Methods for further adapting XSL to HTML document transformations and devices thereof

A method, computer readable medium and apparatus for further adapting XSL to HTML document transformations includes identifying with a web computing device one or more rules in an HTML document. An action associated with each of the identified one or more rules is identified with the web computing device. The identified actions are filtered with the web computing device based on one or more filtering rules when two or more of the identified actions have a match. The remaining identified actions after the filtering are applied with the web computing device to transform the one or more rules in the HTML document. The transformed HTML document is provided by the web computing device.

FIELD

This technology generally relates to methods for adapting eXtensible Stylesheet Language (XSL) to HTML document transformations and devices thereof.

BACKGROUND

The introduction of eXtensible Markup Language (XML) and the EXtensibleStylesheet Language (XSL) specifications has provided an easy way to transform documents between various formats. This functionality has been included into Web development frameworks, giving them the ability to transform automatically an XML file into a document with different format such as HTML or XHTML, integrating the original data with graphic layout and user interface components. The XSL specifications are based on special constructs called templates that match a single element or a set of similar elements and rewrite them and their content based on instructions defined in the template.

Unfortunately, a problem arises when the structure of the XML document to process is not well defined. For example, the same element can be used for different purposes inside the XML document and based on these purposes multiple different transformations must be implemented. The problems get even worse when the task involves transforming HTML documents. For example the link element “a” can appear over a thousand times in different sections of a web page, such as in the main navigation bar, in hidden menus, to make images clickable, and as a button to execute JavaScript functions. Writing XSL templates that modify all these elements can increase complexity in an unpredictable way.

An illustrative example of these difficulties with a simple XSL file managing HTML links (“a” elements) is shown inFIG. 1. As illustrated, the XSL file:(1) changes the “href” attribute using an XPath extension function called myext:normalize-url( );(2) if the link contains “target” attribute with value “_blank”, remove it and set “class” attribute to “external” value, otherwise “class” attribute will get value “internal”;(3) if the “a” content is an image (“img” element), then set new content to image “alt” attribute otherwise apply templates to its children; and(4) use the “identity” template (last one) to simply copy elements as they are if they are not “a” elements.

Accordingly, as shown the same instructions have to be written at least twice to keep templates simple and to cover all the combinations of the above transformations. More powerful XSL constructs like name templates or xsl:choose or xsl:if could be utilized and the resulting XSL document will be more optimized, but also will be more complex and less readable.

SUMMARY

A method for further adapting XSL to HTML document transformations includes identifying with a web computing device one or more rules matching one or more elements in an HTML document. An action associated with each of the identified one or more rules is identified with the web computing device. The identified actions are filtered with the web computing device based on one or more filtering rules when two or more of the identified actions have a match. The remaining identified actions after the filtering are applied with the web computing device to transform the one or more matching elements in the HTML document. The transformed HTML document is provided by the web computing device.

A computer readable medium having stored thereon instructions processing multiple documents from multiple sites comprising machine executable code which when executed by at least one processor, causes the processor to perform steps including identifying one or more rules matching one or more elements in an HTML document. An action associated with each of the identified one or more rules is identified. The identified actions are filtered based on one or more filtering rules when two or more of the identified actions have a match. The remaining identified actions after the filtering are applied to transform the one or more matching elements in the HTML document. The transformed HTML document is provided.

A web computing apparatus includes one or more processors and a memory coupled to the one or more processors which are configured to execute programmed instructions stored in the memory including identifying one or more rules matching one or more elements in an HTML document. An action associated with each of the identified one or more rules is identified. The identified actions are filtered based on one or more filtering rules when two or more of the identified actions have a match. The remaining identified actions after the filtering are applied to transform the one or more matching elements in the HTML document. The transformed HTML document is provided.

