Graphical authoring and editing of mark-up language sequences

• US 20050183007A1
• Filed: 10/05/2004
• Published: 08/18/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 02/12/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation (Martin Marietta Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation (Martin Marietta Corporation)
• Inventors: Gaug, Mark, Bestle, Edward R., Berbaum, Richard D., Blackwell, Michael N.
• Granted Patent: US 7,584,420 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/234
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/143 Markup, e.g. Standard Generalized Markup Language [SGML] or Document Type Definition [DTD]

Abstract

A graphical mark-up language authoring system using drag and drop placement of symbols representing mark-up language elements on a computer screen drawing and connecting the blocks by lines representing data and control flow to create a mark-up language sequence design. The symbols are instances of a mark-up language element that include the properties and attributes of that element. The system also includes a mark-up language view of the elements and their attributes and properties. The system permits effective authoring of mark-up language sequences by users not expert in mark-up language sequence design.

Claims

1-24. -24. (canceled)

25. A computer program product for enabling a computer to provide graphical authoring and editing of a mark-up language sequence, wherein the mark-up language sequence comprises at least a portion of an interactive electronic technical manual test program sequence for testing at least a portion of at least one system of a helicopter, comprising:

software instructions for enabling the computer to perform predetermined operations; and

a computer readable medium bearing the software instructions;

the predetermined operations including the steps of;

displaying a plurality of user-selectable graphical symbols, wherein each graphical symbol is representative of a mark-up language component, wherein each mark-up language component comprises an attribute module and mark-up language code;

selecting a first mark-up language component in response to user input;

displaying a first graphical representation of the first selected mark-up language component;

selecting a second mark-up language component in response to user input;

displaying a second graphical representation of the second selected mark-up language component;

connecting the first graphical representation to the second graphical representation by one or more lines on a graphical interface in response to user input;

configuring the code of the first mark-up language component for use in the mark-up language sequence by initializing the attributes and properties of the first mark-up language component responsive to the presence of the second mark-up language component;

configuring the code of the second mark-up language component for use in the mark-up language sequence by initializing the attributes and properties of the second mark-up language component responsive to the presence of the first component;

displaying the attributes and properties of the first selected mark-up language component on a graphic interface in response to user input;

editing the attributes and properties of the first selected mark-up language component in response to user input;

displaying the attributes and properties of the second selected mark-up language component on a graphic interface in response to user input;

editing the attributes and properties of the second selected mark-up language component in response to user input; and

displaying mark-up language code associated with each selected mark-up language component on a graphic interface in response to user input, wherein the mark-up language code comprises at least a portion of an interactive electronic technical manual test program sequence for testing at least a portion of a system of a helicopter; and

wherein the computer provides graphical authoring and editing capability of at least a portion of an interactive electronic technical manual test program sequence for testing at least a portion of at least one system of a helicopter.

26. A graphical mark-up language authoring system for authoring interactive technical manual test program sequences, comprising:

a memory containing a graphical mark-up language authoring tool program, a mark-up language component library and a mark-up language sequence, wherein the mark-up language sequence is an interactive electronic technical manual test program sequence; and

a computer connected to the memory, the computer operable to execute the graphical mark-up language authoring tool program, wherein the graphical mark-up language authoring tool program supports the creation of mark-up language for the mark-up language sequence by permitting a user of the computer to author an interactive technical manual test program sequence by selecting a symbol representative of a mark-up language component from a mark-up language component library having a plurality of user-selectable mark-up language components.

27. The graphical mark-up language authoring system of claim 26, wherein each of the plurality of user-selected components within the mark-up language component library has an attribute module and the graphical mark-up language authoring tool is operable to create the mark-up language code responsive to one of the attribute modules.

28. The graphical mark-up language authoring system of claim 26, wherein each graphical mark-up language component comprises mark-up language code and the graphical mark-up language authoring tool program is operable to display the mark-up language code on a graphic display.

