Method of dynamically linking objects operated on by a computational system

• US 20070073705A1
• Filed: 09/23/2005
• Published: 03/29/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 09/23/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Wolfram Research Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Wolfram Research Incorporated
• Inventors: Gray, Theodore
• Granted Patent: US 7,747,981 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/451 Execution arrangements for user interfaces

Abstract

In a method for presenting to a user information operated on by a computational software application, a relationship between states of a user interface mechanism located on a workspace associated with the computational software application and an underlying object operated on by the computational software application may be determined. The relationship may be defined at least in part by configuration data capable of being interpreted by the computational software application. A change in a value of the underlying object may be detected, and a current state of the user interface mechanism may be changed based on the detected change in the value of the underlying object and according to the relationship. Additionally, a change in the current state of the user interface mechanism caused by a user may be detected, and the current value of the underlying object may be changed based on the detected change in the current state of the user interface mechanism and according to the relationship.

Claims

1. A method for presenting to a user information operated on by a computational software application, the method comprising the acts of:

determining a relationship between states of a user interface mechanism located on a workspace associated with the computational software application and an underlying object operated on by the computational software application, the relationship defined at least in part by configuration data capable of being interpreted by the computational software application;

detecting a change in a value of the underlying object;

changing a current state of the user interface mechanism based on the detected change in the value of the underlying object and according to the relationship;

detecting a change in the current state of the user interface mechanism caused by a user; and

changing the current value of the underlying object based on the detected change in the current state of the user interface mechanism and according to the relationship.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein the configuration data comprises command line data capable of being evaluated by the computational software application.

3. A method according to claim 1, wherein the computational software application comprises at least one of:

a software application capable of evaluating symbolic expressions;

a spreadsheet application;

a control system application;

an instrument application;

a simulation application;

an interactive game application.

4. A method according to claim 1, wherein changing the current state of the user interface mechanism comprises changing the current state of the user interface mechanism further based on whether a time for rendering an indication of the current state of the user interface mechanism has occurred.

5. A method according to claim 1, further comprising rendering an indication of the current state of the user interface mechanism on the workspace.

6. A method according to claim 1, wherein the user interface mechanism comprises a slider.

7. A method according to claim 1, wherein the underlying object comprises an object capable of representing a plurality of types of data, the plurality of types of data including a symbolic expression.

8. A method according to claim 1, wherein the object capable of representing the plurality of types of data comprises an expression having information associated therewith that indicates a type of data from the plurality of types of data.

9. A computer readable medium having stored thereon machine executable instructions, the machine executable instructions capable of causing the machine to:

determine a relationship between states of a user-interface mechanism located on a workspace associated with the computational software application and an underlying object operated on by the computational software application, the relationship defined at least in part by configuration data capable of being interpreted by the computational software application;

detect a change in a value of the underlying object;

change a current state of the user interface mechanism based on the detected change in the value of the underlying object and according to the relationship;

detect a change in the current state of the user interface mechanism caused by a user; and

change the current value of the underlying object based on the detected change in the current state of the user interface mechanism and according to the relationship.

10. A method for presenting to a user information operated on by a computational software application, the method comprising the acts of:

identifying a dynamic object in a file operated on by the computational software application, a value of the dynamic object being dependent upon at least one underlying object;

determining if the value of the dynamic object is to be rendered;

determining if a value of the underlying object has changed;

recalculating the value of the dynamic object based on if the dynamic object is to be rendered and if the value of the underlying object has changed; and

causing an indication of the value of the dynamic object to be rendered to the user.

11. A method according to claim 10, wherein the file includes command line data capable of being evaluated by the computational software application.

12. A method according to claim 11, wherein the command line data includes data indicative of an expression for recalculating the value of the dynamic object based on the value of the underlying object.

13. A method according to claim 10, wherein the computational software application comprises at least one of:

a software application capable of evaluating symbolic expressions;

a spreadsheet application;

a control system application;

an instrument application;

a simulation application;

an interactive game application.

14. A method according to claim 10, further comprising:

determining a relationship between states of a user interface mechanism and the underlying object;

detecting a change in the current state of the user interface mechanism caused by a user; and

changing the value of the underlying object according to the relationship based on the detected change in the current state of the user interface mechanism.

15. A method according to claim 14, wherein the user interface mechanism comprises at least one of a graphical user interface mechanism or a mechanical user interface mechanism.

16. A method according to claim 10, further comprising-receiving an updated value of the underlying object from at least one of a simulation application, a hardware device, a measurement device, or a game controller.

17. A method according to claim 10, wherein causing the indication of the value of the dynamic object to be rendered comprises at least one of:

causing a visual indication to be displayed on a display device;

causing an audio indication to be generated;

or

causing an indication of the value to be sent to a hardware device.

18. A method according to claim 10, wherein the dynamic object comprises an object capable of representing a plurality of types of data, the plurality of types of data including a symbolic expression.

19. A method according to claim 18, wherein the object capable of representing the plurality of types of data comprises an expression having information associated therewith that indicates a type of data from the plurality of types of data.

20. A method according to claim 10, further comprising:

determining that the dynamic object is dependent upon the underlying object; and

storing an indication that the dynamic object is dependent upon the underlying object.

21. A method according to claim 20, further comprising:

deleting the indication that the dynamic object is dependent upon the underlying object upon determining that the value of the underlying object has changed; and

re-determining that the dynamic object is dependent upon the underlying object upon recalculating the value of the dynamic object.

22. A computer readable medium having stored thereon machine executable instructions, the machine executable instructions capable of causing the machine to:

identify a dynamic object in a file operated on by the computational software application, a value of the dynamic object being dependent upon at least one underlying object;

determine if the value of the dynamic object is to be rendered;

determine if a value of the underlying object has changed;

recalculate the value of the dynamic object based on if the dynamic object is to be rendered and if the value of the underlying object has changed; and

cause an indication of the value of the dynamic object to be rendered to the user.

23. A method for presenting information to a user, the method comprising the acts of:

identifying a dynamic object, a value of the dynamic object being dependent upon at least one underlying object, the value of the dynamic object comprising at least one of a symbolic expression, a graphic expression, or an animation;

determining if a value of the underlying object changed;

recalculating the value of the dynamic object if the value of the underlying object has changed; and

causing an indication of the value of the dynamic object to be rendered to the user.

24. A method according to claim 23, wherein the dynamic object comprises an object capable of representing a plurality of types of data.

25. A method according to claim 24, wherein the object capable of representing the plurality of types of data comprises an expression having information associated therewith that indicates a type of data from the plurality of types of data.

26. A computer readable medium having stored thereon machine executable instructions, the machine executable instructions capable of causing the machine to:

identify a dynamic object, a value of the dynamic object being dependent upon at least one underlying object, the value of the dynamic object comprising at least one of a symbolic expression, a graphic expression, or an animation;

determine if a value of the underlying object changed;

recalculate the value of the dynamic object if the value of the underlying object has changed; and

cause an indication of the value of the dynamic object to be rendered to the user.