Method and apparatus for generating paths in an open hierarchical data structure
First Claim
1. A software system on a computer processor used to generate menu data comprising:
- means for processing a set of input;
means for opening an external file object;
means for locating a source of menu data in said external file object;
means for copying a topic object and a link object from said external file object;
means for adding memory for a new node in an open hierarchical data structure;
means for assigning said topic object to said new node in said open hierarchical data structure;
means for assigning a pointer to said new node that links and said new node to a node in said open hierarchical data structure, wherein the node in said open hierarchical data structure serves as a parent node to said new node;
and means for using said link object to determine a child node assignment for said new node in said open hierarchical data structure.
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Abstract
An apparatus and method of a computer software program for generating a series of connected nodes that form a path in an open hierarchical data structure is disclosed. The paths in the open hierarchical data structure provide the basis for an end-user menu system known as a content menu. The present invention discloses the means to use a programming language or code to relate one or more sets of data, stored in an external file or in a database, to the open hierarchical data structure. The software means of the present invention decodes this input to generate a series of connected nodes in the structure, and thereby create new menu data and menu paths that lead to information objects.
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Citations
18 Claims
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1. A software system on a computer processor used to generate menu data comprising:
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means for processing a set of input;
means for opening an external file object;
means for locating a source of menu data in said external file object;
means for copying a topic object and a link object from said external file object;
means for adding memory for a new node in an open hierarchical data structure;
means for assigning said topic object to said new node in said open hierarchical data structure;
means for assigning a pointer to said new node that links and said new node to a node in said open hierarchical data structure, wherein the node in said open hierarchical data structure serves as a parent node to said new node;
and means for using said link object to determine a child node assignment for said new node in said open hierarchical data structure. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 11)
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10. A method for generating menu data using a software system on a computer processor, said method comprising:
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processing a set of input;
opening an external file object;
locating a source of menu data in said external file object;
copying a topic object and a link object from said external file object;
adding memory for a new node in an open hierarchical data structure;
assigning said topic object to said new node in said open hierarchical data structure;
assigning a pointer to said new node that links said new node to a node in said open hierarchical data structure that, wherein the node in said open hierarchical data structure serves as a parent node to said new node;
and using said link object to determine a child node assignment for said new node in said open hierarchical data structure. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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Specification