Methods, systems and computer program products for creating user interface to applications using generic user interface templates

• US 20050071853A1
• Filed: 09/29/2003
• Published: 03/31/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 09/29/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: McGowan, Patrick, Paul, Christopher Joseph, Ramaswamy, Shankar, Wong, Cesar A., Jones, Carol Ann
• Granted Patent: US 7,519,970 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 719/328
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/38 for implementing user interfaces

Abstract

A user interface template that implements a task pattern for a model class and a model adapter that provides an interface for the application that conforms to the model class are identified. A user interface for the application is created from the identified user interface template and the identified model adapter. The user interface template may include a generic view and a generic controller. The model adapter may provide a business object interface, and may be configured to communicate with the application via a J2EE Connector Architecture (JCA) connector. The user interface template may define an abstract portlet, and creating a user interface includes creating a portlet instance that communicates with the application via the model adapter. The portlet instance may be configured using an application portlet builder portlet. The portlet builder may also identify the user interface template and the model adapter.

Claims

1. A method of providing a user interface for an application, the method comprising:

identifying a user interface template that implements a task pattern for a model class;

identifying a model adapter that provides an interface for the application that conforms to the model class; and

creating a user interface for the application from the identified user interface template and the identified model adapter.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein the user interface template comprises a generic view and a generic controller.

3. A method according to claim 1, wherein the user interface template defines an abstract portlet, and wherein creating a user interface comprises creating a portlet instance that communicates with the application via the model adapter.

4. A method according to claim 3, wherein creating a portlet instance comprises configuring the portlet instance using an application portlet builder portlet.

5. A method according to claim 3, wherein identifying a user interface template, identifying a model adapter and creating a portlet instance are performed using an application portlet builder portlet.

6. A method according to claim 1, wherein the model adapter provides a business object interface.

7. A method according to claim 1, wherein the model adapter is configured to communicate with the application via a J2EE Connector Architecture (JCA) connector.

12. A system according to claim 1, wherein the model adapter provides a business object interface.

13. A system according to claim 1, wherein the model adapter is configured to communicate with the application via a J2EE Connector Architecture (JCA) connector.

8. A system for providing a user interface to an application, the system comprising:

a user interface builder object operative to identify a user interface template that implements a task pattern for a model class, to identify a model adapter that provides an interface for the application that conforms to the model class, and to create a user interface for the application from the identified user interface template and the identified model adapter.

9. A system according to claim 8, wherein the user interface template comprises a generic view and a generic controller.

10. A system according to claim 8, wherein the user interface template defines an abstract portlet, and wherein the user interface builder is operative to create a portlet instance that communicates with the application via the model adapter.

11. A system according to claim 10, wherein the user interface builder comprises an application portlet builder portlet operative to configure the portlet instance.

14. A system, comprising:

an application;

a model adapter that provides an interface for the application that conforms to a model class; and

a portlet that implements a task pattern for the model class and that communicates with the application via the model adapter according to the interface.

15. A system according to claim 14, wherein the model adapter provides a business object interface.

16. A system according to claim 14, further comprising a J2EE Connector Architecture (JCA) connector, and wherein the model adapter is configured to communicate with the application via the JCA connector.

17. A computer program product for providing a user interface to an application, the computer program product comprising computer readable code embodied in a computer readable storage medium, the computer readable code comprising:

program code configured to provide a user interface builder object operative to identify a user interface template that implements a task pattern for a model class, to identify a model adapter that provides an interface for the application that conforms to the model class, and to create a user interface for the application from the identified user interface template and the identified model adapter.

18. A computer program product according to claim 17, wherein the user interface template comprises a generic view and a generic controller.

19. A computer program product according to claim 17, wherein the user interface template defines an abstract web portlet, and wherein the code configured to provide a user interface builder comprises code configured to create a concrete web portlet instance that communicates with the application via the model adapter.

20. A computer program product according to claim 19, wherein the code configured to create a concrete web portlet instance comprises code configured to provide an application portlet builder portlet operative to configure the portlet instance.