Method, system, and program product for customizing an application

• US 20040117482A1
• Filed: 12/17/2002
• Published: 06/17/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 12/17/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Salazar, Fernando J.
• Application Number:
  US10/320,999
• Publication Number:
  US 20040117482A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/225
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/102 Entity profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/306 User profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]

Abstract

The invention present allows customizations to be performed in an application to be based on one or more user properties. Specifically, a user is matched with a property string that is based on a user property. Using the property string, a customization object is accessed and implemented. This provides increased flexibility and automation in customizing applications for users and/or groups of users.

Claims

1. A method for customizing an application, comprising:

identifying a user having a user property;

matching the user with a property string that is based on the user property,

wherein the property string is associated with a customization object;

accessing the customization object; and

customizing the application for the user based on the customization object.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein customizing the application includes at least one of:

modifying a user interface for the application, providing access control for the application, providing announcements to the user and assigning system roles and permissions to the user.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the user property comprises at least one of:

a path, a group designation, and a user attribute.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the user property is provided from at least one of:

a system directory and a user registry.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the matching step is performed when the application is accessed.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

defining at least one customization object in a customization object set; and

associating the at least one customization object with a property string, wherein the customization object is matched with the user property based on the property string.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising defining customizations for the application that are implemented based on the customization object.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising authenticating the user when the application is accessed.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

obtaining the customization object from a customization object set; and

caching the customization object for subsequent customizations.

10. A method for customizing an application comprising:

providing a property string that is based on a user property, wherein the property string is associated with a customization object;

matching a user with the property string when the application is accessed;

assigning the customization object to the user; and

customizing the application based on the customization object.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein customizing the application includes at least one of:

modifying a user interface for the application, providing access control for the application, providing announcements to the user and assigning system roles and permissions to the user.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the user property comprises at least one of:

a path, a group designation, and a user attribute.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein the user property is provided from at least one of:

a system directory and a user registry.

14. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

defining at least one customization object in a customization object set; and

associating the at least one customization object with a property string, wherein the customization object is matched with the user property based on the property string.

15. The method of claim 10, further comprising defining customizations for the application that are implemented based on the customization object.

16. The method of claim 10, further comprising authenticating the user when the application is accessed.

17. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

obtaining the customization object from a customization object set; and

caching the customization object for subsequent customizations.

18. A system for customizing an application, comprising:

an evaluation system for matching a user with a property string, wherein the property string is based on a user property; and

a customization system for customizing an application for the user based on a customization object associated with the property string.

19. The system of claim 18, further comprising a definition system for defining the customization object and associating the customization object with a property string, wherein the property string is used to match the user property with the customization object.

20. The system of claim 18, further comprising an authentication system for authenticating the user when the application is accessed.

21. The system of claim 18, wherein customizing the application includes at least one of:

modifying a user interface for the application, limiting access to functionality of the application, providing announcements to the user, and assigning roles and permissions to the user.

22. The system of claim 18, wherein the user property comprises at least one of:

a path, a group designation, and a user attribute.

23. The system of claim 18, wherein the user property is provided from at least one of:

a system directory and a user registry.

24. A computer program product comprising a computer useable medium having computer readable program code embodied therein for customizing an application, the program product comprising:

program code configured to match a user with a property string, wherein the property string is based on a user property; and

program code configured to customize an application for the user based on a customization object associated with the property string.

25. The computer program product of claim 24, further comprising:

program code configured to define the customization object; and

program code configured to associate the customization object with a property string, wherein the property string is used to match the user property with the customization object.

26. The computer program product of claim 24, further comprising program code configured to authenticate the user when the application is accessed.

27. The computer program product of claim 24, further comprising program code configured to provide a property string based on a user property.

28. The computer program product of claim 27, wherein the user property comprises at least one of:

a path, a group designation, and a user attribute.