Creating applications within data processing systems by combining program components dynamically

• US 6,637,020 B1
• Filed: 12/03/1998
• Issued: 10/21/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 12/03/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Snapchat Inc (Snap, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Hammond, Barton Wade
• Primary Examiner(s): Dam, Tuan Q.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Shrader, Lawrence
• Application Number:
  US09/204,891
• Time in Patent Office: 1,783 Days
• Field of Search: 717/120-123, 717/140-147, 717/106-108, 707/100-104, 707/107, 707/111, 709/202, 709/217, 709/331, 709/213, 709/332, 710/33
• US Class Current: 717/107
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/34 Graphical or visual programming

Abstract

A method of associating program components to create a software application. Program components are emitted from standard object data files. The program components are analyzed in real time to identify patterns that conform to pre-defined classes. Then, the program components are introspected and connected together dynamically utilizing the components'"'"' class characteristics to create a software application or routine.

Claims

1. A processor-executed method of combining program components on a data processing system to create a software routine, comprising the steps of:

analyzing code in real time to identify patterns that conform to pre-defined classes, wherein said code is associated with a plurality of program components residing on a storage device of the data processing system;

dynamically associating the program components and wiring said components based on the patterns identified in said code to create a software routine that includes a graphical user interface for user manipulation during execution;

representing each wiring of program components with a user interface in the created software routine, wherein each wiring has an associated functionality and manipulation and manipulation of a feature within said user interface during execution of said software routine activates said functionality associated with said wiring; and

storing said software routine on said storage device of the data processing system.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

emitting object-oriented program components utilizing standard object data files;

compiling said object-oriented program components to create code; and

creating said user interface for a user application utilizing said compiled object-oriented program components.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said program components of said analyzing step are object-oriented program components and said analyzing step further include the steps of:

introspecting said program components wherein behavior patterns of said object-oriented program components are determined;

comparing said behavior patterns with known patterns of predetermined general classes of a framework; and

connecting said object-oriented program components together based on said behavior patterns and connection patterns of said general classes.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein said emitting step and associating step are instantiated within an object oriented programming environment and wherein said object oriented programming environment includes Common Object Request Broker Architecture component broker environment.

5. The method of claim 2, wherein said object-oriented program components generated in said emitting step include Java Bean components.

6. The method of claim 2, wherein said object data files utilized in the emitting step include interface definition language (IDL) files from a component broker environment.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein said pre-defined class patterns include attributes, methods, and parameters of said program components.

8. The method of claim 2, wherein said software routine created by said emitting step, introspecting step, and wiring step is executed within a Common Object Request Broker Architecture (CORBA) environment comprising of a framework, proxy objects, and CORBA objects.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising the step of enabling said framework to communicate with said CORBA objects via said proxy objects providing user manipulation of data during execution of said software routine.

10. A system implemented within a data processing system for combining program components to create a software application, said system comprising:

means for analyzing code in real time to identify patterns that conform to pre-defined classes, wherein said code is associated with a plurality of program components residing on a storage device of the data processing system;

means for dynamically associating the program components and wiring said components based on the patterns identified in said code to create a software routine that includes a user interface for user manipulation during execution;

means for representing each wiring of program components with a user interface in the created software routine, wherein each wiring has an associated functionality and manipulation of a feature within said user interface during execution of said software routine activates said functionality associated with said wiring; and

means for storing said software routine on said storage device of the data processing system.

11. The system of claim 10, comprising further:

means for emitting object-oriented program components utilizing standard data object files; and

means for compiling said object-oriented program components to create code.

12. The system of claim 10, wherein said program components of said analyzing means are object-oriented program components and said analyzing means further include:

means for introspecting said program components wherein behavior patterns of said object-oriented program components are determined;

means for comparing said behavior patterns with known patterns of predetermined general classes of a framework; and

means for connecting said object-oriented program components together based on said behavior patterns and connection patterns of said general classes.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein said emitting means and associating means are instantiated within an object oriented programming environment and wherein said object oriented programming environment includes Common Object Request Broker Architecture component broker environment.

14. The system of claim 11, wherein said object-oriented program components generated in said emitting means include Java Bean components.

15. The system of claim 11, wherein said object data files utilized in the emitting means include interface definition language (IDL) files from a component broker environment.

16. The system of claim 10, wherein said pre-defined class patterns include attributes, methods, and parameters of said program components.

17. The system of claim 11, wherein said software routine created by said emitting means, introspecting means, and wiring means is executed within a Common Object Request Broker Architecture (CORBA) environment comprising of a framework, proxy, objects, and CORBA objects.

18. The system of claim 17, further comprising means for enabling said framework to communicate with said CORBA objects via said proxy objects providing user manipulation of data during execution of said software routine.

19. A computer program product for combining program components on a data processing system to create a software routine, comprising program instructions in a computer readable medium for:

analyzing code in real time to identify patterns that conform to pre-defined classes, wherein said code is associated with a plurality of program components residing on a storage device of the data processing system;

dynamically associating the program components utilizing said processor to wire said components based on the patterns identified in said code to create a software routine;

representing each wiring of program components with a graphical user interface in the created software routine, wherein each wiring has an associated functionality and manipulation of particular features of said graphical user interface during execution of said software routine activates said functionality associated with said wiring; and

storing said software routine on said storage device of the data processing system.

20. The computer program product of claim 19, further comprising of program instructions for:

emitting object-oriented program components utilizing standard data object files; and

compiling said object-oriented program components to create code.

21. The computer program product of claim 19, said program components of said program instructions for said analyzing are object-oriented program components and said program instructions for said analyzing further include program instructions for:

introspecting said program components wherein behavior patterns of said object-oriented program components are determined;

comparing said behavior patterns with known patterns of predetermined general classes of a framework; and

connecting said object-oriented program components together based on said behavior patterns and connection patterns of said general classes.

22. The computer program product of claim 20, wherein said emitting and associating functions in said program instructions are instantiated within an object oriented programming environment and wherein said object oriented programming environment includes Common Object Request Broker Architecture component broker environment.

23. The computer program product of claim 20, wherein said object-oriented program components generated in said program instructions for emitting include Java Bean components.

24. The computer program product of claim 20, wherein said object data files utilized in program instructions for said emitting include interface definition language (IDL) files from a component broker environment.

25. The computer program product of claim 19, wherein said pre-defined class patterns in said program instructions include attributes, methods, and parameters of said program components.

26. The computer program product of claim 20, wherein said software routine created by said program instructions for said emitting, introspecting, and wiring is executed within a Common Object Request Broker Architecture (CORBA) environment comprising of a framework, proxy objects, and CORBA objects.

27. The computer program product of claim 26, further comprising program instructions for enabling said framework to communicate with said CORBA objects via said proxy objects providing user manipulation of data during execution of said software routine.