System and method for applying development patterns for component based applications

• US 7,657,868 B2
• Filed: 03/14/2005
• Issued: 02/02/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 03/14/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Inventors: Mateescu, Daniel, Shenfield, Michael, Goring, Bryan R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Zhen; Wei Y
• Assistant Examiner(s): Rampuria; Satish
• Application Number:
  US11/078,430
• Publication Number:
  US 20060206864A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,786 Days
• Field of Search: 717107-109, 717/116, 717121-122, 715/763, 715/764
• US Class Current: 717/107
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/20 Software design

Abstract

A computing device and method for coordinating the development of a client application including application components comprising one or more of at least one of a data component, a message component or a screen component, having corresponding component definitions, or a workflow component comprising a series of instructions. A first development pattern module configured for interaction with a development environment is provided by a computer user interface, the first development pattern module configured for selecting a first pattern from a plurality of patterns based on an application component type central to the client application, the developing definitions of at least one of the application components through interaction with a data model of the development environment providing a persistent state of the application components . . . the first pattern is selected from the group consisting of: a pattern for generating a suitable application based on an available backend data source messaging description; a pattern for developing the suitable application based on an available backend data source messaging description such that the entire application is developed including data components and screen components; a pattern for developing the application based on an existing database schema; a pattern for developing a standard set of data components that model a particular business domain for the application, a screen pattern for coordinating the development of a screen component as the first component; a message pattern for coordinating a development of a message component as the first component; and a script pattern for coordinating a development of a workflow component as a second component as recited in a manner in the independent claims 1 and 21.

Any comments considered necessary by applicant must be submitted no later than the payment of the issue fee and, to avoid processing delays, should preferably accompany the issue fee. Such submissions should be clearly labeled “Comments on Statement of Reasons for Allowance.”

Claims

1. A computing device for coordinating a development of a client application including application components comprising one or more of at least one of a data component, a message component or a screen component, having corresponding component definitions, or a workflow component comprising a series of instructions, the computing device comprising memory for storing instructions and a processor for executing the instructions such that when the instructions are executed the computing device provides:

a first development pattern module configured for interaction with a development environment provided by a computer user interface, the first development pattern module configured for selecting a first pattern from a plurality of patterns based on an application component type central to the client application, the first development pattern module for guiding a user interface with a plurality of predefined steps to coordinate a development of the application components through user input events via the user interface in accordance with the first pattern; and

at least one first module corresponding to application component types associated with the first pattern, the at least one first module for developing definitions of at least one of the application components through interaction with a data model of the development environment providing a persistent state of the application components, the operation of the first module being coordinated using the plurality of predefined steps communicated through the user interface;

wherein the developed definitions of the at least one of the application components are subsequently coded and assembled as the client application;

wherein the first pattern is selected from the group consisting of;

a pattern for generating a suitable application based on an available backend data source messaging description;

a pattern for developing the suitable application based on an available backend data source messaging description such that the entire application is developed including data components and screen components;

a pattern for developing the application based on an existing database schema;

a pattern for developing a standard set of data components that model a particular business domain for the application, a screen pattern for coordinating the development of a screen component as the first component;

a message pattern for coordinating a development of a message component as the first component; and

a script pattern for coordinating a development of a workflow component as a second component.

2. The computing device of claim 1, wherein the first development pattern module is further configured for selecting a second pattern for guiding a user of the user interface with a portion of the plurality of predefined steps to coordinate the development of the application components through user input events via the user interface, the second pattern chosen from the plurality of patterns based on a further application component type central to the client application.

3. The computing device of claim 2, wherein the first pattern is a primary pattern configured for either directly selecting the module or for indirectly selecting the module through cooperation with the second pattern as a secondary pattern.

4. The computing device of claim 2, wherein the second pattern is a secondary pattern configured for returning coordination of the development of the application components to the first pattern being a primary pattern.

5. The computing device of claim 4, wherein the primary pattern employs the plurality of predefined steps to aid in selecting a second module corresponding to the selected component type different from that of the first module.

6. The computing device of claim 4, wherein the secondary pattern returns the coordination of the development of the application components to another primary pattern different to the primary pattern.

