Patent ID: 6965569

Claim:
A system for converting an input file from a start data state to a final data state, comprising: one or more conversion nodes, each node having executing thereon at least one conversion engine for converting a file from a first data state to a second data state, each conversion engine having an associated cost for performing a conversion of a file from the first data state to the second data state; a least cost conversion processor to determine a plurality of conversion options for converting the file from the start data state to the final data state using one or more of the conversion engines, each conversion option capable of converting the input file from the start data state to the final data state, and to determine a conversion cost associated with each determined conversion option using the costs associated with the conversion engines and to determine a least cost conversion option from the determined plurality of conversion options; and means for transmitting the input file to one or more of the one or more conversion nodes in accordance with the determined least cost conversion option.