This technology provides a number of advantages including providing a method, computer readable medium and apparatus that further adapts XSL to HTML document transformations. More specifically, examples of this technology identify a set of similar elements, i.e. sharing same properties, and then defines a set of actions to take on those elements, such as rename, set/change attributes, and set their content. With this technology, if one element is member of two or more sets, then all actions defined for these sets can be applied to the element. This enable smaller sets of instructions to be defined for well defined sets of elements without the need of rewriting same instructions for different sets. These sets of instructions are then transformed into XSL instructions that can be processed by any XSL processor.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

An exemplary environment10with a proxy server12configured to further adapt XSL to HTML document transformation is illustrated inFIG. 2, although this technology can be implemented on other types of devices, such as one of the web server devices16(1)-16(n) by way of example only. The exemplary environment10includes the proxy server or apparatus12, client devices14(1)-14(n), the web server devices16(1)-16(n), and communication networks18(1)-18(2), although other numbers and types of systems, devices, and/or elements in other configurations and environments with other communication network topologies can be used. This technology provides a number of advantages including providing a method, computer readable medium and an apparatus that further adapts XSL to HTML document transformations.

Referring more specifically toFIG. 2, the proxy server12includes a central processing unit (CPU) or processor13, a memory15, and an interface system17which are coupled together by a bus19or other link, although other numbers and types of components, parts, devices, systems, and elements in other configurations and locations can be used. The processor13in the proxy server12executes a program of stored instructions one or more aspects of the present invention as described and illustrated by way of the embodiments herein, although the processor could execute other numbers and types of programmed instructions.

The memory15in the proxy server12stores these programmed instructions for one or more aspects of the present invention as described and illustrated herein, although some or all of the programmed instructions could be stored and/or executed elsewhere. A variety of different types of memory storage devices, such as a random access memory (RAM) or a read only memory (ROM) in the system or a floppy disk, hard disk, CD ROM, DVD ROM, or other computer readable medium which is read from and/or written to by a magnetic, optical, or other reading and/or writing system that is coupled to the processor13, can be used for the memory15in the proxy server12.

The interface system17in the proxy server12is used to operatively couple and communicate between the proxy server12and the client devices14(1)-14(n) and the web server devices16(1)-16(n) via the communication networks18(1) and18(2), although other types and numbers of communication networks with other types and numbers of connections and configurations can be used. By way of example only, the communication networks18(1) and18(2) can use TCP/IP over Ethernet and industry-standard protocols, including HTTP, HTTPS, WAP, and SOAP, although other types and numbers of communication networks, such as a direct connection, a local area network, a wide area network, modems and phone lines, e-mail, and wireless and hardwire communication technology, each having their own communications protocols, can be used.

Each of the client devices14(1)-14(n) enables a user to request, get and interact with web pages from one or more web sites hosted by the web server devices16(1)-16(n) through the proxy server12via one or more communication networks, although one or more of the client devices14(1)-14(n) could access content and utilize other types and numbers of applications from other sources and could provide a wide variety of other functions for the user. Although multiple client devices14(1)-14(n) are shown, other numbers and types of user computing systems could be used. In this example, the client devices14(1)-14(n) comprise mobile devices with Internet access that permit a website form page or other retrieved data to be displayed, although each of the client devices14(1)-14(n). By way of example only, one or more of the client devices14(1)-14(n) can comprise smart phones, personal digital assistants, or computers.

Each of client devices14(1)-14(n) in this example is a computing device that includes a central processing unit (CPU) or processor20, a memory22, user input device24, a display26, and an interface system28, and which are coupled together by a bus30or other link, although one or more of client devices14(1)-14(n) can include other numbers and types of components, parts, devices, systems, and elements in other configurations. The processor20in each of client devices14(1)-14(n) executes a program of stored instructions for one or more aspects of the present invention as described and illustrated herein, although the processor could execute other numbers and types of programmed instructions.

The memory22in each of the client devices14(1)-14(n) stores these programmed instructions for one or more aspects of the present invention as described and illustrated herein, although some or all of the programmed instructions could be stored and/or executed elsewhere. A variety of different types of memory storage devices, such as a random access memory (RAM) or a read only memory (ROM) in the system or a floppy disk, hard disk, CD ROM, or other computer readable medium which is read from and/or written to by a magnetic, optical, or other reading and/or writing system that is coupled to processor20can be used for the memory22in each of the client devices14(1)-14(n.

The user input device24in each of the client devices14(1)-14(n) is used to input selections, such as requests for a particular website form page or to enter data in fields of a form page, although the user input device could be used to input other types of data and interact with other elements. The user input device can include keypads, touch screens, and/or vocal input processing systems although other types and numbers of user input devices can be used.

