Enhancing portlet run-time display with dynamically applied portlet skins

• US 20060047777A1
• Filed: 09/01/2004
• Published: 03/02/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 09/01/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Lection, David B., Masselle, Eric L., Jones, Carol A., Harris, Michael D., Hesmer, Stephan
• Application Number:
  US10/931,313
• Publication Number:
  US 20060047777A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/217
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/56 Provisioning of proxy services store-and-forward switching systems in data switching networks H04L12/54
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/567 Integrating service provisioning from a plurality of service providers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/75 Indicating network or usage conditions on the user display

Abstract

A method, system and apparatus for enhancing the run-time display of a portlet using dynamically applied portlet skins. In this regard, a portlet display enhancement system can include a portlet aggregator configured to aggregate portlet views into a portal page, and alternate skin insertion logic programmed to wrap at least one portlet view with an alternate skin in lieu of a static skin. A portlet filter can be communicatively coupled to the portlet aggregator and configured to manage the alternate skin insertion logic. Alternatively, a servlet can be communicatively coupled to the portlet aggregator and configured to manage the alternate skin insertion logic. The alternate skin can include a debug skin. Moreover, the alternate skin can include an auxiliary control programmed to activate an auxiliary view. In this regard, the auxiliary view can include additional debug information.

Claims

1. A portlet display enhancement system comprising:

a portlet aggregator configured to aggregate portlet views into a portal page; and

,

alternate skin insertion logic programmed to wrap at least one portlet view with an alternate skin in lieu of a static skin.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising a portlet filter communicatively coupled to said portlet aggregator and configured to manage said alternate skin insertion logic.

3. The system of claim 1, further comprising a servlet communicatively coupled to said portlet aggregator and configured to manage said alternate skin insertion logic.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein said alternate skin comprises a debug skin.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein said alternate skin comprises an auxiliary control programmed to activate an auxiliary view.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein said auxiliary view comprises additional debug information.

7. A portlet display enhancement method, comprising the step of applying an alternate skin to a portlet in lieu of a statically specified skin.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein said step of applying comprises the step of, responsive to a request to aggregate said portlet in a portal page, determining whether an alternate skin is to be applied to said portlet in lieu of a statically specified skin, and, rendering said alternate skin if it is determined that said alternate skin is to be applied.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein said rendering step comprises the steps of:

first rendering a pre-portlet portion of said alternate skin;

second rendering said portlet; and

,

third rendering a post-portlet portion of said alternate skin.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising the step of inserting said rendered pre-portlet portion, portlet, and post-portlet portion into a portal stream for forwarding to a content browser.

11. The method of claim 7, further comprising the step of inserting an auxiliary control in said alternate skin.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising the step of launching an auxiliary view responsive to the activation of said auxiliary control.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising the step of inserting debug information into said auxiliary view.

14. A machine readable storage having stored thereon a computer program for portlet display enhancement, the computer program comprising a routine set of instructions which when executed by a machine cause the machine to perform the step of applying an alternate skin to a portlet in lieu of a statically specified skin.

15. The machine readable storage of claim 14, wherein said step of applying comprises the step of, responsive to a request to aggregate said portlet in a portal page, determining whether an alternate skin is to be applied to said portlet in lieu of a statically specified skin, and, rendering said alternate skin if it is determined that said alternate skin is to be applied.

16. The machine readable storage of claim 15, wherein said rendering step comprises the steps of:

first rendering a pre-portlet portion of said alternate skin;

second rendering said portlet; and

,

third rendering a post-portlet portion of said alternate skin.

17. The machine readable storage of claim 16, further comprising a routine set of instructions for additionally causing the machine to perform the step of inserting said rendered pre-portlet portion, portlet, and post-portlet portion into a portal stream for forwarding to a content browser.

18. The machine readable storage of claim 14, further comprising a routine set of instructions for additionally causing the machine to perform the step of inserting an auxiliary control in said alternate skin.

19. The machine readable storage of claim 18, further comprising a routine set of instructions for additionally causing the machine to perform step of launching an auxiliary view responsive to the activation of said auxiliary control.

20. The machine readable storage of claim 19, further comprising a routine set of instructions for additionally causing the machine to perform the step of inserting debug information into said auxiliary view.