Context Based Software Layer

• US 20080270919A1
• Filed: 04/27/2007
• Published: 10/30/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 04/27/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Mendel, Gili, Kulp, Richard L., Winchester, Joseph R.
• Application Number:
  US11/741,171
• Publication Number:
  US 20080270919A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/762
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/451 Execution arrangements for user interfaces

Abstract

A computer-implementable method, system and computer-readable medium for establishing and utilizing a widget-centric context-based layer are presented. In a preferred embodiment, the computer-implemented method includes a computer detecting a mouse hover over a visual control that is displayed on a visual layer canvas. In response to determining that the visual control is supported by a context layer, the computer displays the visual control and component icons on a context layer canvas, wherein the context layer includes elements from both an upper visual layer and a lower component layer, and wherein the component icons are associated with respective components from the lower component layer. The computer then receives a user input that selects one or more of the component icons, thus permitting associated components to be edited.

Claims

1. A computer-implementable method comprising:

detecting a mouse hover over a visual control that is displayed on a visual layer canvas;

in response to determining that the visual control is supported by a context layer, displaying the visual control and component icons on a context layer canvas, wherein the context layer includes elements from both an upper visual layer and a lower component layer, and wherein the component icons are associated with respective components from the lower component layer;

receiving a user input selecting one or more of the component icons;

in response to receiving the user input selecting one or more of the component icons, presenting a property sheet on the context layer canvas, wherein the property sheet contains user-editable properties of a component that is associated with a selected component icon; and

receiving a user editing input that edits the user-editable properties.

2. The computer-implementable method of claim 1, further comprising:

in response to the user-editable properties being edited, returning display of the visual control to the visual layer canvas.

3. The computer-implementable method of claim 1, wherein the visual control is a data input widget, and wherein the selected component icon is associated with a table component for the visual control.

4. The computer-implementable method of claim 1, wherein the context layer for the visual control is established by:

displaying the visual control on a context layer canvas;

displaying a palette of visual and non-visual components that can support the visual control; and

receiving a user input that associates one or more of the visual and non-visual components with the visual control.

5. A system comprising:

a processor;

a data bus coupled to the processor;

a memory coupled to the data bus; and

a computer-usable medium embodying computer program code, the computer program code comprising instructions executable by the processor and configured for;

detecting a mouse hover over a visual control that is displayed on a visual layer canvas;

in response to determining that the visual control is supported by a context layer, displaying the visual control and component icons on a context layer canvas, wherein the context layer includes elements from both an upper visual layer and a lower component layer, and wherein the component icons are associated with respective components from the lower component layer;

receiving a user input selecting one or more of the component icons;

in response to receiving the user input selecting one or more of the component icons, presenting a property sheet on the context layer canvas, wherein the property sheet contains user-editable properties of a component that is associated with a selected component icon; and

receiving a user editing input that edits the user-editable properties.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the instructions are further configured for:

in response to the user-editable properties being edited, returning display of the visual control to the visual layer canvas.

7. The system of claim 5, wherein the visual control is a data input widget, and wherein the selected component icon is associated with a table component for the visual control.

8. The system of claim 5, wherein the context layer for the visual control is established by executable instructions for:

displaying the visual control on a context layer canvas;

displaying a palette of visual and non-visual components that can support the visual control; and

receiving a user input that associates one or more of the visual and non-visual components with the visual control.

9. A computer-usable medium embodying computer program code, the computer program code comprising computer executable instructions configured for:

detecting a mouse hover over a visual control that is displayed on a visual layer canvas;

in response to determining that the visual control is supported by a context layer, displaying the visual control and component icons on a context layer canvas, wherein the context layer includes elements from both an upper visual layer and a lower component layer, and wherein the component icons are associated with respective components from the lower component layer;

receiving a user input selecting one or more of the component icons;

in response to receiving the user input selecting one or more of the component icons, presenting a property sheet on the context layer canvas, wherein the property sheet contains user-editable properties of a component that is associated with a selected component icon; and

receiving a user editing input that edits the user-editable properties.

10. The computer-usable medium of claim 9, wherein the computer executable instructions are further configured for:

in response to the user-editable properties being edited, returning display of the visual control to the visual layer canvas.

11. The computer-usable medium of claim 9, wherein the visual control is a data input widget, and wherein the selected component icon is associated with a table component for the visual control.

12. The computer-usable medium of claim 9, wherein the context layer for the visual control is established by computer executable instructions for:

displaying the visual control on a context layer canvas;

displaying a palette of visual and non-visual components that can support the visual control; and

receiving a user input that associates one or more of the visual and non-visual components with the visual control.

13. The computer-useable medium of claim 9, wherein the computer executable instructions are deployable to a client computer from a server at a remote location.

14. The computer-useable medium of claim 9, wherein the computer executable instructions are provided by a service provider to a customer on an on-demand basis.