Event model using fixed-format text strings to express event actions

• US 6,772,408 B1
• Filed: 11/22/2000
• Issued: 08/03/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 11/22/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Oracle International Corporation (Oracle Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Hyperion Solutions Corporation (Oracle Corporation)
• Inventors: Deb Nath, Rituraj, Velonis, John
• Primary Examiner(s): Das, Chameli C.
• Application Number:
  US09/718,435
• Time in Patent Office: 1,350 Days
• Field of Search: 717/100, 717/101, 717/102, 717/103, 717/106, 717/109, 717/108, 709/318, 709/201, 709/205, 709/223, 709/100, 709/202, 709/224, 707/103.R, 345/763, 715/507
• US Class Current: 717/100
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/542 Event management; Broadcasting; Multicasting; Notifications

Abstract

The present invention relates to computer software for initiating actions in response to user input, e.g., on an Internet web page. More particularly, the invention provides an improved event model comprising software components (designated “Fidgets” herein) which use fixed-format text strings to express event actions in a content delivery subsystem. In particular, the present invention provides a method for setting the event target property for a user event without the need to recompile software.

Claims

1. A method of handling computer related user events using software components, comprising the steps of:

receiving at a server a user request for a first server page (SP), said SP containing a source software component which identifies an event target property;

rendering the source software component at the server;

outputting the rendered source software component to a user'"'"'s browser for display as part of a web page, said rendered source software component identifying a second SP having one or more target software components;

providing for the selection of the second SP;

receiving the selection at the server;

searching request parameters of the source software component to locate event target parameters of the source software component at the second SP;

executing event target parameters of the source software component at the second SP located during said searching step by setting an event property or invoking a method for each target software component of the second SP based on the event target parameters of the source software component; and

rendering the one or more target software components at the server for output to a user'"'"'s browser;

wherein the event target property of the source software component corresponds to a user event, said event target property being expressed using text strings.

2. A method in accordance with claim 1, wherein the text strings comprise fixed-format text strings.

3. A method in accordance with claim 1, wherein:

the source software component is rendered as hypertext markup language (HTML); and

the user event comprises an HTML link.

5. A method in accordance with claim 1, wherein:

the source software component is rendered as an applet; and

the user event comprises one of (i) an HTTP request for the second SP, or (ii) a call to a target software component on the same page, which target software component is rendered as one of scripting language code or another applet.

6. A method in accordance with claim 1, wherein:

the source software component is rendered as XML; and

the user event comprises an XML Linking Language (Xlink) link to the second SP.

7. A method in accordance with claim 1, wherein the first SP and the second SP comprise one of Server Pages, servlets, other Hypertext transfer Protocol (HTTP) server plugins, or Common Gateway Interface (CGI) programs.

8. A method in accordance with claim 1, wherein the user events are implemented as events of reusable software components.

4. A method in accordance with claim wherein:

the source software component is rendered as scripting language code; and

the user event comprises one of (i) an HTTP request for the second SP, or (ii) a call to a target software component on the same page, which target software component is rendered as one of scripting language code or an applet.

9. A computer readable medium, having thereon computer program code means for handling computer related user events using software components, including:

receiving at a server a user request for a first server page (SP), said SP containing a source software component which identifies an event target property;

rendering the source software component at the server;

outputting the rendered source software component to a user'"'"'s browser for display as part of a web page, said rendered source software component identifying a second SP having one or more target software components;

providing for the selection of the second SP;

receiving the selection at the server;

searching request parameters of the source software component to locate event target parameters of the source software component at the second SP;

executing event target parameters of the source software component at the second SP located during said searching step by setting an event property or invoking a method for each target software component of the second SP based on the event target parameters of the source software component; and

rendering the one or more target software components at the server for output to a user'"'"'s browser;

wherein the event target property of the source software component corresponds to a user event, said event target property being expressed using text strings.

10. A medium in accordance with claim 9, wherein the text strings comprise fixed-format text strings.

11. A medium in accordance with claim 9, wherein:

the source software component is rendered as hypertext markup language (HTML); and

the user event comprises an HTML link.

12. A medium in accordance with claim 9, wherein:

the source software component is rendered as scripting language code; and

the user event comprises one of (i) an HTTP request for the second SP, or (ii) a call to a target software component on the same page, which target software component is rendered as one of scripting language code or an applet.

13. A medium in accordance with claim 9, wherein:

the source software component is rendered as an applet; and

the user event comprises one of (i) an HTTP request for the second SP, or (ii) a call to a target software component on the same page, which target software component is rendered as one of scripting language code or another applet.

14. A medium in accordance with claim 9, wherein:

the source software component is rendered as XML; and

the user event comprises an XML Linking Language (Xlink) link to the second SP.

15. A medium in accordance with claim 9, wherein the first SP and the second SP comprise one of Server Pages, servlets, other Hypertext transfer Protocol (HTTP) server plugins, or Common Gateway Interface (CGI) programs.

16. A medium in accordance with claim 9, wherein the user events are implemented as events of reusable software components.