Application control module for common user access interface
First Claim
1. A method for providing an operating environment for multiple applications using a common user access interface in a computer system, said computer system comprising a system memory and mass storage, the method comprising the steps of:
- storing graphic user interface (GUI) data structures in an application, wherein said GUI data structures comprise data for use by a control module of said operating environment for defining how data is to be presented and gathered and how user input events are to be gathered, said control module comprising code for handling user interface functions and database management functions common to said multiple applications;
storing database data structures in said application, wherein said database data structures comprise data for use by said control module for defining how user data is to be read from and written to said mass storage;
storing control module data structures in said application, wherein said control module data structures comprise data for use by said control module for defining an appearance and operation of said application and define a relationship between user interface functions and database management functions of said application;
said application requesting loading of said control module into said system memory;
dynamically linking said control module to said application;
said control module initializing said control module data structures;
said control module displaying said application on a display screen of said computer system in accordance with said defined application appearance;
said control module responding to user input events in accordance with said defined application operation; and
said control module closing said application.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An application management system for achieving a common user access (CUA) interface throughout multiple applications of a computer system is described. The system includes an operating environment having an application control module (ACM) that is run-time bound and executable by the applications. The ACM furnishes generalized procedural codes for each application. The application uses data structures to define the appearance and operation of the application to the ACM. The system also integrates the application program interfaces (API'"'"'s) of an operating environment graphic user interface (GUI) system and a database management system (DBMS) within the ACM. The invention reduces the programming required for applications and improves consistency in programming across multiple applications.
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Citations
21 Claims
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1. A method for providing an operating environment for multiple applications using a common user access interface in a computer system, said computer system comprising a system memory and mass storage, the method comprising the steps of:
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storing graphic user interface (GUI) data structures in an application, wherein said GUI data structures comprise data for use by a control module of said operating environment for defining how data is to be presented and gathered and how user input events are to be gathered, said control module comprising code for handling user interface functions and database management functions common to said multiple applications; storing database data structures in said application, wherein said database data structures comprise data for use by said control module for defining how user data is to be read from and written to said mass storage; storing control module data structures in said application, wherein said control module data structures comprise data for use by said control module for defining an appearance and operation of said application and define a relationship between user interface functions and database management functions of said application; said application requesting loading of said control module into said system memory; dynamically linking said control module to said application; said control module initializing said control module data structures; said control module displaying said application on a display screen of said computer system in accordance with said defined application appearance; said control module responding to user input events in accordance with said defined application operation; and said control module closing said application. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A method for providing an operating environment for multiple applications using a common user access interface in a computer system, said computer system comprising a system memory and mass storage, the method comprising the steps of:
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storing in an application graphic user interface (GUI) data structures comprising data for use by a control module of said operating environment for defining how data is to be presented and gathered and how user input events are to be gathered, said control module comprising code for handling user interface functions and database management functions common to said multiple applications; storing in said application database data structures comprising data for use by said control module for defining how data is to be read from and written to storage; storing in said application control module data structures comprising data for use by said control module for defining an appearance of said application on a display screen of said computer system, defining how said user input events are to be processed and defining a relationship between user interface functions and database management functions of said application; said application requesting loading of said control module into said system memory; dynamically linking said control module to said application; said control module initializing said data; said control module presenting said application on said display screen in accordance with said appearance defined by said control module data structures; said control module responding to user input events in a manner defined by said control module data structure, wherein said responding step comprises the steps of; (a) indicating current user input location and method on said screen; (b) accepting user input through the graphic user interface of said system; (c) determining commands based on said user input; (d) processing said commands; and (e) repeating steps (a) through (d) until an error or a user directed exit occurs; and said control module closing said application. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A system for providing an operating environment for multiple applications using a common user access interface in a computer, said computer comprising a memory a processor and mass storage, the system comprising:
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a display coupled to said computer; an input device coupled to said computer; at least one application, coupled to said memory, said application comprising; graphic user interface data structures comprising data for use by a control module of said operating environment for defining how data is to be presented and gathered and how user input is to be gathered; database data structures comprising data for use by said control module for defining how data is to be read from and written to storage means coupled to said computer; and control module data structures comprising data for use by said control module for defining an appearance and operation of said application and for defining a relationship between user interface functions and database management functions of said application; wherein said control module comprises code for handling user interface functions and database management functions common to said multiple applications and is coupled to said memory and dynamically linked to said application, said control module including; initializing means for initializing said control module data structures; draw means for displaying said application on said display in accordance with said appearance defined by said control module data structures; run means for processing user input events in accordance with said operation defined by said control module data structures; and end means for closing said application. - View Dependent Claims (21)
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Specification