Application program and documentation generator system and method

• US 5,815,717 A
• Filed: 10/27/1995
• Issued: 09/29/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 10/27/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Mark Auerbach
• Original Assignee: Authorgenics, Inc.
• Inventors: Stack, Brian T.
• Primary Examiner(s): Voeltz, Emanuel Todd
• Assistant Examiner(s): CORCORAN, PETER JOSEPH
• Application Number:
  US08/549,633
• Time in Patent Office: 1,068 Days
• Field of Search: 395/50, 395/51, 395/60, 395/1, 395/64, 395/75, 395/76, 395/701, 395/702, 395/703, 395/705, 395/706, 395/500
• US Class Current: 717/105
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/33 Intelligent editors
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/70 Software maintenance or management
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/73 Program documentation

Abstract

Automatic generation of an application program is performed by a programmed system including a guided editor for establishing program, data and field definitions from input event elements. A sequence generator, coupled to the guided editor, autonomously processes the program, data and field definitions into descriptive atomic sequences, each describing a unique characteristic such that a plurality of frames describes the input event elements. A rule processor, including a program rule base describing the structure and operation of an application program, autonomously processes the program rule base with the descriptive atomic sequences unifying the descriptive atomic sequences with the structure and operation of the application program. A syntax processor, including a language syntax rule base, autonomously unifies the descriptive atomic sequences with the language syntax to provide a coded representation of the application program.

Claims

1. A programmed system executed on a computer providing for the automatic generation of an application program, said programmed system comprising:

a) a guided image editor for establishing program, data and field definitions from a plurality of input event elements;

b) a sequence generator, coupled to said guided image editor for autonomously processing said program, data and field definitions into a plurality of functionally descriptive atomic sequences, each of said functionally descriptive atomic sequences describing a unique characteristic such that a plurality of frames, each comprising zero or one functionally descriptive atomic sequence from each of said functionally descriptive atomic sequences, respectfully describes said plurality of input event elements; and

c) a rule processor including a program rule base conditionally describing the structure and operation of a predetermined application program, said rule processor autonomously processing said program rule base in concert with said plurality of functionally descriptive atomic sequences proceeding generally sequentially over said plurality of frames conditionally unifying said plurality of functionally descriptive atomic sequences with the structure and operation of said predetermined application program.

2. The programmed system of claim 1 further comprising a syntax processor including a syntax rule base defining the syntax of a predetermined programming language, said syntax processor autonomously unifying said plurality of functionally descriptive atomic sequences, as unified with the structure and operation of said predetermined application program as received from said rule processor, with the syntax of said predetermined programming language to provide a coded representation of the structure and operation of said predetermined application program consistent with the syntax of said predetermined programming language.

3. The programmed system of claim 2 wherein said guided image editor comprises a first module, responsive to said input event elements, for maintaining a program hierarchical data structure defining ordered tiers of named program nodes and named segment nodes, a second module, responsive to said input event elements, for maintaining a data hierarchical data structure defined ordered tiers of named file nodes and named record nodes, and a third module, responsive to said input event elements, for maintaining a field data structure defining ordered screen data, including named fields, and operational attributes.

4. The programmed system of claim 3 wherein:

a) said third module of said guided image editor further comprises a text submodule for providing to a screen context sensitive prompting text in anticipation of predetermined input event elements and for receiving descriptive text describing said predetermined input event elements, said text submodule providing for the ordered storage of said descriptive text in a help file; and

b) said rule processor includes a documentation rule base conditionally describing the structure and organization of a document describing said predetermined application program, said rule processor autonomously processing said documentation rule base in concert with said plurality of functionally descriptive atomic sequences conditionally unifying said descriptive text with the structure and organization of said document.

5. The programmed system of claim 1 wherein said guided image editor objectifies a series or grouping of one or more said plurality of input event elements into a plurality of objects that can be cut, copied, and stored away for future use.

6. The programmed system of claim 5 wherein said guided image editor provides for the documentation of an existence, purpose and operation of said plurality of input event elements substantially coincident with said plurality of input event elements'"'"' input.

7. The programmed system of claim 6 wherein an output of said guided image editor representing said existence, purpose and operation of said plurality of input event elements is unified with a plurality of help text to provide a plurality of highly characterizing documentation that closely follows said structure and operation of said predetermined application program.

8. A programmed system executed on a computer providing for the automatic generation of an application program, said programmed system comprising:

a) a guided image editor for establishing program, data and field definitions from a plurality of input event elements;

b) a sequence generator, coupled to said guided image editor for autonomously processing said program, data and field definitions into a plurality of functionally descriptive atomic sequences, each of said functionally descriptive atomic sequences describing a unique characteristic such that a plurality of frames, each comprising zero or one functionally descriptive atomic sequence from each of said functionally descriptive atomic sequences, respectfully describes said plurality of input event elements;

c) a rule processor including a program rule base conditionally describing the structure and operation of a predetermined application program, said rule processor autonomously processing said program rule base in concert with said plurality of functionally descriptive atomic sequences proceeding generally sequentially over said plurality of frames conditionally unifying said plurality of functionally descriptive atomic sequences with the structure and operation of said predetermined application program, and wherein said rule processor further includes a documentation rule base conditionally describing the structure and organization of a document describing said predetermined application program, said rule processor autonomously processing said documentation rule base in concert with said plurality of functionally descriptive atomic sequences conditionally unifying said descriptive text with the structure and organization of said document; and

d) a syntax processor including a syntax rule base defining the syntax of a predetermined programming language, said syntax processor autonomously unifying said plurality of functionally descriptive atomic sequences, as unified with the structure and operation of said predetermined application program as received from said rule processor, with the syntax of said predetermined programming language to provide a coded representation of the structure and operation of said predetermined application program consistent with the syntax of said predetermined programming language.

9. The programmed system of claim 8 wherein said guided image editor comprises a first module, responsive to said input event elements, for maintaining a program hierarchical data structure defining ordered tiers of named program nodes and named segment nodes, a second module, responsive to said input event elements, for maintaining a data hierarchical data structure defining ordered tiers of named file nodes and named record nodes, and a third module, responsive to said input event elements, for maintaining a field data structure defining ordered screen data, including named fields, and operational attributes.

10. The programmed system of claim 9 wherein said third module of said guided image editor further comprises a text submodule for providing to a screen context sensitive prompting text in anticipation of predetermined input event elements and for receiving descriptive text describing said predetermined input event elements, said text submodule providing for the ordered storage of said descriptive text in a help file.

11. The programmed system of claim 8 wherein said rule processor autonomously processing said documentation rule base in concert with said plurality of functionally descriptive atomic sequences conditionally unifying said descriptive text with the structure and organization of said document to provide a highly detailed set of documentation in direct correspondence with a plurality of screen display processes and reports.