Extendable Framework for Developing Applications

• US 20170337040A1
• Filed: 05/18/2016
• Published: 11/23/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 05/18/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SAP SE
• Original Assignee: SAP SE
• Inventors: Salvi, Abhijit, Chernavin, Alexander, Tully, Kevin
• Granted Patent: US 10,019,241 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/211 Schema design and management
• 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 8/20 Software design
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/24 Object-oriented
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/30 Creation or generation of source code
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/34 Graphical or visual programming

Abstract

The embodiments described in this disclosure relate to an extendable data model framework that enables users to develop applications without having to write code. The embodiments provide a user interface for users to build and maintain applications based on the framework, create custom user interfaces for the application, as well as define data objects, relationships between objects, workflows, business logic, and rules for applications the users are developing. The extendable data model framework includes an extendable data objects data structure and an extendable data object relationships data structure for users to customize data objects and relationships of the data objects for their applications using the described system. These data structures may include common data objects and relationship elements. The data structures can facilitate extension of data objects of the application as well as definition of new objects to be customized based on the business requirements of users.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

in a computer system comprising at least one processor and a memory in communication with the processor;

receiving user input from a user interface of a client system in communication with the computer system over one or more networks, the user input configured to create or modify an application developed based on an extendable data model framework, the extendable data model framework being adapted to enable users to develop applications in the user interface of the client system,

wherein the extendable data model framework comprises a first table and a second table, where in the first table is an extendable data object data structure to store data objects of the application and the second table is an extendable data object relationships data structure to specify a plurality of different relationship types between the data objects of the application;

in response to the user input, generating a query to one or more of the extendable data object data structure and the extendable data object relationships data structure associated with the application stored in memory of the computer system to retrieve one or more data objects of the application;

creating or modifying the data objects of the application based on the user input;

storing the created or modified data objects of the application into the memory of the computer system; and

communicating modifications to the application with the client system, wherein the client system is configured to display the application in the user interface of the client system.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the extendable data object data structure includes a first set of rows of common data objects for the application, the first set of rows comprising a first set of columns for storing attributes of the common data objects and a second set of empty columns for users to supply additional attributes for the common data objects.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the extendable data object data structure includes a second set of empty rows for users to define additional data objects for the application.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the extendable data object relationships data structure includes a set of empty rows for defining additional relationships between the data objects of the application.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the user input comprises inputs for developing the user interface for the application in a create user interface page.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the user input comprises inputs for defining data objects for the application in a create data object page of the user interface.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the user input comprises inputs for creating relationships among data objects of the application in a create data object relationships page of the user interface.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the user input comprises inputs for editing rules for data objects of the application in a create rules page of the user interface.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the user input comprises inputs for creating workflows for data objects of the application in a create workflow page of the user interface.

10. A system comprising:

at least one processor; and

a memory in communication with the processor via one or more communication mediums, wherein the memory stores programmed computer code, which when executed by the processor, causes the computer system to perform operations comprising;

receiving user input from a user interface of a client computer in communication with the system over one or more networks, the user input configured to create or modify an application developed based on an extendable data model framework, the extendable data model framework being adapted to enable users to develop applications in the user interface of the client computer,

wherein the extendable data model framework comprises an extendable data object data structure to store data objects of the application and an extendable data object relationships data structure to store relationships between the data objects of the application,

wherein the extendable data object data structure is a first table comprising;

a first set of rows of common data objects for the application;

a first set of columns for storing attributes of the common data objects; and

a second set of empty columns for users to supply additional attributes for the common data objects, and

wherein the extendable data object relationships data structure is a second table comprising a set of empty rows for defining additional relationships between the data objects of the application;

in response to the user input, generating a query to one or more of the extendable data object data structure and the extendable data object relationships data structure associated with the application stored in memory of the computer system to retrieve one or more data objects of the application;

creating or modifying the data objects of the application based on the user input;

storing the created or modified data objects of the application into the memory of the computer system; and

communicating modifications to the application with the client system, wherein the client system is configured to display the application in the user interface of the client system.

14. The system of claim 10 further comprising a data objects engine for configuring data objects of the application.

15. The system of claim 10 further comprising a data objects relationships engine for configuring relationships between data objects of the application.

16. The system of claim 10 further comprising a workflow engine for configuring one or more workflows for data objects of the application.

17. The system of claim 10 further comprising a query generator for querying the extendable data objects data structure and the extendable data object relationships data structure based on the user input.

11. (canceled)

12. (canceled)

13. (canceled)

18. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing programmed computer code, which when executed by at least one processor, causes the processor to perform operations in a computer system, the operations comprising:

receiving user input from a user interface of a client computer in communication with the computer system over one or more networks, the user input configured to create or modify an application developed based on an extendable data model framework, the extendable data model framework being adapted to enable users to develop applications in the user interface of the client computer,

wherein the extendable data model framework comprises a first table and a second table, where in the first table is an extendable data object data structure to store data objects of the application and the second table is an extendable data object relationships data structure to specify a plurality of different relationship types between the data objects of the application;

in response to the user input, generating a query to one or more of the extendable data object data structure and the extendable data object relationships data structure associated with the application stored in memory of the computer system to retrieve one or more data objects of the application;

creating or modifying the data objects of the application based on the user input;

storing the created or modified data objects of the application into the memory of the computer system; and

communicating modifications to the application with the client system, wherein the client system is configured to display the application in the user interface of the client system.

19. The computer readable storage medium of claim 18 wherein the extendable data object data structure includes a first set rows of common data objects for the application, the first set of rows comprising a first set of columns for storing attributes of the common data objects and a second set of empty columns for users to supply additional attributes for the common data objects.

20. The computer readable storage medium of claim 19 wherein the extendable data object data structure includes a second set empty rows for users to define additional data objects for the application, and the extendable data object relationships data structure includes a set of empty rows for defining additional relationships between the data objects of the application.