US 5,499,109 AGranted

System for transferring messages between input and output devices in a communication device

AssigneeMicrosoft Corporation

InventorsSharad Mathur, Arul Menezes, Michael R. VanBuskirk, Kevin T. Gallo

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Abstract

A method and system for processing messages is provided. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a message scheduler, a job process, and a format resolution module are used. The message scheduler identifies when a new message is to be processed, schedules the new message for processing, invokes the format resolution module to determine a method of converting data in the message to an appropriate format for a destination device or file, and invokes a job process. The format resolution module determines an appropriate method for converting data in the message from a format acceptable to the source devices or files to a format acceptable to the destination devices or files and creates a target message containing a reference to a destination device or file. The job process sends the data between the source devices or files to a destination device or file and performs the appropriate conversion. The preferred embodiment of the present invention is designed to allow for the support of new devices and new data formats with little change to the existing system through the use of a building block methodology. Therefore, new devices and data formats can be supported in an easy and efficient manner.

Claims4

Dependent claims

In a communication device for use by a user, the communication device having a message source, a message sink, a database, a format resolution module, and a message scheduler for processing messages, wherein each message sink has capabilities for the format of data acceptable to that message sink, wherein the user has preferences and wherein the message has an attachment, a method for processing messages comprising the steps of:

under the control of the communication device,
receiving user input;
creating a message in response to receiving the user input wherein the created message has a message source and a message sink;
storing the message in a message store;
determining when a message has arrived in the message store;
processing new messages in the message store by the message scheduler to create schedulable messages;
when a message is a schedulable message,
spawning a job process by the message scheduler to send data in the message from the message source to the message sink;
and
when the message is a source message,
determining the message sink by the message scheduler by accessing a database;
invoking a format resolution module by the message scheduler to determine a method for converting data within the message from a format acceptable to the message source to a format acceptable to the message sink;
and
under the control of the format resolution module,
determining capabilities of the message sink;
determining preferences of the user;
creating a topology list of renderers for each attachment in the message for converting data in the message from a format acceptable to the message source to a format acceptable to the message sink using the preferences of the user;
and
creating a target message for each message sink for the message.

16 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 08/198,364Filed 18 Feb 1994
Granted: 12 Mar 1996
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification6 codes

H04L 69/08
Network arrangements, protocols or services independent of the application payload and not provided for in the other groups of this subclass:…
H04L 51/066
Message adaptation to terminal or network requirements: format adaptation, e.g. format conversion or compression
H04N 1/32566
Using a programmed control device, e.g. a microprocessor: at the transmitter or at the receiver
H04N 2201/0065
Connection or combination of a still picture apparatus with another apparatus: converting image data to a format usable by the connected apparatus…