Process and apparatus for transferring data between different file formats

Claim 3

The apparatus for transferring data as recited in claim 1, further comprising: a de-allocator configured to disengage the secondary data structure when the element of data transferred between the active file and the external file has been completed in the extended mode.

Claim 4

The apparatus for transferring data as recited in claim 1, further comprising: a mode capability directive set in the directive field by the application to determine the extended mode capabilities of the translator and the application.

Claim 5

The apparatus for transferring data as recited in claim 3, wherein a translator having extended mode capabilities communicates with the application using the extended field of the primary data structure.

Claim 6

The apparatus for transferring data as recited in claim 1, wherein random access memory is allocated for the primary data structure when the application requests a data transfer between the active file and the external file.

Claim 7

The apparatus for transferring data as recited in claim 1, wherein temporary random access memory is allocated for the secondary data structure when the application sets the directive field to use the extended field.

Claim 8

The apparatus for transferring data as recited in claim 1, further comprising: a translator selection engine configured to select the translator in accordance with the format of the external file.

Claim 9

The apparatus for transferring data as recited in claim 7, wherein random access memory is allocated for the translator selected by the translator selection engine.

Claim 10

The apparatus for transferring data as recited in claim 1, wherein the element of data includes at least one sub-element of data.

Claim 11

The apparatus for transferring data as recited in claim 9, wherein each of said at least one sub-element of data is transferred during a different run.

Claim 12

The apparatus for transferring data as recited in claim 10, wherein each of said at least one sub-element of data identifies a characteristic of the data being transferred during the run.

Claim 13

The apparatus for transferring data as recited in claim 11, wherein each element of data is selected from the group consisting essentially of a header element, a footer element, a body element, a table element, a section element, a footnote element, a page number element, text element, and a formatting control element.

Claim 14

The apparatus for transferring data as recited in claim 11, wherein the characteristic of the data is selected from the group consisting essentially of a bold face text, an underline text, an italic text, a table line style, a table cell style, a text layout, and formatting data.

Claim 15

The apparatus for transferring data as recited in claim 1, wherein the extended field includes a type field and a pointer field, the pointer field locating the secondary data structure.

Claim 16

The apparatus for transferring data as recited in claim 14, wherein the type field is associated with a plurality of enumerated values, each of said plurality of enumerated values is in turn associated with a plurality of specific fields that are placed into the secondary data structure.

Claim 17

The apparatus for transferring data as recited in claim 14, wherein the pointer field identifies a specific random access memory address in the secondary data structure containing the element of data which the translator extracted and placed in the secondary data structure.

Claim 18

A process for transferring data between an active file being used by an application and an external file stored on a storage medium, the active file having a different format than the external file, the process comprising the operations of: requesting a data transfer between the active file and the external file; selecting a translator in response to the data transfer request, the translator being selected in accordance with the format of the external file; allocating a primary data structure including a plurality of standard fields and an extended field, the plurality of standard fields and the extended field associated with an element of data to be transferred between the active file and the external file, the primary data structure further having a directive field that is set by the application when the data transfer is requested, the directive field being set in at least one of a standard mode and an extended mode; extracting the element of data from one of the active file and external file in response to the directive field being set by the application; placing the extracted element of data into a plurality of the standard fields of the primary data structure when in the standard mode; allocating a secondary data structure and placing the extracted element of data into the secondary data structure when in the extended mode; and de-allocating the secondary data structure when the element of data transferred between the active file and the external file has completed during when in the extended mode.

Claim 19

A process for transferring data between an active file being used by an application and an external file stored on a storage medium, the active file having a different format than the external file, the process comprising the operations of: requesting a data transfer between the active file and the external file; selecting a translator in response to the data transfer request, the translator being selected in accordance with the format of the external file; allocating a primary data structure including a plurality of standard fields and an extended field, the plurality of standard fields and the extended field associated with an element of data to be transferred between the active file and the external file, the primary data structure further having a directive field that is set by the application when the data transfer is requested, the directive field being set in at least one of a standard mode and an extended mode; extracting the element of data from one of the active file and external file in response to the directive field being set by the application; placing the extracted element of data into a plurality of the standard fields of the primary data structure when in the standard mode; allocating a secondary data structure and placing the extracted element of data into the secondary data structure when in the extended mode; and de-allocating the secondary data structure when the element of data transferred between the active file and the external file has completed during when in the extended mode.

