Method and apparatus for implementing dynamic function groups in a data processing system

• US 7,657,870 B2
• Filed: 02/25/2005
• Issued: 02/02/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 02/25/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lenovo International Limited (Lenovo Group Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Blancett, Brad Lee, Holt, Derek Francis, Sholl, Jason Ashley, Chen, Jialin C., Lanuti, John David, Bhadriraju, Vijay Kumar, Bridgham, Charles Dyer, Elder, Michael Damein, Berg, Daniel Christopher, Schacher, Ritchard Leonard
• Primary Examiner(s): Zhen; Wei Y
• Assistant Examiner(s): Wu; Junchun
• Application Number:
  US11/065,825
• Publication Number:
  US 20060195818A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,803 Days
• Field of Search: 705 78- 79, 717/120
• US Class Current: 717/120
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/10 Requirements analysis; Specification techniques

Abstract

A method, an apparatus, and computer instructions are provided for implementing dynamic function groups in a data processing system. An extensible framework is provided, which provides function groups to amalgamate extended sets of functionality by either vendor or purpose and allows the function groups to be dynamically enabled or disabled within a software application. A user may specify which extended sets of functionality are relevant and when to enable them. With the use of function groups, third party vendors may integrate added functionalities with existing ones in a software application, and indicate when these functionalities should be available to end-users without the need to duplicate code. The invention allows for the construction of other extensible frameworks including wizards, editors, and operations may also be extended with the use of function groups.

Claims

1. A computer implemented method for designating whether at least one functionality of at least one plug-in program is enabled with respect to an extendable software application to which the at least one plug-in program is associated, the computer implemented method comprising:

detecting a definition of a set of functionalities in a function group provided by a vendor to an extendable software application;

determining whether the at least one functionality is associated with a project targeted to a particular server environment in which a user is working using the definition of the set of functionalities, wherein the at least one functionality is part of a plug-in program for an extendable software application, wherein the plug-in program provides one or more additional services to the user using the extendable software application, and wherein the extendable software application is a software application that accepts plug-ins developed by third-party vendors;

responsive to the at least one functionality being associated with the project, enabling the at least one functionality with respect to the extendable software application; and

responsive to a change in a state of the project, disabling the at least one functionality with respect to the extendable software application.

2. The computer implemented method of claim 1 wherein the at least one functionality is associated with the project, wherein the at least one functionality is part of a plurality of functionalities, and wherein the computer implemented method further comprises:

responsive to the at least one functionality being associated with the project, enabling all project functionalities within the plurality of functionalities, wherein the project functionalities comprises those functionalities within the plurality of functionalities that are associated with a particular project.

3. The computer implemented method of claim 2 further comprising:

disabling all non-project functionalities within the plurality of functionalities, wherein the non-project functionalities comprises those functionalities within the plurality of functionalities that are not associated with the particular project.

4. The computer implemented method of claim 2 further comprising:

receiving a designation of a new project;

responsive to receiving, disabling the project functionalities; and

responsive to receiving, enabling all new project functionalities within the plurality of functionalities, wherein the new project functionalities comprises those functionalities within the plurality of functionalities that are associated with the new project.

5. A computer implemented method for designating which of a plurality of sets of functionalities of a plurality of plug-in programs are enabled with respect to an extendable software application to which the plurality of plug-in programs are associated, the computer implemented method comprising:

detecting a definition of a set of functionalities in a function group provided by a vendor to an extendable software application;

determining whether the extendable software application is being used with respect to a project targeted to a particular server environment in which a user is working using the definition of the set of functionalities, wherein the at least one functionality is part of a plug-in program for an extendable software application, wherein the plug-in program provides one or more additional services to the user using the extendable software application, and wherein the extendable software application is a software application that accepts plug-ins developed by third-party vendors;

responsive to the extendable software application being used with respect to the project, enabling at least one set of functionalities, within the plurality of sets of functionalities, with respect to the extendable software application, wherein the at least one set of functionalities is associated with the project; and

disabling all non-project functionalities within the plurality of sets of functionalities, wherein the non-project functionalities comprises those functionalities within the plurality of sets of functionalities that are not associated with the project.

6. The computer implemented method of claim 5 wherein enabling at least one set of functionalities comprises enabling a first set of functionalities associated with a first plug-in program and a second set of functionalities associated with a second plug-in program, wherein the first plug-in program and the second plug-in program are different.

7. The computer implemented method of claim 5 further comprising:

receiving a designation of a new project;

responsive to receiving, disabling the at least one set of functionalities; and

responsive to receiving, enabling all new sets of project functionalities within the plurality of sets of functionalities, wherein the new sets of project functionalities comprise those functionalities within the plurality of sets of functionalities that are associated with the new project.

8. A recordable-type medium storing a computer program for designating whether the at least one functionality of at least one plug-in program is enabled with respect to an extendable software application to which the at least one plug-in program is associated, the computer program product comprising:

instructions for detecting a definition of a set of functionalities in a function group provided by a vendor to an extendable software application;

instructions for determining whether the at least one functionality is associated with a project targeted to a particular server environment in which a user is working using the definition of the set of functionalities, wherein the at least one functionality is part of a plug-in program for an extendable software application, wherein the plug-in program provides one or more additional services to the user using the extendable software application, and wherein the extendable software application is a software application that accepts plug-ins developed by third-party vendors;

instructions for, responsive to the at least one functionality being associated with the project, enabling the at least one functionality with respect to the extendable software application; and

instructions for, responsive to a change in a state of the project, disabling the at least one functionality with respect to the extendable software application.

9. A recordable-type medium storing a computer program for designating which of a plurality of sets of functionalities of a plurality of plug-in programs are enabled with respect to an extendable software application to which the plurality of plug-in programs are associated, the computer program product comprising:

instructions for detecting a definition of a set of functionalities in a function group provided by a vendor to an extendable software application;

instructions for determining whether the extendable software application is being used with respect to a project targeted to a particular server environment in which a user is working using the definition of the set of functionalities, wherein the at least one functionality is part of a plug-in program for an extendable software application, wherein the plug-in program provides one or more additional services to the user using the extendable software application, and wherein the extendable software application is a software application that accepts plug-ins developed by third-party vendors;

instructions for, responsive to the extendable software application being used with respect to the project, enabling at least one set of functionalities, within the plurality of sets of functionalities, with respect to the extendable software application, wherein the at least one set of functionalities is associated with the project; and

instructions for disabling all non-project functionalities within the plurality of sets of functionalities, wherein the non-project functionalities comprises those functionalities within the plurality of sets of functionalities that are not associated with the project.

10. The recordable-type medium of claim 9 further comprising:

instructions for receiving a designation of a new project;

instructions for, responsive to receiving, disabling those functionalities of the at least one set of functionalities that are not associated with the new project; and

instructions for, responsive to receiving, enabling all new sets of project functionalities within the plurality of sets of functionalities, wherein the new sets of project functionalities comprise those functionalities within the plurality of sets of functionalities that are associated with the new project.