Electrical computers and digital processing systems: multicomput – Computer-to-computer data modifying
Reexamination Certificate
1998-03-26
2001-02-13
Luu, Le Hien (Department: 2756)
Electrical computers and digital processing systems: multicomput
Computer-to-computer data modifying
C709S219000, C707S793000, C707S793000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06189045
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to network communications. More particularly, the invention relates to data conversions in a network system.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
As depicted in
FIG. 1
, in a traditional network data delivery model, participants can be characterized as data producers and data consumers. Data producers are generally those that generate content, and data consumers are those that are interested in that content. This data delivery relationship may be short term or ongoing; it may also be subscription based. Also, participants may change roles from data producers to data consumers and vice versa, as the need may be, and thereby establish a collaborative environment.
Traditionally, multiple user participation or collaboration in database use and enhancement has occurred using a common data type and format. All participants are required to communicate with the database, and thus, each other, in a common data type such as English text.
This confined communication vehicle exists, for example, in forum discussion group databases. Organized dialogue between multiple users on a network, such as the Internet, can be accomplished though discussion groups, which are also called forums. Common discussion groups on the Internet presently are the USENET news groups, and online services typically host similar forum services.
In these network-based discussion groups, a user “posts” an article, which is distributed to the user's host computer and sent out over the network. The Unix-to-Unix Copy (UUCP) mechanism is typically used to perform this function.
Each forum has a system for asynchronous collaboration, by arranging the subject matter in a forum hierarchy. Each forum consists of one or more categories. In a heart disease forum, for instance, one might find categories named “Bypass surgery” or “Angioplasty.” The categories organize material within a forum, similar to headings in a book.
Within each category, one would find “topics” related to that category. The exemplary “Bypass surgery” category might have topics such as “Preparing for bypass surgery” or “Recovering from bypass surgery.” Topics can include online articles or messages, which are also referred to as “posts.”
A topic might present an opinion, provide information, or pose a question. In the topic “Recovering from bypass surgery,” for example, a recent patient might describe what recovery was like so that others considering surgery would know what to expect.
Topics, whether they pose questions or not, might elicit responses from other forum participants. A user reading the “Recovering from bypass surgery” topic might have had a very different recovery experience. The user might feel compelled to write a response (“My experiences were different”) to the topic. Another user might write a response agreeing with the topic (“My experience was the same as yours”).
The forum also permits responses to responses, responses to those responses, and so on. All messages related to a single topic create what is known as a thread.
As shown in
FIG. 2
, in a discussion group, data consumers add value to data received when they respond, and as a result, a type of multilevel value-added chain is created in the process of producing data.
However, even these organized forums and value-added data chains have been limited to a single language, typically English, and have traditionally been restricted to text exchanges. Thus, participation is limited to those who can communicate in that text and language. Data producers and data consumers must use the same language.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is therefore an object of the invention to expand and enhance collaboration in database use and development.
It is a further object of the invention to permit data producers to enhance databases with a plurality of data types, including text of different languages, graphics and audio.
It is another object of the invention to provide a network communication system in which data consumers can participate in forum discussions in different languages and in different data formats.
It is another object of the invention to provide a network communication system that facilitates international collaboration on issues of worldwide concern.
It is a further object of the invention to provide a network communication system that enables discussion group participation by physically challenged data consumers.
These and other objects of the invention are provided by a communication system in which multi-type conversion of data is performed between data producers and data consumers over a network. The invention provides a method to enhance group participation in the development of a database of information, such as a forum discussion group, through data type conversions over at least one network.
As used throughout, data type is intended to connote the nature of information from the perspective of the user, such as graphics, audio, video, text as well as variations in format among these media forms. A difference in data type may also include use of different natural language in text, spoken language, audio and the like.
The network includes at least one data producer sending data in a producer data type over the network and data consumers desiring to retrieve the data in consumer data types different than or the same as the producer data type. In the inventive method, a conversion manager, having appropriate server hardware and software, receives data over at least one network from a data producer, said data having a producer data type. The data having the producer data type is then preferably converted to consumer data having a consumer data type different than the producer data type format, and the consumer data is published over at least one network to at least one data consumer different than the data producer. Of course, the system can simultaneously accommodate data consumers who wish to use the same format as the data producers.
According to an aspect of the invention, the multi-type conversion can be performed in connection with the generation and update maintenance of replicated databases. The producer can provide data that is converted in its entirety to the consumer data type in a replicated database. Alternatively, the data can be provided in the producer data type and converted as needed when accessed by a data consumer desiring to operate in a different data type.
The inventive method can include receiving further data from the consumer in the consumer data type and updating the replicated database with the further consumer data. When the replicated database having the consumer data type is synchronized with the original producer database, reciprocal conversion of the update data between the two databases is preferably undertaken.
According to the invention, the conversion manager can further receive from the data consumer over at least one network identification of the consumer data type to which the data is to be converted. This information can be stored by the conversion manager in a consumer profile and data can be retrieved and converted in response to this information.
The consumer can send over at least one network further consumer data having a reply consumer data type different than the producer data type. This reply information can be converted to further producer data having the producer data type, either before or after integration into the replicated database.
The producer data and the consumer data can be exchanged over different networks and different time zones.
The conversion process of the invention can have particular applicability in enhancing multi-type user participation in forum group discussions. In this implementation, the producer data type preferably includes a first natural language and the consumer data type preferably includes a second natural language, but the producer data type can also include one of text, audio information, graphic information and video information and the consumer data type can include one of text, audio information, graphic information and video information different than
Fortenberry Keith N.
O'Shea Cynthia A.
Robertson Sheldon I.
Szabo Robert M.
Toohey James J.
International Business Machines Corp.
Luu Le Hien
Quarles & Brady LLP
Vu Thong
LandOfFree
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