Claim 20

The process for transferring data as recited in claim 17, further comprising the operation of: allocating random access memory for the primary data structure when the application requests a data transfer between the active file and the external file.

Claim 21

The process for transferring data as recited in claim 17, further comprising the operation of: loading a translator selection engine to identify and load the translator specific to the format of the external file.

Claim 22

The process for transferring data as recited in claim 17, wherein the element of data includes at least one sub-element of data, wherein each of said at least one sub-element of data identifies a characteristic of the element of data being transferred, wherein each element of data is selected from the group consisting essentially of a header element, a footer element, a body element, a table element, a section element, a footnote element, a page number element, a text element, and a formatting control element, and wherein said method further includes the operation of transferring each of said at least one sub-element during a run.

Claim 23

The process for transferring data as recited in claim 17, wherein the extended field includes a type field and a pointer field.

Claim 24

A process for transferring data between an active file being used by an application and an external file stored on a storage medium, the active file having a different format than the external file, the process comprising the operations of: requesting a data transfer between the active file and the external file; selecting a translator in response to the data transfer request, the translator being selected in accordance with the format of the external file; allocating a primary data structure including a plurality of standard fields and an extended field, the plurality of standard fields and the extended field associated with an element of data to be transferred between the active file and the external file, the primary data structure further having a directive field that is set by the application when the data transfer is requested, the directive field being set in at least one of a standard mode and an extended mode; extracting the element of data from one of the active file and external file in response to the directive field being set by the application; placing the extracted element of data into a plurality of the standard fields of the primary data structure when in the standard mode; allocating a secondary data structure and placing the extracted element of data into the secondary data structure when in the extended mode; and determining the extended mode capabilities of the translator and the application when the application sets a mode determining directive in the directive field.

Claim 25

A process for transferring data between an active file being used by an application and an external file stored on a storage medium, the active file having a different format than the external file, the process comprising the operations of: requesting a data transfer between the active file and the external file; selecting a translator in response to the data transfer request, the translator being selected in accordance with the format of the external file; allocating a primary data structure including a plurality of standard fields and an extended field, the plurality of standard fields and the extended field associated with an element of data to be transferred between the active file and the external file, the primary data structure further having a directive field that is set by the application when the data transfer is requested, the directive field being set in at least one of a standard mode and an extended mode; extracting the element of data from one of the active file and external file in response to the directive field being set by the application; placing the extracted element of data into a plurality of the standard fields of the primary data structure when in the standard mode; allocating a secondary data structure and placing the extracted element of data into the secondary data structure when in the extended mode; and determining the extended mode capabilities of the translator and the application when the application sets a mode determining directive in the directive field.

Claim 26

The process for transferring data as recited in claim 22, wherein the translator and the application communicate in the extended mode after the extended mode capabilities have been determined.

Claim 27

A process for transferring data between an active file being used by an application and an external file stored on a storage medium, the active file having a different format than the external file, the process comprising the operations of: requesting a data transfer between the active file and the external file; selecting a translator in response to the data transfer request, the translator being selected in accordance with the format of the external file; allocating a primary data structure including a plurality of standard fields and an extended fields the plurality of standard fields and the extended field associated with an element of data to be transferred between the active file and the external file, the primary data structure further having a directive field that is set by the application when the data transfer is requested, the directive field being set in at least one of a standard mode and an extended mode; extracting the element of data from one of the active file and external file in response to the directive field being set by the application; placing the extracted element of data into a plurality of the standard fields of the primary data structure when in the standard mode; allocating a secondary data structure and placing the extracted element of data into the secondary data structure when in the extended mode; and allocating temporary random access memory for the secondary data structure when performing a data transfer in the extended mode.

