Methods and apparatus for creating a user interface using property paths

• US 20020105548A1
• Filed: 05/01/2001
• Published: 08/08/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 12/12/2000
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Citrix Systems, Inc. (Cloud Software Group)
• Original Assignee: Citrix Systems, Inc. (Cloud Software Group)
• Inventors: Hayton, Richard, Otway, Dave
• Application Number:
  US09/846,884
• Publication Number:
  US 20020105548A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/764
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2209/544 Remote
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2209/545 Gui
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/38 for implementing user interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/451 Execution arrangements for user interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/542 Event management; Broadcasting; Multicasting; Notifications

Abstract

The invention relates to a system for creating a user-interface independently of an application with which the user interface interacts, wherein the application includes a plurality of components and at least one component contains a property, wherein each property is identified with an identifier. The system includes a property connector module to insert at least one element into the user-interface, and to associate at least one property path with one inserted element, the property path including a concatenation of a plurality of identifiers, the concatenation of identifiers defining a path through the components of the application to a property at the end of the concatenation. A client node can include the user interface having one or more elements, and a client portion of the property connector module. A server node can include the application, and a server portion of the property connector module.

Claims

1. A method for creating a user-interface independently of an application with which the user interface interacts, the application including a plurality of components and at least one component containing a property, each property being identified with an identifier, the method comprising:

inserting at least one element into the user-interface; and

associating at least one property path with one inserted element, the property path including a concatenation of a plurality of identifiers, the concatenation of identifiers defining a path through the components of the application to a property at the end of the concatenation.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

determining a list of property paths associated with the application; and

selecting the property path from the list to associate with the one inserted element of the user-interface from the list of property paths.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the step of determining further comprises receiving a property path description file associated with the application, the property path description file including a plurality of identifiers associated with the application and a relationship between the plurality of identifiers.

4. The method of claim 2 wherein the step of determining further comprises

executing the application;

and

interacting with the executing application to determine a plurality of identifiers associated with the application and a relationship between the plurality of identifiers.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising transmitting a request to register for a property change message corresponding to the property path associated with the element of the user-interface.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of inserting comprises:

providing at least one predefined element; and

enabling selection from the at least one predefined element to insert the selected predefined element into the user-interface.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein the predefined element comprises one of an image type user-interface element, an iterator type user-interface element, a text type user-interface element, a hidden type user-interface element, a value type user-interface element, a slider type user-interface element, a treeview type user-interface element, a button type user-interface element, an iframe type user-interface element, a tab type user-interface element, a flipflop type user-interface element, a deck type user-interface element, a dropdown type user-interface element, a radio type user-interface element, and a script type user-interface element.

8. A system for creating a user-interface independently of an application with which the user interface interacts, the application including a plurality of components and at least one component containing a property, each property being identified with an identifier, the system comprising:

a property connector module inserting at least one element into the user-interface, and associating at least one property path with one inserted element, the property path including a concatenation of a plurality of identifiers, the concatenation of identifiers defining a path through the components of the application to a property at the end of the concatenation.

9. The system of claim 8 wherein the property connector module is further configured to determine a list of property paths associated with the application, and to select the property path from the list to associate with the one inserted element of the user-interface from the list of property paths.

10. The system of claim 8 wherein the property connector module is further configured to receive a property path description file associated with the application, the property path description file including a plurality of identifiers associated with the application and a relationship between the plurality of identifiers.

11. The system of claim 8 wherein the property connector module is further configured to execute the application, and to interact with the executing application to determine a plurality of identifiers associated with the application and a relationship between the plurality of identifiers.

12. The system of claim 8 wherein the property connector module is further configured to transmit a request to register for a property change message corresponding to the property path associated with the element of the user-interface.

13. The system of claim 8 wherein the property connector module is further configured to provide at least one predefined element, and to enable selection from the at least one predefined element to insert the selected predefined element into the user-interface.

14. The system of claim 13 wherein the predefined element comprises one of an image type user-interface element, an iterator type user-interface element, a text type user-interface element, a hidden type user-interface element, a value type user-interface element, a slider type user-interface element, a treeview type user-interface element, a button type user-interface element, an iframe type user-interface element, a tab type user-interface element, a flipflop type user-interface element, a deck type user-interface element, a dropdown type user-interface element, a radio type user-interface element, and a script type user-interface element.

15. The system of claim 8 further comprising:

a client node including;

the user interface having one or more elements; and

a client portion of the property connector module.

16. The system of claim 8 further comprising:

a server node including;

the application; and

a server portion of the property connector module.