Context-sensitive attributes
First Claim
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1. A mechanism in a computer system for enabling use of a context-sensitive attribute by a plurality of applications, said mechanism adapted to:
- create a first attribute value for the context-sensitive attribute, wherein the context-sensitive attribute is shared by a plurality of applications;
create a first context value associated with the first attribute value for defining the applicability of the first attribute value, wherein the first context value is represented by a first identifier that identifies an application that originated the first context value and an application specific value;
create a second attribute value for the context-sensitive attribute;
create a second context value associated with the second attribute value for defining the applicability of the second attribute value, wherein the second context value is represented by a second identifier that identifies an application that originated the second context value and an application specific value; and
retrieve one of the first attribute value and the second attribute value based on receiving one of the first identifier and the second identifier.
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Abstract
A mechanism to enable context-sensitive attributes which comprise an attribute value and a context value defining the applicability of the attribute value in a computer application. The mechanism is adapted to manipulate the context-sensitive attributes, for example to facilitate creation of attribute values with associated context values, retrieve attribute values associated with a specific context value and search based on attribute values within a context value.
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Citations
27 Claims
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1. A mechanism in a computer system for enabling use of a context-sensitive attribute by a plurality of applications, said mechanism adapted to:
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create a first attribute value for the context-sensitive attribute, wherein the context-sensitive attribute is shared by a plurality of applications; create a first context value associated with the first attribute value for defining the applicability of the first attribute value, wherein the first context value is represented by a first identifier that identifies an application that originated the first context value and an application specific value; create a second attribute value for the context-sensitive attribute; create a second context value associated with the second attribute value for defining the applicability of the second attribute value, wherein the second context value is represented by a second identifier that identifies an application that originated the second context value and an application specific value; and retrieve one of the first attribute value and the second attribute value based on receiving one of the first identifier and the second identifier. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A computer system comprising:
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a processor; memory; and an attribute manager adapted to enable the use of a context-sensitive attribute shared by a plurality of applications, said attribute manager comprising a mechanism for use by said plurality of applications for manipulating said context-sensitive attribute comprising, for each of said plurality of applications, an attribute value and a context value associated with the attribute value for defining the applicability of the attribute value, wherein the context value is represented by an identifier that identifies an application that originated the context value and an application specific value, and wherein the attribute manager is adapted to retrieve the attribute value for a particular application using the identifier that identifies the particular application that originated the context value. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A method of providing a context-sensitive attribute for use by a plurality of applications comprising:
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for each of the plurality of applications, storing an attribute value; and storing a context value, said context value associated with the attribute value for defining the applicability of the attribute value, wherein the context value is represented by an identifier that identifies an application that originated the context value and an application specific value; and providing a mechanism for manipulating each attribute value and each context value, wherein manipulating includes retrieving a particular attribute value using a identifier that identifies a particular application that originated a context value. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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Specification