Claim 28

A process for transferring data between an active file being used by an application and an external file stored on a storage medium, the active file having a different format than the external file, the process comprising the operations of: requesting a data transfer between the active file and the external file; selecting a translator in response to the data transfer request, the translator being selected in accordance with the format of the external file; allocating a primary data structure including a plurality of standard fields and an extended fields the plurality of standard fields and the extended field associated with an element of data to be transferred between the active file and the external file, the primary data structure further having a directive field that is set by the application when the data transfer is requested, the directive field being set in at least one of a standard mode and an extended mode; extracting the element of data from one of the active file and external file in response to the directive field being set by the application; placing the extracted element of data into a plurality of the standard fields of the primary data structure when in the standard mode; allocating a secondary data structure and placing the extracted element of data into the secondary data structure when in the extended mode; and allocating temporary random access memory for the secondary data structure when performing a data transfer in the extended mode.

Claim 29

A process for transferring data between an active file being used by an application and an external file stored on a storage medium, the active file having a different format than the external file, the process comprising the operations of: requesting a data transfer between the active file and the external file; selecting a translator in response to the data transfer request, the translator being selected in accordance with the format of the external file; allocating a primary data structure including a plurality of standard fields and an extended field, the plurality of standard fields and the extended field associated with an element of data to be transferred between the active file and the external file, the primary data structure further having a directive field that is set by the application when the data transfer is requested, the directive field being set in at least one of a standard mode and an extended mode; extracting the element of data from one of the active file and external file in response to the directive field being set by the application; placing the extracted element of data into a plurality of the standard fields of the primary data structure when in the standard mode; allocating a secondary data structure and placing the extracted element of data into the secondary data structure when in the extended mode; loading a translator selection engine to identify and load the translator specific to the format of the external file; and allocating random access memory for the translator selected by the translator selection engine.

Claim 30

A process for transferring data between an active file being used by an application and an external file stored on a storage medium, the active file having a different format than the external file, the process comprising the operations of: requesting a data transfer between the active file and the external file; selecting a translator in response to the data transfer request, the translator being selected in accordance with the format of the external file; allocating a primary data structure including a plurality of standard fields and an extended field, the plurality of standard fields and the extended field associated with an element of data to be transferred between the active file and the external file, the primary data structure further having a directive field that is set by the application when the data transfer is requested, the directive field being set in at least one of a standard mode and an extended mode; extracting the element of data from one of the active file and external file in response to the directive field being set by the application; placing the extracted element of data into a plurality of the standard fields of the primary data structure when in the standard mode; allocating a secondary data structure and placing the extracted element of data into the secondary data structure when in the extended mode; loading a translator selection engine to identify and load the translator specific to the format of the external file; and allocating random access memory for the translator selected by the translator selection engine.

Claim 31

A process for transferring data between an active file being used by an application and an external file stored on a storage medium, the active file having a different format than the external file, the process comprising the operations of: requesting a data transfer between the active file and the external file; selecting a translator in response to the data transfer request, the translator being selected in accordance with the format of the external file; allocating a primary data structure including a plurality of standard fields and an extended field, the plurality of standard fields and the extended field associated with an element of data to be transferred between the active file and the external file, the primary data structure further having a directive field that is set by the application when the data transfer is requested, the directive field being set in at least one of a standard mode and an extended mode; extracting the element of data from one of the active file and external file in response to the directive field being set by the application; placing the extracted element of data into a plurality of the standard fields of the primary data structure when in the standard mode; and allocating a secondary data structure and placing the extracted element of data into the secondary data structure when in the extended mode, wherein the extended field includes a type field and a pointer field, and wherein the type field is associated with a plurality of enumerated values, each of said plurality of enumerated values is in turn associated with a plurality of specific fields that are placed into the secondary data structure.

Claim 32

A process for transferring data between an active file being used by an application and an external file stored on a storage medium, the active file having a different format than the external file, the process comprising the operations of: requesting a data transfer between the active file and the external file; selecting a translator in response to the data transfer request, the translator being selected in accordance with the format of the external file; allocating a primary data structure including a plurality of standard fields and an extended field, the plurality of standard fields and the extended field associated with an element of data to be transferred between the active file and the external file, the primary data structure further having a directive field that is set by the application when the data transfer is requested, the directive field being set in at least one of a standard mode and an extended mode; extracting the element of data from one of the active file and external file in response to the directive field being set by the application; placing the extracted element of data into a plurality of the standard fields of the primary data structure when in the standard mode; and allocating a secondary data structure and placing the extracted element of data into the secondary data structure when in the extended mode, wherein the extended field includes a type field and a pointer field, and wherein the type field is associated with a plurality of enumerated values, each of said plurality of enumerated values is in turn associated with a plurality of specific fields that are placed into the secondary data structure.

