Electronic document delivery system employing distributed document object model (DOM) based transcoding and providing interactive javascript support

A transcoder proxy, comprising:

• a synchronous document object model (DOM) generator adapted to receive an electronic document in a first digital format, wherein the electronic document includes an element, and wherein a JAVASCRIPT event is associated with the element, and wherein the element includes JAVASCRIPT code executed in response to the JAVASCRIPT event, and wherein the synchronous DOM generator comprises an identifier (ID) generator configured to assign a unique identifier to the element, and wherein the synchronous DOM generator is configured to:
• form a pre-transcoded DOM representing a logical structure of the electronic document, wherein the element is associated with the corresponding identifier within the pre-transcoded DOM;
• provide a first portion of the electronic document in the first digital format;
• a transcoder coupled to receive the portion of the electronic document in the first digital format and configured to:
• translate the first portion of the electronic document from the first digital format to an original script in a second digital format, wherein the original script includes the element and the identifier assigned to the element;
• provide the original script;
• and
• a JAVASCRIPT engine coupled to the synchronous DOM generator and adapted to receive input JAVASCRIPT event information and an input identifier, wherein the JAVASCRIPT engine is configured to:
• access an element within the pre-transcoded DOM using the identifier;
• execute JAVASCRIPT code of the element, thereby producing a result;
• and
• provide the result to the synchronous DOM generator.

A client machine, comprising:

• an output device;
• and
• a user agent coupled to the output device and adapted for coupling to a transcoder proxy, wherein the user agent is configured to:
• receive an original script from the transcoder proxy, wherein the original script includes an element and an identifier assigned to the element;
• form a transcoded DOM in response to the original script, wherein the transcoded DOM is a representation of the portion of the electronic document;
• use the transcoded DOM to produce output commands;
• provide the output commands to the output device;
• associate a JAVASCRIPT event with the element;
• generate the JAVASCRIPT event in response to user input;
• provide JAVASCRIPT event information and the identifier assigned to the element associated with the JAVASCRIPT event to the transcoder proxy;
• receive a modification script from the transcoder proxy;
• modify the transcoded DOM in response to the modification script.

A system for delivering an electronic document, comprising:

• a transcoder proxy, including:
• a synchronous document object model (DOM) generator coupled to receive the electronic document in a first digital format, wherein the electronic document includes an element, and wherein a JAVASCRIPT event is associated with the element, and wherein the element includes JAVASCRIPT code executed in response to the JAVASCRIPT event, and wherein the synchronous DOM generator comprises an identifier (ID) generator configured to assign a unique identifier to each element, and wherein the synchronous DOM generator is configured to:
• form a pre-transcoded DOM representing a logical structure of the electronic document, wherein the element is associated with the corresponding identifier within the pre-transcoded DOM;
• and
• provide a portion of the electronic document in the first digital format;
• a transcoder coupled to receive the portion of the electronic document in the first digital format and configured to:
• translate the portion of the electronic document from the first digital format to an original script in a second digital format, wherein the original script includes the element and the identifier assigned to the element;
• and
• provide the original script;
• a JAVASCRIPT engine coupled to the synchronous DOM generator and to receive an input JAVASCRIPT event and an input identifier, wherein the user interface generated is configured to:
• access an element within the pre-transcoded DOM using the input identifier;
• execute JAVASCRIPT code of the element, thereby producing a result;
• and
• provide the result to the synchronous DOM generator;
• and
• a client machine coupled to receive the original script, wherein the client machine comprises:
• an output device;
• a user agent coupled to the output device, the transcoder, and the user interface generator, wherein the user agent is configured to:
• form a transcoded DOM in response to the original script from the transcoder, wherein the transcoded DOM is a representation of the portion of the electronic document;
• use the transcoded DOM to produce output commands;
• provide the output commands to the output device;
• associate the JAVASCRIPT event with the element;
• generate the JAVASCRIPT event in response to user input;
• and
• provide JAVASCRIPT event information and the identifier assigned to the element associated with the JAVASCRIPT event to the JAVASCRIPT engine.

A method for transcoding an electronic document having at least one element, comprising:

• receiving the electronic document in a first digital format, wherein the document includes an element, and wherein a JAVASCRIPT event is associated with the element, and wherein the element includes JAVASCRIPT code executed in response to the JAVASCRIPT event;
• assigning a unique identifier to the element;
• forming a model of a logical structure of the electronic document, wherein the model includes the element and the identifier assigned to the element;
• using the model to produce a script, wherein the script includes at least a portion of the document expressed in a second digital format, and wherein the script includes the element and the identifier assigned to the element;
• and
• providing the script.

A method for presenting an electronic document, comprising:

• receiving the electronic document in a first digital format, wherein the document includes an element, and wherein a JAVASCRIPT event is associated with the element, and wherein the element includes JAVASCRIPT code executed in response to the JAVASCRIPT event;
• assigning a unique identifier to the element;
• forming a model of a logical structure of the electronic document, wherein the model includes the element and the identifier assigned to the element;
• using the model to produce an original script, wherein the original script includes at least a portion of the electronic document expressed in a second digital format, and wherein the original script includes the element and the identifier assigned to the element;
• providing the original script;
• receiving input JAVASCRIPT event information and an input identifier assigned to an element associated with the JAVASCRIPT event;
• accessing an element within the model using the input identifier;
• executing JAVASCRIPT code of the element, thereby producing a result;
• use the model and the result to produce a modification script, wherein the modification script differs from the original script;
• and
• providing the modification script.

A method for presenting an electronic document, comprising:

• receiving an original script, wherein the original script includes at least a portion of the electronic document expressed in a digital format, and wherein the original script includes an element of the document, a JAVASCRIPT event associated with the element, and an identifier assigned to the element;
• using the original script to present the portion of the electronic document;
• associating the JAVASCRIPT event with the element;
• generating the JAVASCRIPT event in response to user input;
• providing JAVASCRIPT event information and the identifier assigned to the element associated with the JAVASCRIPT event;
• receiving a modification script;
• and
• using the modification script to modify the presented portion of the electronic document.

A method for presenting an electronic document, comprising:

• receiving the electronic document in a first digital format, wherein the document includes an element, and wherein a JAVASCRIPT event is associated with the element, and wherein the element includes JAVASCRIPT code executed in response to the JAVASCRIPT event;
• assigning a unique identifier to the element;
• forming a model of a logical structure of the electronic document, wherein the model includes the element and the identifier assigned to the element;
• using the model to produce an original script, wherein the original script includes at least a portion of the electronic document expressed in a second digital format, and wherein the original script includes the element and the identifier assigned to the element;
• using the original script to present the portion of the document;
• associating the JAVASCRIPT event with the element;
• generating the JAVASCRIPT event in response to user input;
• accessing the element within the model using the identifier;
• executing the JAVASCRIPT code of the element, thereby producing a result;
• using the model and the result to produce modification script;
• and
• using the modification script to modify the presented portion of the document.