Description of an interface applicable to a computer object

• US 20030050942A1
• Filed: 07/02/2002
• Published: 03/13/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 07/02/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Canon Ayutthaya Limited (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Ayutthaya Limited (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Moreau, Jean-Jacques, Ruellan, Herve
• Granted Patent: US 7,299,449 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/513
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/80 of semi-structured data, e.g. markup language structured data such as SGML, XML or HTML content-based retrieval of web data G06F16/95
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/31 Programming languages or programming paradigms
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/33 Intelligent editors
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/4484 Executing subprograms

Abstract

The invention concerns a method of describing a function applicable to a computer object, the function being invocable in a first markup language, the function being initially expressed in a predetermined programming language different from the first markup language,

characterised in that it includes the steps of:

defining (E3) a first tag describing the function, in the first markup language,

defining (E6) second tags describing the arguments of the function, these tags being contained in the first tag describing the function and the types of the arguments being expressed in a second markup language,

and, if the function produces a result,

defining (E10) a third tag describing the result of the function, this tag being contained in the first tag describing the function and the type of the result being expressed in the second markup language.

Claims

1. Method of describing a function applicable to a computer object, the function being invocable in a first markup language, the function being initially expressed in a predetermined programming language different from the first markup language,

characterised in that it includes the steps of:

defining (E3) a first tag describing the function, in the first markup language,

defining (E6) second tags describing the arguments of the function, these tags being contained in the first tag describing the function and the types of the arguments being expressed in a second markup language,

and, if the function produces a result,

defining (E10) a third tag describing the result of the function, this tag being contained in the first tag describing the function and the type of the result being expressed in the second markup language.

2. A method according to claim 1, characterised in that the second markup language is a schema language associated with the first markup language.

3. A method according to claim 1, characterised in that the second markup language is a markup language which makes it possible to construct complex types by aggregation of predefined simple types.

4. A method according to claim 1, characterised in that the third tag is differentiated from the second tags by an attribute with a specific value.

5. A method according to claim 1, in which at least one function forms part of an interface, characterised in that it includes the storage of the interface in the markup language and in the programming language.

11. Method of obtaining, by a client terminal, an interface of an object, said interface having at least one function described by the method according to claim 1,

characterised in that it includes the translation (E26) of said interface into a programming language different from the markup language.

12. A method for obtaining according to claim 11, characterised in that it includes the storage of the interface in the markup language and in the programming language.

13. A method according to claim 1, characterised in that the markup language is an XML language and the associated schema language is an XML schema language.

41. A computer program on an information carrier, characterized in that it comprises program instructions adapted to implement the method according to claim 1, when this program is loaded and executed in a computer system.

45. Storage medium storing a program for implementing the method according to claim 1.

6. A method of describing a function applicable to a computer object, it being possible to invoke the function in a markup language, the function being initially expressed in a predetermined programming language different from the markup language,

characterized in that it comprises the steps of:

defining (S3) an element describing the function, in a schema language associated with the markup language,

defining (S6) the arguments of the function, in said schema language,

and, if the function produces a result,

defining (S10) the element describing the result of the function, in said schema language.

7. A method according to claim 6, characterized in that, when a function produces a result, the definition of an element describing an invocation of that function comprises a specific attribute for indicating which element describes the result of that invocation.

8. A method according to claim 6, characterized in that, when a function produces a result, a relationship is established between an element describing an invocation of that function and the element describing its result by means of documentary elements of the schema language.

9. A method according to claim 6, characterized in that the definition of an element of a function has a particular type which makes it possible to characterize this element as describing a function.

10. A method according to claim 6, in which at least one function forms part of an interface, characterized in that it comprises the storage in memory of the interface in the schema language and in the programming language.

14. A method for obtaining an interface of an object by a client terminal, said interface comprising at least one function described by the method according to claim 6,

characterized in that it comprises the translation (S26) of said interface into a programming language that is different to the schema language.

15. An obtaining method according to claim 14, characterized in that it comprises the storage in memory of the interface in the schema language and in the programming language.

16. A method according to claim 6, characterized in that the markup language is an XML language and the associated schema language is an XML schema language.

42. A computer program on an information carrier, characterized in that it comprises program instructions adapted to implement the method according to claim 6, when this program is loaded and executed in a computer system.

48. Storage medium storing a program for implementing the method according to claim 6.

17. Device for describing a function applicable to a computer object, the function being invocable in a first markup language, the function being initially expressed in a predetermined programming language different from the first markup language,

characterised in that it has:

means of defining a first tag describing the function, in the first markup language,

means of defining second tags describing the arguments of the function, these tags being contained in the first tag describing the function and the types of the arguments being expressed in a second markup language,

and, if the function produces a result,

means of defining a third tag describing the result of the function, this tag being contained in the first tag describing the function and the type of the result being expressed in the second markup language.

