XML Document Merging via Attribute-Based Comparison
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing XML merging tools face challenges in efficiently merging XML documents while resolving conflicts, such as duplicate elements and conflicting attributes, without modifying the input documents or requiring extensive programming knowledge, while ensuring the merged output adheres to XML schema definitions.
Innovation Solution
A technique that compares XML elements based on selected merge attributes, such as ID-type attributes, to identify and resolve conflicts by generating a single merged XML document, which includes APIs for comparison and merging operations, allowing for user-configurable merge attributes and dynamic merging without creating XSLT or modifying the input documents.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If XML documents are merged by copying all contents into a single document, then the merging process is simple, but overlapping content is included and conflicts are not resolved
Solution Approach 1:
The merging tool automatically performs conflict detection and resolution by comparing elements from multiple XML documents using their ID-type attributes. The system self-manages the merging process by identifying duplicate elements, detecting conflicts in element positions and attributes, and generating a consolidated XML document that adheres to schema definitions without requiring manual intervention.
Solution Approach 2:
The merging tool acts as an intermediary between multiple input XML documents and the final merged output. It introduces a comparison mechanism that uses ID-type attributes as keys to match elements across documents, and applies conflict resolution rules to produce a unified document that preserves data integrity while eliminating overlaps.
2Manufacturing precision
If a merging tool resolves conflicts automatically using attribute-based comparison, then the merged output quality improves, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The merging tool changes the parameter used for element identification from position-based to attribute-based (specifically ID-type attributes). This parameter change enables the system to correctly match elements across different XML documents even when they appear at different positions, thereby improving merge accuracy without requiring complex positional analysis.
Solution Approach 2:
The merging tool creates a copy of the comparison and conflict resolution logic that can be applied uniformly across all pairs of XML documents. By implementing standardized APIs for element comparison and merging operations, the system handles complexity through reusable templates rather than custom solutions for each merging scenario.
3Adaptability or versatility
If a merging tool requires XSLT creation and programming knowledge, then custom merging logic can be achieved, but the ease of operation decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The merging tool replaces the need for complex, persistent XSLT transformations with simple, disposable comparison and merging operations. The system uses lightweight APIs that perform element comparison and merging in memory without requiring users to create, maintain, or debug complex XSLT stylesheets, thereby significantly improving ease of operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The merging tool provides universal APIs that can handle multiple merging scenarios (duplicate elements, conflicting attributes, different element positions) through a single unified interface. This multi-functional approach eliminates the need for users to learn different tools or techniques for different merging cases, making the system both versatile and easy to operate.
4Productivity
If XML documents are merged without attribute-based comparison, then the process is faster, but conflicts such as duplicate elements and conflicting attributes cannot be resolved
Solution Approach 1:
The merging tool performs preliminary comparison of elements using ID-type attributes before actually merging the XML documents. By pre-identifying matching elements and potential conflicts through attribute-based comparison, the system prepares the merging process in advance, ensuring that conflicts are resolved correctly while maintaining efficient processing speed.
Data Source
AI summary
An aspect of the present invention provides a technique to automatically merge information contained in two or more XML documents in to a single merged XML document. The merging technique is based on a comparison logic that involves comparing XML elements of one of the XML document with elements of the other XML document and this element comparison is based on at least one XML attribute associated with the elements of the XML documents and termed as a merge attribute in the embodiments of the invention. An aspect of the present invention involves parsing the XML documents and providing a list of attributes asscociated with the elements of the XML documents and allowing a user to select one or more attributes as merge attributes. In yet another embodiment the XML:ID-type is selected as the default merge attribute.