Claim 33

A process for transferring data between an active file being used by an application and an external file stored on a storage medium, the active file having a different format than the external file, the process comprising the operations of: requesting a data transfer between the active file and the external file; selecting a translator in response to the data transfer request, the translator being selected in accordance with the format of the external file; allocating a primary data structure including a plurality of standard fields and an extended field, the plurality of standard fields and the extended field associated with an element of data to be transferred between the active file and the external file, the primary data structure further having a directive field that is set by the application when the data transfer is requested, the directive field being set in at least one of a standard mode and an extended mode; extracting the element of data from one of the active file and external file in response to the directive field being set by the application; placing the extracted element of data into a plurality of the standard fields of the primary data structure when in the standard mode; and allocating a secondary data structure and placing the extracted element of data into the secondary data structure when in the extended mode, wherein the extended field includes a type field and a pointer field, and wherein the pointer field identifies a specific random access memory address in the secondary data structure containing the element of data which the translator extracted and placed in the secondary data structure.

Claim 34

A process for transferring data between an active file being used by an application and an external file stored on a storage medium, the active file having a different format than the external file, the process comprising the operations of: requesting a data transfer between the active file and the external file; selecting a translator in response to the data transfer request, the translator being selected in accordance with the format of the external file; allocating a primary data structure including a plurality of standard fields and an extended field, the plurality of standard fields and the extended field associated with an element of data to be transferred between the active file and the external file, the primary data structure further having a directive field that is set by the application when the data transfer is requested, the directive field being set in at least one of a standard mode and an extended mode; extracting the element of data from one of the active file and external file in response to the directive field being set by the application; placing the extracted element of data into a plurality of the standard fields of the primary data structure when in the standard mode; and allocating a secondary data structure and placing the extracted element of data into the secondary data structure when in the extended mode, wherein the extended field includes a type field and a pointer field, and wherein the pointer field identifies a specific random access memory address in the secondary data structure containing the element of data which the translator extracted and placed in the secondary data structure.

Claim 35

A computer readable media containing program instructions for transferring data between an active file being used by an application and an external file stored on a storage medium, the active file having a different formal than the external file, said computer readable media comprising: program instructions for requesting a data transfer between the active file and the external file; program instructions for selecting a translator in response to the data transfer request, the translator being selected in accordance with the format of the external file; program instructions for allocating a primary data structure including a plurality of standard fields and an extended field, the plurality of standard fields and the extended field associated with an element of data to be transferred between the active file and the external file, the primary data structure further having a directive field that is set by the application when the data transfer is requested, the directive field being set in at least one of a standard mode and an extended mode; program instructions for extracting the element of data from one of the active file and external file in response to the directive field being set by the application; program instructions for placing the extracted element of data into a plurality of the standard fields of the primary data structure when in the standard mode; program instructions for allocating a secondary data structure and placing the extracted element of data into the secondary data structure when in the extended mode; and program instructions for de-allocating the secondary data structure when the element of data transferred between the active file and the external file has completed during when in the extended mode.

Claim 36

A computer readable media containing program instructions for transferring data between an active file being used by an application and an external file stored on a storage medium, the active file having a different formal than the external file, said computer readable media comprising: program instructions for requesting a data transfer between the active file and the external file; program instructions for selecting a translator in response to the data transfer request, the translator being selected in accordance with the format of the external file; program instructions for allocating a primary data structure including a plurality of standard fields and an extended field, the plurality of standard fields and the extended field associated with an element of data to be transferred between the active file and the external file, the primary data structure further having a directive field that is set by the application when the data transfer is requested, the directive field being set in at least one of a standard mode and an extended mode; program instructions for extracting the element of data from one of the active file and external file in response to the directive field being set by the application; program instructions for placing the extracted element of data into a plurality of the standard fields of the primary data structure when in the standard mode; program instructions for allocating a secondary data structure and placing the extracted element of data into the secondary data structure when in the extended mode; and program instructions for de-allocating the secondary data structure when the element of data transferred between the active file and the external file has completed during when in the extended mode.