Method for associating data bearing objects with user interface objects
First Claim
1. A method for associating a data bearing object with a user interface object, comprising:
- defining a controlling object between a data bearing object and a user interface object; and
defining, using a processor, an association object interposed between the controlling object and the user interface object;
wherein the data bearing object corresponds to an entry in a database;
wherein the association object links the controlling object to the user interface object, communicates with the controlling object using a standard message format, and communicates with the user interface object using a message format specific to the user interface object; and
wherein the controlling object transports via the association object a data value from the data bearing object to the user interface object, which data value is displayed by the user interface object.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention comprises a method for allowing a data controlling object to interface with any number of user interface objects without requiring separate interface code for each user interface object and without restricting the user interface to certain predetermined designs. The present method provides objects called association objects that are interposed between a data controlling object and each user interface object. Each kind of user interface object has a corresponding association object. The association object for a particular kind of user interface object contains code that allows the association object to interact with the specific kind of user interface object with which it is associated. Each association object also presents a standard interface to a data controlling object, regardless of the kind of user interface object with which the association object is associated. The association object takes care of any conversion or translation that must be performed to convert a data value sent by the data controlling object into an appropriate value that can be displayed by the user interface object. Accordingly, instead of requiring different interface code for each kind of user interface object used, a data controlling object requires only a single block of interface code for communicating with all association objects, which in turn provide the user interface specific code needed for each kind of user interface object.
17 Citations
24 Claims
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1. A method for associating a data bearing object with a user interface object, comprising:
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defining a controlling object between a data bearing object and a user interface object; and defining, using a processor, an association object interposed between the controlling object and the user interface object; wherein the data bearing object corresponds to an entry in a database; wherein the association object links the controlling object to the user interface object, communicates with the controlling object using a standard message format, and communicates with the user interface object using a message format specific to the user interface object; and wherein the controlling object transports via the association object a data value from the data bearing object to the user interface object, which data value is displayed by the user interface object. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A system for associating a data bearing object with a user interface object, comprising:
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a processor configured to; define a controlling object between a data bearing object and a user interface object; and define an association object interposed between the controlling object and the user interface object; wherein the data bearing object corresponds to an entry in a database; wherein the association object links the controlling object to the user interface object, communicates with the controlling object using a standard message format, and communicates with the user interface object using a message format specific to the user interface object; and wherein the controlling object transports via the association object a data value from the data bearing object to the user interface object, which data value is displayed by the user interface object; and a memory coupled to the processor and configured to provide the processor with instructions. - View Dependent Claims (22)
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23. A computer program product comprising:
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a non-transitory computer usable medium having computer readable program code embodied therein for associating a data bearing object with a user interface object, the computer program product comprising computer readable code configured to cause a computer to; define a controlling object between a data bearing object and a user interface object; and define an association object interposed between the controlling object and the user interface object; wherein the data bearing object corresponds to an entry in a database; wherein the association object links the controlling object to the user interface object, communicates with the controlling object using a standard message format, and communicates with the user interface object using a message format specific to the user interface object; and wherein the controlling object transports via the association object a data value from the data bearing object to the user interface object, which data value is displayed by the user interface object. - View Dependent Claims (24)
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Specification