Document Portion Export via Logical Tree Traversal

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional document editing technologies are limited in their ability to selectively export and recreate portions of documents without exporting the entire document, lack compatibility with earlier versions, and rely on binary copy-paste methods, making it difficult to identify and export only the necessary objects.

Innovation Solution

A digital content formatting process that traverses a logical tree to identify and export only the necessary objects and their dependencies, using XML to create a high-level description of objects, allowing for version-independent and robust export and import of document portions, enabling selective export and recreation of document elements.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If binary copy-paste method is used to transfer document portions, then the transfer process is simple, but it is difficult to identify and export only the necessary objects without exporting the entire document

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesimplicity of transfer processVSAvoidinability to selectively export necessary objects

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the document into a logical tree structure where the document is divided into hierarchical objects and sub-objects. This segmentation enables selective identification and export of specific portions and their dependencies without requiring binary copy-paste of the entire document.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces an intermediary formatting process that acts as a mediator between the document editor and the export target. This formatting process performs closure by traversing the logical tree to identify all necessary objects and their dependencies, then exports them in a structured format rather than using direct binary copy-paste.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Productivity

If conventional export methods are used, then the export process is straightforward, but the exported content is not compatible with earlier versions of document editors

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestraightforwardness of export processVSAvoidcompatibility with earlier versions

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the parameter format of exported content from binary to XML-based structured data. This parameter change enables version independence because XML is a universal, text-based format that can be parsed by different versions of document editors, unlike proprietary binary formats that are version-specific.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates a universal export format using XML that serves multiple functions: it can be imported by current and earlier versions of document editors, it preserves the logical structure of the document portion, and it enables cross-platform compatibility. This universal format replaces version-specific binary formats.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Reliability

If the entire document is exported to ensure all necessary objects are included, then all dependencies are captured, but the export size and processing time increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecompleteness of object dependenciesVSAvoidexport size

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts only the necessary portion of the document and its dependencies from the entire document through the closure process. By traversing the logical tree starting from the selected portion, it identifies and extracts only the minimal set of objects required to recreate that portion, excluding all unrelated content from the export.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies partial action by performing closure traversal only on the relevant subtree containing the selected portion and its dependencies, rather than processing the entire document. This partial processing reduces export size and processing time while still capturing all necessary objects for the selected portion.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

4Quantity of substance

If binary format is used for document portions, then the format is compact, but it prevents independent inspection, creation, and editing of individual objects

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecompactness of formatVSAvoidindependent inspection and editing capability

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent substitutes the binary mechanical format with an XML-based text format. This substitution enables independent inspection and editing because XML is human-readable and can be manipulated with standard text tools, whereas binary formats require proprietary software for inspection and editing.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Data Source

PatentUS7698659B1Methods and apparatus for formatting portion of content

Publication Date: 2010.04.13 ADOBE INC

AI summary

A system receives a selection of a portion of digital content within a graphical user interface. The system traverses the entire digital content to identify a plurality of components associated with the portion of digital content, and applies at least one policy to each of the plurality of components to select those components necessary to recreate the portion of digital content. The system exports the portion of digital content and the plurality of selected components necessary to recreate the portion of digital content. The system then recreates the portion of digital content using the plurality of selected components necessary to recreate the portion of digital content.