Method and system for controlling the execution of an application program
First Claim
1. A method in a computer system for performing a desired task in an application computer program, the application computer program having a plurality of functions, the functions for performing tasks, the application computer program having commands, the commands for controlling execution of the functions, the method comprising the steps of:
- executing the application computer program wherein the application computer program starts execution of an interface computer program that executes concurrently with the execution of the application computer program;
generating status commands in the interface computer program, the status commands for requesting that status information for the application computer program be sent from the application computer program to the interface computer program;
sending the status commands from the interface computer program to the application computer program;
processing the status commands in the application computer program and sending status information from the application computer program to the interface computer program;
receiving in the interface computer program the status information sent from the application computer program to the interface computer program;
inputting in the interface computer program user requests from a user of the interface computer program to perform the desired task;
generating task commands in the interface computer program to implement the desired task based on the status information and the user request;
sending the task commands from the interface computer program to the application computer program; and
executing the task commands in the application computer program to effect the performing of the desired task.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method and system for controlling the execution of an application program to effect the performing of a specialized task is provided. In preferred embodiments, an interface computer program gathers status information from the application computer program, collects user input relating to the specialized task, generates commands to send to the application program, and sends the commands to the application program to effect the execution of the specialized task. The interface computer program communicates with the application computer program preferably through the dynamic data exchange of Windows.
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Citations
21 Claims
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1. A method in a computer system for performing a desired task in an application computer program, the application computer program having a plurality of functions, the functions for performing tasks, the application computer program having commands, the commands for controlling execution of the functions, the method comprising the steps of:
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executing the application computer program wherein the application computer program starts execution of an interface computer program that executes concurrently with the execution of the application computer program; generating status commands in the interface computer program, the status commands for requesting that status information for the application computer program be sent from the application computer program to the interface computer program; sending the status commands from the interface computer program to the application computer program; processing the status commands in the application computer program and sending status information from the application computer program to the interface computer program; receiving in the interface computer program the status information sent from the application computer program to the interface computer program; inputting in the interface computer program user requests from a user of the interface computer program to perform the desired task; generating task commands in the interface computer program to implement the desired task based on the status information and the user request; sending the task commands from the interface computer program to the application computer program; and executing the task commands in the application computer program to effect the performing of the desired task. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. A method in a computer system for controlling execution of a computer program to effect the performing of a specialized task, the computer program having an interprocess communications interface, the computer program having commands to control the performance of tasks, the method comprising the steps of:
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starting the execution of the computer program, wherein the computer program starts execution of an interface computer program; and during execution of the interface computer program, gathering status information from the computer program through the interprocess communications interface; collecting user input relating to the task to be completed; generating interprocess communications commands to effect the performance of the specialized task based on the status information and user input; and sending the generated commands to the computer program through the interprocess communications interface to effect the controlling of the execution of the computer program. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7)
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8. A method in a computer system for controlling execution of an application computer program by an interface computer program to effect performance of a specialized task, the application computer program having commands to specify performance of tasks, the method comprising the step of:
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starting execution of the application computer program; under control of the application computer program, starting execution of the interface computer program; under control of the interface computer program, collecting user input relating to the specialized task to be performed; receiving status information from the application computer program; selecting commands to effect the performance of the specialized task by the application computer program based on the collected user input and the received status information; and sending the selected commands to the application computer program; and under control of the application computer program, receiving the selected commands; and performing tasks specified by the received commands to effect performance of the specialized task. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11)
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12. A method in a computer system for providing a plurality of alternate user interfaces to an application computer program, the application computer program having a primary user interface, each alternate user interface being implemented by an interface computer program, the method comprising the steps of:
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starting execution of the application computer program; under control of the application computer program, selecting an alternate user interface; and starting execution of the interface computer program that implements the selected alternate user interface; under the control of the executing interface computer program; displaying data of the alternate user interface; inputting a specification of a function to be performed by the application computer program; receiving status information from the application computer program; selecting commands of the application computer program to effect the performance of the function based on the received status information; and sending the selected commands to the application computer program; under control of the application computer program, receiving the selected commands; and executing the received commands to effect performance of the function. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15)
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16. A method in a computer system for performing a task by an application program, the application program having a plurality of low-level commands, each low-level command for performing a portion of the task, the method including the steps of:
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starting execution of the application program, wherein the application program starts execution of an interface program, the interface program having a high-level command that specifies the task; under control of the interface program, receiving an indication of the high-level command from a user; receiving status information from the application program; selecting low-level commands to effect the performance of the task specified by the high-level command based on the received status information; and sending the selected low-level commands to the application program; and under control of the application program, receiving the selected low-level commands; and performing the received low-level commands to effect the performance of the task. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18)
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19. A method in a computer system for providing a plurality of alternate user interfaces for an application computer program, the application computer program having a primary user interface, each alternate user interface being implemented by an interface routine, the method comprising the steps of:
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starting execution of the application computer program; under control of the application computer program, selecting an alternate user interface; and invoking an interface routine that implements the selected alternate user interface; under the control of the invoked interface routine, displaying data of the alternate user interface; inputting a specification of a task to be performed by the application computer program; gathering status information about the application computer program; selecting commands of the application computer program to effect the performance of the task based on the gathered status information; and returning the selected commands to the application computer program; and under control of the application computer program, performing tasks associated with the returned commands. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21)
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Specification