CUSTOM AND CUSTOMIZABLE COMPONENTS, SUCH AS FOR WORKFLOW APPLICATIONS
First Claim
1. A method in a computer for creating custom actions for use in a workflow application that facilitates defining and tracking the flow of work between individuals and/or groups, wherein the custom actions enhance the functionality of the workflow application, the method comprising:
- providing a custom action definition that includes an indication of criteria for custom actions for use in the workflow application;
via a development environment, receiving a request to create a custom action, wherein the request includes an identifier for the custom action;
via the development environment, receiving a reference to the workflow application, wherein the reference to the workflow application facilitates registration of the custom action with the workflow application;
via the development environment, receiving an indication of functionality for the custom action, wherein the indication of functionality satisfies the criteria for custom actions included in the provided custom action definition, and wherein the indication of functionality includesan indication of a user interface associated with the custom action, andan indication of instructions used to provide the functionality of the custom action; and
registering the custom action with the workflow application, wherein the registration enables the workflow application to access the custom action from within the workflow application without use of programming scripts to call the custom action from outside of the workflow application.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A software facility allows custom components to be created and used in an end user application, such as a workflow application that defines business processes or a graphical design application. The facility provides a custom component definition that includes an indication of criteria for custom components for use in the end user application. A designer of the custom component provides the software facility with an indication of functionality for the custom component, wherein the indication satisfies the criteria for custom components included in the provided definition. The custom component is registered with the end-user application. This registration enables the end user application to access the custom component from within the end user application without the use of programming scripts to call the customized component from outside of the end user application.
135 Citations
38 Claims
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1. A method in a computer for creating custom actions for use in a workflow application that facilitates defining and tracking the flow of work between individuals and/or groups, wherein the custom actions enhance the functionality of the workflow application, the method comprising:
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providing a custom action definition that includes an indication of criteria for custom actions for use in the workflow application; via a development environment, receiving a request to create a custom action, wherein the request includes an identifier for the custom action; via the development environment, receiving a reference to the workflow application, wherein the reference to the workflow application facilitates registration of the custom action with the workflow application; via the development environment, receiving an indication of functionality for the custom action, wherein the indication of functionality satisfies the criteria for custom actions included in the provided custom action definition, and wherein the indication of functionality includes an indication of a user interface associated with the custom action, and an indication of instructions used to provide the functionality of the custom action; and registering the custom action with the workflow application, wherein the registration enables the workflow application to access the custom action from within the workflow application without use of programming scripts to call the custom action from outside of the workflow application. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3)
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4. A method in a computer for creating custom components for use in an end user application, the method comprising:
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providing a custom component definition that includes an indication of criteria for custom components for use in the end user application; receiving a request to create a custom component, wherein the request includes a custom identifier for the custom component; receiving an indication of functionality for the custom component, wherein the indication of functionality satisfies the criteria for custom components included in the provided custom component definition; and registering the custom component with the end user application, wherein the registration enables the end user application to access the custom component from within the end user application without the use of programming scripts to call the customized component from outside of the end user application. - View Dependent Claims (5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A computer-readable medium including instructions for a custom component for enhancing the capabilities of an end user application, the custom component created by a method comprising:
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providing a custom component definition that includes an indication of criteria for custom components for use in the end user application; receiving a request to create a custom component, wherein the request includes an identifier for the custom component; and receiving an indication of functionality for the custom component, wherein the indication of functionality satisfies the criteria for custom components included in the provided custom component definition. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A system for creating applications software components for customizing a host application, the method comprising:
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means for providing an applications software component definition that includes an indication of criteria for applications software components for use in the host application; means for receiving a request to create an applications software component, wherein the request includes a custom identifier for the applications software component; means for receiving an indication of functionality for the applications software component, wherein the indication of functionality satisfies the criteria for applications software components included in the provided applications software component definition; and means for registering the applications software component with the host application, wherein the registration enables the host application to access the applications software component from within the host application without the use of programming scripts to call the applications software component from outside of the host application. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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26. A method for creating a custom software component for use in an end user application, the method comprising:
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receiving instructions for generating the custom software component; modifying the custom software component to comply with parameters provided by the end user application; and enabling the custom software component to be registered with the end user application, wherein the registered custom software component is accessible from within the end user application without the use of programming scripts to call the customized component from outside of the end user application. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28, 29, 30)
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31. A method for using a component in a workflow application, the method comprising:
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receiving a selection of a component from a selection of available components, wherein the selection of components includes at least one custom component that was created using a method comprising; providing a custom component definition that includes an indication of criteria for custom components for use in the workflow application; receiving an indication of functionality for the custom component, wherein the indication of functionality satisfies the criteria for custom components included in the provided custom component definition; and registering the custom component with the workflow application, wherein the registration enables the workflow application to access the custom component from within the workflow application; and responding to a request to include the custom component selected from the selection of available components into a workflow model, wherein the request includes dragging and dropping the component into a design view aspect of the workflow application. - View Dependent Claims (32, 33, 34)
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35. A method in a computer for allowing a non-programmer to design custom workflow models, the method comprising:
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providing a collection of workflow objects for use in designing a workflow model; providing a collection of actions for use in designing the workflow model; providing a design area for assembling workflow objects from the collection of workflow objects and actions from the collection of actions to form a workflow model, wherein the design area provides a graphical representation of the workflow model; and providing a toolbox for facilitating the selection and control of the workflow objects and actions, wherein the selection and control of the workflow objects and actions include dragging a graphical representation of a workflow object from the toolbox and dropping it onto the design area and dragging a graphical representation of an action from the toolbox and dropping it onto the design area. - View Dependent Claims (36, 37, 38)
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Specification