Method and apparatus for transferring data during automated data processing
View Patent ↗A number of items of data from a data source ( 12 ) can be processed, and then supplied to a data destination ( 16-17 ). The data can include image data, text data, numeric data or some other type of data, or a combination of these types of data. The processing of the data is controlled by a project definition ( 14, 71, 101 ), which includes a plurality of modules selected from a variety of available modules. The modules have input and output ports, and the project definition includes binding information which relates input ports to output ports. The binding information can include a conditional binding ( 128 ), which supplies data to an input port from a selected one of two or more output ports, in dependence on a condition. A separate feature is that, if data obtained in a given format from an output port is being supplied to an input port which expects data in a different format, the data is automatically converted to the format expected by the input port.
1. A method, comprising the steps of:
providing a set of predetermined function definitions which are different, at least one of said predetermined function definitions defining a function for manipulating image data; and
preparing a project definition that is operable when executed to process said image data, said project definition 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 of said function portion and at least one output port of said function portion 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 of said source portion 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 of said destination portion through which said image data can be supplied to the data destination; and
binding information which includes binding portions that each associate a respective one of said input ports with one of said output ports, at least one of said binding portions being a conditional binding which is responsive to a specified condition for associating a respective one of said input ports with one of a plurality of different said output ports that form a set;
wherein preparing said project definition comprises:
displaying a project window that includes a graphical representation of said project definition; and
allowing a user to modify said project definition by interacting with said graphical representation using a pointing tool; and
wherein execution of said project definition operates at least in part to manipulate a graphical aspect of said image data.
2. A method according to claim 1 , including the step of formulating said condition to be a function of data which is available to said conditional binding from at least one of said output ports in said set.
3. A method according to claim 1 , wherein said step of preparing said project definition includes the step of having a user identify, for each said conditional binding, said input port therefor, said set of output ports therefor, said specified condition therefor, and a relationship between said specified condition and each said output port in said set.
4. A computer-readable medium encoded with a computer program which recognizes a set of predetermined function definitions that are different, at least one of said predetermined function definitions defining a function for manipulating image data, and which is operable when executed to facilitate preparation of a project definition that is operable when executed to process said image data, said project definition 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 of said function portion and at least one output port of said function portion 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 of said source portion 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 of said destination portion through which said image data can be supplied to the data destination; and
binding information which includes binding portions that each associate a respective one of said input ports with one of said output ports, at least one of said binding portions being a conditional binding which is responsive to a specified condition for associating a respective one of said input ports with one of a plurality of different said output ports that form a set;
wherein facilitating preparation of said project definition comprises displaying a project window that includes a graphical representation of said project definition and allowing a user to modify said project definition by interacting with said graphical representation using a pointing tool; and
wherein execution of said project definition operates at least in part to manipulate a graphical aspect of said image data.
5. A computer-readable medium according to claim 4 , wherein said program is operable when executed to facilitate formulation of said specified condition to be a function of data which is available to said conditional binding from at least one of said output ports in said set.
6. A computer-readable medium according to claim 4 , wherein said program is operable when executed to facilitate said preparation of said project definition by having a user identity, for each said conditional binding, said input port therefor, said set of output ports therefor, said specified condition therefor, and a relationship between said specified condition and each said output port in said set.
7. A method, comprising the steps of:
providing a set of predetermined function definitions which are different, at least one of said predetermined function definitions defining a function for manipulating image data; and
preparing a project definition that is operable when executed to process said image data, said project definition 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 of said function portion and at least one output port of said function portion that are functionally related according to the corresponding function definition, at least one of said function definitions being operative to automatically convert to a predetermined data type any data which is received at the input port thereof as a data type other than said predetermined data type;
a further portion which includes a source portion identifying a data source and defining an output port of said source portion 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 of said destination portion through which said image data can be supplied to the data destination; and
binding information which includes binding portions that each associate a respective one of said input ports with one of said output ports;
wherein preparing said project definition comprises:
displaying a project window that includes a graphical representation of said project definition; and
allowing a user to modify said project definition by interacting with said graphical representation using a pointing tool; and
wherein execution of said project definition operates at least in part to manipulate a graphical aspect of said image data.
8. A method according to claim 7 , including the step of selecting a numeric data type to be said predetermined data type.
9. A method according to claim 8 , including the step of accepting at least one of a text data type and an image data type as said other data type.
10. A method according to claim 7 , including the step of selecting a text data type to be said predetermined data type.
11. A method according to claim 10 , including the step of accepting at least one of a numeric data type and an image data type as said other data type.
12. A method according to claim 7 , including the step of selecting an image data type to be said predetermined data type.
13. A method according to claim 12 , including the step of accepting at least one of a text data type and a numeric data type as said other data type.
14. A computer-readable medium encoded with a computer program which recognizes a set of predetermined function definitions that are different, 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 that is operable when executed to process said image data and which includes:
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 of said function portion and at least one output port of said function portion that are functionally related according to the corresponding function definition, at least one of said function definitions being operative to automatically convert to a predetermined data type any data which is received at the input port thereof as a data type other than said predetermined data type;
a further portion which includes a source portion identifying a data source and defining an output port of said source portion 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 of said destination portion through which said image data can be supplied to the data destination; and
binding information which includes binding portions that each associate a respective one of said input ports with one of said output ports;
wherein facilitating preparation of said project definition comprises displaying a project window that includes a graphical representation of said project definition and allowing a user to modify said project definition by interacting with said graphical representation using a pointing tool; and
wherein execution of said project definition operates at least in part to manipulate a graphical aspect of said image data.
15. A computer-readable medium according to claim 14 , wherein said program is operable when executed to recognize a numeric data type as said predetermined data type.
16. A computer-readable medium according to claim 15 , wherein said program is operable when executed to accept at least one of a text data type and an image data type as said other data type.
17. A computer-readable medium according to claim 14 , wherein said program is operable when executed to recognize a text data type as said predetermined data type.
18. A computer-readable medium according to claim 17 , wherein said program is operable when executed to accept at least one of a numeric data type and an image data type as said other data type.
19. A computer-readable medium according to claim 14 , wherein said program is operable when executed to recognize an image data type as said predetermined data type.
20. A computer-readable medium according to claim 19 , wherein said program is operable when executed to accept at least one of a text data type and a numeric data type as said other data type.
21. A method according to claim 1 , wherein:
said project window further includes a list of functions, sources, and destinations; and
allowing said user to modify said project definition by interacting with said graphical representation using said pointing tool includes allowing said user to:
select at least one function, source, and destination from said list;
indicate where to insert icons representing selected functions, sources, and destinations in said graphical representation; and
bind said icons inserted into said graphical representation together.
22. A computer readable medium according to claim 4 , wherein:
said project window further includes a list of functions, sources, and destinations; and
allowing said user to modify said project definition by interacting with said graphical representation using said pointing tool includes allowing said user to:
select at least one function, source, and destination from said list;
indicate where to insert icons representing selected functions, sources, and destinations in said graphical representation; and
bind said icons inserted into said graphical representation together.
23. A method according to claim 7 , wherein automatically converting data to said predetermined data type includes converting a floating point value that represents a number to a text string which represents said number.
24. A computer readable medium according to claim 14 , wherein automatically converting data to said predetermined data type includes converting a floating point value that represents a number to a text string which represents said number.