Method of controlling applications

• US 7,406,693 B1
• Filed: 09/10/2001
• Issued: 07/29/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 09/10/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: NCR Voyix Corporation
• Original Assignee: NCR Corporation (NCR Voyix Corporation)
• Inventors: Goodwin, John C. III
• Primary Examiner(s): Zhen; Li B
• Application Number:
  US09/950,116
• Time in Patent Office: 2,514 Days
• Field of Search: 719/328, 719/330, 719/310, 719/313, 709/203, 709/218, 707/1
• US Class Current: 719/313
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2209/544 Remote
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/54 Interprogram communication
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management

Abstract

A method controlling an application from a web page. The method includes the steps of recording activation of an interface button associated with the application on the web page, determining whether the application is already active, and calling the application if the application is not already active. The method further includes the step of passing command line parameters to the application if the application is a non-web application.

Claims

1. A method of controlling an application by a web kiosk comprising the steps of:

executing a transaction application for recording purchases of items over a network from the web kiosk by a user, including displaying a transaction web page by the web kiosk;

executing a control menu web application in the transaction web page including interface buttons associated with a resident first web application and a resident second non-web application by the web kiosk;

recording user activation of a first interface button of the control menu web application associated with the first web application by the web kiosk;

determining whether the first web application is already active by the web kiosk;

calling the first web application if the first web application is not already active by the web kiosk;

executing the first web application by the web kiosk regardless of whether another application is already active;

recording user activation of a second interface button of the control menu web application associated with the second non-web application by the web kiosk;

determining whether the second non-web application is already active by the web kiosk;

calling the second non-web application if the second non-web application is not already active by the web kiosk;

passing a command line parameter to the second non-web application that returns control to the control menu web application by the web kiosk;

executing the second non-web application by the web kiosk regardless of whether the first web application is already active; and

returning control to the control menu by the web kiosk following execution of the first web application and the second non-web application.

2. A web kiosk comprising:

a touch screen;

a storage medium storing executable instructions for controlling an application;

a processor that executes the instructions to perform the steps of;

executing a transaction application for recording purchases of items by a user over a network, including displaying a transaction web page;

executing a control menu web application in the transaction web page including interface buttons associated with a resident first web application and a resident second non-web application;

recording user activation of a first interface button of the control menu web application associated with the first web application;

determining whether the first web application is already active;

calling the first web application if the first web application is not already active;

executing the first web application regardless of whether another application is already active;

recording user activation of a second interface button of the control menu web application associated with the second non-web application;

determining whether the second non-web application is already active;

calling the second non-web application if the second non-web application is not already active;

passing a command line parameter to the second non-web application that returns control to the control menu web application;

executing the second non-web application regardless of whether the first web application is already active; and

returning control to the control menu following execution of the first web application and the second non-web application.