The display26in each of the client devices14(1)-14(n) is used to show data and information to the user, such as website page by way of example only. The display in each of the client devices14(1)-14(n) is a phone screen display, although other types and numbers of displays could be used depending on the particular type of client device.

The interface system28in each of the client devices14(1)-14(n) is used to operatively couple and communicate between the client devices14(1)-14(n) and the proxy server12and web server devices16(1)-16(n) over the communication networks18(1) and18(2), although other types and numbers of communication networks with other types and numbers of connections and configurations can be used.

The web server devices16(1)-16(n) provide one or more pages from one or more web sites for use by one or more of the client devices14(1)-14(n) via the proxy server12, although the web server devices16(1)-16(n) can provide other numbers and types of applications and/or content and can have provide other numbers and types of functions. Although web server devices16(1)-16(n) are shown for ease of illustration and discussion, other numbers and types of web server systems and devices can be used.

Each of the web server devices16(1)-16(n) include a central processing unit (CPU) or processor, a memory, and an interface system which are coupled together by a bus or other link, although each of the web server devices16(1)-16(n) could have other numbers and types of components, parts, devices, systems, and elements in other configurations and locations can be used. The processor in each of the web server devices16(1)-16(n) executes a program of stored instructions one or more aspects of the present invention as described and illustrated by way of the embodiments herein, although the processor could execute other numbers and types of programmed instructions.

The memory in each of the web server devices16(1)-16(n) stores these programmed instructions for one or more aspects of the present invention as described and illustrated by way of the embodiments, although some or all of the programmed instructions could be stored and/or executed elsewhere. A variety of different types of memory storage devices, such as a random access memory (RAM) or a read only memory (ROM) in the system or a floppy disk, hard disk, CD ROM, DVD ROM, or other computer readable medium which is read from and/or written to by a magnetic, optical, or other reading and/or writing system that is coupled to the processor, can be used for the memory in each of the web server devices16(1)-16(n).

The interface system in each of the web server devices16(1)-16(n) is used to operatively couple and communicate between the web server devices16(1)-16(n) and the proxy server12and the client devices14(1)-14(n) via communication networks18(1) and18(2), although other types and numbers of communication networks with other types and numbers of connections and configurations can be used.

Although embodiments of the proxy server12, the client devices14(1)-14(n), and the web server devices16(1)-16(n), are described and illustrated herein, each of the client devices14(1)-14(n), the proxy server12, and the web server devices16(1)-16(n), can be implemented on any suitable computer system or computing device. It is to be understood that the devices and systems of the embodiments described herein are for exemplary purposes, as many variations of the specific hardware and software used to implement the embodiments are possible, as will be appreciated by those skilled in the relevant art(s).

Furthermore, each of the systems of the embodiments may be conveniently implemented using one or more general purpose computer systems, microprocessors, digital signal processors, and micro-controllers, programmed according to the teachings of the embodiments, as described and illustrated herein, and as will be appreciated by those ordinary skill in the art.

In addition, two or more computing systems or devices can be substituted for any one of the systems in any embodiment of the embodiments. Accordingly, principles and advantages of distributed processing, such as redundancy and replication also can be implemented, as desired, to increase the robustness and performance of the devices and systems of the embodiments. The embodiments may also be implemented on computer system or systems that extend across any suitable network using any suitable interface mechanisms and communications technologies, including by way of example only telecommunications in any suitable form (e.g., voice and modem), wireless communications media, wireless communications networks, cellular communications networks, G3 communications networks, Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTNs), Packet Data Networks (PDNs), the Internet, intranets, and combinations thereof.

The embodiments may also be embodied as a computer readable medium having instructions stored thereon for one or more aspects of the present invention as described and illustrated by way of the embodiments herein, as described herein, which when executed by a processor, cause the processor to carry out the steps necessary to implement the methods of the embodiments, as described and illustrated herein.

An exemplary method for further adapting XSL to HTML document transformations with proxy server12will now be described with reference toFIGS. 2-5, although again this technology can be executed by other types of devices, such as by one of the web server devices16(1)-16(n) and without a proxy server by way of example only. Referring more specifically toFIG. 3, in step100the proxy server12receives an HTML document to transform from one of the web server devices.16(1)-16(n) for one of the client computing devices14(1)-14(n), although this exemplary method can be executed by other types and numbers of devices. The proxy server12traverses the HTML document to identify each element and generate rules for each identified element. In this particular example, the rules files illustrated inFIG. 4are rules written for HTML element “a”, although the HTML document can have other types of and numbers of elements and rules.

