Patent · US Expired

Tagging data files with application information

US6646658B1 · kind B1 · utility

4Cited by
12References
12Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateMay 17, 2000
Grant dateNov 11, 2003
Priority date
Expiry dateMay 17, 2020

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG06F16/10
  • WIPO fieldComputer technology
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A method and structure for tagging data files with application information. A control application is distributed to users and recipients of data files. The control application allows users to either create or open a data file. To create a data file, the control application accesses the desired creating application and embeds information about the control application into the data file. The control application also includes information on a location of the exact version of the exact application for access of the contents of the data file. To open a data file, the control application accesses the embedded information and determines if the proper version of the correct application is present. If it is not, the control application uses the location information to access the proper version of the application, download it to a local site, and use it to access the contents of the data file.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.