Programming environment system for customizing a program application based upon user input

• US 5,522,024 A
• Filed: 07/18/1995
• Issued: 05/28/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 03/30/1990
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Morishima, Hiroshi, Mima, Yoshiaki, Lien, Yeong-chang, Hiraga, Rumi
• Primary Examiner(s): Powell, Mark R.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Huynh, Ba
• Application Number:
  US08/503,676
• Time in Patent Office: 315 Days
• Field of Search: 395/155-161, 395/600, 395/650, 395/700, 395/800
• US Class Current: 715/866
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/38 for implementing user interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/45512 Command shells

Abstract

A programming environment is provided in which an end user of one or more existing applications, e.g. integrated environment applications, can customize the applications with a unique user interface appearance. The environment consists of one application or a group of applications, a customization facility and a graphical editor. The customization facility records event streams from the user to the applications when they are run, and enables the user to compose a plurality of event streams into a story. The user generates a unique user interface appearance with graphical parts, e.g., boxes, arrows, icons, etc., using the graphical editor. The user then links the graphical parts, or objects of the user interface appearance to event streams or stories, and completes a programming mode. After programming, the user can make the customized application run by interaction with the new user interface appearance, for example picking the graphical objects on the appearance.

Claims

1. A method of creating a new application program from a plurality of existing application programs, said method comprising the steps of:

executing selected portions of said plurality of existing application programs;

recording, during said execution of said selected portions, a first, second, and third data stream corresponding to a user'"'"'s interaction with said plurality of existing application programs;

combining said first data stream and said second data stream into a single combined data stream using control commands for specifying the flow of execution for said combined data stream;

assigning a first graphical object to said combined data stream;

assigning a second graphical object to said third data stream;

graphically associating said second graphical object with said first graphical object so that the user is directed to select said first and second graphical objects in a predetermined order; and

executing, in response to selecting said first graphical object, said selected portions according to the specified flow of said combined data stream.

2. A data processing system for creating a new application program from a plurality of existing application programs, said data processing system comprising:

means for executing selected portions of said plurality of existing application programs;

means for recording, during said execution of said selected portions, a first, second, said third data stream corresponding to a user'"'"'s interaction with said plurality of existing application programs;

means for combining said first data stream and said second data stream into a single combined data stream using control commands for specifying the flow of execution for said combined data stream;

means for assigning a first graphical object to said combined data stream;

means for assigning a second graphical object to said third data stream;

means for graphically associating said second graphical object with said first graphical object so that the user is directed to select said first and second graphical objects in a predetermined order; and

means for executing, in response to selecting said first graphical object, said selected portions according to the specified flow of said combined data stream.

3. A data processing system for creating a new application program from a plurality of existing application programs, said data processing system comprising:

system control means for enabling said plurality of existing application programs to run concurrently on said data processing system, and for supporting interaction between a user and said plurality of existing application programs;

means for recording through said system control means, during execution of said plurality of existing application programs, a first, second and third data stream corresponding to said user'"'"'s interaction with said plurality of existing application programs;

control editing means for combining said first and second data streams into a single combined data stream, and combined data stream including control structure commands for directing the flow of its execution;

graphic editing means for creating a graphical user interface having a first graphical object and a second graphical object;

means for assigning said first graphical object to said combined data stream, and for assigning said second graphical object to said third data stream;

means responsive to said user'"'"'s interaction with said first graphical object for executing said combined data stream according to said control structure commands.

4. The data processing system of claim 3 wherein said graphic editing means includes:

means for graphically associating said second graphical object to said first graphical object so that the user is directed to select said first and second graphical objects in a predetermined order.

5. The data processing system of claim 4 wherein said responsive means includes:

means responsive to said user'"'"'s interaction with said second graphical object for executing said third data stream.