Multi-repository display system using separate presentation, adaptation and access layers

• US 20030071857A1
• Filed: 09/20/2002
• Published: 04/17/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 09/29/1998
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Arrouye, Yan, Mortensen, Keith L., Findley, Sean J.
• Granted Patent: US 7,669,145 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/853
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/10 File systems; File servers

Abstract

In a software object display system, an adaptation layer is used to isolate the presentation layer from expectations of the structure of the software objects displayed. A small set of data can be transferred between the adaptation layer and the presentation layer in order to provide for the display.

Claims

1. A computer system including:

a plurality of repositories containing a variety of different respective types of software objects;

access units respectively associated with said repositories to access at least some of the software objects;

an adaptation layer operably connected to the access units to obtain information about the software objects; and

presentation software operably connected to the adaptation layer, the presentation layer displaying representations of the software objects, wherein the presentation software receives display information from the adaptation layer, and wherein the display information includes the name of the software object.

2. The computer system of claim 1, wherein the presentation software includes a user interface.

3. The computer system of claim 2, wherein the presentation software includes an open user interface.

4. The computer system of claim 2, wherein the presentation software includes a save user interface.

5. The computer system of claim 1, wherein the transferred display information further includes a software object icon.

6. The computer system of claim 1, wherein the presentation software is such that access units can be added without modifying the presentation software.

7. The computer system of claim 1, wherein the adaptation layer is adapted to determine whether there is any children objects of a software object.

8. A method of forming a hierarchal display of software objects, comprising:

providing a software object;

checking the software object with an adaptation layer, the adaptation layer being adapted to determine display information for the software object and determine any children objects of the software object; and

producing a hierarchal display using display information provided by the adaptation layer, the hierarchal display including different types of software objects, wherein the display information includes the name of the software object.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the hierarchal display is produced by a presentation layer.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the display information includes the an icon of the software object.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein the adaptation layer is operably connected to accessing units.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the adaptation layer is arranged to cause the accessing units to obtain the display information for the software object.

13. The method of claim 8, wherein the different types of objects include database objects.

14. The method of claim 8, wherein the different types of objects include internet web page objects.

15. The method of claim 8, wherein the different types of objects include FTP objects.

16. The method of claim 8, wherein the hierarchal display allows for the selection of multiple objects of heterogeneous types.

17. A method of using multiple heterogenous repositories containing different types of software objects, the method comprising:

displaying the software objects in a hierarchical fashion; and

selecting more than one of the software objects at the same time, at least some of the more than one selected objects coming from different heterogeneous repositories.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein one of the heterogenous repositories contains database objects.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein one of the heterogeneous repositories contains internet web pages.

20. The method of claim 17, wherein the different types of objects include FTP objects.

21. The method of claim 17, wherein the displaying step includes obtaining display information about the users from an adaptation layer.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the adaptation layer produces name and icon of the software object for display and tests for children of the software object.

23. The method of claim 21, wherein the adaptation layer includes multiple adaptation units.

24. A computer-readable medium containing a program which executes the following procedure:

checking a software object of a computer system with an adaptation layer, the adaptation layer being adapted to determine display information for the software object and determine any children objects of the software object; and

producing a hierarchal display using display information provided by the adaptation layer, the hierarchal display including different types of software objects, wherein the display information includes the name of the software object.

25. The computer-readable medium of claim 24, wherein the hierarchal display is produced by a presentation layer.

26. The computer-readable medium of claim 24, wherein the display information includes the an icon of the software object.

27. The computer-readable medium of claim 24, wherein the adaptation layer is operably connected to accessing units.

28. The computer-readable medium of claim 27, wherein the adaptation layer is arranged to cause the accessing units to obtain the display information for the software object.

29. The computer-readable medium of claim 24, wherein the different types of objects include database objects.

30. The computer-readable medium of claim 24, wherein the different types of objects include internet web page objects.

31. The computer-readable medium of claim 24, wherein the different types of objects include FTP objects.

32. The computer-readable medium of claim 24, wherein the hierarchal display allows for the selection of multiple objects of heterogeneous types.