Method and system for accessing software-based systems

• US 20020147713A1
• Filed: 04/09/2002
• Published: 10/10/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 04/10/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mood Enterprises Limited (CACI International Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: The Salamander Organization Limited (Salamander Enterprises Ltd.)
• Inventors: Smith, Simon
• Granted Patent: US 8,204,920 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 707/3
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/84 Mapping; Conversion

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for generating a system, and the system itself, which allows the selective access to and retrieval of data from a number of data resources. The system comprises a host system via which a user can make a request for data, and with reference to the request, the host system selects, using a series of activators held therein, those data resources, referred to as target systems, which are required to be accessed. The interface between the host and target systems and the generation and display of the retrieved data is controlled so as to provide the data to the user in a contextual format.

Claims

1. A method for creating a system to allow contextual access to data via access of a host data system by a user, said method comprising the following steps:

defining a host system for use by at least one user to access data,

defining at least one target data system to be selectively accessed via the host system,

creating an activator and specifying properties of the at least one target data system

creating a wrapper to define the interfaces between the at least one target system and the host system and characteristics of operation of the activator

instantiating the activator for the host system and at least one target system by adding values for the specification propertiescreating a representation of the at least one target system with regard to the host system

and the user using the host system in at least one instance to access at least one target system instance in context via the activator.

2. A method according to claim 1 characterised in that the system created includes a host system, at least one target system and at least one activator.

3. A method according to claim 1 characterised in that the process is repeated for each target system.

4. A method according to claim 3 characterised in that the specification generated for a new target system is generated by the existing system.

5. A method according to claim 1 characterised in that the activator includes control elements that allow control and/or manipulation of the target system data content from the host system

6. A method according to claim 1 characterised in that an instance of use of an activator is stored and thereafter persists with regard to the host system and target systems in subsequent use of that activator.

7. A method according to claim 6 characterised in that the persistence of the activator means that when the system is next used by the same user the commencement of use via the same activator starts from an advanced location.

8. A method according to claim 1 characterised in that the host system is accessible to the activator, allowing the activator to modify the host system.

9. A method according to claim 1 characterised in that at least one activator acts as a target system

10. A method according to claim 1 characterised in that at least one target system is a protocol that brokers access to other target systems.

11. A method according to claim 1 characterised in that the activator finds and instantiates another activator with values.

12. A method according to claim 1 characterised in that at least one target system acts as a representation of the host system to allow an activator to utilise the host system data and behaviour with respect to the host system and/or at least one target system.

13. A method according to claim 12 characterised in that the activator gives a dynamic representation of the host system.

14. A method according to claim 1 characterised in that at least one target is itself a host system, with its own set of activators and target systems.

16. A system according to claim 15 characterised in that for each usage instance, the user request is analysed and the appropriate target system or systems identified and accessed via the appropriate activator

17. A system according to claim 15 characterised in that the activator includes control elements that allow control and/or manipulation of a target system data content from the host system

18. A system according to claim 15 characterised in that upon an instance of use by a user who has previously used the system for the same or a similar request the same activator is selected, said activator having stored data indicative of the criteria of the previous instance of use and said data persists for the new instance of use so as to prevent the user from having to start the usage from the same starting point as the previous use.

19. A system according to claim 18 characterised in that the persistence of the activator means that when the system is next used by the same user the commencement of use via the same activator starts from an advanced location to reduce the required user input.

20. A system according to claim 15 characterised in that the host system is accessible to the activator, allowing the activator to modify the host system.

21. A system according to claim 15 characterised in that upon selection of a first activator, that activator finds and instantiates another activator with values.

22. A system according to claim 15 characterised in that at least one target system acts as a representation of the host system to allow an activator to utilise the host system data and behaviour with respect to the host system and/or at least one target system.

24. A data access system according to claim 23 characterised in that the target systems which need to be addressed are identified by an activator.

25. A data access system according to claim 23 characterised in that the interfaces between the host system and identified target systems are defined within a wrapper.

26. A data access system according to claim 23 characterised in that the data from the target systems is provided to the user via the host system within a frame work generated by the host system from data stored therein so that the retrieved data is placed in position in the framework.

27. A data system according to claim 26 characterised in that the host system includes stored therein those features of the target system required to allow the display of data retrieved from the respective target system in the framework so as to be provided in a clear and usable manner via the computer terminal used by the user.

15. A system to allow user access to a plurality of data resources said data resources accessible by a user via a host system, each of said data resources identified as a target system connected to the host system, and characterised in that the system comprises at least one activator within the system, the activator selected in response to user request criteria;

means for identifying the target system or systems which are to be accessed with reference to the specified properties of the target data systems, a wrapper which defines the interfaces between the target systems and the host system and to allow the user to obtain access to data retrieved from one or a number of selected target systems in a usage instance in a contextual manner.

23. A data access system, said system allowing access via a computer based access location by a user to a host system and via said host system to a number of data resources known as target systems, said system, in response to a user request, identifying, via information stored in the host system, those of the target systems which need to be addressed to meet the user request, and having identified said target systems, accessing the same in accordance with defined interface procedures held in the host system, accessing the required data from the target systems and transferring the same to the host system for provision to the user in a contextual and organised manner.