Framework for objects having authorable behaviors and appearances

• US 6,999,102 B2
• Filed: 08/19/2002
• Issued: 02/14/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 06/01/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Autodesk, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Autodesk, Inc.
• Inventors: Felser, Lawrence David, Arsenault, David Wayne
• Primary Examiner(s): RAHMJOO, MANUCHER
• Assistant Examiner(s): Blackman, Anthony J
• Application Number:
  US10/223,179
• Publication Number:
  US 20020191001A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,275 Days
• Field of Search: 345/619, 345/629, 345/964, 345/441, 707/100, 707/200, 707/103.R, 707/506, 717/104, 717/108, 715/515
• US Class Current: 345/619
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/4488 Object-oriented
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/451 Execution arrangements for user interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/542 Event management; Broadcasting; Multicasting; Notifications
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99944 Object-oriented database structure
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 715/964 CAD or CAM, e.g. interactive design tools

Abstract

A framework is described that serves as an expression evaluator and notification manager for software objects, and can traverse individual object models to use parts of one model to define another. An object model (data model) is a map of an object'"'"'s properties and methods, and the framework of the present invention binds to the properties and methods and intercepts access to the properties for storage and evaluation of variables within the definitions of the properties. Binding the framework to the object accesses and uses the type info for the object to determine the properties of the object. In addition, the framework provides a method for the object author to override and specialize the properties to describe extensions of the type information.

Claims

1. A method of maintaining one or more properties of one or more software objects comprising:

(a) binding a container object for each software object, wherein;

(i) the container object acts as an interface to one or more properties of the bound software object;

(ii) the container object controls and intercepts access to the one or more properties of the bound software object; and

(iii) the bound software object is a shape object in a computer drawing program, wherein the one or more properties of the shape object define a geometry;

(b) associating a software program of the container object with one of the properties of the bound software object, wherein the software program comprises an expression or formula that utilizes one or more variables to produce a value for the associated property; and

(c) upon interception access evaluating the software program to produce the value for the associated property.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the software program is only evaluated when required by a computer program.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising modifying the software program;

and

evaluating the modified software program to produce a new value for the associated property.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising automatically maintaining a system of notifications to determine when to evaluate the software program to produce the value.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising maintaining a table of global symbols that is utilized by the software program to produce the value.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising persistently maintaining the one or more properties.

18. The method of claim 1, wherein the container object intercepts access to the one or more properties of the bound software object.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein a read access is intercepted to evaluate any relationships assigned to the one or more properties.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein a write access is intercepted to notify any of the one or more properties which are related to the property that is being accessed.

7. A system for maintaining one or more properties of one or more software objects, the system comprising:

(a) one or more software objects in a computer drawing program, wherein the one or more software objects comprise shape objects having one or more properties, wherein the one or more properties define a geometry;

(b) a container object bound to each software object, the container object comprising a software program associated with as least one of the properties of the bound software object, wherein the container object is configured to;

(i) act as an interface to the one or more properties of the bound software object;

(ii) control and intercept access to the one or more properties of the bound software object; and

(iii) evaluate the software program upon intercepting access, to produce a value for the associated property, wherein the software program comprises an expression or formula that utilizes one or more variables to produce the value.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the software program is only evaluated when required by a computer program.

9. The system of claim 7, wherein the container object is further configured to:

modify the software program; and

evaluate the modified software program to produce a new value for the associated property.

10. The system of claim 7, wherein the container object is further configured to automatically maintain a system notifications to determine when to evaluate the software program to produce the value.

11. The system of claim 7, further comprising a table of global symbols that is utilized by the software program to produce the value.

12. The system of claim 7, wherein the container object is further configured to persistently maintain the one or more properties.

21. The system of claim 7, wherein the container object intercepts access to the one or more properties of the bound software object.

22. The system of claim 21, wherein a read access is intercepted to evaluate any relationship assigned to the one or more properties.

23. The system of claim 21, wherein a write access is intercepted to notify any of the one or more properties which are related to the property that is being accessed.

13. An article of manufacture comprising a program storage medium reachable by a computer and embodying one or more instructions executable by the computer to perform a method for maintaining one or more properties of one or more software objects in a computer system, the method comprising:

(a) binding a container object for each software object, wherein;

(i) the container object acts as an interface to one or more properties of the bound software object;

(ii) the container object control access to the one or more properties of the bound software object, and

(iii) the bound software object is a shape object in a computer drawing program, wherein the one or more properties of the shape object define a geometry;

(b) associating a software program of the container object with one of the properties of the bound software object; and

(c) upon intercepting access, evaluating the software program to produce a value for the associated property, wherein the software program comprises an expression or formula that utilizes one or more variables to produce the value.

14. The article of manufacture of claim 13, wherein the method further comprises:

modifying the software program; and

evaluating the modified software program to produce a new value for the associated property.

15. The article of manufacture of claim 13, wherein the method further comprises automatically maintaining a system of notifications to determine when to evaluate the software program to produce the value.

16. The article of manufacture of claim 13, wherein the method further comprises maintaining a table of global symbols that is utilized by the software program to produce the value.

17. The article of manufacture of claim 13, wherein the method further comprises persistently maintaining the one or more properties.

24. The article of manufacture of claim 13, wherein the container object intercepts access to the one or more properties of the bound software object.

25. The article of manufacture of claim 24, wherein a read access is intercepted to evaluate any relationships assigned to the one or more properties.

26. The article of manufacture of claim 24, wherein a write access is intercepted co notify any of the one or more properties which are related to the property that is being accessed.