Client server conversion for representing hierarchical data structures

• US 20060123026A1
• Filed: 01/26/2006
• Published: 06/08/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 11/18/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Oracle International Corporation (Oracle Corporation)
• Original Assignee: BEA Systems Incorporated (Oracle Corporation)
• Inventors: Patadia, Jalpesh
• Granted Patent: US 7,783,670 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/168 Details of user interfaces specifically adapted to file systems, e.g. browsing and visualisation, 2d or 3d GUIs query results presentation G06F16/156
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99943 Generating database or data structure, e.g. via user interface

Abstract

The present invention relates to the creation of trees for representing hierarchical data structures. Trees are created on a server, with the tree having nodes that are associated with paths on a server. Each node is associated with a resource locator indicating data that can be accessed through the tree. A tree manager module generates a state of a tree that is then rendered on a client browser for access by a user. Embodiments of the present invention generate a rendering module that is transmitted to a client for use. The rendering module receives tree information from the server, from which it generates javascript that renders the tree on a client web browser. The present invention is advantageous as it allows customizable client-based rendering of tree structures while utilizing well-known mechanisms for creating trees.

Claims

1. A method for representing a hierarchical data structure of a server as a tree on a client, the method comprising:

receiving, at a client application programming interface (API) of the client, code containing information for generating the hierarchical data structure of the server, the code containing information for generating the hierarchical data structure prepared by a server application programming interface (API);

generating code rendering a root node of the hierarchical data structure and rendering at least one child node of the hierarchical data structure on the client;

wherein the client API mimics the server API;

thereby enabling conversion of at least one of the client and the server to a current embodiment from a previous design.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving, at a client application programming interface (API) of the client, code containing information for generating the hierarchical data structure of the server comprises:

receiving, at a client application programming interface (API) of the client, code containing information for generating a tree of the server.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the tree represents a directory structure.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the tree comprises child nodes and the child nodes are identified by a path in a file system.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein generating code rendering a root node of the hierarchical data structure and rendering at least one child node of the hierarchical data structure on the client comprises:

generating, by a rendering module at the client, code rendering a root node of the hierarchical data structure and rendering at least one child node of the hierarchical data structure on the client.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein generating, by a rendering module at the client, code rendering a root node of the hierarchical data structure and rendering at least one child node of the hierarchical data structure on the client comprises:

generating, by a rendering module, a tree on the client in response to receiving code containing tree state information.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

transmitting, from the server, a rendering module to the client, the rendering module configured to render a tree on the client in response to receiving code containing state information for the hierarchical data structure;

generating a tree state manager object to receive a state of the hierarchical data structure; and

transmitting from the server to the client, code containing the state of the hierarchical data structure to the rendering module, wherein the code containing state of the hierarchical data structure for the client application programming interface (API) enables the rendering module to generate a tree representation of the hierarchical data structure on the client, and wherein the state of the hierarchical data structure is prepared in accordance with a server application programming interface (API);

wherein the client API mimics the server API;

thereby enabling conversion of at least one of the client and the server to a current embodiment from a previous design.

8. A machine readable medium having instructions stored thereon that when executed by a processor cause a system to:

receive, at a client application programming interface (API) of the client, code containing information for generating the hierarchical data structure of the server, the code containing information for generating the hierarchical data structure prepared by a server application programming interface (API);

generate code rendering a root node of the hierarchical data structure and rendering at least one child node of the hierarchical data structure on the client;

wherein the client API mimics the server API;

thereby enabling conversion of at least one of the client and the server to a current embodiment from a previous design.

9. The machine readable medium of claim 8, wherein the instructions to cause the system to receive, at a client application programming interface (API) of the client, code containing information for generating the hierarchical data structure of the server include instructions that when executed by the processor cause the system to:

receive, at a client application programming interface (API) of the client, code containing information for generating a tree of the server.

10. The machine readable medium of claim 9, wherein the tree represents a directory structure.

11. The machine readable medium of claim 9, wherein the tree comprises child nodes and the child nodes are identified by a path in a file system.

12. The machine readable medium of claim 8, wherein the instructions to cause the system to generate code rendering a root node of the hierarchical data structure and rendering at least one child node of the hierarchical data structure on the client include instructions that when executed by the processor cause the system to:

generate, by a rendering module at the client, code rendering a root node of the hierarchical data structure and rendering at least one child node of the hierarchical data structure on the client.

13. The machine readable medium of claim 12, wherein the instructions to cause the system to generate, by a rendering module at the client, code rendering a root node of the hierarchical data structure and rendering at least one child node of the hierarchical data structure on the client include instructions that when executed by the processor cause the system to:

generate, by a rendering module, a tree on the client in response to receiving code containing tree state information.

14. The machine readable medium of claim 8, further comprising instructions that when executed by the processor cause the system to:

transmit, from the server, a rendering module to the client, the rendering module configured to render a tree on the client in response to receiving code containing state information for the hierarchical data structure;

generate a tree state manager object to receive a state of the hierarchical data structure; and

transmit from the server to the client, code containing the state of the hierarchical data structure to the rendering module, wherein the code containing state of the hierarchical data structure for the client application programming interface (API) enables the rendering module to generate a tree representation of the hierarchical data structure on the client, and wherein the state of the hierarchical data structure is prepared in accordance with a server application programming interface (API);

wherein the client API mimics the server API;

thereby enabling conversion of at least one of the client and the server to a current embodiment from a previous design.

15. A system comprising:

a server to send a rendering module; and

a client to receive the rendering module;

wherein the rendering module is operable to;

receive, at a client application programming interface (API) of the client, code containing information for generating the hierarchical data structure of the server, the code containing information for generating the hierarchical data structure prepared by a server application programming interface (API); and

generate code rendering a root node of the hierarchical data structure and rendering at least one child node of the hierarchical data structure on the client;

wherein the client API mimics the server API;

thereby enabling conversion of at least one of the client and the server to a current embodiment from a previous design.