US 6185590

U.S. Patent 6,185,590: A System for Universal Software Component Management

Washington, D.C. - A detailed analysis of United States Patent number 6,185,590, issued on February 6, 2001, reveals a system and method for creating a standardized framework to manage diverse software components, referred to as "engines," in a distributed computing environment. This "component factory" approach aims to simplify the use of complex, low-level software technologies by a broader range of developers.

Key Patent Details:

• Title: Process and architecture for use on stand-alone machine and in distributed computer architecture for client server and/or intranet and/or internet operating environments.
• Assignee: The original assignee was Imagination Software, Inc. The current assignee, as of the latest available information, is MPHJ Tech Investments LLC.
• Inventor: Laurence C. Klein.
• Filing Date: October 15, 1997.
• Issue Date: February 6, 2001.

Abstract: The patent describes a process for viewing and performing operations on an electronic document image. It allows a user to select from multiple "image viewing perspectives," each providing a different way to view the document. The system retrieves and displays the selected document according to the user's chosen perspective.

Plain-Language Summary of Independent Claims:

A review of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit (CAFC) dockets for the current year, 2026, did not reveal any publicly available information regarding litigation involving U.S. Patent 6,185,590.

The independent claims of this patent outline the core functionalities of the invention:

• Claim 1: This claim describes a computer-based method for creating a universal interface for various software "engines" (core technologies like OCR or barcode recognition). This is achieved by creating an "object" for each engine that provides a standardized way to access its features and settings. The process involves an "engine management function" that acts as a protective layer, handling errors and ensuring proper engine operation. It also includes an "engine configuration function" to translate and standardize commands for the engine, and an "engine function" to manage these standardized commands, thus providing uniform access to the engine's capabilities.

• Claim 11: This claim focuses on a computer-based method for transforming a specific software's Application Programmer Interface (API) into a more generic one. It involves building an "object" for each software engine to allow for consistent access. The core of this claim is a three-step process: defining a uniform interface for these software components, adapting various engines to this new, consistent interface, and then managing these components in a standardized way through a predefined "object manager."

• Claim 18: This claim details the structure of a computer system designed to implement the process described in the previous claims. The architecture is composed of three main layers: an "engine management layer" that interfaces with the specific software API to handle basic functions and error management, an "engine configuration layer" that standardizes the commands sent to the software, and an "engine layer" that manages the standardized commands for each specific engine.

• Claim 20: This claim describes a distributed computer system that separates the user-facing components from the core processing "engines." A server holds the software engines and "engine components" that translate between the engine's native interface and a standardized one. A client machine, which can connect to one or more servers, contains an "object manager layer." This layer communicates with and manages the engine components on the server using the standardized interface.

• Claim 26: This claim outlines a process for a distributed computing environment. It involves placing at least one software engine on a server. An "engine component" is also provided, either on the same server or another, which maps a consistent interface to the engine's specific interface. Finally, a client machine, connected to the server(s), has an "object manager layer" that can communicate with and manage the engine components through this standardized interface.

• Claim 32: This claim describes a process for viewing an electronic document. A user can select from a variety of "image viewing perspectives," each offering a different way to view the document. The user then selects a document, which the system retrieves and displays according to the chosen perspective.

In essence, U.S. Patent 6,185,590 details a comprehensive system for creating a universal "plug-and-play" environment for software components. By creating a standardized set of interfaces and management layers, the invention allows for complex, low-level technologies to be easily integrated and utilized by developers in various computing environments, including standalone machines, client-server networks, and the internet. The patent also extends this concept to a user-facing application for viewing images with customizable perspectives.