System and method for creating XML files from an edited document

A computer-based method for creating XML files from an edited document is disclosed. The method includes the steps of: reading an edited document from a file transfer protocol (FTP) server; reading each of equation objects originally existed in the edited file and creating a tag image file (TIF) image according to the equation object being read; creating a joint photographic experts group (JPEG) image according to the TIF image and recording a pixel size of the JPEG image; creating an XML character string according to each paragraph in the edited file; inserting the XML character strings into different XML file templates, thereby obtaining different XML files. A related system is also disclosed.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention is related to a system and method for creating XML files from an edited document which is edited via a specific file editing tool such as a Microsoft Word or the like.

2. Description of Related Art

Extensible markup language (XML) is an internationally standard for structuring information, the XML enables information to be compatible across different platforms. XML files consist of nested elements, and each of the elements may contain content. The element or nested elements contains a start tag, a close tag, and content in between them.

Given the widespread use of XML in both private and business environments, there is a growing demand for the ability to create XML files from a Microsoft Word document. For example, when sending a patent application (a Microsoft Word document) to a patent office, there is a desirable to transmit the patent application through the Internet instead of mailing it by post. When sending the patent application to the official body by network, it is required to create the XML files from the patent application.

Therefore, what is needed is a system and method for creating XML files from an edited document file such as a Microsoft Word file.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A system for creating XML files from edited files which are edited via a specific file editing tool is provided in accordance with a preferred embodiment. The system includes an extensible markup language (XML) creating server and a file transfer protocol (FTP) server, the FTP server being configured for storing edited files to be used to create XML files. The XML creating server includes a file loading module, a TIE creation module, an image processing module, and an XML creating module. The file loading module is configured for reading the edited file to be used to create the XML files from the FTP server. The TIF creation module is configured for reading each of equation objects originally existed in the edited file and creating a tag image file (TIF) image corresponding to each of the equation objects. The image processing module is configured for creating a joint photographic experts group (JPEG) image corresponding to each of the created TIF image, and recording a pixel size of the JPEG image. The XML creating module is configured for creating an XML character string of each of the paragraphs in the edited file, inserting the XML character strings into different XML file templates, thereby obtaining different XML files.

A computer-based method for creating extensible markup language (XML) files from edited files which are edited via a specific file editing tool is also provided. The method includes the steps of: reading an edited file from a file transfer protocol (FTP) server; reading each of equation objects originally existed in the edited file and creating a tag image file (TIF) image corresponding to each of the equation objects being read; creating a joint photographic experts group (JPEG) image according to the TIF image and recording a pixel size of the JPEG image; creating an XML character string from each of the paragraphs in the edited file; inserting the XML character strings into different XML file templates, thereby obtaining different XML files.

Other systems, methods, features, and advantages of the present invention will be or become apparent to one with skill in the art upon examination of the following drawings and detailed description.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1is a schematic diagram of a hardware configuration of a system (hereinafter, “the system”) for creating extensible markup language (XML) files from an edited document, such as a Microsoft Word file in accordance with a preferred embodiment. The system typically includes a user computer10, an XML creating server30, and a file transfer protocol (FTP) server40. The user computer10connects to the XML creating server30through a network20. The FTP server40connects with the XML creating server30and stores edited documents (files) which are edited by a specific editing tool such as Microsoft Word. In the preferred embodiment, each of the edited files is a patent application, and includes an abstract field, a specification field, and a claims field.

The XML creating server30is configured for receiving a create XML request (i.e., creating XML files from the edited file, such as Word file) sent from the user computer10, and for creating the XML files from the edited file. Before creating the XML files from the edited file, the XML creating server30reads each equation object in the edited file, creates a tag image file (TIF) image according to each equation object, and creates a joint photographic experts group (JPEG) image according to the TIF image. Then, the XML creating server30creates an XML character string according to each paragraph in the edited file. A detailed description is as follows. The XML creating server30reads one of the paragraphs in the edited file, and records a paragraph field of the paragraph (i.e., the section of the document the paragraph belongs to). The paragraph field includes the abstract, the specification, and the claims. The XML creating server30determines the paragraph field by keywords such as the “abstract”, the “specification”, and the “claims”. The XML creating server30determines whether the paragraph contains any of the equation objects. If the paragraph does not contain any of the equation objects, the XML creating server30directly creates the XML character string of the paragraph in the edited file. If the paragraph contains the equation objects, the XML creating server30reads each of the elements in the paragraph sequentially, determines whether the element is a text character or the equation object. If the element is the text character, the XML creating server30creates an XML character of the text character in the XML character string. If the element is the equation object, the XML creating server30reads the JPEG images of the equation object according to a specified path of the JPEG image, creates an XML character string of the equation object, and appends it to the XML character string.