7. The computing device of claim 2, wherein the second pattern is selected from the group consisting of:

a screen pattern for coordinating a development of a screen component as the first component;

a message pattern for coordinating a development of a message component as the first component; and

a script pattern for coordinating a development of a workflow component as the second component.

8. The computing device of claim 7, wherein a data component as the first component is developed through applying the second pattern selected from the group consisting of:

a screen pattern and a message pattern.

9. The computing device of claim 2, wherein the second pattern is a validator pattern for confirming the data model representation of application messages is consistent with the datasource presentation of messaging operations.

10. The computing device of claim 9, wherein the validator pattern coordinates the operation of the module as a validator module having functionality selected from the group consisting of:

workflow integrity of a workflow component;

consistency of parameters and field level mappings of the components;

consistency of screen control mappings of a screen component;

consistency of screen refresh messages of a screen component;

confirming a presence of message duplications in a message component;

confirming a presence of data duplications in components; and

validating a data model representation of datasource messaging relationships.

11. The computing device of claim 2 further comprising a third pattern module for guiding a developer in selection of the first pattern being best suited to a current application development activity, the first pattern selected from the group consisting of:

a pattern for generating the suitable application based on an available backend datasouce messaging description, a pattern for developing the suitable application based on an available backend datasouce messaging description such that the entire application is developed including data components and screen components;

a pattern for developing the application based on an existing database schema; and

a pattern for developing a standard set of data components that model a particular business domain for the application.

12. The computing device of claim 1, wherein a data component as the first component is developed through applying a first pattern selected from the group consisting of:

a screen pattern and a message pattern.

13. The computing device of claim 1, wherein the at least one first module further comprises a command configured for accessing and changing the state of the data model.

14. The computing device of claim 13, wherein the at least one first module is configured for being affected by an event notification from the data model in response to the command.

15. The computing device of claim 1, wherein the at least one first module is selected from the group consisting of:

editors and viewers.

16. The computing device of claim 15, wherein the at least one first module is selected from the group consisting of:

a screen module;

a data module;

a message module;

a workflow module;

a message and data relationship module;

a backend visualizer module;

a localization module;

a script editor module;

a testing module, a data and screen relationship module; and

a navigation module.

17. The computing device of claim 1, wherein the components are selected from the group consisting of:

data components for defining data entities used by the application;

screen components for defining the appearance and behavior of the application as displayed on the computing device;

message components for defining a format of messages used by the application to communicate with the datasource; and

workflow components for defining application processing that occurs when an action is to be performed.

18. The computing device of claim 1, wherein the data model contains model constituents selected from the group consisting of:

Data Component Definitions;

Global Variable Definitions;

Message Component Definitions;

Resource Definitions;

Screen Component Definitions;

Scripts;

Style Definitions; and

Mapping Descriptors of the data source.

19. A computer readable medium storing computer instructions, which when executed by a processor on a computing device cause the computing device to coordinate a development of a client application including application components comprising one or more of at least one of a data component, a message component or a screen component, having corresponding component definitions, or a workflow component comprising a series of instructions, the computer instructions for implementing the steps of:

interacting with a development environment provided by a user interface;

selecting a first pattern from a plurality of patterns based on an application component type central to the client application;

providing guidance on the user interface through the first pattern with a plurality of predefined steps in accordance with the first pattern to coordinate the development of a application components through user input events via the user interface;

selecting a first module corresponding to application component types associated with the first pattern; and

developing by the first module definitions of at least one of the application components through interaction with a data model of a development environment providing a persistent state of the application components, the operation of the first module being coordinated using the plurality of the predefined steps;

wherein the developed definitions of the at least one of the application components are subsequently coded and assembled as the client application;

wherein the first pattern is selected from the group consisting of;

a pattern for generating a suitable application based on an available backend data source messaging description;

a pattern for developing the suitable application based on an available backend data source messaging description such that the entire application is developed including data components and screen components;

a pattern for developing the application based on an existing database schema;

a pattern for developing a standard set of data components that model a particular business domain for the application, a screen pattern for coordinating the development of a screen component as the first component;

a message pattern for coordinating a development of a message component as the first component; and

a script pattern for coordinating a development of a workflow component as a second component.

