Patent ID: 6031625
Filing Date: 2000-02-29
Classification: G06F

Abstract:
A method of extracting a selected data field from a print data stream, said print data stream including printer code for printing a plurality of reports having at least one of a plurality of report formats, said method comprising the steps of:providing an extraction database including report format information for said at least one of said plurality of report formats, said report format information comprising at least one extractable field having a print position associated therewith indicating the position at which said at least one extractable field is printed in the corresponding report format;presenting a print data stream;analyzing said presented print data stream for the presence of a first report having a first report format;retrieving from said extraction database the report format information associated with said first report format;searching said print data stream for a data field to be printed at the print position associated with said at least one extractable field in the retrieved report format information; andextracting the content of said data field;whereby the data fields available to be extracted from said print data stream may be updated by updating said extraction database.