Graphical tool for developing computer programs via specifications

• US 20020188703A1
• Filed: 06/04/2002
• Published: 12/12/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 06/04/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Mckesson Financial Holdings Limited (McKesson Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Mckesson Information Solutions Holdings Limited
• Inventors: Alden, John
• Application Number:
  US10/163,011
• Publication Number:
  US 20020188703A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/220
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/01 Protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/75 Indicating network or usage conditions on the user display
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols

Abstract

A method, system, apparatus, and program product for developing a specification, which may be a form of program expression independent of a client device. A host at the client converts the specification elements into a running application at the client that is specific to the client platform. The application may run concurrently with the modification of the specification, which allows for user customization of the application while the application is running.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method, comprising:

creating a specification for an application, wherein the specification is independent of a hardware platform on which the application is to be run;

instantiating the application from the specification;

running the application; and

modifying the specification concurrently with the running the application.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein creating the specification further comprises:

creating a description of a model in the specification.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein creating the specification further comprises:

creating a description of a view in the specification.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein creating the specification further comprises:

creating a description of a controller in the specification.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein creating the specification further comprises:

creating the specification to have a model-view-controller architecture.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein creating the specification further comprises:

creating a description of an appearance of a screen and an identification of a location of data to be displayed on the screen.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the specification is suitable for interpretation by a browser.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein creating the specification further comprises creating customizable, substitutable parts.

9. A computer-implemented method, comprising:

constructing screen specifications and controllers using input from a user; and

providing feedback to the user on the appearance and behavior of the screen specifications and controllers concurrently with the constructing of the screen specifications.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

creating documents from an application definition and an application data.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

updating the documents based on user input.

12. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

sending the documents to a server.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

updating a database at the server based on the documents.

14. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

binding fields in the documents to fields in a database.

16. The signal-bearing medium of claim 15, wherein creating the specification further comprises:

creating a description of a model in the specification

17. The signal-bearing medium of claim 15, wherein creating the specification further comprises:

creating a description of a view in the specification.

18. The signal-bearing medium of claim 15, wherein creating the specification further comprises:

creating a description of a controller in the specification.

19. The signal-bearing medium of claim 15, wherein creating the specification further comprises:

creating the specification to have a model-view-controller architecture.

20. The signal-bearing medium of claim 15, wherein creating the specification further comprises:

creating a description of an appearance of a screen and an identification of a location of data to be displayed on the screen.

21. The signal-bearing medium of claim 15, wherein the specification is suitable for interpretation by a browser.

15. A signal-bearing medium encoded with instructions that when executed comprise:

creating a specification for an application, wherein the specification is independent of a hardware platform on which the application is to be run;

instantiating the application from the specification;

running the application; and

modifying the specification concurrently with the running the application.

22. A computer comprising:

a processor; and

storage encoded with instructions that when executed on the processor comprise;

creating a specification for an application, wherein the specification is independent of a hardware platform on which the application is to be run,

instantiating the application from the specification, and

running the application concurrently,

modifying the specification concurrently with the running the application.

23. The computer of claim 22, wherein creating the specification further comprises:

creating a description of a model in the specification

24. The computer of claim 22, wherein creating the specification further comprises:

creating a description of a view in the specification.

25. The computer of claim 22, wherein creating the specification further comprises:

creating a description of a controller in the specification.

26. The computer of claim 22, wherein creating the specification further comprises:

creating the specification to have a model-view-controller architecture.

27. The computer of claim 22, wherein creating the specification further comprises:

creating a description of an appearance of a screen and an identification of a location of data to be displayed on the screen.

28. The computer of claim 22, wherein the specification is suitable for interpretation by a browser.