Retrieval of services by attribute

• US 6,701,428 B1
• Filed: 04/28/1997
• Issued: 03/02/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 05/05/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Computer Incorporated (Apple Inc.)
• Inventors: Harvey, John III, Daniels, Andrew Michael, Saunders, William James
• Primary Examiner(s): Lao, Sue
• Application Number:
  US08/848,543
• Time in Patent Office: 2,500 Days
• Field of Search: 395/682, 395/672, 395/712, 707/10, 707/536, 345/333, 713/1, 713/2, 713/100, 709/102, 709/328, 717/11, 704/8
• US Class Current: 713/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/454 Multi-language systems; Localisation; Internationalisation

Abstract

An automatic method and apparatus for providing services on a computer system. A set of services is established providing different functionality for the computer system. With each of the set of services an attribute is stored for identifying characteristics of the function of each of the set of services. Then, the first set of services can be retrieved by a first set of attributes which is specified irrespective of any locales which may be defined in the computer system. Thus, characteristics or attributes of most importance to a service may be used to describe it and used for retrieval of such services. The establishing of the first set of services includes building a structure which references each of the first set of services. Retrieving may include maintaining a reference to one of the services in the structure and iterating through the structure in order to retrieve a subsequent one of the services. An iterator may be created which is used to iterate though the database of services and provide the services to application or system programs.

Claims

1. An automatic method for providing locales on a computer system comprising:

establishing a set of localization services, said set of localization services specifying localization services required for said locales;

storing with each of said localization services an attribute for identifying locale-related characteristics of said each of said localization services, said attribute including;

a name which identifies a type of localization service; and

a value which uniquely identifies said each of said localization services among other of said localization services having said name;

defining a first locale which specifies a first set of attributes of a first set of said localization services; and

loading said first locale by retrieving said first set of localization services by said first set of attributes without specifying said first locale directly in the process of retrieving said first set of localization services.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said establishing of said first set of localization services includes building a structure which references each of said first set of localization services.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein said retrieving includes maintaining a reference to one of said localization services in said structure and iterating through said structure in order to retrieve a subsequent one of said localization services.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein said localization services include text services.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein said localization services include input services.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein said localization services include formatting services.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein said localization services include presentation services.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein said defining of said first locale includes storing a locale file on a non-volatile medium coupled to said computer system and wherein said method is performed at an operating system level.

9. The method of claim 1 further comprising generating a locale database from said first locale.

10. The method of claim 9 further comprising scanning said database in order to create a reference to certain of said localization services in order to retrieve said first set of localization services.

31. The method of claim 1, wherein said first set of attributes does not specify a locale.

32. The method of claim 1, wherein said first set of attributes does not include references to language or territory for a locale.

11. An automatic method for providing localization services on a computer system comprising:

establishing a first set of said localization services providing different functionality for said computer system;

storing with each of said first set of localization services a first set of attributes for identifying locale-related characteristics of the function of each of said first set of localization services, said first set of attributes not including references to language or territory for a locale; and

retrieving said first set of localization services by said first set of attributes without reference to language or territory for any locales associated with said first set of attributes.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein said establishing of said first set of localization services includes building a structure which references each of said first set of localization services.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein said retrieving includes maintaining a reference to one of said localization services in said structure and iterating through said structure in order to retrieve a subsequent one of said localization services.

14. The method of claim 11 wherein said localization services include text services.

15. The method of claim 11 wherein said localization services include input services.

16. The method of claim 11 wherein said localization services include formatting services.

17. The method of claim 11 wherein said localization services include presentation services.

18. The method of claim 11 further comprising scanning a database in order to create a reference to certain of said localization services in order to retrieve said first set of localization services.

19. An apparatus for providing localization services on a computer system comprising:

first means for establishing a first set of said localization services providing different functionality for said computer system;

second means for storing with each of said first set of localization services a first set of attributes for identifying locale-related characteristics of the function of each of said first set of localization services, said first set of attributes not including references to language or territory for a locale; and

third means for retrieving said first set of localization services by said first set of attributes without reference to language or territory of any locales associated with said first set of attributes.

20. The apparatus of claim 19 wherein said establishing of said first set of localization services includes building a structure which references each of said first set of localization services.

21. The apparatus of claim 20 wherein said retrieving includes maintaining a reference to one of said localization services in said structure and iterating through said structure in order to retrieve a subsequent one of said localization services.

22. The apparatus of claim 19 wherein said localization services include text services.

23. The apparatus of claim 19 wherein said localization services include input services.

24. The apparatus of claim 19 wherein said localization services include formatting services.

25. The apparatus of claim 19 wherein said localization services include presentation services.

26. The apparatus of claim 19 wherein said means for retrieving includes a means for scanning a locale database in order to create a reference to certain of said localization services in order to retrieve said first set of localization services.

27. A method to set up a computer system for operation according to standards of a particular country defined as a first locale, said method comprising:

storing a first set of localization services, said first set of localization services being associated with a first attribute;

storing a second set of localization services, said second set of localization services being associated with a second attribute, wherein said first and said second attributes identify locale-related characteristics of the function of said first and said second set of localization services respectively;

associating said first locale with said first and said second attributes; and

installing said first locale by retrieving, using said first and second attributes, said first set and said second set of localization services without specifying said first locale directly in the process of retrieving said first set and said second set of localization services.

33. The method of claim 27, wherein said first and second attributes do not specify a locale.

34. The method of claim 27, wherein said first and second attributes do not include references to language or territory for a locale.

28. A computer readable medium in a digital processing system, said computer readable medium storing a first set of localization services which is associated with a first attribute and storing an association of a first locale with said first attribute and said computer readable medium containing executable program instructions which, when executed in said digital processing system cause said system to perform a method comprising:

setting up said system to operate according to standards of said first locale by retrieving, using said first attribute, said first set of localization services without reference to language or territory of any locales associated with said first attribute, wherein said first attribute identifies locale-related characteristics of the first set of localization services and includes;

a name which identifies a type of localization service; and

a value which uniquely identifies each of said first set of localization services among other localization services having said name.

29. The computer readable medium as in claim 28, wherein said first attribute does not specify a locale.

30. The computer readable medium as in claim 28, wherein said first attribute does not include a reference to language or territory for a locale.