Abstract:
A variety of tools and techniques are disclosed for creating and managing an enhanced data container. The enhanced data container is comprised of extensible characteristics that when processed interact with a variety of computing devices and computing device components. The enhanced data container is communicated to a variety of computing devices in varying ways and processing of the enhanced data container is coupled with additional systems to manage the enhanced data container by as controlling the number of instances in a system, assigning virtual or real monetary value to instances, assign unique identifiers to instances, and allowing the enhanced data container to be modified by inputs and rendered or transmitted to outputs of computing devices. These technologies bring additional functionality and levels of interaction to data in consumer and business applications.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of PPA Ser. No. 61/688,093 
     
    
     FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
       [0002]    Not Applicable 
       SEQUENCE LISTING OR PROGRAM 
       [0003]    Not Applicable 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0004]    1. Field of Invention 
         [0005]    The present invention relates to data use and transmission in a networked environment, more specifically to an enhanced data container with extensible characteristics and a system and method for displaying, processing and communication of same. 
         [0006]    2. Prior Art 
         [0007]    The current data usage paradigm in a computing environment comprises applications having all of the intelligence. Applications that are executed either on a standalone computing device such as a personal computer or mobile device, or an Internet resident computing service, such as a website, or cloud service, create, store and manipulate simple or unintelligent data such as structured, and unstructured data, electronic files, database elements, content such as photos, word processing documents, files, or communications such as email, notifications, chat or SMS messages. Attempts to provide additional information to raw data include adding simple and static information elements called metadata or metatags such as author, created date, type of data such as music, video, photo, category or classification terms, or more recently GPS coordinates. Metadata is a set of static data that doesn&#39;t bring any functionality to the data itself. Any operation on the data must be programmed into the application accessing the data. 
         [0008]    Furthermore, mobile computing has led to the growth of miniature applications or applets and another trend is that many Internet websites and cloud services provide additional functionality to their own data formats, leading to vast numbers of complex, competing and non-interoperable systems, services, applications, and data formats all managing similar types of data. Furthermore, data in prior art systems is typically static with no inherent functionality as part of the data envelope or container requiring extensive application code that is external to the data to perform any functions. 
       OBJECTS AND ADVANTAGES 
       [0009]    In order to simplify complexity while increasing usefulness of data and content, this invention creates a self-contained instance of functional intelligent data that brings application intelligence and standalone functionality directly to data and content offering multiple advantages over prior art without limitation including:
       a) Bringing functionality closer to the data resulting in more granular control and ability to manipulate the data.   b) Allowing for improvements in or changes to functionality without the complexity of redesigning the underlying application or system.   c) Greater protection, tracking, and integrity of data   d) More interactivity of or with the data   e) Greater interoperability with multiple systems and applications   f) Ability to have finer control over creation, storage, copying, modification, and deletion of data   g) Greater security of data   h) Creating inherent value in the data itself       
 
       SUMMARY 
       [0018]    The present invention is an enhanced data container and a means of communication and processing said enhanced data container that provides extensible and functional data and interaction in a computing environment. 
     
    
     
       DRAWINGS 
       Figures 
         [0019]      FIG. 1  is a functional view of the enhanced data container; 
           [0020]      FIG. 2  is a functional view of the enhanced data container processor; 
           [0021]      FIG. 3  is a view of the communication of the enhanced data container over a communications network between computing devices 
           [0022]      FIG. 4  is a functional view of the interaction of the enhanced data container with a computing device; 
           [0023]      FIG. 5  is a view of the communication of the enhanced data container over a communications network between computing devices in a cloud computing model 
           [0024]      FIG. 6  is a view of the enhanced data container without encryption; and 
           [0025]      FIG. 7  is a view of the enhanced data container processor in a computing device connected to a system that controls scarcity and abundance of instances of enhanced data container and a system that assigns monetary value to instances of enhanced data container and a system that designs the enhanced data container elements 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Preferred Embodiment 
       [0026]    Referring now to the invention in more detail, in  FIG. 1  there is shown a functional view of the enhanced data container  2  and its functional components. Functional components can be data stores, software functions, or a combination of both. Enhanced data container  2  is encapsulated with a suitable encryption layer or mechanism with which the encryption strength and mechanism can be varied from 1 and contains two subsections, header section  3  and content section  11 . Header subsection  3  contains several functional components including a unique identifier function  4 , navigation and communication function  5 , container integrity validation function  6 , container header and characteristic map function  7 , content characteristic extension application programming interface (API) abstraction layer  8 , header extension API abstraction layer, and one up to N number (N being a number higher than 1 bound by the data size limit of the header subsection) of header extensions  10 . Content subsection  11  contains one up to N number (N being a number higher than 1 bound by the data size limit of the content subsection) of characteristic extensions  12 . All functional components in the header subsection can optionally be achieved as content extensible characteristic extensions  12 . 
