Patent ID: 8250469
Filing Date: 2012-08-21
Classification: G06F

Abstract:
1. One or more computer-readable storage media comprising a memory and computer-executable instructions embodied thereon that, when executed, perform a method for extracting information from a document in an electronic format to produce a representation containing structure and layout metadata, the method comprising: receiving one or more textual data in the electronic format, the textual data in the electronic format including a set of available structure and layout information; converting the textual data from the electronic format to a generic, independent interface format, different from the electronic format by extracting the set of available structure and layout information from the textual data in the electronic format, the independent interface format including coordinates to one or more structural elements of the textual data and the independent interface format enables common analysis procedures to be carried out on textual data received in a variety of electronic formats; performing a structure and layout analysis of the textual data in the independent interface format to generate a set of additional structure and layout information by: converting the independent interface format into an enriched interface format by, integrating the additional structure and layout information that includes the metadata extracted from each of the specialized sub engines into the available structure and layout information of the independent interface format, and storing the textual data, the additional structure and layout information, and the extracted set of available structure and layout information in the enriched interface format that is different from both the electronic format and the independent interface format, and the enriched interface format providing for search and navigation of the textual data.