Method and apparatus for retrieving and converting remotely stored non-standard graphic images and storing the converted images in a database

A method of retrieving and converting a remotely stored nonstandard graphic image file, comprising:

• reading information from the non-standard graphic image file to determine the number of pages of the non-standard graphic image;
• opening a standard graphic image file for writing or appending;
• writing information from the non-standard graphic image file into the opened standard graphic image file;
• using the information read from the non-standard graphic image file, read raw image data of the non-standard graphic image into a buffer;
• and
• increment to the next page in the non-standard graphic image file.

A computer architecture, comprising:

• retrieving means for retrieving the non-standard image from a first computer;
• converting means for converting the non-standard image to a standard image format;
• and
• inserting means for inserting the converted image into an existing database as a binary large object.

An article, comprising:

• at least one sequence of machine executable instructions;
• a medium bearing the executable instructions in machine readable form, wherein execution of the instructions by one or more processors causes the one or more processors to:
• retrieve the non-standard image from a first computer;
• convert the non-standard image to a standard image format;
• and
• insert the converted image into an existing database as a binary large object.

A computer system, comprising:

• a processor;
• and
• a memory coupled to said processor, the memory having stored therein sequences of instructions, which, when executed by said processor, cause said processor to:
• retrieve the non-standard image from a first computer;
• convert the non-standard image to a standard image format;
• and
• insert the converted image into an existing database as a binary large object.