Automatic execution flow ordering

• US 7,971,186 B1
• Filed: 06/25/2004
• Issued: 06/28/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 06/25/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Peyton, Eric S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Rutten; James D
• Application Number:
  US10/876,940
• Time in Patent Office: 2,559 Days
• Field of Search: 717/109, 717/113, 717/115
• US Class Current: 717/115
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/34 Graphical or visual programming

Abstract

A computer-implemented method and apparatus for programming a computing apparatus are disclosed. The method is a computer-implemented method for use in a computer programming environment, and comprises invoking a script; and determining an execution order for the invoked script predicated on the passing of parameters between scripted actions. The apparatus, in a first aspect, includes a program storage medium encoded with instructions that, when executed by a processor, performs the method. In a second aspect, the apparatus includes a computing apparatus programmed to perform the method.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for use in a computer programming environment, comprising:

invoking a script; and

determining an execution order for the invoked script predicated on the passing of parameters between scripted actions, comprising;

selecting a first scripted action from a plurality of actions, wherein the plurality of actions are contemporaneously selectable with respect to the first scripted action;

executing the first selected scripted action if sufficient parameter information is available to execute the selected first scripted action;

selecting a second scripted action from the plurality of actions in response to determining that there is insufficient parameter information to execute the first selected scripted action;

executing the second selected action and;

wherein the second scripted action converts data from an incompatible data type into a compatible data type and wherein the scripted action are selected from candidate actions chosen according to a determination of relevance relative to previously chosen action and need for conversion of data to compatible data types.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising executing a third selected action from the plurality of actions.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein selecting the first scripted action includes one of selecting the initial scripted action in the workflow, selecting a scripted action in the workflow at random, or selecting a scripted action according to predetermined criteria.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising determining a second execution order through the script in parallel with the first execution order.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein invoking the script includes invoking the script through a graphical user interface.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising at least one of generating the script, storing the script, and executing the script.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 6, wherein generating the script includes visual programming.

8. The computer-implemented method of claim 6, wherein generating the script includes:

receiving a plurality of user inputs, each user input specifying an action in a workflow; and

automatically generating in the background a script for executing the actions in the workflow responsive to the user inputs.

9. The computer-implemented method of claim 6, wherein generating the script includes scripting data conversion between actions in the workflow.

10. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising:

creating a workflow to be scripted; and

filtering candidate actions for inclusion in the workflow.

11. The computer implemented method of claim 1, further comprising automatically converting data types between scripted actions.

12. A program storage medium encoded with instructions that, when executed by a computing device, performs a method for use in a computer programming environment, comprising:

invoking a script; and

determining an execution order for the invoked script predicated on the passing of parameters between scripted actions, comprising;

selecting a first scripted action from a plurality of actions, wherein at least a second scripted action from the plurality of actions are contemporaneously selectable with respect to the first scripted action;

executing the first selected scripted action if sufficient parameter information is available to execute the selected first scripted action;

selecting the second scripted action from the plurality of actions in response to determining that there is insufficient parameter information to execute the first selected scripted action;

executing the second selected action and;

wherein the second scripted action converts data from an incompatible data type into a compatible data type and wherein the scripted action are selected from candidate actions chosen according to a determination of relevance relative to previously chosen action and need for conversion of data to compatible data types.

13. The program storage medium of claim 12, wherein the encoded method further comprises determining a second execution order through the script in parallel with the first execution order.

14. The program storage medium of claim 12, wherein the encoded method further comprises at least one of generating the script, storing the script, and executing the script.

15. A computing apparatus, comprising:

a computing device;

a bus system;

a storage communicating with the computing device over the bus system; and

an application residing in the storage that, when invoked, is capable of;

invoking a script; and

determining an execution order for the invoked script predicated on the passing of parameters between scripted actions, comprising;

selecting a first scripted action from a plurality of actions, wherein the plurality of actions are contemporaneously selectable with respect to the first scripted action;

executing the first selected scripted action if sufficient parameter information is available to execute the selected first scripted action;

selecting a second scripted action from the plurality of actions in response to determining that there is insufficient parameter information to execute the first selected scripted action;

executing the second selected action and;

wherein the second scripted action converts data from an incompatible data type into a compatible data type and wherein the scripted action are selected from candidate actions chosen according to a determination of relevance relative to previously chosen action and need for conversion of data to compatible data types.

16. The computing apparatus of claim 15, wherein, in determining the executed order, the application is further capable of determining a second execution order through the script in parallel with the first execution order.

17. The computing apparatus of claim 15, wherein, in determining the executed order, the application is further capable of at least one of generating the script, storing the script, and executing the scrip.

18. A computer-implemented method for automatically determining an execution order of a scripted workflow, comprising:

selecting a first scripted action from a plurality of actions, wherein the plurality of actions are contemporaneously selectable with respect to the first scripted action;

executing the first selected scripted action if sufficient parameter information is available to execute the selected first scripted action;

selecting a second scripted action from the plurality of actions in response to determining that there is insufficient parameter information to execute the first selected scripted action;

executing the second selected action and;

wherein the second scripted action converts data from an incompatible data type into a compatible data type and wherein the scripted action are selected from candidate actions chosen according to a determination of relevance relative to previously chosen action and need for conversion of data to compatible data types.

19. The computer-implemented method of claim 18 further comprising executing a third selected action from the plurality of actions.

20. The computer-implemented method of claim 18, wherein selecting the first scripted action includes one of selecting the initial scripted action in the workflow, selecting a scripted action in the workflow at random, or selecting a scripted action according to predetermined criteria.

21. A program storage medium encoded with instructions that, when executed by a computing device, perform a method for automatically determining an execution order of a scripted workflow, the method comprising:

selecting a first scripted action from a plurality of actions, wherein the plurality of actions are contemporaneously selectable with respect to the first scripted action;

executing the first selected scripted action if sufficient parameter information is available to execute the selected first scripted action;

selecting a second scripted action from the plurality of actions in response to determining that there is insufficient parameter information to execute the first selected scripted action;

executing the second selected action and;

wherein the second scripted action converts data from an incompatible data type into a compatible data type and wherein the scripted action are selected from candidate actions chosen according to a determination of relevance relative to previously chosen action and need for conversion of data to compatible data types.

22. The program storage medium of claim 21, further comprising executing a third selected action from the plurality of actions.

23. The program storage medium of claim 21, wherein selecting the first scripted action includes one of selecting the initial scripted action in the workflow, selecting a scripted action in the workflow at random, or selecting a scripted action according to predetermined criteria.

24. A computing apparatus, comprising:

a computing device;

a bus system;

a storage communicating with the computing device over the bus system; and

an application residing in the storage that, when invoked, is capable of;

selecting a first scripted action from a plurality of actions, wherein at least a second scripted action from the plurality of actions are contemporaneously selectable with respect to the first scripted action;

executing the first selected scripted action if sufficient parameter information is available to execute the selected first scripted action;

selecting the second scripted action from the plurality of actions in response to determining that there is insufficient parameter information to execute the first selected scripted action;

executing the second selected action and;

wherein the second scripted action converts data from an incompatible data type into a compatible data type and wherein the scripted action are selected from candidate actions chosen according to a determination of relevance relative to previously chosen action and need for conversion of data to compatible data types.

25. The computing apparatus of claim 24, wherein the application is further capable of executing a third selected action from the plurality of actions.

26. The computing apparatus of claim 24, wherein selecting the first scripted action includes one of selecting the initial scripted action in the workflow, selecting a scripted action in the workflow at random, or selecting a scripted action according to predetermined criteria.