When all the paragraphs in the edited file has been read, the XML creating server30inserts all the XML character strings into different XML file templates according to the paragraph fields and by the paragraph's order of presence in the edited file, thereby obtaining different XML files. The XML file templates include an abstract template XML file, a specification template XML file, and a claims template XML file. For example, the XML creating server30inserts the XML character strings of the abstract to the abstract template XML file to obtain the XML file of the abstract, inserts the XML character strings of the specification to the specification template XML file to obtain the XML file of the specification, and inserts the XML character strings of the claims to the claims template XML file to obtain the XML file of the claims. If the patent application only includes the abstract (i.e., the patent application of a design), the XML creating server30inserts the XML character strings of the abstract to the abstract template XML file, and obtains the XML file of the abstract.

FIG. 2is a schematic diagram showing function modules of the XML creating server30. The XML creating server30may include a file loading module310, a TIF creation module311, an image processing module312, and an XML creating module313. At least one processor314of the XML creating server30can execute the file loading module310, the TIF creating module311, the image processing module312, and the XML creating module313.

The file loading module310is configured for reading the edited file to be used to create the XML files from the FTP server40when the XML creating server30receives the create XML request from the user computer10. The TIF creation module311is configured for reading each equation object in the edited file, copying the equation object onto a clipboard, creating a tag image File (TIF) image according to each equation object on the clipboard, saving the TIF image at a specified path such as a specific folder on the XML creating server30, and saving the specified path in an image location array. The TIE creation module311reads the equation objects via invoking a component object model (COM).

The image processing module312is configured for reading each of the paths (i.e., the specified path of the TIF image of the equation object) from the image location array, obtaining the TIF image of the equation object according to the specified path adjusting a definition of the TIF image, creating the joint photographic experts group (PEG) image according to the TIF image, and recording a pixel size of the PEG image.

The XML creating module313is configured for reading each of the paragraphs in the edited file, creating the XML character string according to each paragraph in the edited file, inserting the XML character strings into the different XML file templates according to the paragraph fields and by the paragraph's order of presence in the edited file, thereby obtaining the different XML files.

FIG. 3is the flowchart of the preferred method for creating the extensible markup language (XML) files from the edited document (Word file), in accordance with one embodiment. In step S401, when the XML creating server30receives the create XML request from the user computer10, the file loading module310reads the edited file to be used to create the XML files from the file transfer protocol (FTP) server40.

In step S402, the TIE creation module311reads each equation object in the edited file, and copies the equation object onto the clipboard.

In step S403, the TIF creation module311creates the tag image file (TIF) image according to each equation object on the clipboard, saves the TIF image at the specified path, and saves the specified path in the image location array.

In step S404, the image processing module312reads each of the paths the specified path of the TIF image of the equation object) from the image location array, obtains the TIF image according to the specified path, adjusts the definition of the TIF image to comply with regulations of the organization receiving the XML documents, creates the joint photographic experts group (JPEG) image according to the TIE image, and records the pixel size of the PEG image.

In step S405, the XML creating module313reads each of the paragraphs in the edited file, creates the XML character string of each of the paragraphs in the edited file, inserts all the XML character strings into the different XML file templates according to the paragraph fields and by the paragraph's order of presence in the edited file, thereby obtains the different XML files. A detailed description is as follows.

FIG. 4is a flowchart of details of step S405, namely creating the XML character string corresponding to each paragraph of the edited document to obtain the XML files, in step S4051, the XML creating module313reads one of the paragraphs in the edited file, and records the paragraph filed of the paragraph (i.e., the section of the document the paragraph belongs to). The paragraph field includes the abstract, the specification, and the claims. The XML creating module313determines the paragraph field by keywords such as the “abstract”, the “specification”, and the “claims”.

In step S4052, the XML creating module313determines whether the paragraph contains any of the equation objects.

If the paragraph does not contain any of the equation objects, in step S4053, the XML creating module313directly creates the XML character string of the paragraph in the edited file.

If the paragraph contains the equation objects, in step S4054, the XML creating module313reads each of the elements in the paragraph sequentially, determines whether the element is the text character or the equation object. If the element is the text character, the XML creating module313creates the XML character of the text character in the XML character string. If the element is the equation object, the XML creating module313reads the JPEG images of the equation object according to the specified path of the JPEG image, creates XML character string of the equation object, and appends it to the XML character string.

In step S4055, the XML creating module313determines whether all the paragraphs in the edited file has been read. If any paragraph in the edited file has not been read, the procedure returns to step S4051.

Otherwise, if all the paragraphs has been read, in step S4056, the XML creating module313inserts the XML character strings belong to the different paragraph fields into the different XML file templates, thereby obtains the different XML files. For example, the XML creating module313inserts the XML character strings of the abstract to the abstract template XML file and obtains the XML file of the abstract, inserts the XML character strings of the specification to the specification template XML file and obtains the XML file of the specification, and inserts the XML character strings of the claims to the claims template XML file and obtains the XML file of the claims. If the patent application only includes an abstract (i.e., the patent application of a design), the XML creating module313inserts the XML character strings of the abstract to the abstract template XML file, and obtains the XML file of the abstract.