         [0027]    In more detail, still referring to the invention of  FIG. 1 , encryption layer  1  comprises an encryption mechanism that ensures the entire contents of enhanced data container  2  are fully encrypted within the secure envelop of encrypted layer  1  and cannot be decoded or read without the proper decryption method. Enhanced data container  2  contains information such as raw data values of any kind, code, applications, application programming interfaces, functions, programming objects, values, variables, arrays, and content. All functional components within enhanced data container  2  interact with functions in the container processor  13  illustrated in  FIG. 2  to either execute a function and/or store a data value either in enhanced data container  2  or within the data store which is part of the additional elements  26  of the computing device  25  shown in  FIG. 4  via container processor  13  shown in  FIG. 2 . Header subsection  3  contains all of the operational functionality and related data values of the enhanced data container  2 . The unique identifier function  4  is responsible for creating and validating the unique identity of the specific enhanced data container  2  in which it is contained using either a centralized or distributed unique identifier data store. The unique identifier function  4  can utilize a flat or hierarchical identifier function to produce unique instances of certain types within nested recursive hierarchies. The container integrity validation function  6  that in conjunction with encryption layer  1  will validate that the data in enhanced data container  2  has not been modified or tampered with and is the same as the originally created enhanced data container  2  unless such modification is authorized by a valid container processor  13 . The navigation and communication function  5  is responsible for providing functionality relevant to the transmitting and receiving of and how enhanced data container  2  moves from computing device  25  to computing device  27  illustrated in  FIG. 3  via container processor  13 . The container header and characteristic map function contains information that describes relevant information about header extensions  10  contained in header subsection  3  and characteristic extensions  12  contained in content subsection  11  such as identification, type of attribute, and offset value of the information within the relevant subsection  3 ,  11 . The content characteristic extension API Abstraction layer  8  provides information about the application layer functions contained in the associated characteristic extensions  12  such as structure of the extension and valid parameters and values. Header extension API abstraction layer  9  provides information about the application layer functions contained in associated header extensions  10  such as structure of the extension and valid parameters and values. Header extension  10  and characteristic extension  12  contain the actual relevant extension data. Header extensions  10  and characteristic extensions  12  can be hierarchical and recursive; that is, they can contain characteristics of other characteristics or can contain other enhanced data containers  2 . The functionality of any subcomponent of the enhanced data container can be augmented, eliminated, combined, shared or swapped with any other subcomponent as required to provide proper functionality of container processor  13  and enhanced data container  2 . 
         [0028]    The construction detail of the invention as shown in  FIG. 1  is as follows. Enhanced data container  2  and all of its components  1 ,  2 ,  3 ,  4 ,  5 ,  6 ,  7 ,  8 ,  9 ,  10 ,  11 , and  12  can be created using any communication technology, protocol, programming language, data type and or content type with sufficient capabilities to produce the required functionality. 
         [0029]    Referring now to the invention in more detail, in  FIG. 2  there is shown a functional view of container processor  13  and its functional components. Container processor  13  contains processor unique identifier function  14 , container integrity validation function  15 , container navigation and communication peer function  16 , processor integrity validation function  17 , container header extension enumerator  18 , container characteristic extension enumerator  19 , container header extension processor  20 , container characteristic extension processor  21 , user interface abstraction layer  22 , data abstraction layer  23 , and operating system abstraction layer  24 . 
