Retrieval of services by attribute

• US 20040158835A1
• Filed: 01/26/2004
• Published: 08/12/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 05/05/1995
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Harvey, John III, Daniels, Andrew Michael, Saunders, William James
• Granted Patent: US 7,428,634 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 718/104
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/454 Multi-language systems; Localisation; Internationalisation

Abstract

An automatic method and apparatus for providing services on a computer system. A set of services is established providing different functionality for the computer system. With each of the set of services an attribute is stored for identifying characteristics of the function of each of the set of services. Then, the first set of services can be retrieved by a first set of attributes which is specified irrespective of any locales which may be defined in the computer system. Thus, characteristics or attributes of most importance to a service may be used to describe it and used for retrieval of such services. The establishing of the first set of services includes building a structure which references each of the first set of services. Retrieving may include maintaining a reference to one of the services in the structure and iterating through the structure in order to retrieve a subsequent one of the services. An iterator may be created which is used to iterate though the database of services and provide the services to application or system programs.

Claims

1. An automatic method for providing locales on a computer system comprising the following steps:

a. establishing a set of services, said set of services specifying services required for said locale;

b. storing with each of said set of services an attribute for identifying characteristics of said each of said set of services, said attribute including;

i a name which identifies a type of service;

ii. a value which uniquely identifies said each services among other services having said name;

c. defining a first locale which specifies a first set of attributes of a first set of said services; and

d. loading said first locale by retrieving said first set of services by said first set of attributes.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said establishing of said first set of services includes building a structure which references each of said first set of services.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein said retrieving includes maintaining a reference to one of said services in said structure and iterating through said structure in order to retrieve a subsequent one of said services.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein said services include text services.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein said services include input services.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein said services include formatting services.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein said services include presentation services.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein said defining of said first locale includes storing a locale file on a non-volatile medium coupled to said computer system.

9. The method of claim 9 further comprising the step of generating a locale database from said first locale file.

10. The method of claim 9 further comprising the step of scanning said database in order to create a reference to certain of said services in order to retrieve said first set of services.

11. An automatic method for providing services on a computer system comprising the following steps:

a. establishing a set of services providing different functionality for said computer system;

b. storing with each of said set of services an attribute for identifying characteristics of the function of each of said set of services; and

c. retrieving said first set of services by said first set of attributes irrepective of any locales.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein said establishing of said first set of services includes building a structure which references each of said first set of services.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein said retrieving includes maintaining a reference to one of said services in said structure and iterating through said structure in order to retrieve a subsequent one of said services.

14. The method of claim 11 wherein said services include text services.

15. The method of claim 11 wherein said services include input services.

16. The method of claim 11 wherein said services include formatting services.

17. The method of claim 11 wherein said services include presentation services.

18. The method of claim 11 further comprising the step of scanning said database in order to create a reference to certain of said services in order to retrieve said first set of services.

19. An apparatus for providing services on a computer system comprising:

a. first means for establishing a set of services providing different functionality for said computer system;

b. second means for storing with each of said set of services an attribute for identifying characteristics of the function of each of said set of services; and

c. third means for retrieving said first set of services by said first set of attributes irrepective of any locales.

20. The apparatus of claim 19 wherein said establishing of said first set of services includes building a structure which references each of said first set of services.

21. The apparatus of claim 20 wherein said retrieving includes maintaining a reference to one of said services in said structure and iterating through said structure in order to retrieve a subsequent one of said services.

22. The apparatus of claim 19 wherein said services include text services.

23. The apparatus of claim 19 wherein said services include input services.

24. The apparatus of claim 19 wherein said services include formatting services.

25. The apparatus of claim 19 wherein said services include presentation services.

26. The apparatus of claim 19 wherein said means for retrieving includes a means for scanning said database in order to create a reference to certain of said services in order to retrieve said first set of services.