Knowledge management tool

1 . An document processor for use with an indexing application comprising:

a content extractor proxy that implements a pre-defined programmatic interface for content extractors;

a data store; and

an extended document metadata processor;

wherein:

said content extractor proxy receives a signal from said indexing application identifying a target document; and

said document metadata processor creates from said target document extended document metadata for storage in said data store.

2 . The document processor of claim 1 , wherein said programmatic interface is an IFilter interface.

3 . The document processor of claim 1 , wherein said content extractor proxy signals a content extractor to extract content from said target document for said indexing application.

4 . The document processor of claim 1 , wherein said document processor copies said target document to a transfer folder and signals said extended document metadata processor to process from said target document extended document metadata for storage in said data store.

5 . The document processor of claim 4 , wherein said document processor copies said target document by hard link.

6 . The document processor of claim 4 , wherein said programmatic interface is an IFilter interface.

7 . The document processor of claim 4 , wherein said content extractor proxy signals a content extractor to extract content from said target document for said indexing application.

8 . The document processor of claim 4 , further comprising a decomposition and transformation module, wherein said decomposition and transformation module decomposes and transforms said target document for storage in said data store.

9 . The document processor of claim 8 , wherein said programmatic interface is an IFilter interface.

10 . The document processor of claim 8 , wherein said content extractor proxy signals a content extractor to extract content from said target document for said indexing application.

11 . The document processor of claim 8 , wherein said transfer folder monitor signals said decomposition and transformation module to decompose and transformation said target document for storage in said data store.

12 . The document processor of claim 11 , wherein said content extractor proxy copies said target document by hard link.

13 . The document processor of claim 11 , wherein said programmatic interface is an IFilter interface.

14 . The document processor of claim 11 , wherein said content extractor proxy signals a content extractor to extract content from said target document for said indexing application.

15 . In conjunction with an indexing application, said indexing application defining a programmatic interface for content extractors, a method comprising the steps of:

receiving via said programmatic interface at a content extractor proxy signals from said indexing application identifying a target document;

extracting from said target document extended document metadata; and

storing said extended document metadata in a data store.

16 . The method of claim 15 , wherein said programmatic interface is an IFilter interface.

17 . The method of claim 15 , further comprising the step of signaling a content extractor to extract content from said target document for said indexing application.

18 . The method of claim 15 , further comprising the steps of:

monitoring a transfer folder for documents copied thereto;

copying said target document to said transfer folder; and

generating a signal for initiating extended document metadata extraction from said target document in response to said copying.

19 . The method of claim 15 , further comprising the step of decomposing and transforming said target document.

20 . The method of claim 19 , wherein said programmatic interface is an IFilter interface.

21 . The method of claim 19 , wherein said step of decomposing and transforming said target document results in a decomposed and transformed document for storage in said data store.

22 . The method of claim 21 , wherein said programmatic interface is an IFilter interface.

23 . The method of claim 19 , further comprising the steps of:

monitoring a transfer folder for documents copied thereto;

copying said target document to said transfer folder; and

generating a signal for initiating extended document metadata processing from and decomposition and transformation of said target document in response to said copying.

24 . The method of claim 23 , wherein said programmatic interface is an IFilter interface.