         [0030]    In more detail, still referring to the invention of  FIG. 2 , container processor  13  contains processor unique identifier function  14  that is responsible for creating and validating the unique identity of the specific container processor  13  in which it is contained using either a centralized or distributed unique identifier data store. The processor unique identifier function  14  can utilize a flat or hierarchical identifier function to produce unique instances of certain types within nested recursive hierarchies. Container integrity validation function  15  in conjunction with enhanced data container encryption layer  1  and container integrity validation function  15  shown in  FIG. 1  validates that the data in enhanced data container  2  being processed by container processor  13  has not been modified or tampered with and is the same as the originally created enhanced data container  2  unless such modification is authorized by a valid container processor  13  and new values for validation functions would be issued. The container navigation and communication peer function  5  is responsible for providing functionality relevant to transmitting and receiving of and moving enhanced data container  2  from computing device  25  to computing device  27  illustrated in  FIG. 3 . Processor integrity validation function  17  validates that the container processor entity as a whole including the program structure and data that comprises the container processor  13  has not been modified or tampered with and is the same as the originally created container processor  13  unless such modification is authorized by a valid container processor  13  software or data update and new values for validation functions would be issued. The container header extension enumerator  18  processes the container header and characteristic map function  7  and reads in header extensions  10  from enhanced data container  2  for use by container processor  13 . The container characteristic extension enumerator  19  processes container header and characteristic map function  7  and reads in characteristic extensions  12  from enhanced data container  2  for use by container processor  13 . The container header extension processor  20  incorporates or executes the instructions contained in header extensions  10  and container characteristic extension processor  21  incorporates or executes the instructions contained in the characteristic extensions  12 . Both extension processors  20  and  21  contain all the relevant data, code, application or application component, application programming interface, variables, and or content to effectively process the relative header extensions  10  and characteristic extensions  12  contained in enhanced data container  2 . The specific information that is required in the extension processors  20  and  21  to process the relative header extensions  10  and characteristic extensions  12  is extensible can be downloaded on demand by an external source as required. The extension processors  20  and  21  interface with User Interface Abstraction Layer  22 , Data Abstraction Layer  23 , and Operating System Abstraction Layer  24  to produce the results as encoded in header and characteristic extensions  10  and  12 . All subcomponents within container processor  13  interact with all other components as required and container processor  13  contains instructions that manage all of the subcomponents and overall operation of container processor  13  as required. User interface abstraction layer  22  is responsible for interfacing with the computing device specific user input and output components including but not limited to display, devices such as keyboard, mouse, touch screen, voice activated components, audio output, software or hardware component or process, and any other appropriate user interface component supported by computing device  25 . Data abstraction layer  23  is responsible for interfacing with the data storage and retrieval components of computing device  25  including but not limited to memory, file systems and or database functions or any other data storage and retrieval component supported by computing device  25 . Operating system abstraction layer  24  is responsible for interfacing with any operating system component including computing device specific functions such as GPS, motion sensors, vibration output and those included in user interface abstraction layer  22  and data abstraction layer  24  if it is more appropriate to include those in this component, and any other operating system component supported by computing device  25 . The functionality of any subcomponent of container processor  13  can be augmented, combined, shared or swapped with any other subcomponent as required to provide proper functionality of container processor  13  and enhanced data container  2 . 
         [0031]    The construction detail of the invention as shown in  FIG. 2  is as follows. Container processor  13  and all of its components  14 ,  15 ,  16 ,  17 ,  18 ,  19 ,  20 ,  21 ,  22 ,  23 , and  24  can be created using any communication technology, protocol, and or programming language with sufficient capabilities to produce the required functionality. 
         [0032]    Referring now to the invention in more detail, in  FIG. 3  there is shown a functional view of the communication of enhanced data container  2  between computing devices  25 ,  27 , and  30 . Computing device  25 ,  27 , and  30  contain container processor  13  and additional elements  26  relevant to the computing device  25 ,  27 , and  30 . Enhanced data container  2  is transmitted from transmitting computing device  27  to a second computing device  30  via secure or unsecured connection  28  over communication network  29 . 
         [0033]    In more detail, still referring to the invention of  FIG. 3  container processor  13  is present on a computing device  25  that contains additional elements  26  relevant to the specific computing device  25  that are known or unknown computer hardware and software components such as operating system, storage, memory, user interface components, other software services such as database servers, web servers, or additional applications or services providing known or unknown functionality. Computing  25 ,  27 ,  30  device can be any device capable of computation. The secure or unsecured connection  28  between two or more computing devices  25 ,  27 , and  30  is created using a secure or unsecured connection  28  over any suitable communication network  29 . Communication of enhanced data container  2  can be of any communication type, such as one to one communication, one to many communication, or many to many communication. Enhanced data container  2  is transmitted from the transmitting computing device  27  via container processor  13  over secure or unsecured connection  28  to a second or third computing device  27  and  30  which is established over communication network  29 . Enhanced data container  2  is received by receiving computing device  30  and processed by receiving computing device&#39;s  30  container processor  13 . The container processor  13  interacts with additional elements  26  of the respective computing devices A  25 , B  27 , and C  30  as required. 
