System for a run-time engine capable for pager capable remote device

• US 20020056075A1
• Filed: 11/06/2001
• Published: 05/09/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 11/06/2000
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: TeleCommunication Systems Inc (Comtech Telecommunications Corporation)
• Original Assignee: TeleCommunication Systems Inc (Comtech Telecommunications Corporation)
• Inventors: Hamilton, Andrew, Nardone, Joseph
• Application Number:
  US09/985,880
• Publication Number:
  US 20020056075A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 717/110
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/34 Graphical or visual programming
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/465 Distributed object oriented systems remote method invocation [RMI] G06F9/548

Abstract

A run-time engine may be utilized to execute software applications. In particular, a user may develop customized application utilizing a development tool. The development tool provides a graphical user interface method of creating software application utilizing visual languages such as VISUAL BASIC, VISUAL C, etc. The resulting software application may be a combination of pseudo-code, compiled program scripts, graphical user interface definitions, etc. The software application(s) may be transmitted to a mobile device (e.g., a two-way text pager) for storage and execution. When a user activates the software application on the mobile device, the run-time engine is instantiated and the software application. Accordingly, by executing the run-time engine, the software application may generate screen displays on-the-fly with a minimal amount of storage space required by the software application. Moreover, by run-time engine provides an execution platform for software applications created by a development tool utilizing a visual programming language, thereby increasing the facility of software application development.

Claims

1. A method for executing application programs, comprising:

receiving at least one application program in a client device;

activating said at least one application program;

instantiating a run-time engine; and

executing said at least one application program by said run-time engine.

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

registering said at least one application program with an operating system of said client device; and

displaying an icon configured to represent said at least one application program in response to said registration.

3. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

registering a process identification corresponding to said activated said at least one application program; and

executing a GO method by said run-time engine.

4. The method according to claim 3, wherein said GO method comprises:

initializing at least one of the following of a jump table, a database table, a screen, and a variable;

setting a current screen identification to a first screen; and

testing said current screen identification.

5. The method according to claim 4, further comprising:

ending said GO method in response to said current screen identification being set to zero.

6. The method according to claim 4, further comprising:

retrieving a pointer to a current screen corresponding to said current screen identification;

executing a before-draw code block for said current screen; and

determining a change in said current screen.

7. The method according to claim 6, further comprising:

determining whether said current screen identification being set to zero in response to said determination of said change in said current screen; and

terminating said GO method in response to said current screen identification being set to zero.

8. The method according to claim 6, further comprising:

drawing said screen in response to said determination of said change being a no-change;

receiving a menu selection; and

executing a corresponding code block for said menu selection.

9. The method according to claim 6, wherein said execution of said corresponding code block comprises:

determining a code block number of said corresponding code block; and

returning a false value in response to said determination of said code block number being zero.

10. The method according to claim 9, further comprising:

searching a plurality of code blocks in response to said determination of said code block being non-zero;

retrieving said corresponding code block in response to said code block number; and

extracting associated opcodes from said corresponding code block.

11. The method according to claim 10, further comprising:

extracting an opcode from said associated opcodes; and

executing a corresponding function of said opcode from a jump table.

12. The method according to claim 11, further comprising:

terminating said corresponding code block in response to said corresponding function returning a true value.

14. The system according to claim 13, wherein said client device is further configured to register said at least one application program with an operating system of said client device;

and is yet further configured to display an icon configured to represent said at least one application program in response to said registration.

15. The system according to claim 13, wherein said client device is further configured to register a process identification corresponding to said activated said at least one application program and said run-time engine is configured to execute a GO method.

16. The system according to claim 15, wherein said GO method comprises:

initializing at least one of the following of a jump table, a database table, a screen, and a variable;

setting a current screen identification to a first screen; and

testing said current screen identification.

17. The system according to claim 16, wherein said GO method further comprises:

ending said GO method in response to said current screen identification being set to zero.

18. The system according to claim 16, wherein said GO method further comprises:

retrieving a pointer to a current screen corresponding to said current screen identification;

executing a before-draw code block for said current screen; and

determining a change in said current screen.

