Method of dynamically linking objects operated on by a computational system

• US 7,747,981 B2
• Filed: 09/23/2005
• Issued: 06/29/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/23/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Wolfram Research Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Wolfram Research Incorporated
• Inventors: Gray, Theodore W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kendall; Chuck O
• Application Number:
  US11/234,550
• Publication Number:
  US 20070073705A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,740 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 717/108
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/451 Execution arrangements for user interfaces

Abstract

In a method for presenting to a user information operated on by a computational software application, a relationship between states of a user interface mechanism located on a workspace associated with the computational software application and an underlying object operated on by the computational software application may be determined. The relationship may be defined at least in part by configuration data capable of being interpreted by the computational software application. A change in a value of the underlying object may be detected, and a current state of the user interface mechanism may be changed based on the detected change in the value of the underlying object and according to the relationship. Additionally, a change in the current state of the user interface mechanism caused by a user may be detected, and the current value of the underlying object may be changed based on the detected change in the current state of the user interface mechanism and according to the relationship.

Claims

1. A method for presenting to a user information operated on by a computational software application implemented by a computer system having computer readable media and a display unit, the method comprising the acts of:

displaying on the display unit a workspace associated with the computational software application;

receiving user input entered via the computational software application implemented by the computer system, the user input including a command to create an underlying object to be operated on by the computational software application, to create a user interface mechanism to be displayed on the workspace, and that defines a mathematical relationship between states of the user interface mechanism and the underlying object;

creating the underlying object using the computational software application implemented by the computer system in response to the user input;

storing on the computer readable media configuration data corresponding to the mathematical relationship and data indicating that the user interface mechanism is linked to the underlying object in response to the user input, the configuration data capable of being interpreted by the computational software application;

causing a current state of the user interface mechanism to be displayed on the workspace on the display unit in response to the user input;

using the computational software application implemented by the computer system to determine that the current state of the user interface mechanism should be changed in response to a change in a value of the underlying object and without intervention by a user;

using the computational software application implemented by the computer system to change the current state of the user interface mechanism according to the mathematical relationship in response to determining the current state of the user interface mechanism should be changed and without intervention by the user;

causing the current state of the user interface mechanism to be displayed on the display unit without intervention by the user and in response to the change to the current state of the user interface mechanism;

using the computational software application implemented by the computer system to detect a change in the current state of the user interface mechanism caused by the user; and

using the computational software application implemented by the computer system to change the current value of the underlying object without intervention by the user in response to the detected change in the current state of the user interface mechanism and according to the mathematical relationship.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein the configuration data comprises command line data capable of being evaluated by the computational software application.

3. A method according to claim 1, wherein the computational software application comprises at least one of:

a software application capable of evaluating symbolic expressions;

a spreadsheet application;

a control system application;

an instrument application;

a simulation application;

an interactive game application.

4. A method according to claim 1, wherein changing the current state of the user interface mechanism is further based on whether a time for rendering an indication of the current state of the user interface mechanism has occurred.

5. A method according to claim 1, further comprising rendering an indication of the current state of the user interface mechanism on the workspace.

6. A method according to claim 1, wherein the user interface mechanism comprises a slider.

7. A method according to claim 1, wherein the underlying object comprises an object capable of representing a plurality of types of data, the plurality of types of data including a symbolic expression.

8. A method according to claim 7, wherein the object capable of representing the plurality of types of data comprises an expression having information associated therewith that indicates a type of data from the plurality of types of data.

9. A computer readable medium having stored thereon machine executable instructions, the machine executable instructions capable of causing the machine to:

receive user input including a command to create an underlying object to be operated on by a computational software application, to create a user interface mechanism to be displayed on the workspace, and that defines a mathematical relationship between states of the user interface mechanism located on a workspace associated with the computational software application and an underlying object operated on by the computational software application;

create the underlying object in response to the user input;

store in a computer system media configuration data corresponding to the mathematical relationship and data indicating that the user interface mechanism is linked to the underlying object in response to the user input, the configuration data capable of being interpreted by the computational software application;

determine that the current state of the user interface mechanism should be changed in response to a change in a value of the underlying object and without intervention by a user;

change a current state of the user interface mechanism based on the detected change in the value of the underlying object and according to the relationship;

detect a change in the current state of the user interface mechanism caused by a user; and

change the current value of the underlying object according to the mathematical relationship in response to determining the current state of the user interface mechanism should be changed and without intervention by the user.

