Abstract: A method for requesting and processing a plurality of objects includes requesting a plurality of objects from a server, receiving a response message from the server, the response message containing the plurality of objects packed into the response message, and automatically unpacking the plurality of objects contained in the response message. The server includes an object packing module for packing requested objects into the response message. The client includes a plugin program that interacts with a network browser, in which the plugin program includes an unpacking module for unpacking the packed response message from the server. By delivering the plurality of requested objects in a single response message the objects are delivered over a single communication session thereby avoiding setting up and tearing down a plurality of communication sessions and reducing overhead processing. The objects can be thumbnail images forming the results of a search query.

Abstract: A customizable workflow is specified in a script that is associated with an object that is to be processed by the workflow. Both the object and the script can be stored in a content management system, with the object and script associated with one another by way of identifying the script in metadata stored in the system for the object. The script can be located by locating the object. The script can specify a sequence of a plurality of workflow processes that are performed over the life of the object.

Abstract: Provided are a method, system, and program for defining asset classes in a digital library. At least one asset class is defined to include at least one attribute and attributes are defined for each asset class to have an attribute object type. The attribute object type is defined to indicate one of a plurality of different data structure formats that are searchable through separate application programs, wherein the attribute object types in one asset class are implemented in different data structure formats. A asset object instance is generated for each asset class and information is generated in the asset object instance on a file location of attribute objects providing the attributes for the generated asset object instance.

Abstract: Provided are a method, system, and program for defining asset classes in a digital library. At least one asset class is defined to include at least one attribute and attributes are defined for each asset class to have an attribute object type. The attribute object type is defined to indicate one of a plurality of different data structure formats that are searchable through separate application programs, wherein the attribute object types in one asset class are implemented in different data structure formats. A asset object instance is generated for each asset class and information is generated in the asset object instance on a file location of attribute objects providing the attributes for the generated asset object instance.

Abstract: A customizable workflow is specified in a script that is associated with an object that is to be processed by the workflow. Both the object and the script can be stored in a content management system, with the object and script associated with one another by way of identifying the script in metadata stored in the system for the object. The script can be located by locating the object. The script can specify a sequence of a plurality of workflow processes that are performed over the life of the object.

Abstract: A device for retrieving stored data includes means for assigning at least one prioritized attribute to the data prior to storage and means for retrieving the stored data, where the stored data is retrieved in an order determined by the priority of the at least one prioritized attribute assigned to the stored data. The stored data may include an identifier, and the at least one prioritized attribute may be encoded into the identifier. The stored data, means for assigning, and means for retrieving may be connected to and distributed over a network having a plurality of nodes.

Abstract: Provided are a method, system, and program for defining asset classes in a digital library. At least one asset class is defined to include at least one attribute and attributes are defined for each asset class to have an attribute object type. The attribute object type is defined to indicate one of a plurality of different data structure formats that are searchable through separate application programs, wherein the attribute object types in one asset class are implemented in different data structure formats. A asset object instance is generated for each asset class and information is generated in the asset object instance on a file location of attribute objects providing the attributes for the generated asset object instance.

Abstract: Provided are a method, system, and program for defining asset classes in a digital library. At least one asset class is defined to include at least one attribute and attributes are defined for each asset class to have an attribute object type. The attribute object type is defined to indicate one of a plurality of different data structure formats that are searchable through separate application programs, wherein the attribute object types in one asset class are implemented in different data structure formats. A asset object instance is generated for each asset class and information is generated in the asset object instance on a file location of attribute objects providing the attributes for the generated asset object instance.

Abstract: A method for requesting and processing a plurality of objects includes requesting a plurality of objects from a server, receiving a response message from the server, the response message containing the plurality of objects packed into the response message, and automatically unpacking the plurality of objects contained in the response message. The server includes an object packing module for packing requested objects into the response message. The client includes a plugin program that interacts with a network browser, in which the plugin program includes an unpacking module for unpacking the packed response message from the server. By delivering the plurality of requested objects in a single response message the objects are delivered over a single communication session thereby avoiding setting up and tearing down a plurality of communication sessions and reducing overhead processing. The objects can be thumbnail images forming the results of a search query.

Abstract: A distributed client server system for managing and storing digital files includes a digital library and a shared file system, wherein the digital library further includes a library client, a library server including a library catalog, and an object server and wherein the shared file system includes a workstation with a local storage and a shared file server with a shared file storage. The digital library maintains metadata about the files in the shared file system, in a database in the library catalog. The metadata for a file includes different names for different versions of the file and a check-in status flag. A read operation is performed on the shared file system by a user retrieving a file directly from the shared file system. A write operation is performed by the user invoking a digital library application, which in turn changes the status of the flag to “checked-out”. When a file is “checked-out” it can not be edited by any other user.

Abstract: An object management system for storing persistent object oriented objects, includes an object vault, a structural type manager and a digital library. The object vault is connected to the structural type manager and the digital library is connected to the structural type manager. An application program is connected to the object vault. Objects to be stored are represented as a Key Value Dictionary (KVD) in which attributes, or metadata, relating to the objects are stored as key-value pairs. Objects are categorized as having different structural types in which certain attributes for objects having the same structural type are cataloged to facilitate indexing and searching for the objects. The structural type manager maintains a mapping between structural types and a subset of keys for the structural types as well as corresponding database references for cataloging the object attributes.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method and apparatus for supporting large digital objects. More particularly it relates to a client/server library system in which a large digital object is divided into smaller pieces which are stored in the client/server library system. By dividing the large digital object into smaller pieces, system limitations regarding object size are avoided. In one embodiment of the present invention the pieces are stored as files of variable size. Moreover, the pieces can be stored on separate object servers which can be located remotely from one another.

Abstract: An overall programming interface containing hundreds of application program interfaces (API's) for performing library functions on data objects in a digital client/server library system is simplified through a new, object oriented interface containing a small number of object oriented classes. Object instances created from the object oriented classes have member functions which are invoked by application programs, and the member functions issue appropriate calls to the API's. Information returned from the API's is handled by the calling object and provided to the application program in a simplified form.