Meta-configuration of profiles

Abstract

Disclosed are methods for creating, applying, using and retrieving profile information that includes attributes that may be stored separately from, or with, the content to which the profiles are being applied. In this manner, profiles can be shared in various environments and across various applications. Attributes that have corresponding attributes in other content can be applied to the other content, as long as each of the attributes is valid. In computer aided design applications, the profile can be stored in a profile repository embedded within the CAD model. In addition, profile controllers are disclosed which control the attributes of a profile that can be used with selected content and other content and send a notification that a profile is available for use by other content.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of retrieving a profile that has a plurality of attributes and applying said profile to selected content comprising:
 defining said selected content to which said profile is to be applied;   determining if said content includes an instruction to use said profile;   retrieving said profile from a profile repository that is separate from and not embedded with said content;   accessing said profile repository to load said profile;   loading said profile from said profile repository;   setting a current attribute pointer to a current attribute in said profile;   applying said current attribute to said content;   incrementing said current attribute pointer so that all attributes of said plurality of attributes in said profile are applied to said selected content.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the process of retrieving said profile from a profile repository further comprises:
 using a link that is stored in said content to access said profile that is stored in said profile repository. 
 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2  wherein the process of using a link further comprises:
 storing a unique identifier with said link to access said profile stored in said profile repository. 
 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3  wherein the process of loading said profile from said profile repository further comprises:
 processing said profile in the same manner as a native profile 
 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4  wherein the process of storing a unique identifier with said link to access said profile stored in said profile repository further comprises:
 storing additional information that is used to select specific attributes of said profile to be applied to said content. 
 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5  further comprising the process of:
 determining if an indicator defines said profile as a default profile; 
 loading and applying said default profile whenever said indicator defines said profile as a default profile. 
 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 5  wherein the process of retrieving said profile from said profile respository further comprises:
 prompting a user whether to apply said profile using said link. 
 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7  wherein the process of prompting a user whether to apply said profile using said link further comprises:
 providing a preview of the changes created by application of said profile to enable said user to view said changes before said profile is applied. 
 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 7  wherein the process of using a link that is stored in said selected content to access said profile that is stored in said profile repository further comprises:
 using an additional link that is stored in said profile to access an additional profile in an additional profile repository. 
 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9  wherein the process of using an additional link that is stored in said profile to access an additional profile in an additional profile repository further comprises:
 storing additional information that is used to select specific attributes of said additional profile to be applied to said content. 
 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 2  wherein the process of using a link that is stored in said selected content to access said profile that is stored in said profile repository further comprises:
 using a link that is stored in said selected content to access said profile that is stored in said profile repository that is located in a client processing unit. 
 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 2  wherein the process of using a link that is stored in said selected content to access said profile that is stored in said profile repository further comprises:
 using a link that is stored in said selected content to access said profile that is stored in said profile repository that is located in a source processing unit. 
 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 2  wherein the process of using a link that is stored in said selected content to access said profile that is stored in said profile repository that is located in a source processing unit further comprises:
 accessing said source processing unit through a network. 
 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the process of retrieving said profile from a profile repository further comprises:
 prompting a user whether to store a link to said profile with said content to enable automatic application of said profile to said content 
 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the process of retrieving said profile from a profile repository further comprises:
 retrieving said profile from a profile repository that is located on a removable storage device that is compatible with other content. 
 
     
     
         16 . A method of applying a profile that has a plurality of attributes to selected content comprising:
 defining said selected content to which said profile is to be applied;   setting a current attribute pointer to a current attribute of said plurality of attributes;   applying said current attribute to said selected content when said current attribute has a corresponding attribute present in said selected content, and when said current attribute is valid for said content;   incrementing said current attribute pointer so that said plurality of attributes in said profile are applied to said selected content whenever said attributes have a corresponding attribute present in said selected content, and when each attribute is valid for said selected content.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16  further comprising the process of:
 selecting attributes from a plurality of attributes to be applied to said selected content. 
 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17  wherein the process of selecting attributes further comprises:
 selecting temporary attributes from said plurality of attributes stored in said profile repository; 
 creating a temporary profile containing said temporary attributes; 
 setting a current temporary attribute pointer to a current temporary attribute in said temporary profile; 
 applying said temporary attribute to said content when said current temporary attribute has a corresponding attribute present in said selected content, and when said current temporary attribute is valid for said content; 
 incrementing said current temporary attribute pointer so that each attribute of said temporary profile is applied to said selected content whenever each temporary attribute has a corresponding attribute present in said selected content, and when each temporary attribute is valid for said selected content. 
 
     
     
         19 . A method of creating a profile for a Computer-Aided Design (CAD) application comprising:
 configuring attributes of said profile of said CAD application by applying said attributes to selected content of a CAD model for use with said CAD application;   accessing a plurality of categories and subcategories of said attributes;   selecting said attributes from said categories and subcategories to form said profile;   applying a unique identifier to said profile;   storing said profile in a profile repository embedded within said content of said CAD model.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19  wherein the process of configuring attributes of said profile of said CAD application further comprises:
 defining a group of attributes that can be accessed for use by other CAD models 
 
     
     
         21 . A method of using a profile controller to control the attributes of a profile to be used with selected content and other content comprising:
 accessing a plurality of categories and subcategories of said attributes;   selecting said attributes from said categories and subcategories to form said profile;   assigning a unique identifier to said profile;   storing said profile in a profile repository for use with said selected content;   retrieving said profile from said profile repository using said unique identifier;   applying said profile to said selected content;   sending a notification that said profile is available for use by said other content;   allowing access to said profile by said other content.   
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21  wherein the process of sending a notification that said profile is available for use by said other content further comprises:
 sending a notification to profile controllers located in source processing units. 
 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 21  further comprising:
 specifying profile types for said categories; 
 using said profile types to select categories during said process of selecting said attributes 
 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 21  further comprising:
 specifying profile groups for said categories; 
 using said profile groups to select categories during said process of selecting said attributes 
 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 21  wherein the process of selecting said attributes from said categories and subcategories to form said profile further comprises:
 selecting attributes that apply to a plurality of environments for application of said attributes as a master profile for said plurality of environments.