Sun Microsystems, Inc.

Brian A Cameron

Akhil Arora

Herbert Ong

Mingchi Stephen Mak

Paul J Rank

A generic conversion framework that allows developers to develop custom plug-in conversion algorithms and/or merge algorithms (referred to as pluggable modules). In one embodiment, document merging may be split into two processes including a document differencing process and a document merging process. The converter, differencing and merger processes may be implemented as separate pluggable modules, allowing multiple, independent passes of implementations of the differencing process and the merge process. The framework may accept document converter plug-in modules, merger plug-in modules and/or differencing plug-in modules to be added, updated or replaced as needed. In one embodiment, the modules may be plugged into the framework dynamically at runtime. In one embodiment, a plug-in module of one type may be used with two or more different modules of another type.

Generic infrastructure for converting documents between formats with merge capabilities

Converting document formatted for use on servers to and from documents formatted for use on small devices, including synchronizing two or more versions of the document. A user may edit documents formatted for use on small devices and the documents may be synchronized with documents on the server to keep the documents up to date. In one embodiment, an n-way merge process may restore document formatting, styles and/or data features that may have been lost from one or more documents when converting from an office format to a small device format. In one embodiment, the server may provide an office productivity environment, and the documents on the server may be office documents.

Synchronization of documents between a server and small devices

Converting a document in a small device format and merging the converted document with an original version of the document in an office productivity format. A document on a server may be converted to a small device format. Some information may be dropped from the document during conversion. The converted document may be transferred to a small device for editing. The edited document may be transferred back to the server for synchronization with the original document. After transferal, the edited document may be converted back to the original document format on the server and analyzed to determine differences between the edited document and the original document. The determined differences may be applied to the original document to merge the small device document with the original document. Information that was lost during the original conversion of the document may be restored to the merged document during the conversion/merge process.

Growing community of inventors

Moweaqua, IL, United States of America

Brian A Cameron