System and method for dynamic runtime partitioning of model-view-controller applications

• US 6,950,850 B1
• Filed: 10/31/2000
• Issued: 09/27/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 10/31/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Leff, Avraham, Rayfield, James Thomas
• Primary Examiner(s): Etienne, Ario
• Assistant Examiner(s): WON, MICHAEL YOUNG
• Application Number:
  US09/703,187
• Time in Patent Office: 1,792 Days
• Field of Search: 709/203, 709/328, 717/108, 717/130, 717/158, 717/164, 717/170, 717/175
• US Class Current: 709/203
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/36 Software reuse
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/451 Execution arrangements for user interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99943 Generating database or data structure, e.g. via user interface

Abstract

Methods and apparatus for dynamic runtime partitioning of network-based client/server applications using a Model-View-Controller pattern are provided. Such dynamic partitioning is accomplished by requiring that the application specify: (i) that access to the Model be done through an application programming interface (API) which allows the system runtime to dynamically allocate and access Model storage on the client and/or server; and (ii) that access to the View be done through an API which allows the system runtime to dynamically allocate and access View components on the client and/or server. This enables applications written and tested in such a manner (referred to herein as the “canonical form”) to execute in a non-distributed mode or in a dynamically partitioned mode in which client/server issues are not a factor. This greatly facilitates development of the application. Furthermore, by specifying View components in an abstract, or “platform-independent” API, the application can run on multiple client devices without modifying the application. All that is required is a platform-specific implementation of the View components'"'"' API. Client platforms for the application can thus include, for example, applets, HTML browsers, and PDAs.

Claims

1. A method for use in a client/server environment of generating a user-interactive application that is dynamically partitionable when deployed in the client/server environment, the method comprising the steps of:

specifying that access to a model associated with the user-interactive application be performed through an application programming interface permitting location-independent allocation and access of model storage on the client and the server; and

specifying that access to view generating logic associated with the user-interactive application be performed through an application programming interface permitting location-independent allocation and access of view elements on the client and the server;

wherein partitioning of the user-interactive application is changeable during execution.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of the application programming interface associated with the model and the application programming interface associated with the view generating logic comprises a process to create one or more elements.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of the application programming interface associated with the model and the application programming interface associated with the view generating logic comprises a process to query one or more elements.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of the application programming interface associated with the model and the application programming interface associated with the view generating logic comprises a process to delete one or more elements.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of the application programming interface associated with the model and the application programming interface associated with the view generating logic comprises a process to read at least one of a property and a state associated with one or more elements.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of the application programming interface associated with the model and the application programming interface associated with the view generating logic comprises a process to update at least one of a property and a state associated with one or more elements.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein one or more model elements associated with the user-interactive application are individually identifiable by respective associated keys.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more view elements associated with the user-interactive application are individually identifiable by respective associated keys.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the application programming interface associated with the model has a structured lifecycle associated therewith.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the application programming interface associated with the view generating logic has a structured lifecycle associated therewith.

11. Apparatus for deploying a user-interactive application in a client/server environment, the apparatus comprising:

a server having at least one processor operative to execute at least a portion of the user-interactive application, wherein the user-interactive application;

(i) specifies that access to a model associated with the user-interactive application be performed through an application programming interface permitting location-independent allocation and access of model storage on a client device and the server; and

(ii) specifies that access to view generating logic associated with the user-interactive application be performed through an application programming interface permitting location-independent allocation and access of view components on the client device and the server, wherein partitioning of the user-interactive application is changeable during execution.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the model and a controller logic associated with the user-interactive application execute on the server and at least one view generated by the view generating logic is rendered on the client device.

13. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein a controller logic associated with the user-interactive application executes on the client device.

14. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein a controller logic associated with the user-interactive application executes on the server.

15. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the client device comprises a web browser.

16. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the client device comprises a personal digital assistant.

17. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the view components encapsulate Java Swing components.

18. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein elements associated with the model encapsulate EntityBeans of an Enterprise JavaBeans architecture.

19. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the view generating logic renders a view in HyperText Markup Language.

20. Apparatus for deploying a user-interactive application in a client/server environment, the apparatus comprising:

a client device having at least one processor operative to execute at least a portion of the user-interactive application, wherein the user-interactive application;

(i) specifies that access to a model associated with the user-interactive application be performed through an application programming interface permitting location-independent allocation and access of model storage on the client device and the server; and

(ii) specifies that access to view generating logic associated with the user-interactive application be performed through an application programming interface permitting location-independent allocation and access of view components on the client device and the server;

wherein partitioning of the user-interactive application is changeable during execution.

21. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the model and a controller logic associated with the user-interactive application execute on the server and at least one view generated by the view generating logic is rendered on the client device.

22. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein a controller logic associated with the user-interactive application executes on the client device.

23. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein a controller logic associated with the user-interactive application executes on the server.

24. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the client device comprises a web browser.

25. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the client device comprises a personal digital assistant.

26. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the view components encapsulate Java Swing components.

27. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein elements associated with the model encapsulate EntityBeans of the Enterprise JavaBeans architecture.

28. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the view generating logic renders a view in HyperText Markup Language.

29. A network-based system:

a server having at least one processor responsive to a user-interactive application; and

a client device having at least one processor responsive to the user-interactive application;

wherein the user-interactive application;

(i) specifies that access to a model associated with the user-interactive application be performed through an application programming interface permitting location-independent allocation and access of model storage on the client device and the server; and

(ii) specifies that access to view generating logic associated with the user-interactive application be performed through an application programming interface permitting location-independent allocation and access of view components on the client device and the server; and

further wherein partitioning of the user-interactive application is changeable during execution.

30. An article of manufacture for use in a computing device environment of generating a user-interactive application that is dynamically partitionable when deployed, comprising a machine readable medium containing one or more programs which when executed implement the steps of:

specifying that access to a model associated with the user-interactive application be performed through an application programming interface permitting location-independent allocation and access of model storage in accordance with execution of the user-interactive application; and

specifying that access to view generating logic associated with the user-interactive application be performed through an application programming interface permitting location-independent allocation and access of view components in accordance with execution of the user-interactive application;

wherein partitioning of the user-interactive application is changeable during execution.

31. A method for use in a computing device environment of generating a user-interactive application that is dynamically partitionable when deployed, the method comprising the steps of:

providing an application programming interface such that access to a model associated with the user-interactive application is performed through the application programming interface, and wherein the application programming interface permits location-independent allocation and access of model storage in accordance with execution of the user-interactive application; and

providing an application programming interface such that access to view generating logic associated with the user-interactive application is performed through the application programming interface, and wherein the application programming interface permits location-independent allocation and access of view components in accordance with execution of the user-interactive application;

wherein partitioning of the user-interactive application is changeable during execution.