Techniques for rendering media as layers

A machine-implemented method, comprising:

• preprocessing a document into a plurality of layers based on layer types assigned to the document, wherein the layer types include:
• a static layer type and a dynamic layer type, wherein preprocessing further includes 1) detecting each layer in response to tags included with components of the document, 2) detecting each layer in response to processing a layer detection algorithm, 3) detecting each layer in response to particular components having a similar position relative to the units of media to which each particular component is associated, 4) detecting each layer in response to a data type associated with particular components;
• and 5) detecting each layer in response to manual identification and selection received from a user;
• assigning the components recognized in pages of the documents to have a particular page number for a rendered version of the document, wherein similar components that span the document are assigned to a same layer, each particular page number permits proper positioning within a rendered version of the document for each component;
• receiving a request to render the document to a desired format;
• concurrently formatting the layers having the components into the desired format;
• and
• rendering each page of the document to the desired format by superimposing components from a variety of the formatted layers on top of one another, each set of components for a particular page resolved by their particular page number assignment, specific components from a same formatted layer are rendered according to their page number assignment and particular components from different formatted layers rendered independently from one another.

A machine-implemented method, comprising:

• receiving a marked-up document, wherein the mark-up defines rules that drive rendering the document from an input data format to an output data format;
• separating the document in response to the rules into a series of independent layers based on layout types, each layer independent of remaining layers, wherein each independent layer includes a page number that is retained when that layer is rendered to the output data format, and the layout types include:
• a static layer type and a dynamic layer type wherein separating further includes 1) detecting each layer in response to tags included with the components of the document, 2) detecting each layer in response to processing a layer detection algorithm, 3) detecting each layer in response to particular components having a similar position relative to the units of media to which each particular component is associated, 4) detecting each layer in response to a data type associated with particular components;
• and 5) detecting each layer in response to manual identification and selection received from a user;
• formatting each layer independent of the remaining layers into the output data format;
• and
• rendering the document as a series of pages from the formatted layers, wherein each page includes pieces of multiple ones of the formatted layers and particular pieces from a same formatted layer rendered according to an assigned page number for each particular piece and specific pieces from different formatted layers rendered independent of one another.