19. The system according to claim 18, wherein said GO method further comprises:

determining whether said current screen identification being set to zero in response to said determination of said change in said current screen; and

terminating said GO method in response to said current screen identification being set to zero.

20. The system according to claim 18, wherein said GO method further comprises:

drawing said screen in response to said determination of said change being a no-change;

receiving a menu selection; and

executing a corresponding code block for said menu selection.

21. The system according to claim 18, wherein said execution of said corresponding code block comprises:

determining a code block number of said corresponding code block; and

returning a false value in response to said determination of said code block number being zero.

22. The system according to claim 21, wherein said execution of said corresponding code block comprises:

searching a plurality of code blocks in response to said determination of said code block being non-zero;

retrieving said corresponding code block in response to said code block number; and

extracting associated opcodes from said corresponding code block.

23. The system according to claim 22, wherein said execution of said corresponding code block comprises:

extracting an opcode from said associated opcodes; and

executing a corresponding function of said opcode from a jump table.

24. The system according to claim 23, wherein said execution of said corresponding code block comprises:

;

terminating said corresponding code block in response to said corresponding function returning a true value.

26. The computer readable storage medium in according to claim 25, said one or more computer programs further comprising a set of instructions for:

registering said at least one application program with an operating system of said client device; and

displaying an icon configured to represent said at least one application program in response to said registration.

27. The computer readable storage medium in according to claim 25, said one or more computer programs further comprising a set of instructions for:

registering a process identification corresponding to said activated said at least one application program; and

executing a GO method by said run-time engine.

28. The computer readable storage medium in according to claim 27, said one or more computer programs further comprising a set of instructions for:

initializing at least one of the following of a jump table, a database table, a screen, and a variable;

setting a current screen identification to a first screen; and

testing said current screen identification.

29. The computer readable storage medium in according to claim 28, said one or more computer programs further comprising a set of instructions for:

ending said GO method in response to said current screen identification being set to zero.

30. The computer readable storage medium in according to claim 28, said one or more computer programs further comprising a set of instructions for:

retrieving a pointer to a current screen corresponding to said current screen identification;

executing a before-draw code block for said current screen; and

determining a change in said current screen.

31. The computer readable storage medium in according to claim 30, said one or more computer programs further comprising a set of instructions for:

determining whether said current screen identification being set to zero in response to said determination of said change in said current screen; and

terminating said GO method in response to said current screen identification being set to zero.

32. The computer readable storage medium in according to claim 30, said one or more computer programs further comprising a set of instructions for:

drawing said screen in response to said determination of said change being a no-change;

receiving a menu selection; and

executing a corresponding code block for said menu selection.

33. The computer readable storage medium in according to claim 30, said one or more computer programs further comprising a set of instructions for said execution of said corresponding code block comprises:

determining a code block number of said corresponding code block; and

returning a false value in response to said determination of said code block number being zero.

34. The computer readable storage medium in according to claim 33, said one or more computer programs further comprising a set of instructions for said execution of said corresponding code block comprises:

searching a plurality of code blocks in response to said determination of said code block being non-zero;

retrieving said corresponding code block in response to said code block number; and

extracting associated opcodes from said corresponding code block.

35. The computer readable storage medium in according to claim 34, said one or more computer programs further comprising a set of instructions for said execution of said corresponding code block comprises:

extracting an opcode from said associated opcodes; and

executing a corresponding function of said opcode from a jump table.

36. The computer readable storage medium in according to claim 35, said one or more computer programs further comprising a set of instructions for said execution of said corresponding code block comprises:

terminating said corresponding code block in response to said corresponding function returning a true value.

13. A system for executing application programs, comprising:

a client device, said client device comprises a memory and a processor; and

a run-time engine residing in said memory and executing on said processor, wherein said client is configured to receive at least one application program and is also configured to instantiating said run-time engine in response to an activation of said at least one application program and is further configured to execute said at least one application program by said run-time engine.

25. A computer readable storage medium on which is embedded one or more computer programs, said one or more computer programs implementing a method of executing application programs, said one or more computer programs comprising a set of instructions for:

receiving at least one application program in a client device;

activating said at least one application program;

instantiating a run-time engine; and

executing said at least one application program by said run-time engine.