USER INTERFACE DEVELOPMENT IN A TRANSCOMPILING ENVIRONMENT

• US 20170139577A1
• Filed: 11/16/2015
• Published: 05/18/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 11/16/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SAP SE
• Original Assignee: SAP SE
• Inventors: PESARESE, Marco
• Granted Patent: US 10,558,345 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04817 using icons graphical or visual programming using iconic symbols G06F8/34
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04847 Interaction techniques to control parameter settings, e.g. interaction with sliders or dials
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/38 for implementing user interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/76 Adapting program code to run in a different environment; Porting

Abstract

Described herein is a framework for facilitating user interface development. In accordance with one aspect, a trigger for creating a native user interface element for a target platform based on a user interface context is received from a client system. The native user interface element may be instantiated and initialized, along with an associated native control. The user interface context with the native user interface element may then be returned to the client system.

Claims

1. A method of user interface development, comprising:

receiving, by a server from a client system, a trigger for creating a native user interface element for a target platform based on a user interface context, wherein the user interface context is a class that defines an environment for user interface elements;

instantiating, by the server, the native user interface element;

initializing, by the server, the native user interface element and an associated native control; and

manipulating, at the client system, the native user interface element via one or more query statements.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein manipulating the native user interface element comprises accessing the native user interface element by recursively traversing a user interface tree until a matching criterion is satisfied.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein manipulating the native user interface element comprises accessing the native user interface element by recursively traversing a user interface tree until a predefined path has been completed.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein manipulating the native user interface element comprises accessing the native user interface element by storing a pointer to the native user interface element.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein manipulating the native user interface element comprises accessing the native user interface element by searching indexed lists.

6. A system comprising:

a non-transitory memory device for storing a computer-readable program code; and

a processor in communication with the memory device, the processor being operative with the computer-readable program code to

receive, from a client system, a trigger for creating a native user interface element for a target platform based on a user interface context, wherein the user interface context is a class that defines an environment for user interface elements,

instantiate the native user interface element,

initialize the native user interface element and an associated native control, and

return, to the client system, the user interface context with the native user interface element.

7. The system of claim 6 further comprises the client system that generates the trigger by using one or more functions within the user interface context.

8. The system of claim 6 further comprises the client system that generates the trigger by using one or more type constant attributes.

9. The system of claim 6 wherein the processor is operative with the computer-readable program code to instantiate the native user interface element via a factory.

10. The system of claim 6 wherein the processor is operative with the computer-readable program code to initialize the native user interface element and the native control in an order dependent on the target platform.

11. The system of claim 6 wherein the processor is operative with the computer-readable program code to initialize the native user interface element by

applying a unique identifier,

setting parameters of the native user interface element, and

attaching the native user interface element to a parent element.

12. The system of claim 11 wherein the processor is operative with the computer-readable program code to set parameters of the native user interface element by providing default values of the parameters according to the target platform to implement central styling.

13. The system of claim 11 wherein the processor is operative with the computer-readable program code to generate the unique identifier by using a type specific counter to generate a deterministic identifier.

14. The system of claim 6 wherein the processor is operative with the computer-readable program code to attach the native user interface element with a user interface manager.

15. The system of claim 6 further comprises the client system that initiates manipulation of the native user interface element via one or more query statements.

16. The system of claim 15 wherein the one or more query statements selects the native user interface element with one or more other elements.

17. The system of claim 15 wherein the one or more query statements changes a property of the native user interface element.

18. The system of claim 6 further comprises the client system that initiates trace and replay of an application scenario involving the native user interface element.

19. The system of claim 18 wherein the processor is operative with the computer-readable program code to provide a remote terminal to trace and replay the application scenario.

20. A non-transitory computer-readable medium having stored thereon program code, the program code is executable by a computer to:

receive, from a client system, a trigger for creating a native user interface element for a target platform based on a user interface context, wherein the user interface context is a class that defines an environment for user interface elements;

instantiate the native user interface element;

initialize the native user interface element and an associated native control; and

return, to the client system, the user interface context with the native user interface element.