Visually oriented computer implemented application development system utilizing standardized objects and multiple views

• US 8,621,432 B2
• Filed: 08/10/2006
• Issued: 12/31/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 11/16/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Google Inc. (Alphabet Inc.)
• Inventors: Morris, Robert M., Denton, Leet E. III
• Primary Examiner(s): Bullock, Jr., Lewis A
• Assistant Examiner(s): GOORAY, MARK A
• Application Number:
  US11/502,597
• Publication Number:
  US 20070089100A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,700 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 717/116
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/34 Graphical or visual programming

Abstract

A computer implemented application development (authoring) system permits objects (such as VBX custom controls) to be graphically inserted into the program under development by dragging and dropping associated icons into one of four views. The properties associated with the object may then be assigned settings. Development of a complete application is accomplished by visually arranging, ordering, and interconnecting the objects without the necessity of writing any code. The four views of Output, Map, Multitrack, and Workform may be synchronized so that changes made to the program in one view are simultaneously reflected in all other views. The system generates as output a script listing the objects and their properties which is then executed by a separate run time program. The system permits use of objects written to a standard specification and the addition at any time of additional objects written to that. Integration of the objects into the system is achieved by wrapping each object in an “envelope” of system specific properties.

Claims

1. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium configured to store instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform a method comprising:

loading, from a remote information source, one or more application scripts that can be maintained separately from a runtime program;

loading from the remote information source, using locations specified by one or more application scripts, a plurality of objects that can be maintained separately from the runtime program and the one or more application scripts;

wrapping each of the plurality of objects to obtain a plurality of wrapped objects, each wrapped object comprising a first set of properties and a second set of properties, the first set of properties being properties internal to the unwrapped object and the second set of properties being added as a result of the wrapping;

creating wrapped object instances corresponding to the wrapped objects without requiring any outside code provided by a user, each wrapped object instance being based on specified property values required by the first set of properties or the second set of properties; and

utilizing property values required by the first set of properties or the second set of properties in the one or more application scripts to modify the execution of the wrapped object instances;

displaying at least one of communication relationships between the wrapped objects and timing of the wrapped objects to the user based on the one or more application scripts comprising the specified property values required by the first set of properties or the second set of properties.

2. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 1, wherein the method performed by the processor further comprises:

increasing the number of properties in the second set of properties for a selected wrapped object selected from the plurality of wrapped object based on a definition used to define the corresponding unwrapped object.

3. A computer implemented system comprising:

means for instantiating at least two objects;

means for sequencing the at least two objects;

means for wrapping each of the at least two objects to obtain at least two wrapped objects, each wrapped object comprising a first set of properties and a second set of properties, the first set of properties being properties internal to the unwrapped object and the second set of properties being added as a result of the wrapping;

means for providing communication among the at least two wrapped objects wherein the functionalities performed by the system during execution are determined by the at least two wrapped objects used and the scripts;

means for creating wrapped object instances corresponding to the at least two wrapped objects without requiring any outside code provided by a user, the wrapped object instances being based on specified property values required by the at least two wrapped objects; and

means for displaying at least one of communication relationships between the at least two wrapped objects and timing of the at least two wrapped objects to the user based on the script comprising the specified property values required by the at least two wrapped objects.

4. The system of claim 3, further comprising:

means for increasing the number of properties in the second set of properties for a selected wrapped object selected from the plurality of wrapped object based on a definition used to define the corresponding unwrapped object.