         [0034]    The construction detail of the invention as shown in  FIG. 3  is as follows. The communication of enhanced data container  2  between computing devices  25 ,  27 , and  30  with secure connection  28  over a communication network  29 , can be created using any communication technology, protocol, and or programming language with sufficient capabilities to produce the required functionality. 
         [0035]    Referring now to the invention in more detail, in  FIG. 4  there is shown a functional view of the user interface  31  and display of a processed and rendered manifestation of enhanced data container  32  on user interface  31  of computing device  25 . The computing device contains container processor  13  and additional elements  26  relevant to computing device  25  along with additional user interface elements  33  created by container processor  13  or computing device  25 . The enhanced data container rendering  32  contains elements dictated by the characteristic extensions  12 . 
         [0036]    In more detail, still referring to the invention of  FIG. 4  the user interface  31  provides interaction to either a user or a another process or program within the computing device. User interface  31  comprises any input or output or combination input and output function provided by computing device  25 . 
         [0037]    Container processor  13  and any required additional functional elements  26  provided by computing device  25  provide the required information to user interface  31  to create the rendering of enhanced data container  2  in the rendered manifestation of enhanced data container  32  on specified user interface  31 . The rendered enhanced data container  32  is rendered according to characteristics  12  present in enhanced data container  2 . Additional user interface elements  33  may be created by container processor  13  or computing device  25  as required for appropriate functioning of user interface  31 . User interface  31  is optional and interaction with container processor  13  and enhanced data container  2  can be achieved programmatically from other functional components or processes from within computing device  25  or a subcomponent of container processor  13 . 
         [0038]    The construction detail of the invention as shown in  FIG. 4  is as follows. The rendering of enhanced data container  32  on user interface  31  with characteristics  12  and all functional components present in  FIG. 4 , can be created using any communication technology, protocol, and or programming language with sufficient capabilities to produce the required functionality. 
       DESCRIPTION AND OPERATION OF ALTERNATIVE EMBODIMENTS 
       [0039]    Showing an additional embodiment in  FIG. 5 , the enhanced data container  2  is transmitted over secure or unsecured connection  28  over communication network  29  between computing device  27  and cloud computing service  34  that comprises container processor  13  and additional elements  26 . 
         [0040]    Showing an additional embodiment in  FIG. 6 , the enhanced data container  2  does not utilize encryption layer  1 . 
         [0041]    Showing an additional embodiment in  FIG. 7 , the enhanced data container processor  13  in computing device  27  connects additional elements  26  to systems  35 ,  36 ,  37 , and  38  which can be internal or external to computing device  25 . Instance control  35  controls the number of instances of enhanced data container  2  that exist on any computing device  27  or on any communication network  29 . Monetary value control  36  assigns monetary or other value to a particular instance of enhanced data container  2 , Container designer  37  is used to create the structure and function of the enhanced data container  2 . Storage means and system  38  is a physical or virtual storage apparatus or mechanism or database system to store enhanced data container  2 . 
       CONCLUSION, RAMIFICATIONS, AND SCOPE (SUB) 
       [0042]    The advantages of the present invention include, without limitation, the ability to create interesting and unique combinations and or characteristics of data, applications, content, and computer device interactions to create value. Further advantages include, without limitation, the ability to create abundance or scarcity of certain combinations or characteristics and the ability to adjust the relative value thereof. Further advantages include, without limitation, the ability to create hierarchical classifications of combinations and or characteristics and to validate the integrity of the data, contents, and source of an individual instance of the invention. 
         [0043]    In broad embodiment, the present invention is an enhanced data container and the system and method of processing and communication of the enhanced data container in a computing environment. 
         [0044]    While the foregoing written description of the invention enables one of ordinary skill to make and use what is considered presently to be the best mode thereof, those of ordinary skill will understand and appreciate the existence of variations, combinations, and equivalents of the specific embodiment, method, and examples herein. The invention should therefore not be limited by the above described embodiment, method, and examples, but by all embodiments and methods within the scope and spirit of the invention.