Dynamic configuration forms in network management software
First Claim
1. An arrangement for operating a plurality of dynamic configuration forms, the arrangement comprising:
- a form description language (FDL) file for the plurality of dynamic configuration forms, said FDL file including a description of a layout type to be displayed by the plurality of dynamic configuration forms, and a description of data to be displayed by the dynamic configuration forms;
a dynamic form software engine, said form engine being part of the application and receiving a request from the application to display one of the plurality of dynamic configuration forms, said form engine reading said FDL file, said form engine collecting said data described by said FDL file, said form engine dynamically creating a graphical appearance of a secondary window in the application with a layout in accordance with said layout type of said FDL file, and displaying said data of said FDL file in the secondary window in accordance with said layout type.
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Accused Products
Abstract
One or more form descriptions are expressed in the form description language (FDL) and are entered into an FDL file. The FDL file is then registered with a dynamic forms software module using a dynamic forms API. Upon registration, the file is parsed and software "specification" objects containing a data from the file or added to the internal catalogue of compiled form descriptions. When the application requests a form to be displayed, the dynamic form software finds the entry for the form in the catalogue, constructs the form using the information from the specification objects, and displays the information to the user. The form construction process includes the selection of widgets, the binding of each widget to a data source, the layout and alignment of all widgets, and the construction of rule objects that respond to the users interaction with the form and validate the users input.
227 Citations
24 Claims
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1. An arrangement for operating a plurality of dynamic configuration forms, the arrangement comprising:
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a form description language (FDL) file for the plurality of dynamic configuration forms, said FDL file including a description of a layout type to be displayed by the plurality of dynamic configuration forms, and a description of data to be displayed by the dynamic configuration forms; a dynamic form software engine, said form engine being part of the application and receiving a request from the application to display one of the plurality of dynamic configuration forms, said form engine reading said FDL file, said form engine collecting said data described by said FDL file, said form engine dynamically creating a graphical appearance of a secondary window in the application with a layout in accordance with said layout type of said FDL file, and displaying said data of said FDL file in the secondary window in accordance with said layout type. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A method for operating a plurality of dynamic configuration forms as secondary windows in an application, the method comprising the steps of:
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providing a form description language (FDL) file for the plurality of dynamic configuration forms, said FDL file including a description of data to be displayed by said dynamic configuration forms; providing a dynamic form software engine, said form engine being part of the application; sending a request from the application to said form engine requesting display of one of the dynamic configuration forms; said form engine reading said FDL file; said form engine collecting said data described by said FDL file; said form engine dynamically creating a graphical appearance of a secondary window in the application with a standard layout; said form engine displaying said data of said FDL file in the secondary window in accordance with said standard layout. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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Specification