Graphical user interface typing and mapping system

• US 8,132,114 B2
• Filed: 02/27/2008
• Issued: 03/06/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 02/27/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Accenture Global Services Limited (Accenture PLC)
• Original Assignee: Accenture Global Services Limited (Accenture PLC)
• Inventors: Grechanik, Mark, Xie, Qing, Fu, Chen
• Primary Examiner(s): HO, RUAY L
• Application Number:
  US12/038,658
• Publication Number:
  US 20090217182A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,469 Days
• Field of Search: 715200-277, 715700-867, 700701-866, 709201-229, 705 50- 79, 705/400, 345 30-111, 717/109, 717/168, 717/173, 717/136, 702/20, 719/313, 719/320
• US Class Current: 715/762
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/368 for test version control, e.g. updating test cases to a new software version
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/3696 Methods or tools to render software testable
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/38 for implementing user interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0283 Price estimation or determination

Abstract

A graphical user interface (GUI) type model helps application designers create error free graphical user interface applications (GAPs). The GUI type model provides a reference set of GUI element types. The application designer assigns a selected GUI element type to each GUI element in a GAP design. The GUI element types help ensure consistent and proper treatment of the GUI element types at every stage in the development of the application, from initial planning and design, to compilation and execution.

Claims

1. A product to link a graphical user interface (GUI) element type to a GUI element in a GUI, the product comprising:

a computer-readable memory;

a reference graphical user interface (GUI) type model stored in the computer-readable memory;

builder logic stored in the computer-readable memory and executable by a processor, the builder logic comprising;

element selection logic that when executed by the processor, causes the processor to obtain a GUI element selection specifying a selected GUI element in a GUI of a GUI application (GAP);

retrieval logic that when executed by the processor causes the processor to retrieve, from the reference GUI type model, a GUI element type selection list of available GUI element types;

selection logic that when executed causes the processor to obtain a GUI element type selection specifying a selected GUI element type from the GUI element type selection list of available GUI element types; and

association logic that when executed by the processor causes the processor to create a GUI element type mapping that links the selected GUI element type to the selected GUI element in the GUI;

message creation logic in the computer-readable memory that when executed by the processor causes the processor to build a GUI element type specification message that signifies that data within the message specifies a type mapping for a GUI element; and

communication logic in the computer-readable memory that when executed by the processor causes the processor to create a GUI element type specification in a metadata repository by sending the GUI element type specification message to the metadata repository.

2. The product of claim 1, where the GUI element type mapping comprises:

a GUI element identifier of the selected GUI element in the GAP; and

a GUI type identifier of the selected GUI element type.

3. The product of claim 2, where the GUI element type mapping further comprises:

a GUI application (GAP) alias.

4. The product of claim 1, where the reference GUI type model comprises:

GUI element type specifiers associated with GUI element constraints.

5. The product of claim 4, where the GUI element constraints comprise:

GUI element modification constraints.

6. The product of claim 5, where the GUI element modification constraints comprise:

GUI element content constraints.

7. The product of claim 1, where the GUI element type specification message comprises:

a GUI element type specification message header;

a GUI element identifier; and

a GUI type identifier.

8. The product of claim 7, where the GUI element type specification message further comprises:

a GUI application (GAP) alias.

9. A system comprising:

a memory coupled to a processor; and

mapping logic stored in the memory and executable by the processor, the mapping logic comprising;

element selection logic that when executed by the processor causes the processor to;

obtain a source GUI element selection specifying a source GUI element in a current GUI application (GAP) version;

obtain a destination GUI element selection specifying a destination GUI element in a subsequent GAP version; and

mapping creation logic that when executed by the processor causes the processor to create a GUI element version mapping that links the source GUI element to the destination GUI element

message creation logic operable to build a GUI element mapping specification message; and

communication logic operable to send the GUI element mapping specification message to a metadata repository.

10. The system of claim 9, where the GUI element version mapping comprises:

a source GUI element identifier for the source GUI element; and

a destination GUI element identifier for the destination GUI element.

11. The system of claim 10, where the GUI element version mapping further comprises:

a source GAP alias for the current GAP version; and

a destination GAP alias for the subsequent GAP version.

12. The system of claim 9, where the GUI element mapping specification message comprises:

a GUI element mapping specification message header;

a source GUI element identifier for the source GUI element; and

a destination GUI element identifier for the destination GUI element.

13. A method comprising:

obtaining a source GUI element selection specifying a source GUI element in a current GUI application (GAP) version;

obtaining a destination GUI element selection specifying a destination GUI element in a subsequent GAP version; and

creating a GUI element version mapping that links the source GUI element to the destination GUI element;

building a GUI element mapping specification message; and

communicating the GUI element mapping specification message to a metadata repository.

14. The method of claim 13, where creating comprises:

creating the GUI element version mapping comprising;

a source GUI element identifier for the source GUI element; and

a destination GUI element identifier for the destination GUI element.

15. The method of claim 13, where creating comprises:

creating the GUI element version mapping comprising;

a source GUI element alias for the source GUI element; and

a destination GUI element alias for the destination GUI element.

16. The method of claim 13, where building comprises:

building a GUI element mapping specification message including;

a version mapping message header;

a source GUI element identifier for the source GUI element; and

a destination GUI element identifier for the destination GUI element.

17. The method of claim 13, where the subsequent GAP version comprises an economic estimation GAP version including GUI element changes with respect to the current GAP version and specified for cost estimation analysis.