Jeffrey David Stark

US Patent:

49690930, Nov 6, 1990

Filed:

Jun 30, 1988

Appl. No.:

7/213428

Inventors:

Barbara A. Barker - Round Rock TX
Thomas R. Edel - Austin TX
Jeffrey A. Stark - Grapevine TX

Assignee:

International Business Machines Corporation - Armonk NY

International Classification:

G06F 900

US Classification:

364900

Abstract:

A method is disclosed for dynamically redefining a shell structure which includes embedded formatting, processing or resource information. The shell structure includes end user requirements necessary to process constructs within a data stream which are accessed by means of embedded tags within the data stream. Data stream clutter is reduced and end user formatting is rendered more flexible by embedding tags in the data stream to a point in one or more shells accessible by the end user's work station; however, it is often desirable to modify a particular shell for a specific application without permanently altering the shell. A formatting shell fragment is created in accordance with the present invention which includes a reference to a complete shell and a temporary modification to be applied to that shell. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention multiple formatting shell fragments may be concatenated with other formatting shell fragments and a complete shell. In this manner, a data stream may be processed by utilizing an existing shell structure which has been temporarily redefined for that purpose.

US Patent:

51330709, Jul 21, 1992

Filed:

Jun 30, 1988

Appl. No.:

7/213426

Inventors:

Barbara A. Barker - Round Rock TX
Thomas R. Edel - Austin TX
Jeffrey A. Stark - Grapevine TX

Assignee:

International Business Machines Corporation - Armonk NY

International Classification:

G06F 1540
G06F 15403
G06F 15419
G06F 1562

US Classification:

395650

Abstract:

A method is disclosed for nesting and processing mixed data objects from diverse data types including: text, image, and graphics. The method permits the utilization of shared environmental specifications for processing multiple data objects. Each mixed data object includes a pair of object delimiters, which identify the beginning and end of that object, and an environment control indicator which determines whether that object will inherit environment objects from a nesting object or pass environment objects to the nesting object. An appropriate application for processing each object is called in response to the detection of the beginning of that object and is returned to after any intervening objects have been processed. Processing is accomplished utilizing environment elements from the current object or a previous object so that coordinate systems, color, units of measure or current positions may be shared between objects while allowing specific applications suited to a particular object to be utilized for processing.

US Patent:

50330080, Jul 16, 1991

Filed:

Jul 17, 1990

Appl. No.:

7/554980

Inventors:

Barbara A. Barker - Round Rock TX
Thomas R. Edel - Austin TX
Jeffrey A. Stark - Grapevine TX

Assignee:

International Business Machines Corporation - Armonk NY

International Classification:

G06F 15417

US Classification:

364523

Abstract:

The data portion of a logical element in a document is dynamically modified as the data is created or edited. A decision as to what data format will be used is based on logical element characteristics such as the parent of the logical element, for example section, and the sequence of the logical element among the other children of the parent, for example first or subsequent paragraph within a section.

US Patent:

52916022, Mar 1, 1994

Filed:

Jun 23, 1993

Appl. No.:

8/081905

Inventors:

Barbara A. Barker - Round Rock TX
Thomas R. Edel - Austin TX
Jeffrey A. Stark - Grapevine TX

Assignee:

International Business Machines Corporation - Armonk NY

International Classification:

G06F 501

US Classification:

395700

Abstract:

A method and system are disclosed which permits the self modification of data stream constructs by the utilization of one or more macro definitions, each of which includes a plurality of parameters, at least one of which is modifiable. A modify parameter structured field is included within a selected macro definition and identifies a particular parameter within the macro definition which may be modified. Subsequent invocation of the macro definition may include selective identification of a parameter to be modified. If the identified parameter has been specified as modifiable by the macro definition, the parameter is modified and the macro definition is thereby altered. In this manner the present method permits the utilization of a single macro definition by multiple processes within a data stream.

US Patent:

50756753, Dec 24, 1991

Filed:

Jun 30, 1988

Appl. No.:

7/213423

Inventors:

Barbara A. Barker - Round Rock TX
Thomas R. Edel - Austin TX
Jeffrey A. Stark - Grapevine TX

Assignee:

International Business Machines Corporation - Armonk NY

International Classification:

G06F 314

US Classification:

340721

Abstract:

A method and apparatus are disclosed for dynamically promoting a selected background window displayed on a computer system among a plurality of windows which at least partially overlap the background window. The output of data from the selected background window is monitored and is utilized to selectively provide an unencumbered display by altering the display sequence of the windows to automatically promote the background window to the uppermost display position, in accordance with the state of a display attribute associated with the background window. After the output of data by the selected window has occurred, the display attribute may be utilized to determine whether or not the selected window returns to its previous display position or remains in the uppermost display position.

US Patent:

49051466, Feb 27, 1990

Filed:

May 24, 1988

Appl. No.:

7/197878

Inventors:

Barbara A. Barker - Round Rock TX
Thomas R. Edel - Austin TX
Jeffrey A. Stark - Grapevine TX

Assignee:

International Business Machines Corporation - Armonk NY

International Classification:

G06F 906

US Classification:

364300

Abstract:

A compound document data stream is verified to determine if a compound document conforms to a specified architecture function set. A table driven compound document verifier identifies each deviation from a specified function set in the compound document. The verifier can test the output of document generation and modification applications to determine if they are in compliance with the architecture and to identify those applications that do not comply and in what aspects they deviate from the architecture and its specified function set.

US Patent:

51290529, Jul 7, 1992

Filed:

Aug 18, 1989

Appl. No.:

7/395857

Inventors:

Barbara A. Barker - Round Rock TX
Thomas R. Edel - Austin TX
Jeffrey A. Stark - Grapevine TX

Assignee:

International Business Machines Corporation - Armonk NY

International Classification:

G06F 1520

US Classification:

395148

Abstract:

A method for dynamically selecting data formats for logical elements which are recursively nested within a document. A data processing system user is initially interactively prompted to establish logical element data formats which correspond to the order of appearance of a logical element within a nested relationhip and the level within that nested relationship where the logical element appears. Thereafter, the creation or relocation of a logical element within the document will result in a data format being automatically assigned based upon the order of appearance and the level of that logical element within the nested relationship within the document.

US Patent:

52147797, May 25, 1993

Filed:

Jun 30, 1988

Appl. No.:

7/213425

Inventors:

Barbara A. Barker - Round Rock TX
Thomas R. Edel - Austin TX
Jeffrey A. Stark - Grapevine TX

Assignee:

International Business Machines Corporation - Armonk NY

International Classification:

G06F 300

US Classification:

395600

Abstract:

A system represents a variable construct within a structured data stream. Structured data streams typically include a plurality of components, each component having multiple parameters therein. A trigger or other flag element within the data stream is utilized to provide a link or reference to a variable construct definition which has been created by the data stream originator or an independent end user. The variable construct definition is then utilized to determine previously nonexistent data which may then be utilized to process at least a portion of the data stream. In this manner, variable data within a structured data stream may be processed by linking the variable data to a non-variable construct within the data stream.