Method of dividing structured documents into several parts

Abstract

The method applies to a structured document (D) presenting a hierarchical structure defined by a structure schema, the document combining a main structured set ( 1 ) of information including information subsets ( 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, . . . , 1.2.2.2 ), at least some of the information subsets being structured and being capable of including information subsets of lower hierarchical level, each information subset being associated in the higher level information set with a respective information type (T). The method comprises the steps of: dividing the document into structured portions (P 1, P 2, P 3 ) capable of being handled individually, namely a main portion (P 1 ) and at least one secondary portion (P 2, P 3 ), the main portion containing at least the main set ( 1 ) of information, and the secondary portion containing an information subset ( 1.2.1, 1.2.2 ) which is removed from the main set of information, each secondary portion being attached to the main portion or to another secondary portion; and allocating a predefined value to the information type of each information subset ( 1.2.1, 1.2.2 ) that has been removed from an information set ( 1.2 ) of higher hierarchical level.

1 - 12 . (canceled)  
   
   
       13 . A method of handling at least one structured document having a hierarchical structure defined in a structure schema, the structured document comprising a main structured set of information including information subsets, at least one of the information subsets being structured and including information subsets of lower hierarchical level, each information subset being associated in a higher level information set with a respective information type, the structure corresponding to each information type being defined in the structure schema, the structured document being divided into structured portions capable of being handled individually, namely a main portion and at least one secondary portion, the main portion containing at least a main set of information, and the second portion containing an information subset which is removed from the main set of information, each secondary portion being attached to the main portion or to another secondary portion, the structured document comprising in each information set from which at least one information subset has been removed, the information type of each removed information subset having a predefined allocated value, 
 said method comprising the steps of:    receiving by a recipient a data stream formed by at least one secondary portion,    reading by the recipient at least some received secondary portions, the step of reading comprising at least one step of updating over time the plurality of secondary portions associated with a same location in the structure in accordance with at least one predefined rule.    
   
   
       14 . The method according to  claim 13 , 
 wherein during the step of updating, the most recently received secondary portion replaces the previously received secondary portion associated with the same location in the structure.    
   
   
       15 . The method according to  claim 13 , 
 wherein a header of each read secondary portion contains information specifying a processing mode to be applied to said secondary portion relative to an already received secondary portion associated with the same location in the structure.    
   
   
       16 . The method according to  claim 13 , 
 wherein the structured schema of the structured document is known by the recipient.    
   
   
       17 . The method according to  claim 13 , 
 wherein the structured document is partitioned in such a manner that the main portion does not contain any payload data, so that the entire document is reconstituted from the secondary portions and their locations within the document structure.    
   
   
       18 . The method according to  claim 13 , 
 wherein the data stream comprises the main portion, the-step of reading comprising at least one step of updating over time a plurality of main portions associated with a same location in the structure in accordance with at least one predefined rule.