10. A method for presenting to a user information operated on by a computational software application implemented by a computer system having computer readable media and a rendering device, the method comprising the acts of:

using the computational software application implemented by the computer system to identify a dynamic object in a file, a value of the dynamic object being dependent upon at least one underlying object;

using the computational software application implemented by the computer system to determine whether the value of the dynamic object is currently being rendered by the rendering device;

using the computational software application implemented by the computer system to determine if a value of the underlying object has changed;

using the computational software application implemented by the computer system to determine whether to recalculate the value of the dynamic object in response to determining that the value of the underlying object has changed based on whether the value of the dynamic object is currently being rendered;

using the computational software application implemented by the computer system to recalculate the value of the dynamic object in response to determining that the value of the underlying object has changed and if it is determined that the value of the dynamic object should be recalculated; and

using the computational software application implemented by the computer system to cause an indication of the value of the dynamic object to be rendered to the user by the rendering device.

11. A method according to claim 10, wherein the file includes command line data capable of being evaluated by the computational software application.

12. A method according to claim 11, wherein the command line data includes data indicative of an expression for recalculating the value of the dynamic object based on the value of the underlying object.

13. A method according to claim 10, wherein the computational software application comprises at least one of:

a software application capable of evaluating symbolic expressions;

a spreadsheet application;

a control system application;

an instrument application;

a simulation application;

an interactive game application.

14. A method according to claim 10, further comprising:

using the computational software system implemented by the computer system to determine a relationship between states of a user interface mechanism and the underlying object;

using the computational software system implemented by the computer system to detect a change in the current state of the user interface mechanism caused by a user; and

using the computational software system implemented by the computer system to change the value of the underlying object according to the relationship based on the detected change in the current state of the user interface mechanism.

15. A method according to claim 14, wherein the user interface mechanism comprises at least one of a graphical user interface mechanism or a mechanical user interface mechanism.

16. A method according to claim 10, further comprising receiving an updated value of the underlying object from at least one of a simulation application, a hardware device, a measurement device, or a game controller.

17. A method according to claim 10, wherein causing the indication of the value of the dynamic object to be rendered comprises at least one of:

causing a visual indication to be displayed on a display device;

causing an audio indication to be generated;

or

causing an indication of the value to be sent to a hardware device.

18. A method according to claim 10, wherein the dynamic object comprises an object capable of representing a plurality of types of data, the plurality of types of data including a symbolic expression.

19. A method according to claim 18, wherein the object capable of representing the plurality of types of data comprises an expression having information associated therewith that indicates a type of data from the plurality of types of data.

20. A method according to claim 10, further comprising:

using the computational software system implemented by the computer system to determine that the dynamic object is dependent upon the underlying object; and

using the computational software system implemented by the computer system to store an indication that the dynamic object is dependent upon the underlying object.

21. A method according to claim 20, further comprising:

using the computational software system implemented by the computer system to delete the indication that the dynamic object is dependent upon the underlying object upon determining that the value of the underlying object has changed; and

using the computational software system implemented by the computer system to re-determine that the dynamic object is dependent upon the underlying object upon recalculating the value of the dynamic object.

22. A computer readable medium having stored thereon machine executable instructions, the machine executable instructions capable of causing the machine to:

identify a dynamic object in a file operated on by a computational software application, a value of the dynamic object being dependent upon at least one underlying object;

determine whether the value of the dynamic object is currently being rendered;

determine whether to recalculate the value of the dynamic object in response to determining that the value of the underlying object has changed based on whether the value of the dynamic object is currently being rendered;

determine if a value of the underlying object has changed;

recalculate the value of the dynamic object in response to determining that the value of the underlying object has changed and if it determined that the value of the dynamic object should be recalculated; and

cause an indication of the value of the dynamic object to be rendered to the user.

23. A method implemented by a computer system having computer readable media and a display unit for presenting information to a user, the method comprising the acts of:

using the computer system to identify a dynamic object, a value of the dynamic object being dependent upon at least one underlying object, the value of the dynamic object comprising at least one of a symbolic expression, a graphic expression, or an animation;

using the computer system to determine if a value of the underlying object changed;

using the computer system to recalculate the value of the dynamic object if the value of the underlying object has changed; and

using the computer system to cause an indication of the value of the dynamic object to be rendered to the user on the display unit.

24. A method according to claim 23, wherein the dynamic object comprises an object capable of representing a plurality of types of data.

25. A method according to claim 24, wherein the object capable of representing the plurality of types of data comprises an expression having information associated therewith that indicates a type of data from the plurality of types of data.

26. A computer readable medium having stored thereon machine executable instructions, the machine executable instructions capable of causing the machine to:

identify a dynamic object, a value of the dynamic object being dependent upon at least one underlying object, the value of the dynamic object comprising at least one of a symbolic expression, a graphic expression, or an animation;

determine if a value of the underlying object changed;

recalculate the value of the dynamic object if the value of the underlying object has changed; and

cause an indication of the value of the dynamic object to be rendered to the user.