Model tracking object-oriented system for collaborative data editing with non-compatible computer peripheral devices

• US 6,453,328 B1
• Filed: 04/12/1999
• Issued: 09/17/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 02/26/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Object Technology Licensing Corporation
• Inventors: Palevich, Jack H., Schaeffer, Arnold, Anderson, David R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hong, Stephen S.
• Application Number:
  US09/291,588
• Time in Patent Office: 1,254 Days
• Field of Search: 707/515, 707/514, 707/530, 707/516, 709/204
• US Class Current: 715/202
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1095 Replication or mirroring of data, e.g. scheduling or transport for data synchronisation between network nodes

Abstract

A method and apparatus for an object-oriented framework system. The system uses an innovative framework architecture to provide concurrent access to a framework application by multiple users. The users can collaborate over the application and jointly produce a finished product. Model tracking is used to track commands and apply them in a consistent manner throughout the system.

Claims

1. A method for enabling view synchronization by a computer having a memory and an operating system, including a first view displayed in a first format on a first display device and a second view displayed in a second format different from the first format on a second display device, the first and second views being generated by an application program that processes data in response to device event signals, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) providing class libraries for storage in the computer memory to

(1) instantiate a model object to contain data that does not specify a display format; and

(b) providing a run-time environment to

(1) apply the device event signals to the model object to cause the model object to generate notification commands indicating data changes without sending copies of the data;

(2) update the first view in response to the notification commands to display the data changes in the first format; and

(3) update the second view in response to the notification commands to display the data changes in the second format.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the model object is responsive to the device event signals for generating the notification commands and forwarding the notification commands to a first updating means and a second updating means, the method further comprising the step of:

(a) providing class libraries for storage in the computer memory to

(2) instantiate a first view object comprising characteristics of the first display device and the first updating means responsive to notification commands for updating the first view to display the data changes in the first format; and

(3) instantiate a second view object comprising characteristics of the second display device and the second updating means responsive to notification commands for updating the second view to display the data changes in the second format.

3. The method of claim 1, which further comprises:

wherein said changes to the data are made in both directions.

4. The method of claim 1, which further comprises:

wherein said changes to the data are made in more than one view.

5. The method of claim 1, which further comprises:

wherein said notifications are commands specifying what to change, without sending a copy of the changed data itself.

6. The method of claim 1, which further comprises:

wherein the resulting views can be selected and any portion changed.

7. The method of claim 1, which further comprises:

wherein an identical notification command is sent to the two views, resulting in different visual results.

8. The method of claim 1, which further comprises:

wherein a single, common model is changed using commands and notification is sent to the views of the model changes.

9. A method for enabling view synchronization by a computer having a memory and an operating system, including a first view displayed in a first format on a first display device and a second view displayed in a second format different from the first format on a second display device, the first and second views being generated by an application program that processes data in response to device event signals, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) providing class libraries for storage in the computer memory to

(1) instantiate one common model object to contain data that does not specify a display format; and

(b) providing a run-time environment to

(1) interactively modify the one common model object with a tracker program to change the model object using interactive commands;

(2) apply the device event signals to the model object to cause the model object to generate notification commands indicating the model object changes;

(3) update the first view in response to the notification commands to display the model object changes in the first format; and

(4) update the second view in response to the notification commands to display the model object changes in the second format.