Framework for objects having authorable behaviors and appearances

• US 20020191001A1
• Filed: 08/19/2002
• Published: 12/19/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 06/01/1998
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: David Wayne Arsenault, Lawrence David Felser
• Original Assignee: David Wayne Arsenault, Lawrence David Felser
• Inventors: Felser, Lawrence David, Arsenault, David Wayne
• Granted Patent: US 6,999,102 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/619
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/4488 Object-oriented
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/451 Execution arrangements for user interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/542 Event management; Broadcasting; Multicasting; Notifications
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99944 Object-oriented database structure
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 715/964 CAD or CAM, e.g. interactive design tools

Abstract

A framework is described that serves as an expression evaluator and notification manager for software objects, and can traverse individual object models to use parts of one model to define another. An object model (data model) is a map of an object'"'"'s properties and methods, and the framework of the present invention binds to the properties and methods and intercepts access to the properties for storage and evaluation of variables within the definitions of the properties. Binding the framework to the object accesses and uses the type info for the object to determine the properties of the object. In addition, the framework provides a method for the object author to override and specialize the properties to describe extensions of the type information.

Claims

1. A method of maintaining one or more properties of one or more software objects comprising:

binding a container object for each software object, wherein the container object acts as an interface to one or more properties of the bound software object;

associating a software program of the container object with one of the properties of the bound software object; and

evaluating the software program to produce a value for the associated property.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the software program comprises an expression or formula that utilizes one or more variables to produce the value.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the software object is a shape.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the container object controls access to the one or more properties of the bound software object.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the software program is only evaluated when required by a computer program.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

modifying the software program; and

evaluating the modified software program to produce a new value for the associated property.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising automatically maintaining a system of notifications to determine when to evaluate the software program to produce the value.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising maintaining a table of global symbols that is utilized by the software program to produce the value.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising persistently maintaining the one or more properties.

10. A system for maintaining one or more properties of one or more software objects, the system comprising:

(a) one or more software objects comprising one or more properties;

(b) a container object bound to each software object, the container object comprising a software program associated with at least one of the properties of the bound software object, wherein the container object is configured to;

(i) act as an interface to the one or more properties of the bound software object; and

(ii) evaluate the software program to produce a value for the associated property.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the software program comprises an expression or formula that utilizes one or more variables to produce the value.

12. The system of claim 10, wherein the software object is a shape.

13. The system of claim 10, wherein the container object is further configured to control access to the one or more properties of the bound software object.

14. The system of claim 10, wherein the software program is only evaluated when required by a computer program.

15. The system of claim 10, wherein the container object is further configured to:

modify the software program; and

evaluate the modified software program to produce a new value for the associated property.

16. The system of claim 10, wherein the container object is further configured to automatically maintain a system of notifications to determine when to evaluate the software program to produce the value.

17. The system of claim 10, further comprising a table of global symbols that is utilized by the software program to produce the value.

18. The system of claim 10, wherein the container object is further configured to persistently maintain the one or more properties.

20. The article of manufacture of claim 19, wherein the software program comprises an expression or formula that utilizes one or more variables to produce the value.

21. The article of manufacture of claim 19, wherein the software object is a shape.

22. The article of manufacture of claim 19, wherein the container object controls access to the one or more properties of the bound software object.

23. The article of manufacture of claim 19, wherein the software program is only evaluated when required by a computer program.

24. The article of manufacture of claim 19, wherein the method further comprises:

modifying the software program; and

evaluating the modified software program to produce a new value for the associated property.

25. The article of manufacture of claim 19, wherein the method further comprises automatically maintaining a system of notifications to determine when to evaluate the software program to produce the value.

26. The article of manufacture of claim 19, wherein the method further comprises maintaining a table of global symbols that is utilized by the software program to produce the value.

27. The article of manufacture of claim 19, wherein the method further comprises persistently maintaining the one or more properties.

19. An article of manufacture comprising a program storage medium readable by a computer and embodying one or more instructions executable by the computer to perform a method for maintaining one or more properties of one or more software objects in a computer system, the method comprising:

binding a container object for each software object, wherein the container object acts as an interface to one or more properties of the bound software object;

associating a software program of the container object with one of the properties of the bound software object; and

evaluating the software program to produce a value for the associated property.