Method for accessing complex software applications through a client user interface

• US 6,430,609 B1
• Filed: 03/23/2001
• Issued: 08/06/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 12/12/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Easa Software Limited
• Original Assignee: AEA Technology PLC (AEA Technology Group PLC)
• Inventors: Dewhurst, Sebastian, Gerring, Matthew, Hawkins, Ian Robert
• Primary Examiner(s): Lim, Krisna
• Application Number:
  US09/681,349
• Publication Number:
  US 20020073180A1
• Time in Patent Office: 501 Days
• Field of Search: 709/220, 709/221, 709/223, 717/121
• US Class Current: 709/220
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2111/10 Numerical modelling
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 30/23 using finite element methods [FEM] or finite difference methods [FDM]

Abstract

A method for configuring and executing a software application with a client user interface, the method including the steps of accessing a master configuration file containing an array of configuration variables controlling the execution of the software application, preselecting a subset of configuration variables from the array of configuration variables contained in the master configuration file, generating the client user interface to modify only the subset of configuration variables, transmitting the client user interface to a client computer, receiving the subset of configuration variables as modified on the client computer, applying the subset of configuration variables against the master configuration file, executing the software application in accordance with the master configuration file on a computational server, the execution of the software application producing an output result, and transmitting the output result to the client computer.

Claims

1. A method for configuring and executing a software application with a client user interface, the method comprising the steps of:

accessing a master configuration file containing an array of configuration variables controlling the execution of the software application;

preselecting a subset of configuration variables from the array of configuration variables contained in the master configuration file;

generating the client user interface to modify only the subset of configuration variables;

transmitting the client user interface to a client computer;

receiving the subset of configuration variables as modified on the client computer;

applying the subset of configuration variables against the master configuration file;

executing the software application in accordance with the master configuration file on a computational server, the execution of the software application producing an output result;

transmitting the output result to the client computer.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of storing in the master configuration file access instructions to a plurality of computational servers available to execute the software application.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step storing in the master configuration file configuration settings for displaying a plurality of languages in the client user interface.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step storing in the master configuration file licensing information for managing available licenses to permit the execution of the software application.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising the steps of:

receiving substantially concurrently a plurality of subsets;

storing the plurality of subsets prior to execution on the computational server;

executing each subset as the computational server becomes available for processing.

6. The method of claim 5 further comprising the step storing in the master configuration file queuing data for establishing a relative execution priority of the plurality of subsets.

7. The method of claim 5 further comprising the step of transmitting a processing status report to the client user interface.

8. The method of claim 1 further comprising the steps of writing the preselected subset of configuration variables to a template file wherein the form and appearance of client user interface is defined by the template file.

9. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of preselecting a default measurement unit for at least one variable of the preselected subset of configuration variables.

10. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of preselecting a plurality of measurement units selectable for at least one variable of the preselected subset of configuration variables.

11. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of preselecting a default value for at least one variable of the preselected subset of configuration variables.

12. The method of claim 11 further comprising the step of establishing permissible bounds for the at least one variable of the preselected subset of configuration variables.

13. The method of claim 12 further comprising the step of establishing permissible bounds for the at least one variable relative to the value of a second variable.

14. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of establishing a text string description for at least one variable of the preselected subset of configuration variables.

15. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of establishing an input means for accepting a plurality of linear values for at least one variable of the preselected subset of configuration variables.

16. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of predefining at least one graphic representation of the subset of configuration variables for display on the client user interface.

17. The method of claim 16 further comprising the step of modifying the at least one graphic representation responsive to a modification in at least one variable of the preselected subset of configuration variables.

18. The method of claim 17 further comprising the step of displaying at least one dimension value in visual proximity to the at least one graphic representation.

19. The method of claim 18 further comprising the step of making visible a first dimension value responsive to a modification of a first variable of the preselected subset of configuration variables and making the first dimension value invisible responsive to a modification of another variable of the preselected subset of configuration variables.

20. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of displaying a plurality of images on the client user interface, at least one variable of the preselected subset of configuration variables being modified responsive to the selection of an individual image within the group of the plurality of images.

21. The method of claim 1 wherein a plurality of master configuration files may be accessed and modified.

22. The method of claim 1 wherein a plurality of software applications may be executed.

23. A method for remotely accessing at least one software application with a client user interface, the method comprising the steps of:

accessing at least one master configuration file containing an array of configuration variables controlling the execution of the software application;

replacing a preexisting configuration variable in the at least one master configuration file with a machine readable identifier;

accepting a user-defined configuration variable corresponding to the preexisting configuration variable from a client computer; and

replacing the machine readable identifier with the user-defined configuration variable.

24. The method of claim 23 wherein a plurality of user-defined configuration variables are accepted and replace a plurality of corresponding machine readable identifiers.

25. The method of claim 23 wherein the step of accepting the plurality of user-defined configuration variables from the client computer further comprises retrieving a file post containing the plurality of user-defined configuration variables.

26. The method of claim 25 wherein the step of accepting the plurality of user-defined configuration variables from the client computer further comprises retrieving a delimited string post containing the plurality of user-defined configuration variables.

27. A method for configuring and executing at least one software application with a client user interface, the method comprising the steps of:

establishing a computational server running the at least one software application;

establishing an application server communicatively coupled to the computational server;

establishing a communications pathway from the application server to at least one client computer, the communications pathway adapted to transmit data for displaying a graphic user interface on the client computer;

accessing at least one master configuration file containing an array of configuration variables controlling the execution of the software application;

preselecting a subset of configuration variables from the array of configuration variables contained in the at least one master configuration file;

establishing a template file wherein the subset of configuration variables and the appearance of the graphic user interface are defined by the template file;

storing the template file on a storage medium communicatively accessible by the application server;

transmitting the template file to the client computer;

responsive to receiving an array of modified configuration variables from the client computer, applying the array of modified configuration variables to the at least one master configuration file;

executing the at least one software application in accordance with the at least one master configuration file on the computational server;

outputting a result;

transmitting the result to the client computer.