Detachable java applets

• US 6,401,134 B1
• Filed: 07/25/1997
• Issued: 06/04/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 07/25/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Oracle America, Inc. (Oracle Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Sun Microsystems Incorporated (Oracle Corporation)
• Inventors: Harshbarger, Eric, Razavi, Behfar
• Primary Examiner(s): Dinh, Dung C.
• Application Number:
  US08/910,481
• Time in Patent Office: 1,775 Days
• Field of Search: 345/326-357, 345/163, 345/700, 345/764, 345/804, 345/808, 709/200, 709/310-332, 707/513
• US Class Current: 719/310
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/44526 Plug-ins; Add-ons
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/453 Help systems

Abstract

A method and system is disclosed for detaching Java applets from the constraints of the application such as a browser which provides the Java engine for executing those applets. Thus, the applets, when detached, can appear in a detached window which is more easily controllable by the operating environment desktop. The Java applets continue to run under the application'"'"'s virtual machine but do so without regard to the graphical interface limits of the application. Further, if the application that launched the applet proceeds to a new URL location, the Java applet continues to run. Also, the applet, once detached, can be reattached into the application to appear in the application history.

Claims

1. A process comprising:

implementing a detachable interface to enable an applet to become free of graphical user interface (GUI) constraints imposed by an application that spawned said applet; and

modifying a non-detachable applet to become a detachable applet, said detachable applet capable of being manipulated on a desktop by interaction with an operating environment.

2. A process according to claim 1 wherein the implementing comprises:

modifying the class definition of said non-detachable applet to include a detachable interface.

3. A process according to claim 2 wherein the modifying comprises:

adding a set of generic methods for implementing said detachable interface.

4. A process according to claim 3 further comprising:

modifying any of said set of generic methods to suit the desired look-and-feel of said detachable applet.

5. A process according to step 3 wherein said adding comprises:

adding a first method for placing said detachable applet into a detached state; and

adding a second method for placing said detachable applet if in the detached state back to an attached state.

6. A process according to claim 5 further comprising:

adding a third method for toggling between said states.

7. A process according to claim 5 further comprising:

adding a fourth method for disposing completely said detachable applet while in the detached state.

8. A process for controlling the behavior of an applet exclusive of application constraints comprising:

detaching said applet from said application, said applet continuing to utilize a virtual machine of said application to execute applet instructions;

displaying a detached window to render visually said applet; and

enabling the modification of visual properties of said detached window.

9. A process according to claim 8 wherein the detaching comprises:

activating a user interface element to detach applet while graphically constrained by said application; and

calling a Detach method for executing a set of instructions pursuant to completing said steps of detaching, displaying and enabling.

10. A process according to claim 8 further comprising attaching said applet into said application.

11. A process according to claim 10 wherein the attaching comprises:

calling an Attach method;

closing said detached window; and

redrawing said applet into said application.

12. A process according to claim 9 wherein the calling a Detach method initiates:

instantiating a new frame;

removing components of said applet from said application;

adding said removed components to said new frame;

mapping said detached window onto a display device; and

painting said added components onto said display device, said painting to occur within the mapped detached window.

13. A graphical user interface system for controlling an applet comprising:

a desktop defined by an operating environment;

an application window visually displayed as an overlay on said desktop, said application window displaying and visually constraining said applet while said applet is in an attached state; and

a detached window running directly over said desktop, said detached window being displayed on said desktop only while said applet is in a detached state, said detached state removing said applet from being visually constrained and displayed in said application window, wherein said applet is a platform-independent program that is executable by a virtual machine.

14. A graphical user interface system according to claim 13 wherein said detached window includes a user interface element for enabling said applet to be placed in the attached state.

15. A graphical user interface system according to claim 14 wherein said application window includes a user interface element for enabling said applet to be placed in the detached state.

16. A graphical user interface according to claim 14 wherein said detached window is closed when said applet is placed in the attached state.

17. A graphical user interface system according to claim 13 wherein said applet is launched initially in the attached state.

18. A graphical user interface system according to claim 13 wherein said applet is launched initially in the detached state.

19. A computer-readable medium having stored thereon applet code interpretable by an application, said applet code including sequences of instructions which, when executed by a processor, cause said processor to perform:

detaching said applet from said application, said applet continuing to utilize a virtual machine of said application to facilitate execution of said sequence of instructions by said processor;

displaying a detached window to render visually said detached applet; and

enabling the modification of visual properties of said detached window.

20. A computer software product having applet code interpretable by an application, said computer software product distributed to a processor, said applet code including sequences of instructions which, when executed by said processor, cause said processor to perform:

detaching said applet from said application, said applet continuing to utilize a virtual machine of said application to facilitate execution of said sequence of instructions by said processor;

displaying a detached window to render visually said detached applet; and

enabling the modification of visual properties of said detached window.