29. The graphical mark-up language authoring system of claim 26, further comprising a display for displaying one or more of the mark-up language component library, the mark-up language sequence, mark-up language component attributes and properties and mark-up language code.

30. The graphical mark-up language authoring system of claim 26, wherein the interactive electronic technical manual test program sequence comprises data and logic for diagnosing at least a portion of a system on an aircraft.

31. The graphical mark-up language authoring system of claim 30, wherein the aircraft is a helicopter.

32. A method for creating a component in a mark-up language component library having a plurality of such components for use in a graphical mark-up language authoring system, comprising:

accepting a plurality of resources for a unit of primary functionality of a mark-up language component, wherein a first resource of the plurality of resources comprises a mark-up language code, and a second resource of the plurality of resources comprises an attribute module, the attribute module comprises attributes and properties of the mark-up language component;

designating a graphical symbol representative of the mark-up language component;

grouping the mark-up language code, the attribute module and the graphical symbol in a database to form the mark-up language component; and

inserting the mark-up language component to a mark-up language component library.

33. The method of claim 32, further comprising the step of providing configuration assistance through the attributes and properties of the attribute module for adapting the mark-up language code for use in a mark-up language sequence when the component is included in the mark-up language sequence.

34. The method of claim 33, further comprising the steps of:

displaying a plurality of user-selectable graphical symbols, wherein each graphical symbol is representative of a mark-up language component;

connecting a first graphical representation of the first graphical symbol to a second graphical representation of the second graphical symbol;

configuring code of a first mark-up language component associated with the first graphical symbol for use in the mark-up language sequence by initializing the attributes and properties of the first component responsive to the presence of a second mark-up language component associated with the second graphical symbol; and

configuring the code of the second mark-up language component for use in the mark-up language sequence by initializing the attributes and properties of the second mark-up language component responsive to the presence of the first mark-up language component.

35. The method of claim 34, further comprising the step of positioning the first selected mark-up language component and the second selected mark-up language component on a graphic interface in response to user input.

36. The method of claim 35, wherein the step of positioning comprises:

selecting a first mark-up language component;

displaying a first graphical representation of the first selected mark-up language component;

selecting a second mark-up language component;

displaying a second graphical representation of the second selected mark-up language component; and

connecting the first graphical representation to the second graphical representation by one or more lines on the graphic interface.

37. The method of claim 36, wherein the lines are generated on the graphic display in response to user input.

38. The method of claim 37, further comprising the step of displaying the attributes and properties of the first selected mark-up language component on a graphic interface.

39. The method of claim 38, further comprising the step of editing the attributes and properties of the first selected mark-up language component.

40. The method of claim 39, further comprising the step of displaying the attributes and properties of the second selected mark-up language component on a graphic interface.

41. The method of claim 40, further comprising the step of editing the attributes and properties of the second selected mark-up language component.

42. The method of claim 41, further comprising the step of displaying the mark-up language code associated with each selected mark-up language component on a graphic interface.

43. The method of claim 42, wherein the mark-up language sequence comprises at least a portion of an interactive electronic technical manual test program sequence, wherein the interactive electronic technical manual test program sequence comprises data or logic for testing at least a portion of a system of an aircraft.

44. The method of claim 43, wherein the aircraft is a helicopter.

45. A graphical interface for authoring interactive electronic technical manual test program sequences comprising a display element, said display element having separate sections for displaying a library of graphical representations of mark-up language components and a graphical representation of a mark-up language sequence, wherein the mark-up language sequence is an integrated electronic technical manual test program sequence.

46. The graphical interface of claim 45, further comprising sections for displaying mark-up language code corresponding to a mark-up language component, wherein the mark-up language component is a unit of functionality for use in an integrated electronic technical manual test program sequence.

47. The graphical interface of claim 46, further comprising sections for displaying attributes and properties corresponding to a mark-up language component, wherein the mark-up language component is a unit of functionality for use in an integrated electronic technical manual test program sequence.

48. The graphical interface of claim 47, wherein said sections are displayed in the form of windows, wherein the windows can be relocated on the display element and resized in response to user input.