Method and apparatus for preparing a definition to control automated data processing
View Patent ↗A number of items of data from a data source ( 12 ) are to be processed, and then supplied to a data destination ( 16–17 ). Each item of data may be image data, text data, numeric data or some other type of data, or a combination of these types of data. The processing of each data item is controlled by a project definition ( 14, 71, 101 ), which includes a plurality of modules selected from a variety of available modules (Tables 1–4). The modules have input and output ports which are interrelated by binding information. Each project definition can be developed on one machine ( 211, 226 ), and then transmitted through a network ( 208, 206 ) to a different location on the network, where the project definition will be stored and/or executed by at least one different machine ( 212, 221–223 ).
1. A method, comprising the steps of:
providing a set of predetermined function definitions, at least one of said predetermined function definitions defining a function for manipulating image data;
preparing a project definition, said project definition operable when executed to process said image data and including: a plurality of function portions which each correspond to one of said function definitions in said set, and which each define at least one input port and at least one output port that are functionally related according to the corresponding function definition; a further portion which includes a source portion identifying a data source and defining an output port through which said image data from the data source can be produced, and which includes a destination portion identifying a data destination and defining an input port through which said image data can be supplied to the data destination; and binding information which includes binding portions that each associate a respective said input port with one of said output ports; and
transmitting through a communications link from a first end thereof to a second end thereof a communication from a user which causes one of storing and execution of the project definition at said second end of the communications link;
wherein said execution of the project definition operates at least in part to manipulate said image data according to said one predetermined function definition.
2. A method according to claim 1 , wherein said preparing step is carried out at said first end of said communications link, and wherein said transmitting step includes the step of including said project definition within said communication transmitted through said communications link.
3. A method according to claim 1 , including the step of configuring said communications link to include a network.
4. A method according to claim 3 , including the step of configuring said network to include a portion of the Internet.
5. A method according to claim 1 , including the step of selecting said first and second ends of said communications link to be physically remote locations.
6. A method according to claim 1 , including the step of responding to said communication from said first end of said communications link by storing said project definition, and including the step of subsequently executing said project definition in response to receipt of a further communication through a communications link.
7. A method according to claim 6 , including the steps of configuring said communications link through which said further communication is received to include a network; and using a network browser program to generate said further communication.
8. A method according to claim 6 , including the step of causing said communication which effects storing and said communication which initiates execution to be sent by respective different users.
9. A method according to claim 8 , including the step of causing said communication which effects storing and said communication which initiates execution to be sent through respective different communications links.
10. A method according to claim 6 , including the step of causing said communication which effects storing and said communication which initiates execution to be sent through the same communications link.
11. A computer-readable medium encoded with a computer program which recognizes a set of predetermined function definitions, at least one of said predetermined function definitions defining a function for manipulating image data, said program being operable when executed to facilitate:
preparation of a project definition, said project definition operable when executed to process said image data and including: a plurality of function portions which each correspond to one of said function definitions in said set, and which each define at least one input port and at least one output port that are functionally related according to the corresponding function definition; a further portion which includes a source portion identifying a data source and defining an output port through which said image data from the data source can be produced, and which includes a destination portion identifying a data destination and defining an input port through which said image data can be supplied to the data destination; and binding information which includes binding portions that each associate a respective said input port with one of said output ports; and
transmission of a communication through a communications link from a first end thereof to a second end thereof, said communication causing one of storing and execution of the project definition at said second end of the communications link;
wherein said execution of the project definition operates at least in part to manipulate said image data according to said one predetermined function definition.
12. A computer-readable medium according to claim 11 , wherein said program is operable when executed to facilitate said preparation of said project definition at said first end of said communications link, and to facilitate inclusion of said project definition within said communication transmitted through said communications link.
13. A computer-readable medium according to claim 11 , wherein said program is operable when executed to use a network as a portion of said communications link.
14. A computer-readable medium according to claim 13 , wherein said program is operable when executed to use part of the Internet as a portion of said network.
15. A computer-readable medium according to claim 11 , wherein said program is operable when executed to facilitate said transmission of said communication when said first and second ends of said communications link are at physically remote locations.
16. A computer-readable medium according to claim 11 , wherein said program is operable when executed to facilitate said transmission of said communication in a manner which effects storing said project definition, said project definition being subsequently executed in response to a further communication sent through a communications link.
17. A computer-readable medium according to claim 16 , wherein said program is operable when executed to use a network as a portion of said communications link, and to facilitate use of a network browser program to generate said further communication.
18. A computer-readable medium according to claim 16 , wherein said program is operable when executed to permit said communication which effects storing and said communication which initiates execution to be sent by respective different users.
19. A computer-readable medium according to claim 18 , wherein said program is operable when executed to permit said communication which effects storing and said communication which initiates execution to be sent through respective different communications links.
20. A computer-readable medium according to claim 16 , wherein said program is operable when executed to permit said communication which effects storing and said communication which initiates execution to be sent through the same communications link.
21. A method, comprising the steps of:
providing a set of predetermined function definitions, at least one of said predetermined function definitions defining a function for manipulating image data;
preparing a project definition, said project definition operable when executed to process said image data and including: a plurality of function portions which each correspond to one of said function definitions in said set, and which each define at least one input port and at least one output port that are functionally related according to the corresponding function definition; a further portion which includes a source portion identifying a data source and defining an output port through which said image data from the data source can be produced, and which includes a destination portion identifying a data destination and defining an input port through which said image data can be supplied to the data destination; and binding information which includes binding portions that each associate a respective said input port with one of said output ports; and
transmitting through a communications link from a first end thereof to a second end thereof a communication from a user which causes one of storing and execution of the project definition at said second end of the communications link;
wherein said preparing step is carried out at said first end of said communications link, and wherein said transmitting step includes the step of including said project definition within said communication transmitted through said communications link;
wherein said execution of the project definition operates at least in part to manipulate said image data according to said one predetermined function definition.