Methods and apparatuses for seamless compound document processing

Claim 1

A compound document in a computer, comprising: a first object editor embedded in said compound document for rendering first data in a first data content area of said compound document; a second object editor embedded in said compound document for rendering second data in a second data content area of said compound document, said first data content area and said second data content area being mutually exclusive; a plurality of editing controllers embedded in said compound document for selectively editing attributes of a selection of one of said first and second data, said editing controllers being displayed in a UI container that does not substantially change in appearance when said first or said second object editor is a focus of user operation; and a data switching system for communicating attribute data between said editing controllers and said first and second object editors, said attribute data representing said attributes of said selection, wherein said data switching system determines which one of said plurality of editing controllers receives said attribute data based on interest registered by each of said plurality of editing controllers with said data switching system.

Claim 7

A method for creating a compound document in a computer, comprising: embedding a first object editor in said compound document for rendering first data in a first data content area of said compound document; embedding a second object editor in said compound document for rendering second data in a second data content area of said compound document, said first data content area and said second data content area being mutually exclusive; embedding a plurality of editing controllers in said compound document for selectively editing attributes of a selection of one of said first and second data, said editing controllers being displayed in a UI container that substantially maintains its appearance when one of said first and said second object editor is focus of operation; and providing a data switching system for communicating attribute data between said editing controllers and said first and second object editors, said attribute data representing said attributes of said selection, wherein said data switching system determines which one of said plurality of editing controllers receives said attribute data based on interest registered by each of said plurality of editing controllers with said data switching system.

Claim 8

A method for creating a compound document in a computer, comprising: embedding a first object editor in said compound document for rendering first data in a first data content area of said compound document; embedding a second object editor in said compound document for rendering second data in a second data content area of said compound document, said first data content area and said second data content area being mutually exclusive; embedding a plurality of editing controllers in said compound document for selectively editing attributes of a selection of one of said first and second data, said editing controllers being displayed in a UI container that substantially maintains its appearance when one of said first and said second object editor is focus of operation; and providing a data switching system for communicating attribute data between said editing controllers and said first and second object editors, said attribute data representing said attributes of said selection, wherein said data switching system determines which one of said plurality of editing controllers receives said attribute data based on interest registered by each of said plurality of editing controllers with said data switching system.

Claim 13

A method for creating a compound document in a computer, comprising: providing a provider extension for use in a cooperative coupling arrangement with a first object editor, said first object editor being associated with an existing unenhanced compound document architecture and being capable of rendering first data in a first data content area of said compound document; providing a patron extension for use in a cooperative coupling arrangement with a second object editor, said second object editor being associated with said existing unenhanced compound document architecture and being capable of rendering second data in a second data content area of said compound document, said first data content area and said second data content area being mutually exclusive; providing an editing controller extension with an editing controller, said editing controller representing an object for selectively editing attributes of a selection of one of said first and second data, said editing controller being displayed in a UI container that substantially maintains its appearance when one of said first and said second object editor is a focus of operation; and providing a data switching system for communicating attribute data between said editing controller and said first and second object editors through said editing controller extension, said provider extension, and said patron extension respectively, said attribute data representing said attributes of said selection, wherein said data switching system determines which one of said provider and patron receives said attribute data based on interest registered by said provider and patron with said data switching system.

Claim 14

A method for creating a compound document in a computer, comprising: providing a provider extension for use in a cooperative coupling arrangement with a first object editor, said first object editor being associated with an existing unenhanced compound document architecture and being capable of rendering first data in a first data content area of said compound document; providing a patron extension for use in a cooperative coupling arrangement with a second object editor, said second object editor being associated with said existing unenhanced compound document architecture and being capable of rendering second data in a second data content area of said compound document, said first data content area and said second data content area being mutually exclusive; providing an editing controller extension with an editing controller, said editing controller representing an object for selectively editing attributes of a selection of one of said first and second data, said editing controller being displayed in a UI container that substantially maintains its appearance when one of said first and said second object editor is a focus of operation; and providing a data switching system for communicating attribute data between said editing controller and said first and second object editors through said editing controller extension, said provider extension, and said patron extension respectively, said attribute data representing said attributes of said selection, wherein said data switching system determines which one of said provider and patron receives said attribute data based on interest registered by said provider and patron with said data switching system.

Claim 17

A method of processing data in a compound document, said compound document having an embedded object editor for rendering said data, comprising: providing a plurality of editing controllers embedded in said compound document, said editing controllers being displayed in a UI container that substantially maintains its appearance when said embedded object editor is a focus of operation; detecting whether a selection is made in said data; filling out an auditor data structure with first attributes of said selection; and communicating said first attributes to interested ones of said editing controllers through said auditor data structure.

Claim 18

A method of processing data in a compound document, said compound document having an embedded object editor for rendering said data, comprising: providing a plurality of editing controllers embedded in said compound document, said editing controllers being displayed in a UI container that substantially maintains its appearance when said embedded object editor is a focus of operation; detecting whether a selection is made in said data; filling out an auditor data structure with first attributes of said selection; and communicating said first attributes to interested ones of said editing controllers through said auditor data structure.