Extensible user interface for a distributed messaging framework in a computer network

• US 6,567,846 B1
• Filed: 05/14/1999
• Issued: 05/20/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 05/15/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: EPiphany Incorporated (Infor Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: EPiphany Incorporated (Infor Incorporated)
• Inventors: Javangula, Pradeep, Katiyar, Dinesh, Garg, Suneet
• Primary Examiner(s): Maung, Zarni
• Assistant Examiner(s): FLYNN, KIMBERLY D
• Application Number:
  US09/312,129
• Time in Patent Office: 1,467 Days
• Field of Search: 709/201, 709/203, 709/206, 709/218, 709/220, 709/238, 709/245, 709/217, 709/219, 707/5, 707/3, 707/10, 707/6, 707/1, 707/9, 345/804, 345/968
• US Class Current: 709/218
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/951 Indexing; Web crawling techniques
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/954 Navigation, e.g. using categorised browsing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99933 Query processing, i.e. searching
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 715/968 interface for database querying and retrieval

Abstract

An extensible user interface in a system for handling information objects. The extensible interface allows a user to be presented with default interfaces, or viewers, for performing the basic functions of a “data browser” application of the invention. A primary feature of the data browser user interface is to allow requests for information in the form of a one-time query, or a persistent query, on data objects. With the one-time query, the user defines one or more conditions in terms of attributes and values. The appropriate classes of objects are checked and any matching objects are identified as satisfying the query. A persistent query allows such a condition to be active at all times so that when one or more objects are created that satisfy the condition, those objects are identified as meeting the condition. Other features of the user interface allow the user to define objects and publish objects. Objects can be created or edited based on a class whose attributes are inherited. A predefined selection of menu options makes creating, editing and publishing objects simple and efficient. Access controls and settings are provided to control rights to created objects. An embodiment of the invention allows for any of six default “viewers” that make up the basic data browser user interface to be customized, or replaced, with a viewer of the user'"'"'s choice. This can be accomplished by simply naming the new viewer process in a dialogue box. Either predefined viewers can be used, or a completely new viewer can be programmed and tied into the user interface via “call-in” and “call-out” routines. These “extended” viewers are swappable at run-time. The extended viewers can perform all or a portion of the functionality of the original, default, viewer.

Claims

1. A method for providing a data browser user interface executable a first computer system coupled to a computer network connecting a plurality of interconnected computer systems, wherein a plurality of information objects that are instances of class definitions resides in the computer systems, and wherein the class definitions include attribute/value pairs, the method comprising:

displaying one or more information objects in a first display;

accepting signals selecting a first information object that is a first instance of one of the class definitions;

showing one or more of the attribute/value pairs of the first information object;

accepting signals make a relational condition based on the attribute/value pairs of the first information object;

transferring the relational condition, an identifier for the first information object and an identifier for the first computer system to one or more computers in the network;

when the relational condition is satisfied by a second information object in the network that is a second instance of the class definition of the first information object, receiving and displaying at least a portion of the second information object that satisfies the relational condition in the first display;

accepting signals designating an extended viewer; and

using the designated viewer to show one or more of the attribute/value pairs of the first information object in a second display different from the first display.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the second display includes showing the selected information in a bar chart format.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the second display includes showing the selected information in a graph.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the data browser user interface provides viewers for displaying information relating to any one of searching, viewing search results, administrating, publishing, editing and application-specific functions.

5. A method for providing a user interface in a system that allows querying of data objects, the system including a computer coupled to a network, wherein the network includes data objects, the computer including a user input device coupled to a display and processor, the method comprising the steps of

using the processor to execute instructions to display a first default viewer for displaying the results of a query on one or more data objects in a first display format;

accepting signals from the user input device to specify a second viewer; and

using the processor to execute instructions associated with the second viewer to cause the results of the query on one or more data objects to be displayed in a second display format.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising the step of

executing instructions associated with the secondary viewer in place of instructions associated with the default viewer.

7. The method of claim 5, further comprising the step of

executing instructions associated with the secondary viewer in addition to executing instructions associated with the default viewer.

8. An apparatus for providing a user interface in a system that allows querying of data objects, the apparatus including a computer coupled to a network, wherein the network includes data objects, the computer including a user input device coupled to a display and processor, the apparatus comprising

first instructions to display a first default viewer for displaying the results of a query on one or more data objects in a first display format;

instructions to accept signals from the user input device to specify a second viewer; and

instructions associated with the second viewer to cause the results of the query on one or more data objects to be displayed in a second display format.

10. The apparatus of claim 8, further comprising:

instructions associated with the secondary viewer that are executed in place of instructions associated with the default viewer.

11. The apparatus of claim 8, further comprising:

instructions associated with the secondary viewer that are executed in addition to executing instructions associated with the default viewer.

9. A computer-readable medium comprising

first instructions to display a first default viewer for displaying the results of a query on one or more data objects in a first display format;

instructions to accept signals from the user input device to specify a second viewer; and

instructions associated with the second viewer to cause the results of the query on one or more data objects to be displayed in a second display format.

12. The computer-readable medium of claim 9, further comprising:

executing instructions associated with the secondary viewer in place of instructions associated with the default viewer.

13. The computer-readable medium of claim 9, further comprising:

executing instructions associated with the secondary viewer in addition to executing instructions associated with the default viewer.