In step102, the proxy server12identifies the action(s) defined for each rule in the rules files shown inFIG. 4matching the HTML element being analyzed, although other manners for finding the action(s) could be used. The action(s) are statements that when executed change some properties of the matched element and are defined by the XML element(s) that are a child or children of the rule execute section. The match section of the rule is an XPath expression used to identify the other HTML elements matching the rule, although other matching expressions could be used. In this exemplary embodiment the available actions are: (1) remove-element: to remove the matched element; (2) replace-element: to replace the matched element with a new element (changing its name); (3) linearize-table: to take some (or all) the cells of the matched HTML table and place their content in a different order thanks to multiple instructions called show-cell (for example <show-cell row=“3” col=“2”/>; (4) set-meta-category: to set the value of a special attribute called un-meta for the matched element; (5)move-bottom: take matched element and move it to the bottom of the document; (6) set-attribute: to set/change the value of a given attribute of matched element; (7) remove-attribute: to remove a given attribute of matched element; (8) set-content: to set new content for the matched element; (9) append-content: to append new content after the last child of current element. It's evident that some elements to be transformed can match two or even more sets of actions. In this case all sets actions will be “eligible” to be applied to the element. The priority/conflict rules defined for the language will be applied to filter actions and to decide which ones to use.

In step104, the proxy server12determines whether any of the identified actions for the rules match. If in step104, the proxy server12determines there are no matching actions, then the No branch is taken to step106. In step106, the proxy server12executes the actions on the rules to transform the HTML document. If in step104, the proxy server12determines there are matching actions, then the Yes branch is taken to step108.

In step108, the proxy server12applies one or more filtering rules to filter the out the matching actions which are not applicable, although other manners for filtering the matching actions can be used. In this example, the filtering rules are: (1) group all matching actions based on document order of appearance (2) if the action is remove-element, then remove all of the following: remove-element; replace-element; linearize-table; set-meta-category; move-bottom; set-attribute; remove-attribute; set-content; and append-content; (3) if the action is replace-element, then remove all of the following: remove-element; replace-element; and linearize-table; (4) if the action is linearize-table, then remove all of the following: remove-element; replace-element; linearize-table; set-meta-category; set-attribute; remove-attribute; set-content; append-content. Furthermore remove all preceding: set-meta-category; set-attribute; remove-attribute; set-content; and append-content. (5) if the action is set-meta-category, then remove all following: remove-element, set-meta-category; (6) if action is move-bottom, remove all following: remove-element and move-bottom; (7) if the action is set-attribute, then remove all following: remove-element; set-attribute if name parameter of following action is equal to the name parameter of the matching action; and remove-attribute if name parameter of following action is equal to the name parameter of the matching action; (8) if the action is remove-attribute, then remove all following: remove-element; set-attribute if name parameter of following action is equal to the name parameter of the matching action and remove-attribute if name parameter of following action is equal to the name parameter of the matching action; (9) if the action is set-content, then remove all following: remove-element; set-content and append-content; and (10) if the action is append-content, then remove all following: remove-element; set-content; and append-content.

In step110, the proxy server12applies the remaining action(s) which remain after the filtering to transform the elements of the HTML document. In step112, the proxy server12provides the transformed elements of the HTML document.

In this particular example, the XSL file resulting from the automatic translation of the rules files shown inFIG. 4into the XSL format is illustrated inFIG. 5. As shown, the resulting XSL file can be even more complex than the original XSL file shown inFIG. 1. This is expected since the new language has been created to transfer complexity at the machine level.

Accordingly, as illustrated and described herein this technology provides a number of advantages including providing a method, computer readable medium and an apparatus that further adapts XSL to HTML document transformations. More specifically, examples of this technology identify a set of similar elements, i.e. sharing the same properties, and then defines a set of actions to take on those elements, such as rename, set/change attributes, and set their content. With this technology, if one element is member of two or more sets, then all actions defined for these sets can be applied to the element. This enables smaller sets of instructions to be defined for well defined sets of elements without the need of rewriting the same instructions for different sets. These sets of instructions are then transformed into XSL instructions that can be processed by any XSL processor.