Application management system
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 display, a system memory, and mass storage, the method comprising the steps of:
- including application control module ("ACM") data structures in an application;
specifying graphic user interface data structures;
specifying database data structures for reading data from and writing data to a database, wherein a relationship between said graphic user interface data structures and said database data structures is defined by said ACM data structures;
loading a control module into said system memory, said control module being external to said application, said control module comprising procedural code and data conversion code for use by said application, said ACM data structures including data for use by said control module for defining an appearance of said application on said display and an operation of said application responsive to user input events, said control module comprising data transfer modules configured to automatically transfer data between said database data structures and said user interface data structures said control module further comprising data conversion functions to convert data formats between said database data structures and said user interface data structures;
dynamically linking said control module to said application;
initializing said data structures by means of said control module;
presenting on said display said application as defined by said data structures by means of said control module; and
processing by means of said control module user input events in accordance with the operation of said application as defined by said data structures.
5 Assignments
0 Petitions
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.
93 Citations
29 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 display, a system memory, and mass storage, the method comprising the steps of:
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including application control module ("ACM") data structures in an application; specifying graphic user interface data structures; specifying database data structures for reading data from and writing data to a database, wherein a relationship between said graphic user interface data structures and said database data structures is defined by said ACM data structures; loading a control module into said system memory, said control module being external to said application, said control module comprising procedural code and data conversion code for use by said application, said ACM data structures including data for use by said control module for defining an appearance of said application on said display and an operation of said application responsive to user input events, said control module comprising data transfer modules configured to automatically transfer data between said database data structures and said user interface data structures said control module further comprising data conversion functions to convert data formats between said database data structures and said user interface data structures; dynamically linking said control module to said application; initializing said data structures by means of said control module; presenting on said display said application as defined by said data structures by means of said control module; and processing by means of said control module user input events in accordance with the operation of said application as defined by said data structures. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 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 system, comprising:
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a computer having a processor and memory; a display coupled to said computer; an input device coupled to said computer; at least one application, coupled to said memory, said application including a plurality of data structures; a control module coupled to said memory and dynamically linked to said application, said control module forming a part of said operating environment and including procedural code and data conversion code for said application, said data structures of said application comprising data for defining the appearance and operation of said application; said control module including initializing means for initializing said data structures; said control module including draw means for presenting a display screen defined by said data structures; said application including database data structures for accessing a database; said application including graphic user interface structures for defining graphic user interface components; said control module including data conversion means for defining a relationship between said graphic user interface structures and said database data structures; said control module including first data transfer functions configured to handle the updating of user interface components based on data from said database; said control module including second data transfer functions configured to handle the updating of said database based on data from said user interface components; said control module including run means for processing user input events in accordance with the operation defined by said graphic user interface data structures; and said control module including end means for closing said application. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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Specification