Unified Grammar for XML Simple Datatypes in EXI Encoding
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Solution Overview
Problem
XML documents are often large due to their human-readable format, making them incompatible with devices with limited memory or storage capacity, and existing solutions like Efficient XML Interchange (EXI) may not efficiently handle multiple simple datatypes, leading to resource inefficiencies.
Innovation Solution
A method is introduced to generate a single grammar for encoding and decoding XML documents based on an XSD, which can handle multiple simple datatypes, reducing the number of grammars needed and promoting a more compact set of rules suitable for devices with limited resources.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a separate grammar is generated for each simple datatype in XML schema, then encoding and decoding accuracy is improved, but device complexity and storage requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple datatype-specific grammar generation processes into a single unified grammar generation process. Instead of generating separate grammars for each simple datatype (string, int, long, float, double, boolean), the system generates one grammar that handles all datatypes through a standardized procedure involving QName creation, production rule generation, and codec selection based on datatype identifiers.
Solution Approach 2:
The unified grammar serves multiple functions simultaneously: it encodes and decodes all simple datatypes (string, int, long, float, double, boolean), manages QName generation for different element types, and selects appropriate codecs based on datatype identifiers. This single grammar structure replaces what would otherwise require multiple specialized grammars.
2Ease of operation
If XML documents are maintained in plain-text human-readable format, then readability and ease of operation are improved, but document size and memory consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the representation parameters of XML data by introducing EXI (Efficient XML Interchange) binary encoding. The system transforms human-readable plain-text XML documents into compact binary format, fundamentally changing the physical representation while maintaining the logical structure and information content. This parameter change reduces document size while enabling lossless round-trip conversion.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary encoding of XML documents into EXI binary format before transmission or storage, and performs preliminary decoding before processing or display. This preliminary action allows the system to work with compact binary representations during data-intensive operations while still providing human-readable formats when needed for display or editing.
3Measurement precision
If multiple grammars are used to handle different simple datatypes, then datatype-specific encoding precision is improved, but resource consumption and processing overhead increase
Solution Approach 1:
The unified grammar is segmented into datatype-specific processing paths through the use of datatype identifiers. When encoding or decoding, the system segments the processing by identifying the specific datatype (string, int, long, float, double, boolean) and routing to the appropriate codec and production rules. This segmentation maintains datatype precision while avoiding the overhead of maintaining separate complete grammars.
Solution Approach 2:
The unified grammar acts as an intermediary layer between the XML schema definition and the actual encoding/decoding operations. It contains all necessary production rules and codec mappings for different datatypes, mediating between the high-level schema and low-level binary encoding. This intermediary approach consolidates what would otherwise require multiple separate grammar systems.
Data Source
AI summary
A method may include receiving an extensible markup language schema definition (XSD) including a first element having a first simple datatype and a second element having a second simple datatype different from the first simple datatype. A grammar may be generated based on the XSD. The grammar may be associated with encoding and decoding an extensible markup language (XML) document based on the XSD to and from efficient XML interchange (EXI) streams. The grammar may be associated with the first simple datatype and with the second simple datatype.