20. The computer readable medium of claim 19, wherein the first development pattern module is further configured for selecting a second pattern for guiding a user of the user interface with a portion of the plurality of predefined steps to coordinate the development of the application components through user input events via the user interface, the second pattern chosen from the plurality of patterns based on a further application component type central to the client application.

21. The computer readable medium of claim 20, further comprising computer instructions for implementing the step of either selecting directly the first module by the first pattern as a primary pattern or selecting indirectly the module through cooperation with the second pattern as a secondary pattern.

22. The computer readable medium of claim 20, further comprising computer instructions for implementing the step of returning by the second pattern being a secondary pattern coordination of the development of the application components to the first pattern being a primary pattern.

23. The computer readable medium of claim 22, wherein the primary pattern employs the plurality of predefined steps to aid in selecting a second module corresponding to the selected component type different from that of the first module.

24. The computer readable medium of claim 22, wherein the secondary pattern returns the coordination of the development of the application components to another primary pattern different to the primary pattern.

25. The computer readable medium of claim 20, wherein the second pattern is selected from the group consisting of:

a screen pattern for coordinating a development of a screen component as the first component;

a message pattern for coordinating a development of a message component as the first component; and

a script pattern for coordinating a development of a workflow component as the second component.

26. The computer readable medium of claim 25, wherein a data component as the first component is developed through applying the second pattern selected from the group consisting of:

a screen pattern and a message pattern.

27. The computer readable medium of claim 26 further comprising computer instructions for implementing the step of generating a command by the at least one first module for accessing and changing the state of the data model.

28. The computer readable medium of claim 27 further comprising computer instructions for implementing the step of affecting the at least one first module by an event notification from the data model in response to the command.

29. The computer readable medium of claim 20, wherein the second pattern is a validator pattern for confirming the data model representation of application messages is consistent with the datasource presentation of messaging operations.

30. The computer readable medium of claim 29, wherein the validator pattern coordinates the operation of the module as a validator module having functionality selected from the group consisting of:

workflow integrity of a workflow component;

consistency of parameters and field level mappings of the components;

consistency of screen control mappings of a screen component;

consistency of screen refresh messages of a screen component;

confirming a presence of message duplications in a message component;

confirming a presence of data duplications in components; and

validating a data model representation of datasource messaging relationships.

31. The computer readable medium of claim 20 further comprising computer instructions for implementing the step of guiding a developer by a third pattern in selection of the first pattern being best suited to the current application development activity, the first pattern selected from the group consisting of:

a pattern for generating the suitable application based on an available backend datasource messaging description, a pattern for developing the suitable application based on an available backend datasource messaging description such that the entire application is developed including data components and screen components;

a pattern for developing the application based on an existing database schema; and

a pattern for developing a standard set of data components that model a particular business domain for the application.

32. The computer readable medium of claim 19, wherein a data component as the first component is developed through applying a first pattern selected from the group consisting of:

a screen pattern and a message pattern.

33. The computer readable medium of claim 19, wherein the at least one first module is selected from the group consisting of:

editors and viewers.

34. The computer readable medium of claim 33, wherein the at least one first module is selected from the group consisting of:

a screen module;

a data module;

a message module;

a workflow module;

a message and data relationship module;

a backend visualizer module;

a localization module;

a script editor module;

a testing module, a data and screen relationship module; and

a navigation module.

35. The computer readable medium of claim 19, wherein the components are selected from the group consisting of:

data components for defining data entities used by the application;

screen components for defining the appearance and behavior of the application as displayed on the computing device;

message components for defining a format of messages used by the application to communicate with the datasource; and

workflow components for defining application processing that occurs when an action is to be performed.

36. The computer readable medium of claim 19, wherein the data model contains model constituents selected from the group consisting of:

Data Component Definitions;

Global Variable Definitions;

Message Component Definitions;

Resource Definitions;

Screen Component Definitions;

Scripts;

Style Definitions; and

Mapping Descriptors of the data source.