Configurable runtime graphical user interface widget management
First Claim
1. A computer-implemented method for specifying a graphical user interface of an application, the method comprising:
- creating a first entity definition defining a structure of a first entity;
storing the first entity definition in an input file for the application, the application including a set of callback routines;
editing the input file in order to add or modify the first entity definition; and
during execution of the application, creating a first graphical user interface that permits a user to create or modify instances of the first entity definition independent of modification to the set of callback routines, wherein said step of creating a first graphical user interface comprises the steps of;
accessing the input file and parsing the first entity definition to produce a corresponding internal format;
accessing the internal format, to determine the set of graphical elements of the first graphical user interface; and
creating the set of graphical elements of the first graphical user interface.
2 Assignments
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method facilitating modification of an application'"'"'s graphical user interface (GUI), particularly by application end-users. In particular, the method permits modification of the application GUI, without having to specify widgets required for the modified GUI, and without having to modify or add callback routines. Thus, users can tailor the application GUI to suit their needs without having experience in GUI development (and, in particular, with the cumbersome and error-prone tasks of widget-specification and callback programming). Elimination of the need to modify/expand the set of callback routines permits end-users to realize application GUI changes without having to form a new application executable. Thus, user-driven application GUI changes can be achieved without user access to the application source code and without the application developer'"'"'s involvement.
67 Citations
40 Claims
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1. A computer-implemented method for specifying a graphical user interface of an application, the method comprising:
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creating a first entity definition defining a structure of a first entity; storing the first entity definition in an input file for the application, the application including a set of callback routines; editing the input file in order to add or modify the first entity definition; and during execution of the application, creating a first graphical user interface that permits a user to create or modify instances of the first entity definition independent of modification to the set of callback routines, wherein said step of creating a first graphical user interface comprises the steps of; accessing the input file and parsing the first entity definition to produce a corresponding internal format; accessing the internal format, to determine the set of graphical elements of the first graphical user interface; and creating the set of graphical elements of the first graphical user interface. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A computer-implemented method for specifying a graphical user interface of an application, the method comprising:
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creating a first command definition defining a structure of a first command; storing the first command definition in an input file for the application, the application including a set of callback routines; editing the input file in order to add or modify the first command definition; and during execution of the application, creating a first graphical user interface that permits a user to create or modify instances of the first command independent of modification to the set of callback routines, wherein said step of creating a first graphical user interface comprises the steps of; accessing the input file and parsing the first entity definition to produce a corresponding internal format; accessing the internal format, to determine the set of graphical elements of the first graphical user interface; and creating the set of graphical elements of the first graphical user interface. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A computer program product for specifying a graphical user interface of an application, the product comprising;
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code for creating a first entity definition defining a structure of a first entity; code for storing the first entity definition in an input file for the application; code for editing the input file in order to add or modify the first entity definition; code for creating, during execution of the application, a first graphical user interface that permits a user to create or modify instances of the first entity independent of modification to the set of callback routines, wherein said code for creating a first graphical user interface comprises code for accessing the input file, code for parsing the first entity definition to produce a corresponding internal format, code for accessing the internal format, to determine the set of graphical elements of the first graphical user interface, and code for creating the set of graphical elements of the first graphical user interface; and a computer-readable storage medium that stores the code. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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31. A computer program product for specifying a graphical user interface of an application, the product comprising:
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code for creating a first command definition defining a structure of a first command; code for storing the first command definition in an input file for the application, the application including an operations code; code for editing the input file in order to add or modify the first command definition; code for creating, during execution of the application, a first graphical user interface that permits a user to create or modify instances of the first command definition independent of modification to the operations code, wherein said code for creating a first graphical user interface comprises code for accessing the input file, code for parsing the first entity definition to produce a corresponding internal format, code for accessing the terminal format, to determine the set of graphical elements of the first graphical user interface, and code for creating the set of graphical elements of the first graphical user interface; and a computer-readable storage medium that stores the code. - View Dependent Claims (32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38)
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39. A computer system for specifying a graphical user interface of an application, the system comprising:
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a first storage medium storing an input file for the application, the application including a set of callback routines, the input file containing a first entity definition, the first entity definition defining a structure of a first entity, wherein the input file can be edited in order to add or modify entity definitions; and a processor configured to create, during execution of the application, a first graphical user interface that permits a user to create or modify instances of the first entity independent of modification to the set of callback routines, wherein said processor is configure to access the input file, parse the first entity definition to produce a corresponding internal format, access the internal format, to determine the set of graphical elements of the first graphical user interface, and create the set of graphical elements of the first graphical user interface.
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40. A computer system for specifying a graphical user interface of an application, the system comprising:
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a first storage medium storing an input file for the application, the application including a set of callback routines, the input file containing a first command definition, the first command definition defining a structure of a first command, wherein the input file can be edited in order to add or modify command definitions; and a processor configured to create, during execution of the application, a first graphical user interface that permits a user to create or modify instances of the first command independent of modification to the set of callback routines, wherein said processor is configured to access the input file, parse the first entity definition to produce a corresponding internal format, access the internal format, to determine the set of graphical elements of the first graphical user interface, and create the set of graphical elements of the first graphical user interface.
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Specification