Framework for developing web-based and email-based collaborative programs

• US 20020180789A1
• Filed: 06/01/2001
• Published: 12/05/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 06/01/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Vignette Corporation (Open Text Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Vignette Corporation (Open Text Corporation)
• Inventors: Walker, Isaac, Abrazado, Robert, Lee, Grant, Sequeria, Nathan, Pino, Conrad, Guttmann, Gregory, Sudol, Daniel, Goodwin, Giles, Sperling, Aaron
• Application Number:
  US09/870,993
• Publication Number:
  US 20020180789A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/760
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/34 Graphical or visual programming

Abstract

A method and a system for developing/customizing web-based collaborative applications are provided. The system is a scalable, secure, enterprise class software platform for web and email-based collaborative application. The system provides a platform to develop and customize as well as deploy these applications. The application engine of the system can leverage libraries of pre-existing applications or rapidly build entirely new that allow focusing on the solution to customer needs. A web-based application built employing the system'"'"'s application engine is a composite of definitions of application components. Browser-based wizards are provided by the application engine of the system to define application component types. The application engine of the system also provides for combining/tying these application component types together.

Claims

1. A system for developing/customizing web-based collaborative applications employing visual-based programming, comprising:

a user system operable to display a set of browser-based component wizards to develop application component types for a web-based collaborative application;

a network, coupled to a set of processing components and the user system, operable to communicate data; and

the set of processing components, each processing component in the set for implementing functionality associated with a definition for each of the application component types, wherein the functionality exists prior to customization of the definition for each of the application component types.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein the set of browser-based wizards includes a combination of:

a form wizard, a business rule wizard, a report wizard, a search wizard, a calendar wizard and an email wizard.

3. The system according to claim 2, wherein each browser-based wizard is operable to customize a definition for a corresponding application component type.

4. The system according to claim 3, wherein each browser-based wizard in the set of browser-based wizards has a set of sub-component types, the set of sub-components types in a browser-based wizard configured to dynamically perform the customization of the definition for the corresponding application component type.

5. The system according to claim 4, wherein at least some of the sub-component types in the set of sub-component types in the browser-based wizard are operable to dynamically generate a default visual representation of the customization of the definition in a display area of the browser-based wizard.

6. The system according to claim 5, wherein the generation of the visual representation associates a default property definition to a properties-based portion of the definition for the corresponding application component type.

7. The system according to claim 4, wherein at least one of the sub-components types in the set of sub-component types in the browser-based wizard is operable to dynamically modify a properties-based portion of the definition with a customized property definition for the corresponding application component type.

8. The system according to claim 7, wherein the customized property definition for the corresponding application component type is dynamically applied by providing visual representations in a display area of the browser-based wizard according to the customized property definition.

9. The system according to claim 8, wherein a physical property of the corresponding application component type modified by the customized property definition includes one of:

orientation, position, labeling, and design.

10. The system according to claim 4, wherein at least one of the sub-components types in the set of sub-component types in the browser-based wizard is operable to dynamically modify a behavior-based portion of the definition with a customized behavior definition for the corresponding application component type.

11. The system according to claim 10, wherein the customized behavior definition for the corresponding application component type is dynamically applied in accordance with the customized behavior definition to visual representations provided in a display area of the browser-based wizard.

12. The system according to claim 11, wherein a behavioral property of the corresponding application component type modified by the customized behavior definition includes one of;

data input type, data input length, data requirements, data modification terms and data retrieval terms.

13. The system according to claim 4, wherein at least some of the sub-component types in the set of sub-component types in the browser-based wizard are operable to specify the finality of the customization of the definition for the corresponding application component.

14. The system according to claim 13, wherein the finality specifiable includes any combination of:

discard customizations, implement customizations and delay customizations.

15. A method of developing/customizing web-based collaborative applications employing visual-based programming, comprising:

displaying a set of browser-based component wizards to develop application component types for a web-based collaborative application; and

implementing functionality associated with a definition for each of the application component types, wherein the functionality exists prior to customization of the definition for each of the application component types.