detect an absence of a nonzero value R in said cell at the intersection of a row of said matrix associated with an identification of said first particular document format and a column of said matrix associated with an identification of said second particular document format.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
287 words
A data processing system for identifying the existence of a multiple stage transformation of a first document format into a second document format and implementing that transformation, said data processing system comprising: memory; a matrix stored within said memory having a plurality of rows and columns of zero value cells; means for associating within said memory an identification of a selected document format with each of said plurality of rows and each of said plurality of columns; data entry means for entering a value of one into a cell at the intersection of a row of said matrix associated with an identification of a first selected document format and a column of said matrix associated with an identification of a second selected document format for each existing transformation application within said data processing system for directly transforming said fist selected document format into said second selected document format; processor means for evaluating said matrix at successive powers from one to N for detecting a presence of a nonzero value R in a cell at the intersection of a row of said matrix associated with an identification of a first particular document format and a column of said matrix associated with an identification of a second particular document format for a desired transformation from said first particular document format into said second particular document format; means for displaying to a user an indication of the existence of R transformations for transforming said first particular document format into said second particular document format within N stages in response to a presence of said nonzero value R; and means for transforming said first particular document format into said second particular document format utilizing at least one of said R transformations.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
287 words
A data processing system for identifying the existence of a multiple stage transformation of a first document format into a second document format and implementing that transformation, said data processing system comprising: memory; a matrix stored within said memory having a plurality of rows and columns of zero value cells; means for associating within said memory an identification of a selected document format with each of said plurality of rows and each of said plurality of columns; data entry means for entering a value of one into a cell at the intersection of a row of said matrix associated with an identification of a first selected document format and a column of said matrix associated with an identification of a second selected document format for each existing transformation application within said data processing system for directly transforming said fist selected document format into said second selected document format; processor means for evaluating said matrix at successive powers from one to N for detecting a presence of a nonzero value R in a cell at the intersection of a row of said matrix associated with an identification of a first particular document format and a column of said matrix associated with an identification of a second particular document format for a desired transformation from said first particular document format into said second particular document format; means for displaying to a user an indication of the existence of R transformations for transforming said first particular document format into said second particular document format within N stages in response to a presence of said nonzero value R; and means for transforming said first particular document format into said second particular document format utilizing at least one of said R transformations.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
66 words
The data processing system for identifying the existence of a multiple stage transformation of a first document format into a second document format according to claim 4, further including means for iteratively identifying at least one of said R transformations for transforming said first particular document format into said second particular document format within N stages in response to an existence of said nonzero value R.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
95 words
The data processing system for identifying the existence of a multiple stage transformation of a first document format into a second document format according to claim 4, further including means for automatically terminating said evaluation of said matrix at a power of M in response to a failure to detect an absence of a nonzero value R in said cell at the intersection of a row of said matrix associated with an identification of said first particular document format and a column of said matrix associated with an identification of said second particular document format.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US4751740A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1997-03-28 | 1997-09-27 | 1998-03-29 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2001-03-28 | 2001-09-27 | 2002-03-29 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2005-03-28 | 2005-09-27 | 2006-03-29 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |