END USER PROGRAMMING FOR A MOBILE DEVICE

• US 20150082273A1
• Filed: 09/13/2013
• Published: 03/19/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 09/13/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Torok, Kenneth C., White, Terrence E.
• Granted Patent: US 9,256,402 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 717/109
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/245 Query processing
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0484 for the control of specific functions or operations, e.g. selecting or manipulating an object, an image or a displayed text element, setting a parameter value or selecting a range
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/34 Graphical or visual programming
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/65 Updates security arrangements therefor G06F21/57
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/067 Enterprise or organisation modelling

Abstract

A tool for creating and editing applications on a mobile device. The tool searches the mobile device for a plurality of currently installed applications on the mobile device. The tool exposes a workspace using a graphical programming language on the mobile device. The tool receives a plurality of selections in the workspace. The tool receives a configuration of the plurality of received selections in the workspace. The tool determines, based on the configuration of the received selections in the workspace, the application is complete. The tool prompts to save the completed application.

Claims

1. A method for creating and editing applications on a mobile device, the method comprising:

searching a mobile device for a plurality of currently installed applications on the mobile device;

exposing a workspace on the mobile device using a graphical programming language;

receiving a plurality of selections in the workspace, wherein the plurality of received selections includes one or more of;

a first activity from a first application, a symbol representing a programming function, and a second activity from a second application;

receiving a configuration of the plurality of received selections in the workspace;

determining, based on the configuration, the application is complete; and

prompting to save the completed application.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprises, prior to searching the mobile device for a plurality of currently installed applications on the mobile device, issuing a prompt, the prompt including at least one of options:

to create a new application and to edit an existing application.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein searching for a plurality of currently installed applications on the mobile device, further comprises at least one of:

searching the mobile device for a plurality of currently installed applications prior to receiving confirmation of at least one of options;

to create a new application and to edit an existing application;

searching the mobile device for one or more features made available by a plurality of currently installed applications; and

searching the mobile device for a plurality of currently installed applications subsequent to receiving confirmation of at least one of options;

to create a new application and to edit an existing application.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein exposing a workspace, further comprises at least one of:

displaying a workflow canvas for receiving a plurality of selections within the workspace;

displaying a workflow canvas for configuring a plurality of selections within the workspace; and

displaying a workflow canvas for manipulating a plurality of selections within the workspace;

wherein the plurality of selections within the workspace include one or more of;

a start event, an activity, a function of the mobile device, a feature of the mobile device, a symbol representing a programming function, and an end event.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein exposing the workspace, further comprises at least one of:

presenting a plurality of symbols representing one or more programming functions of a graphical programming language;

presenting a plurality of features made available by one or more currently installed applications;

presenting a plurality of functions available on the mobile device; and

presenting a plurality of settings for configuring programming operations;

wherein each of the presenting steps above includes presenting through one or more of;

a drop-down box, an organized folder, or a graphical user interface.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein determining, based on the configuration, the application is complete, further comprises at least one of:

determining the selections are properly configured in accordance with the graphical programming language;

receiving an indication from the user that information to complete development of the application has been provided; and

determining the application satisfies a test device or a simulator configured to confirm the application performs as intended.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein prompting to save the completed application, further comprises:

creating a plurality of reference data for the completed application; and

prompting to assign one or more of;

a file name, an icon file, and a unique identifier to the completed application.

8. A computer program product for creating and editing applications on a mobile device, the computer program product comprising:

one or more computer-readable storage media and program instructions stored on the one or more computer-readable storage media, the program instructions comprising;

program instructions to search the mobile device for a plurality of currently installed applications on the mobile device;

program instructions to expose a workspace on the mobile device using a graphical programming language;

program instructions to receive a plurality of selections in the workspace, wherein the plurality of received selections includes one or more of;

a first activity from a first application, a symbol representing a programming function, and a second activity from a second application;

program instructions to receive a configuration of the plurality of received selections in the workspace;

program instructions to determine, based on the configuration, the application is complete; and

program instructions to prompt to save the completed application.

9. The computer program product of claim 8 further comprises, prior to searching the mobile device for a plurality of currently installed applications on the mobile device, program instructions to issue a prompt, the prompt including at least one of options:

to create a new application and to edit an existing application.

10. The computer program product of claim 8, wherein the program instructions to search for a plurality of currently installed applications on the mobile device, further comprise at least one of:

program instructions to search the mobile device for a plurality of currently installed applications prior to receiving confirmation to create a new application or edit an existing application;

program instructions to search the mobile device for one or more features made available by a plurality of currently installed applications; and

program instructions to search the mobile device for a plurality of currently installed applications subsequent to receiving confirmation of at least one of options;

to create a new application and to edit an existing application.

