Method and apparatus for creating "smart forms "
First Claim
1. A method of providing a variable user application in a data processing system, comprising:
- providing a core application having at least one attribute and an associated core application data area for data entered into a user interface data entry space for the core application without utilizing any field overlay; and
extending the core application by a field overlay inheriting the at least one attribute from the core application and integrally adding at least one additional characteristic relating to the attribute to the user interface data entry space, wherein the field overlay has an associated field overlay data area separate from the core application data area for data entered into the user interface data entry space utilizing the field overlay.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An architecture is provided for user applications in a computer system including a core application executable by the system and having a data entry space. A field overlay executable by the system, although not necessarily independently executable, stacks functions on top of the core application and imposes a structure on the data entry space to become an extension of the core application, thus creating additional user applications driven by task needs. If implemented in an object-oriented manner, the field overlay inherits attributes of the core application. Links and macros within the field overlays may improve the effectiveness of the core application in accomplishing the desired task.
78 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method of providing a variable user application in a data processing system, comprising:
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providing a core application having at least one attribute and an associated core application data area for data entered into a user interface data entry space for the core application without utilizing any field overlay; and extending the core application by a field overlay inheriting the at least one attribute from the core application and integrally adding at least one additional characteristic relating to the attribute to the user interface data entry space, wherein the field overlay has an associated field overlay data area separate from the core application data area for data entered into the user interface data entry space utilizing the field overlay. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A data processing system having a variable user application, comprising:
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a core application having at least one attribute and an associated core application data area for data entered into a user interface data entry space for the core application without utilizing any field overlay; and a field overlay extending the core application, inheriting the at least one attribute from the core application and integrally adding at least one additional characteristic relating to the attribute to the user interface data entry space, wherein the field overlay has an associated field overlay data area separate from the core application data area for data entered into the user interface data entry space utilizing the field overlay. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A user application architecture in a data processing system having a memory, comprising:
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a core application executable by the data processing system and loaded in the memory, the core application having at least one attribute, a data entry space within a user interface, and an associated core application data area for data entered within the user interface data entry space without utilizing any field overlay; and a field overlay executable by the data processing system and loaded in the memory, the field overlay inheriting the at least one attribute from the core application and acting as an extension of the core application, adding at least one additional characteristic relating to the attribute to the data entry space of the core application, the field overlay having an associated field overlay data area separate from the core application data area for data entered into the user interface data entry space utilizing the field overlay. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification