Reusable software component for textually supplementing, modifying, evaluating and processing procedural logic for a compiled host program at run-time

• US 20030046665A1
• Filed: 02/28/2001
• Published: 03/06/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 02/28/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Thomas Ilin
• Original Assignee: Thomas Ilin
• Inventors: Ilin, Thomas
• Application Number:
  US09/794,992
• Publication Number:
  US 20030046665A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 717/126
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/33 Intelligent editors
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/45508 Runtime interpretation or emulation, e g. emulator loops, bytecode interpretation

Abstract

A reusable software component that enables procedural rules in the form of text to be edited, viewed, checked for valid rule syntax, and evaluated after assigning values to variables during run-time of a compiled host program in such a way that supplements or modifies the procedural logic of that host program. Thereby enabling a computer'"'"'s behavior to be modified, or helping it to reach some conclusion or result, based on conditions that need not or cannot be pre-determined before run-time and compiled into the host program. This component can be used in either or both a graphical user interface, GUI, mode and/or a non-GUI mode. This component can be associated with other software components, and it can be customized to apply a specific rule syntax.

Claims

1. A method of editing, viewing, checking and evaluating textual procedural rules during run-time of a compiled host program in such a way that supplements or modifies the inherent procedural logic of that host program, comprising:

a. providing a means of processing procedural rules in the form of text that can be incorporated or embedded in a host program as a software component,

b. providing a computer-readable medium having stored thereon the said software component,

c. providing a computer-readable medium having stored thereon the said host program,

d. providing a computer-readable medium having stored thereon a program for embedding said software component in said host program,

e. providing a computer processor for processing said program for embedding said software component in said host program,

f. providing said computer processor for processing said host program embedded with said software component,

g. providing a display which is operatively connected to said computer processor for displaying the graphical user interface of said plurality of programs and said software component,

h. providing a character input means which a human operator can use to input text in said computer processor,

i. providing a pointer means which said operator can manipulate to point to any location in the graphical user interface of said plurality of programs and said software component,

whereby said display with said character input means and said pointer means will be used to embed said software component in said host program using said program for embedding said software component in said host program, and

whereby said computer processor for processing said host program embedded with said software component will process procedural rules provided to said software component by said host program or by said character input means or said pointer,

whereby said display can display said rules represented by text which specify conditions for processing alternative sets of instructions, and

whereby said rules can alternatively be provided by the host program in the form of a textual string which specifies said conditions, and

whereby said rules also specify said alternative sets of instructions, and

whereby said host-program is enabled to recognize, evaluate, select and perform the said rules to achieve a desired effect, and

whereby said rules can be modified by end-users of said host-program as often and whenever required during run-time of said host-program to achieve some new desired effect, and

whereby the said rules text can be replaced or modified by said host-program as often and whenever required during run-time of the said host-program to achieve some new desired effect.

2. A machine for editing, viewing, checking and evaluating textual procedural rules during run-time of a compiled host program in a computer processor in such a way that supplements or modifies the inherent procedural rules of that host program, comprising:

a. a means of processing procedural rules in the form of text that can be incorporated or embedded in a host program as a software component,

b. a computer-readable medium having stored thereon the said software component,

c. a computer-readable medium having stored thereon the said host program,

d. a computer-readable medium having stored thereon a program for embedding said software component in said host program,

e. a computer processor for processing said program for embedding said software component in said host program,

f. said computer processor for processing said host program embedded with said software component,

g. a display which is operatively connected to said computer processor for displaying the graphical user interface of said plurality of programs and said software component,

h. a character input means which a human operator can use to input text in said computer processor,

i. a pointer means which said operator can manipulate to point to any location in the graphical user interface of said plurality of programs and said software component,

whereby said display with said character input means and said pointer means will be used to embed said software component in said host program using said program for embedding said software component in said host program, and

whereby said computer processor for processing said host program embedded with said software component will process procedural rules provided to said software component by said host program or by said character input means or said pointer,

whereby said display can display said rules represented by text which specify conditions for processing alternative sets of instructions, and

whereby said rules can alternatively be provided by the host program in the form of a textual string which specifies said conditions, and

whereby said rules also specify said alternative sets of instructions, and

whereby said host-program is enabled to recognize, evaluate, select and perform the said rules to achieve a desired effect, and

whereby said rules can be modified by end-users of said host-program as often and whenever required during run-time of said host-program to achieve some new desired effect, and

whereby the said rules text can be replaced or modified by said host-program as often and whenever required during run-time of the said host-program to achieve some new desired effect.