11. The computer program product of claim 8, wherein the program instructions to expose a workspace, further comprise at least one of:

program instructions to display a workflow canvas for receiving a plurality of selections within the workspace;

program instructions to display a workflow canvas for configuring a plurality of selections within the workspace; and

program instructions to display a workflow canvas for manipulating a plurality of selections within the workspace;

wherein a plurality of selections include one or more of;

a start event, an activity, a function of the mobile device, a feature of the mobile device, a symbol representing a programming function, or an end event.

12. The computer program product of claim 8, wherein the program instructions to expose a workspace, further comprise at least one of:

program instructions to present a plurality of symbols representing one or more programming functions of a graphical programming language;

program instructions to present a plurality of features made available by one or more currently installed applications;

program instructions to present a plurality of functions available on the mobile device; and

program instructions to present a plurality of settings for configuring programming operations;

wherein each of the presenting steps above includes program instructions to present through one or more of;

a drop-down box, an organized folder, or a graphical user interface.

13. The computer program product of claim 8, wherein the program instructions to determine, based on the configuration, the application is complete, further comprise at least one of:

program instructions to determine the selections are properly configured in accordance with the graphical programming language;

program instructions to receive an indication from the user that information to complete development of the application has been provided; and

program instructions to determine the application satisfies a test device or a simulator configured to confirm the application performs as intended.

14. The computer program product of claim 8, wherein the program instructions to prompt to save the completed application, further comprise:

program instructions to create a plurality of reference data for the completed application; and

program instructions to prompt to assign one or more of;

a file name, an icon file, or a unique identifier to the completed application.

15. A computer system for creating and editing applications on a mobile device, the system comprising:

one or more computer processors;

one or more computer-readable storage media;

program instructions stored on at least one of the one or more computer-readable storage media for execution by at least one of the one or more computer processors, the program instructions comprising;

program instructions to search the mobile device for a plurality of currently installed applications on the mobile device;

program instructions to expose a workspace on the mobile device using a graphical programming language;

program instructions to receive a plurality of selections in the workspace, wherein the plurality of received selections includes one or more of;

a first activity from a first application, a symbol representing a programming function, and a second activity from a second application;

program instructions to receive a configuration of the plurality of received selections in the workspace;

program instructions to determine, based on the configuration, the application is complete; and

program instructions to prompt to save the completed application.

16. The computer system of claim 15, wherein the program instructions to search for a plurality of currently installed applications on the mobile device, further comprises at least one of:

program instructions to search the mobile device for a plurality of currently installed applications prior to receiving confirmation to create a new application or edit an existing application;

program instructions to search the mobile device for one or more features made available by a plurality of currently installed applications; and

program instructions to search the mobile device for a plurality of currently installed applications subsequent to receiving confirmation of at least one of options;

to create a new application and to edit an existing application.

17. The computer system of claim 15, wherein the program instructions to expose a workspace, further comprise at least one of:

program instructions to display a workflow canvas for receiving a plurality of selections within the workspace;

program instructions to display a workflow canvas for configuring a plurality of selections within the workspace; and

program instructions to display a workflow canvas for manipulating a plurality of selections within the workspace;

wherein a plurality of selections include one or more of;

a start event, an activity, a function of the mobile device, a feature of the mobile device, a symbol representing a programming function, or an end event.

18. The computer system of claim 15, wherein the program instructions to expose a workspace, comprise at least one of:

program instructions to present a plurality of symbols representing one or more programming functions of a graphical programming language;

program instructions to present a plurality of features made available by one or more currently installed applications;

program instructions to present a plurality of functions available on the mobile device; and

program instructions to present a plurality of settings for configuring programming operations;

wherein each of the presenting steps above includes program instructions to present through one or more of;

a drop-down box, an organized folder, or a graphical user interface.

19. The computer system of claim 15, wherein the program instructions to determine the application is complete comprise at least one of:

program instructions to determine the selections are properly configured in accordance with the graphical programming language;

program instructions to receive an indication that information to complete development of the application has been provided; and

program instructions to determine the application satisfies a test device or a simulator configured to confirm the application performs as intended.

20. The computer system of claim 15, wherein the program instructions prompting to save the completed application further comprise:

creating a plurality of reference data for the application; and

prompting to assign one or more of a file name, an icon file, and a unique identifier to the completed application.