Extensible user interface (XUI) framework and development environment

• US 20040046789A1
• Filed: 08/14/2003
• Published: 03/11/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 08/23/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Angelo Inanoria
• Original Assignee: Angelo Inanoria
• Inventors: Inanoria, Angelo
• Application Number:
  US10/641,744
• Publication Number:
  US 20040046789A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/748
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/38 for implementing user interfaces

Abstract

A web application development environment and method employs an extensible user interface (XUI) Framework for creating GUI-managing components written in a declarative format for handling GUI components in a web application. The GUI-managing components are coordinated in a view presentation layer by a Controller in an Extended-Model-View-Controller (XMVC) pattern in conjunction with the business logic layer. The Controller is invoked by a user request for a web page and in turn invokes the GUI-managing components to parse information contained in a corresponding web application file for the requested web page in order to determine the templates and sub-templates to be invoked for handling the GUI components. Each template has a mode value which is set by mode information contained in the web application file for the requested web page. The XUI Framework has the ability to handle a rich set of GUI components without having to implement web applications development technologies. Instead, the declarative-formatted GUI components can be created and processed using lightweight technologies for client-side and server-side processing. The XUI Framework allows for the efficient authoring and processing of GUI components for a wide range of web applications.

Claims

1. A method for web application development comprising:

providing an extensible user interface (XUI) framework for developing modular and extensible GUI-managing components residing in a view presentation layer separate from a business logic layer for a given web application, wherein the GUI-managing components are written in simple declarative format referencing predefined templates to be invoked for handling GUI components to be incorporated in a view of a requested web page, and

using an Extended-Model-View-Controller (XMVC) pattern of operation of the view presentation layer wherein an XMVC Controller coordinates the functions of the GUI-managing components by invoking the referenced templates for handling the GUI components in the view presentation layer and generating a view of the requested web page in conjunction with application data provided by the business logic layer.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein the XMVC Controller is invoked by a user request for a web page and in turn invokes the GUI-managing components to parse information contained in a corresponding web application file for the requested web page in order to determine the templates and sub-templates thereof to be invoked for handling GUI components in the view presentation layer.

3. A method according to claim 1, wherein the XMVC Controller invokes the GUI-managing components by importing respective templates and sub-templates thereof, wherein each template has a mode value which is set by mode information contained in the web application file for the requested web page.

4. A method according to claim 1, wherein a Layout Manager is a component of the GUI-managing components and has the responsibility of positioning and shaping GUI components in a view of a web page.

5. A method according to claim 1, wherein a Component Manager is a component of the GUI-managing components and has the responsibility of organizing and invoking each desired GUI component to be included in a view of a web page.

6. A method according to claim 1, wherein a Localized Content Manager is a component of the GUI-managing components and has the responsibility of organizing and rendering localized labels and images for GUI components to be included in a view of a web page.

7. A method according to claim 1, wherein a Look-and-Feel Manager is a component of the GUI-managing components and has the responsibility of organizing and rendering a desired look-and-feel format for presenting GUI components in a view of a web page.

8. A method according to claim 1, wherein an Event Manager is a component of the GUI-managing components and has the responsibility for determining and handling events for each desired GUI component in a view of a web page.

9. A method according to claim 2, wherein the GUI components are rendered by the GUI-managing components to exhibit polymorphic behavior through a hierarchical form of organization of the referenced templates and sub-templates.

10. A method according to claim 4, wherein the Layout Manager includes sub-templates for selected layout algorithms for positioning and shaping GUI components in a view of a web page.

11. A method according to claim 5, wherein the Component Manager includes sub-templates for stylesheets, scripts, and other GUI components in a view of a web page.

12. A method according to claim 6, wherein the Localized Content Manager includes sub-templates for localized images and labels to be used for GUI components in a view of a web page.

13. A method according to claim 7, wherein the Look and Feel Manager includes sub-templates for different look-and-feel formats to be used for GUI components in a view of a web page.

14. A method according to claim 8, wherein the Event Manager includes sub-templates for different event handlers for GUI components in a view of a web page.

15. A method according to claim 1, wherein said templates incorporate pre-defined GUI components designed to create “

deliberate kinship”

by emulating techniques, patterns, conventions and standards of conventional windowing environments.

16. An environment for web application development comprising:

an extensible user interface (XUI) framework for developing a number of modular and extensible GUI-managing components residing in a view presentation layer separate from a business logic layer for a given web application, wherein the GUI-managing components are written in simple declarative format referencing predefined templates to be invoked for handling GUI components to be incorporated in a view of a requested web page, and

an XMVC Controller for coordinating the functions of the GUI-managing components in an Extended-Model-View-Controller (XMVC) pattern of operation by invoking the referenced templates of the of the GUI-managing components and delegating control to the respective GUI-managing components for managing their respective functions for handling GUI components in the view presentation layer and generating a view of the requested web page in conjunction with application data provided by the business logic layer.

17. A web application development environment according to claim 16, wherein the XMVC Controller is invoked by a user request for a web page and in turn invokes the GUI-managing components to parse information contained in a corresponding web application file for the requested web page in order to determine the templates and sub-templates thereof to be invoked for handling GUI components in the view presentation layer.

18. A web application development environment according to claim 16, wherein the XMVC Controller invokes the GUI-managing components by importing respective templates and sub-templates thereof, and wherein each template has a mode value which is set by mode information contained in the web application file for the requested web page.

19. A web application development environment according to claim 16, wherein the GUI-managing components include a Layout Manager for positioning and shaping GUI components in a view of a web page, a Component Manager for organizing and invoking each desired GUI component to be included in a view of a web page, a Localized Content Manager for organizing and rendering localized labels and images for GUI components to be included in a view of a web page, a Look-and-Feel Manager for organizing and rendering a desired look-and-feel format for presenting GUI components in a view of a web page, and an Event Manager for determining and handling events for each desired GUI component in a view of a web page.

20. A web application development environment according to claim 16, wherein the GUI components are rendered by the GUI-managing components to exhibit polymorphic behavior through a hierarchical form of organization of the referenced templates and sub-templates.