18. A device according to claim 17, characterised in that it is adapted to use a second markup language which is a schema language associated with the first markup language.

19. A device according to claim 17, characterised in that it is adapted to use a second markup language which makes it possible to construct complex types by aggregation of predefined simple types.

20. A device according to claim 17, characterised in that it is adapted to use a third tag which is differentiated from the second tags by an attribute having a specific value.

21. A device according to claim 17, in which at least one function forms part of an interface, characterised in that it has means of storing the interface in the markup language and in the programming language.

27. Device for obtaining, by a client terminal, an interface of an object, said interface having at least one function described by the device according to claim 17,

characterised in that it has means of translating said interface into a programming language different from the markup language.

28. An obtaining device according to claim 27, characterised in that it has means of storing the interface in the markup language and in the programming language.

29. Device according to claim 17, characterised in that it is adapted to implement a markup language which is an XML language, and to use an associated schema language which is an XML schema language.

33. A device according to claim 17, characterized in that the defining means are incorporated in:

a microprocessor (100),

a read only memory (102), comprising a program for processing the data, and

a random access memory (103) comprising registers adapted to record variables modified during the execution of said program.

35. A computer characterized in that it comprises a device according to claim 17.

37. A computer characterized in that it comprises a device according to claim 27.

39. A communication network, characterized in that it comprises at least one computer according to claim 35 and a computer according to claim 37.

46. Storage medium according to claim 45, characterised in that said storage medium is detachably mountable on a device according to claim 17.

47. Storage medium according to claim 46, characterised in that said storage medium is a floppy disk or a CD-ROM.

49. Storage medium according to claim 48, characterised in that said storage medium is detachably mountable on a device according to claim 17.

50. Storage medium according to claim 49, characterised in that said storage medium is a floppy disk or a CD-ROM.

22. A device for describing a function applicable to a computer object, it being possible to invoke the function in a markup language, the function being initially expressed in a predetermined programming language different from the markup language,

characterized in that it comprises:

means for defining an element describing the function, in a schema language associated with a markup language,

means for defining the arguments of the function, in said schema language,

and, if the function produces a result,

means for defining the element describing the result of the function, in said schema language.

23. A device according to claim 22, characterized in that, when a function produces a result, the means for defining an element describing an invocation of that function are adapted to insert in that element a specific attribute for indicating which element describes the result of that invocation.

24. A device according to claim 22, characterized in that, when a function produces a result, the defining means are adapted to establish a relationship between an element describing an invocation of that function and the element describing its result by means of documentary elements of the schema language.

25. A device according to claim 22, characterized in that it is adapted to provide the definition of an element of a function with a particular type which makes it possible to characterize that element as describing a function.

26. A device according to claim 22, with at least one function forming part of an interface, characterized in that it comprises means (T′

) for storage in memory of the interface in the schema language and in the programming language.

30. A device for obtaining an interface of an object by a client terminal, said interface comprising at least one function described by the device according to claim 22,

characterized in that it comprises means for translation (S26) of said interface into a programming language that is different to the schema language.

31. An obtaining device according to claim 30, characterized in that it comprises means for storage in memory of the interface in the schema language and in the programming language.

32. A device according to claim 22, characterized in that it is adapted to implement a markup language which is an XML language, and to implement an associated schema language which is an XML schema language.

34. A device according to claim 22, characterized in that the defining means are incorporated in:

a microprocessor (100),

a read only memory (102), comprising a program for processing the data, and

a random access memory (103) comprising registers adapted to record variables modified during the execution of said program.

36. A computer characterized in that it comprises a device according to claim 22.

38. A computer characterized in that it comprises a device according to claim 30.

40. A communication network, characterized in that it comprises at least one computer according to claim 36 and a computer according to claim 38.

43. Computer document describing a function applicable to a computer object, the function being invocable in a first markup language, the function being initially expressed in a predetermined programming language different from the first markup language,

characterised in that it includes:

a first tag describing the function, in the first markup language,

second tags describing the arguments of the function, these tags being contained in the first tag describing the function and the types of the arguments being expressed in a second markup language,

and, if the function produces a result,

a third tag describing the result of the function, this tag being contained in the first tag describing the function and the type of the result being expressed in the second markup language.

44. Computer document describing a function applicable to a computer object, it being possible to invoke the function in a markup language, the function being initially expressed in a predetermined programming language different from the markup language,

characterized in that it comprises:

an element describing the function, in a schema language associated with the markup language,

the arguments of the function, in said schema language,

and, if the function produces a result,

the element describing the result of the function, in said schema language.