Dynamically extensible application program framework including message and notification routing
First Claim
1. A method of switching between multiple views of a workspace frame window in a user interface of a dynamically extensible computer application, said user interface being generated on a display device by a computer associated therewith, said method comprising:
- providing at least one user interface element for the workspace frame window of the user interface of the dynamically extensible computer application via at least one view extension object of the dynamically extensible computer application, said view extension object corresponding to a view selection service object;
integrating functionality provided by the at least one view extension object into the dynamically extensible computer application during execution of the dynamically extensible computer application via an application manager, wherein said application manager services requests during execution of the dynamically extensible computer application from the at least one view extension object to obtain the identity of other view extension objects that provide other specific functionality for integrating into the dynamically extensible computer application during execution of the dynamically extensible computer application;
managing the view selection service object via a view selector object of the application manager for switching between the multiple views of the workspace frame window, wherein the at least one view extension object corresponding to the view selection service object manages the state of the at least one user interface element by maintaining said state during said switching; and
servicing requests during the execution of the dynamically extensible computer application from the at least one view extension object to obtain the identity to other view extension objects that provide other specific functionality and user interface elements for integrating into the dynamically extensible computer application during the execution said servicing including instantiating the identified other view extension objects and identifying the instantiated other view extension objects to the requesting at least one view extension objects.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Dynamically configuring an application program at run-time via one or more extension objects. The invention software implements a framework with one or more extension objects providing functionality to an application program and an application manager for integrating the functionality with the application program during execution of the application program. The framework of the invention also formulates and routes application messages between extensible objects of one application program and extensible objects of other application programs implementing a similar, dynamically extensible application program framework. On receipt of messages or notifications, the framework of the receiving application program facilitates the discovery of the intended recipient extension object and routes the message accordingly.
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Citations
16 Claims
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1. A method of switching between multiple views of a workspace frame window in a user interface of a dynamically extensible computer application, said user interface being generated on a display device by a computer associated therewith, said method comprising:
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providing at least one user interface element for the workspace frame window of the user interface of the dynamically extensible computer application via at least one view extension object of the dynamically extensible computer application, said view extension object corresponding to a view selection service object; integrating functionality provided by the at least one view extension object into the dynamically extensible computer application during execution of the dynamically extensible computer application via an application manager, wherein said application manager services requests during execution of the dynamically extensible computer application from the at least one view extension object to obtain the identity of other view extension objects that provide other specific functionality for integrating into the dynamically extensible computer application during execution of the dynamically extensible computer application; managing the view selection service object via a view selector object of the application manager for switching between the multiple views of the workspace frame window, wherein the at least one view extension object corresponding to the view selection service object manages the state of the at least one user interface element by maintaining said state during said switching; and servicing requests during the execution of the dynamically extensible computer application from the at least one view extension object to obtain the identity to other view extension objects that provide other specific functionality and user interface elements for integrating into the dynamically extensible computer application during the execution said servicing including instantiating the identified other view extension objects and identifying the instantiated other view extension objects to the requesting at least one view extension objects. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A computer system for generating a user interface for a dynamically extensible computer application, said user interface comprising a workspace frame window having multiple views, said system comprising:
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a computer configured for executing computer-readable instructions; at least one view extension object of the dynamically extensible computer application providing at least one user interface element for the workspace frame of the user interface, wherein the view extension object manages a state of the at least one user interface element and placement of the view extension object within the workspace frame window, said view wherein the extension object corresponds to a view selection service object; an application manager for; integrating functionality provided by the at least one view extension object into the dynamically extensible computer application during execution of the dynamically extensible computer application, said application manager including a view selector object for managing the view selection service object for switching between the multiple views of the workspace frame window, wherein the at least one view extension object corresponding to the view selection service object manages the state of the at least one user interface element by maintaining said state during said switching, and servicing requests during the execution of the dynamically extensible computer application from the at least one view extension object to obtain the identity to other view extension objects that provide other specific functionality and user interface elements for integrating into the dynamically extensible computer application during the execution, said servicing including instantiating the identified other view extension objects and identifying the instantiated other view extension objects to the requesting at least one view extension objects; and a display device associated with the computer on which the user interface is displayed. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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Specification