Method to automate resource management in computer applications

• US 7,610,297 B2
• Filed: 01/25/2005
• Issued: 10/27/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 01/25/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Original Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Inventors: Kamppari, Olavi A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Rones; Charles
• Assistant Examiner(s): CAO, PHUONG THAO
• Application Number:
  US11/043,668
• Publication Number:
  US 20060167831A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,736 Days
• Field of Search: 707/101, 717/120, 715/744
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/454 Multi-language systems; Localisation; Internationalisation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99942 Manipulating data structure, e.g. compression, compaction, compilation

Abstract

There is provided a computer comprising an application that generates a call having a resource name and a default value. A resource manager compares an entry in a localized resource file to the resource name. A resource manager wrapper adds said resource name to a resource file if the localized resource file does not contain the resource name. The resource manager wrapper then sends a return value to the application to be used with presentations to an end user.

Claims

1. A computer system which comprises:

a computer, a user interface and a memory that comprises an application, a resource manager and a resource manager wrapper;

wherein said application in response to a request from said user interface for a presentation of an item generates a call having a resource name and a default value for a resource associated with said item;

wherein said resource manager responds to said call by determining if said resource name is defined in a first localized resource file;

wherein said resource manager wrapper writes said resource name in a second resource file, and automatically writes said default value as a value associated with said resource name in said second resource file, if said first localized resource file does not contain said resource name, or said resource manager retrieves a corresponding resource value from said first localized resource file if said first localized resource file contains said resource name, and provides a return value associated with said resource name to said application for use in providing data to said user interface for said presentation; and

wherein said resource name is a dynamic resource name, and wherein said first localized file contains only static resource names and localization values and said second resource file contains dynamic resource names and default values that are not localized.

2. The computer system of claim 1, further comprising an interface that presents information as a function of said return value.

3. The computer system of claim 1, wherein said return value is said default value if said resource name was not found in said first localized resource file.

4. The computer system of claim 2, wherein said return value is a localization value read from said first localized resource file if said resource name was found in said first localized resource file.

5. The computer system of claim 1, further comprising a database that provides said resource name and a default value to said application.

6. The computer system of claim 5, wherein said call comprises an Application Programming Interface (API) call.

7. The computer system of claim 1, wherein said default value corresponds to a first human language.

8. The computer system of claim 7, wherein said first human language is selected from the group consisting of:

English, Spanish, Finnish, Mandarin Chinese, and German.

9. The computer system of claim 1, further comprising a localization tool that updates the resource names of said first localized resource file with the resource names written to said second resource file.

10. The computer system of claim 9, wherein said localization tool generates localization values for said resource names written to said second resource file.

11. The computer system of claim 10, wherein said localization tool inputs said localization values into said first localized resource file.

12. A method of operating a computer that comprises a user interface and a memory that contains an application, a resource manager and a resource manager wrapper, said method comprising:

in response to a request from said user interface for presentation of an item, generating from said application running on said computer a call that has an associated resource name and an associated default value;

in response to said call, said resource manager determines if said resource name is defined in a first localized resource file;

if said resource name is defined in said first localized resource file, then said resource manager retrieves a corresponding resource value from said first localized resource file;

if said resource name is not defined in said first localized file, then said resource manager wrapper writes said resource name in a second resource file, and automatically writes said default value as a value associated with said resource name in said second resource file; and

providing a return value associated with said resource name for use in said presentation of said item by said user interface, wherein said return value comprises said resource value or said default value, and wherein said resource name is a dynamic resource name, and wherein said first localized file contains only static resource names and localization values and said second resource file contains dynamic resource names and default values that are not localized.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising transmitting said return value to said application.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein said return value is said default value if said resource name was not found in said first localized resource file.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein said return value is a localization value read from said first localized resource file if said resource name was found in said first localized resource file.

16. The method of claim 12, wherein said default value corresponds to a first human language.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein said first human language corresponds to a developer'"'"'s language.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein said localization value corresponds to a second human language.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein said second human language corresponds to a user'"'"'s language.

20. The method of claim 12, wherein said call is an API call.

21. A computer storage medium that stores a plurality of instructions of a computer program comprising:

one or more said instructions for operating a computer to receive a call that has an associated resource name and an associated default value;

one or more said instructions for operating said computer in response to said call to determine if said resource name is defined in a first localized resource file;

if said resource name is defined in said first localized resource file, one or more instructions for operating said computer to retrieve a corresponding resource value from said first localized resource file;

if said resource name is not defined in said first localized resource file, one or more of said instructions for operating said computer to automatically write said resource name in a second resource file and to write said default value as a corresponding default value for said resource name in said second resource file; and

providing a return value associated with said resource name for use in said presentation of said item by said user interface, wherein said return value comprises said resource value or said default value, wherein said resource name is a dynamic resource name, and wherein said first localized file contains only static resource names and localization values and said second resource file contains dynamic resource names and default values that are not localized.