XGL and multi-platform user interface engine

• US 7,213,212 B2
• Filed: 06/03/2002
• Issued: 05/01/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 06/03/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Evans, Christopher A., Obla, Pritvinath, Bybee, Andrew G., Yeh, Leslie S., Neff, Chad C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lo; Weilun
• Assistant Examiner(s): THERIAULT, STEVEN B
• Application Number:
  US10/161,895
• Publication Number:
  US 20030222920A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,793 Days
• Field of Search: 715/705, 715/788, 715/809, 715/762, 715/763, 715/760, 719/309
• US Class Current: 715/760
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04895 Guidance during keyboard input operation, e.g. prompting
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/453 Help systems

Abstract

The present invention relates to a system and method for providing dynamic wizard interfaces to end users. In one embodiment, a client device retrieves a container encapsulating a number of packages utilizing a self-describing data format from a remote server. A wizard engine on the client device interprets the container and packages to produce a wizard interface. Preferably, the present invention utilizes a compatible data structure for receiving, saving, and transmitting captured information regarding the wizard interface.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for transforming a wizard container into a wizard interface, comprising:

extracting a XGL (experience generation language) package from the wizard container, said package containing a self-described object corresponding to a component of the wizard interface, said package being a live XGL package containing live data, said live XGL package being a XGL sub-package contained in another XGL package;

retrieving one or more live objects embodying said live data from a remote location;

transforming said self-described object into said corresponding component of the wizard interface according to an object template, independent of a type of computer platform performing the transformation; and

depicting a first page of said wizard interface.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said object is described using XML.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the XGL package is not retrieved if it has already been extracted for the wizard interface.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising laying out said component in the wizard interface according to a layout template.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the wizard container has an indication of a specific layout template;

retrieving said layout template and utilizing the retrieved layout template for laying out said components.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising interpreting an information data structure having an element matching said self-described object and modifying said self-described object to include data stored in said element.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein said data structure is retrieved from a remote location.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein said data structure is retrieved from a local location.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein said data structure is retrieved after a previous interaction with the wizard interface was cancelled.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein depicting a first page further comprises transmitting a formatted page to a second computing device.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein said second computing device depicts said formatted page with web client software.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving an indication that an additional XGL package is needed;

retrieving a second container with said additional XGL package.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein said indication is received when a page at said wizard interface is depicted containing a logical branch.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein said logical branch is cached.

15. A computer-readable storage medium having storable computer-executable instructions for transforming a wizard container into a wizard interface by:

extracting a XGL(experience generation language) package from the wizard container, said package containing a self-described object corresponding to a component of the wizard interface, said package being a live XGL package containing live data;

retrieving one or more live objects embodying said live data from a remote location;

transforming said self-described object into said corresponding component of the wizard interface according to an object template, independent of a type of computer platform performing the transformation; and

depicting a first page of said wizard interface.

16. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 15, wherein the XGL package is not retrieved if it has already been extracted for the wizard interface.

17. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 15, further comprising laying out said component in the wizard interface according to a layout template.

18. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 15, further comprising interpreting an information data structure having an element matching said self-described object and modifying said self-described object to include data stored in said element.

19. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 15, wherein depicting a first page further comprises transmitting a formatted page to a second computing device.

20. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 15, further comprising receiving an indication that an additional XGL package is needed;

retrieving a second container with said additional XGL package.

21. A computing device having a processor, a memory and an operating environment, the computing device operable to transform a wizard container into a wizard interface by:

extracting one or more XGL (experience generation language) packages from the wizard container, each XGL package containing one or more self-described objects corresponding to components of the wizard interface, said one or more packages including a live XGL package containing live data;

retrieving one or more live objects embodying said live data from a remote location;

transforming said self-described objects into said corresponding components of the wizard interface according to an object template, independent of a type of computer platform performing the transformation; and

depicting a first page of said wizard interface.

22. A computing device in communication with a server device and a client device, the computing device operative to:

receiving a wizard container;

extracting one or more XGL (experience generation language) packages from said wizard container, each XGL package containing one or more self-described objects corresponding to components of a wizard interface said one or more packages including a live XGL package containing live data;

retrieving one or more live objects embodying said live data from a remote location;

transforming said self-described objects into representations of said components of said wizard interface, independent of a type of computer platform performing the transformation;

laying out said representations of said components into a formatted page; and

transmitting said formatted page to said client device.