Electronic document distribution network with uniform data stream

摘要

An electronic document distribution network is provided having a uniform data stream which may be used by data processors of varying levels of data processing capability interconnected in the network. The network comprises a plurality of linked communicating data processors. Each of the processors has apparatus for receiving and for transmitting a uniform data stream which is representative of the content and format of the document as well as the processing to be performed with respect to the document. The network includes higher level processors which have a higher level of data processing capability with respect to the data stream and lower level processors. One or more of the lower level processors further include apparatus for scanning a received data stream and for selecting from the data stream parameters which this lower level processor is capable of processing. The lower level processor also has apparatus for storing the non-selective parameters which it is not capable of processing. After the lower level processor has processed the selected parameters, the processor includes apparatus for merging the selected parameters and the stored parameters into a reconstituted data stream which corresponds to the received data stream and apparatus for transmitting this reconstituted data stream to another processor in the network.