Visual programming tool for developing software applications
First Claim
1. A method for creating an application program, the method implemented on a computer system having a display screen and an input device, the input device controllable by a user to create visual representations on the display screen, the method/comprising:
- A. defining and supporting a set of object classes, the set of object classes including a linking object class;
B. selecting, in response to input from the user, a first one of the object classes;
C. generating, in response to the user drawing a first visual representation on the display screen, a source object, the source object being an instance of the first object class and having a first set of associated default events and property settings;
D. selecting, in response to input from the user, a second one of the object classes;
E. generating, in response to the user drawing a second visual representation on the display screen, a destination object, the destination object being an instance of the second object class and having a second set of associated default events and property settings;
F. selecting, in response to input from the user, the linking object class;
G. generating, in response to the user drawing a third visual representation connecting the first and second visual representations, a linking object, the linking object being an instance of the linking object class and having a set of user selectable predefined behaviors used by the destination object, the predefined behaviors being responsive to at least one of the first set of associated events; and
H. displaying, in response to input from the user, the default events and property settings, of selected of the source, destination, and linking objects.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A visual programming method implemented on a computer having a display screen and an input device which a user employs to draw visual representations on the display screen, including the steps of defining and supporting by computer implemented steps a set of object classes including a linking object class; in response to input from the user, selecting a first object class; in response to the user using the input device to draw a first visual representation on the display screen, generating a source object, which is an instance of the first object class and having a first set of events associated therewith; in response to input from the user, selecting a second object class; and in response to the user using the input device to draw a second visual representation on the display screen, generating a destination object, which is an instance of the second object class; in response to input from the user, selecting the linking object class; and in response to the user using the input device to draw a third visual representation that connects the first and second visual representations, generating a linking object, which is an instance of the linking object class and has associated therewith a set of user selectable predefined behaviors, each of which is in the form of a set of commands that defines actions that occur to the destination object in response to an occurrence of one of the events of the first set of events.
264 Citations
24 Claims
-
1. A method for creating an application program, the method implemented on a computer system having a display screen and an input device, the input device controllable by a user to create visual representations on the display screen, the method/comprising:
-
A. defining and supporting a set of object classes, the set of object classes including a linking object class; B. selecting, in response to input from the user, a first one of the object classes; C. generating, in response to the user drawing a first visual representation on the display screen, a source object, the source object being an instance of the first object class and having a first set of associated default events and property settings; D. selecting, in response to input from the user, a second one of the object classes; E. generating, in response to the user drawing a second visual representation on the display screen, a destination object, the destination object being an instance of the second object class and having a second set of associated default events and property settings; F. selecting, in response to input from the user, the linking object class; G. generating, in response to the user drawing a third visual representation connecting the first and second visual representations, a linking object, the linking object being an instance of the linking object class and having a set of user selectable predefined behaviors used by the destination object, the predefined behaviors being responsive to at least one of the first set of associated events; and H. displaying, in response to input from the user, the default events and property settings, of selected of the source, destination, and linking objects. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
-
-
11. An apparatus for visually creating an application program, the apparatus implemented on a computer system having a display screen and an input device, the input device controllable by a user to create visual representations on the display screen, the visual programming apparatus comprising:
-
means for defining and supporting a set of object classes, the set of object classes including a linking object class; means for selecting, in response to input from the user, a first one of the object classes; means for generating, in response to the user drawing a first visual representation on the display screen, a source object, the source object being an instance of the first object class and having a first set of associated default events and property settings; means for selecting, in response to input from the user, a second one of the object classes; means for generating, in response to the user drawing a second visual representation on the display screen, a destination object, the destination object being an instance of the second object class and having a second set of associated default events and property settings; means for selecting, in response to input from the user, the linking object class; means for generating, in response to the user drawing a third visual representation connecting the first and second visual representations, a linking object, the linking object being an instance of the linking object class and having a set of user selectable predefined behaviors used by the destination object, the predefined behaviors being responsive to at least one of the first set of associated events; the linking object linking the source object and destination object; and means for displaying and editing, in response to input from the user, the default events and property settings associated with selected of the source, destination, and linking objects. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
-
-
18. A computer program product for use with a computer system having a display screen and an input device, the computer program product comprising:
a computer usable medium having computer readable program code thereon for visually programming an application program, the computer readable program code comprising; program code for defining and supporting by computer implemented steps a set of object classes, the set of object classes including a linking object class; program code for selecting, in response to input from the user, a first one of the object classes; program code for generating, in response to the user drawing a first visual representation on the display screen, a source object, the source object being an instance of the first object class and having a first set of associated default events and property settings; program code for selecting, in response to input from the user, a second one of the object classes; program code for generating, in response to the user drawing a second visual representation on the display screen, a destination object, the destination object being an instance of the second object class and having a second set of each of the associated default events and property settings; program code for selecting, in response to input from the user, the linking object class; program code for generating, in response to the user drawing a third visual representation connecting the first and second visual representations, a linking object, the linking object being an instance of the linking object class and having a set of user selectable predefined behaviors for the destination object, the predefined behaviors being responsive to at least one of the first set of associated events the linking object combining the source object and destination object to create the application program; and program code for displaying and editing in response to input from the user, the default events and property settings associated with selected of the source, destination, and linking objects. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
Specification