Publishing system including front-end client links to workflow engine and communication protocol schema

1 . A publishing system including a middleware system, wherein the publishing system includes a repository and server means facilitating editorial services with respect to digital items produced by a plurality of front-end clients, said middleware system comprising a software-based mechanism to create an envelope associated with each item and to thereby provide an object corresponding to each item, each said object being accessible within said publishing system.

2 . A system as recited in claim 1 , wherein said envelope for each item is sufficient to enable the publishing system to manipulate the item.

3 . A system as recited in claim 2 , wherein said envelope is described in SOAP and XML to define and enable handling of the object and HTTP is used for its transmission.

4 . A system as recited in claim 1 , wherein each said item is characterized by a native format, and wherein the system includes a mechanism to associate additional metadata with each said item to identify the native format of the item.

5 . A system as recited in claim 1 , wherein the system is operable as a web service, generating a format field and providing standardized (HTTP/XML/SOAP) connections between the publishing system and the front-end clients.

6 . A system as recited in claim 1 , wherein said items produced by the front-end clients include charts, text, and images.

7 . A system as recited in claim 1 , wherein at least one of said front-end clients comprises a writing and editing program.

8 . A system as recited in claim 1 , wherein at least one of said front-end clients comprises a page design program.

9 . A system as recited in claim 1 , wherein said editorial services provided by the publishing system include item manipulation, management, sizing, layout, and printing.

10 . A system as recited in claim 1 , further comprising software based mechanism for providing items from the publishing system to the front-end clients in a native format of said front-end clients.

11 . A system as recited in claim 1 , wherein said envelope for each item is described in SOAP and XML to define and enable handling of the object, and HTTP is used for its transmission; and wherein each said item is characterized by a native format, and the system includes a mechanism to associate additional metadata with each said item to identify the native format of the item; and wherein said items produced by the front-end clients include charts, text, and images; and further comprising a software based mechanism for providing items from the publishing system to the front-end clients in the native format of said front-end clients.

12 . A method for facilitating the interoperability of a publishing system with a plurality of front-end clients, wherein the publishing system includes a repository and a server for providing editorial services with respect to digital items produced by the front-end clients, wherein each digital said item is characterized by a native format, the method comprising the creation of a metadata envelope associated with each item, thereby providing an object corresponding to each item, each said object being accessible within said publishing system.

13 . A method as recited in claim 12 , wherein said envelope for each item is sufficient to enable the publishing system to manipulate the item.

14 . A method as recited in claim 13 , wherein said envelope is described in SOAP and XML to define and enable handling of the object and HTTP is used for its transmission.

15 . A method as recited in claim 12 , wherein each said item is characterized by a native format, and further comprising the provision of additional metadata to be associated with each said item to identify the native format of the item.

16 . A method as recited in claim 12 , wherein the method is performed as a web service, generating a format field and providing standardized (HTTP/XML/SOAP) connections between the publishing system and the front-end clients.

17 . A method as recited in claim 12 , wherein said items produced by the front-end clients include charts, text, and images.

18 . A method as recited in claim 12 , wherein at least one of said front-end clients comprises a writing and editing program.

19 . A method as recited in claim 12 , wherein at least one of said front-end clients comprises a page design program.

20 . A method as recited in claim 12 , wherein said editorial services provided by the publishing system include item manipulation, management, sizing, layout, and printing.

21 . A method as recited in claim 12 , further comprising the provision of items from the publishing system to the front-end clients in a native format of said front-end clients.

22 . A method as recited in claim 12 , wherein said envelope for each item is described in SOAP and XML to define and enable handling of the object, and HTTP is used for its transmission; and wherein each said item is characterized by a native format, and the method includes a step to associate additional metadata with each said item to identify the native format of the item; and wherein said items produced by the front-end clients include charts, text, and images; and further comprising a step for providing items from the publishing system to the front-end clients in the native format of said front-end clients.

23 . A computer-readable medium comprising executable instructions for instruction a computer to perform the method recited in claim 12 .

24 . A computer-readable medium comprising instructions for causing a computer to perform a web service for facilitating the interoperability of a publishing system with a plurality of front-end clients, wherein the publishing system includes a repository and a server for providing editorial services with respect to digital items produced by the front-end clients, wherein each digital said item is characterized by a native format, the web service comprising the creation of a metadata envelope associated with each item, thereby providing an object corresponding to each item, each said object being accessible within said publishing system.

25 . A computer-readable medium as recited in claim 24 , wherein said envelope for each item is sufficient to enable the publishing system to manipulate the item.

26 . A computer-readable medium as recited in claim 25 , wherein said envelope is described in SOAP and XML to define and enable handling of the object and HTTP is used for its transmission.

27 . A computer-readable medium as recited in claim 24 , wherein each said item is characterized by a native format, and wherein the system includes a mechanism to associate additional metadata with each said item to identify the native format of the item.

28 . A computer-readable medium as recited in claim 24 , wherein the system is operable as a web service, generating a format field and providing standardized (HTTP/XML/SOAP) connections between the publishing system and the front-end clients.

29 . A computer-readable medium as recited in claim 24 , wherein said items produced by the front-end clients include charts, text, and images.

30 . A computer-readable medium as recited in claim 24 , wherein at least one of said front-end clients comprises a writing and editing program.

31 . A computer-readable medium as recited in claim 24 , wherein at least one of said front-end clients comprises a page design program.

32 . A computer-readable medium as recited in claim 24 , wherein said editorial services provided by the publishing system include item manipulation, management, sizing, layout, and printing.

33 . A computer-readable medium as recited in claim 24 , further comprising software based mechanism for providing items from the publishing system to the front-end clients in a native format of said front-end clients.

34 . A computer-readable medium as recited in claim 24 , wherein said envelope for each item is described in SOAP and XML to define and enable handling of the object, and HTTP is used for its transmission; and wherein each said item is characterized by a native format, and the system includes a mechanism to associate additional metadata with each said item to identify the native format of the item; and wherein said items produced by the front-end clients include charts, text, and images; and further comprising a software based mechanism for providing items from the publishing system to the front-end clients in the native format of said front-end clients.