GUI application development supporting apparatus, method, and computer program

• US 8,074,174 B2
• Filed: 08/29/2003
• Issued: 12/06/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 09/06/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Suzuki, Hironori, Moriwaki, Kenichi, Okamoto, Naoya
• Primary Examiner(s): Huynh, Ba
• Application Number:
  US10/494,392
• Publication Number:
  US 20050071769A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,021 Days
• Field of Search: 715744-747, 715762-765, 709/217, 717/107, 719/310, 719/316
• US Class Current: 715/744
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/38 for implementing user interfaces

Abstract

An application development supporting apparatus and method that make it possible to generate a GUI application, freely altering the settings for graphical representation corresponding to devices, are provided. A configuration in which the logical part and the graphics representation part of each component set in a graphical user interface (GUI) are configured separately, and a GUI component is generated based on the logical part and the graphics representation part is adopted. Through the present configuration, it becomes possible to easily construct a GUI adapted to a device by sharing the logical part among various devices, and selecting different graphics representation parts, in which various representation modes are set, depending on the device.

Claims

1. A graphical user interface (GUI) application development apparatus for developing a GUI application, the GUI application development apparatus comprising:

a data input section for receiving user input information, the user input information selecting a GUI component for the GUI application and selecting a simple graphics representation for the selected GUI component or a rich graphics representation for the GUI component;

a logical component storage section storing logic program components for GUI components, the logic program components defining functions performed by the GUI components when executed the GUI application;

a simple graphics representation component storage section storing simple graphics representation program components for the GUI components, the simple graphics representation program components defining simple graphics display information of the GUI components when executed in the GUI application;

a rich graphics representation component storage section storing rich graphics representation program components for the GUI components, the rich graphics representation program components defining rich graphics display information of the GUI components when executed in the GUI application; and

an edit processing section that;

selects a logic program component from the logic program component storage section corresponding to the selected GUI component;

when the user input information indicates a selection of a simple graphics representation, selects a simple graphics representation program component corresponding to the selected GUI component from the simple graphics representation component storage section;

when the user input information indicates a selection of a rich graphics representation, selects a rich graphics representation program component for the GUI component from the rich graphics representation component storage section; and

generates the selected GUI component based on the selected logic program component and on the selected simple graphics representation program component or the selected rich graphics representation program component, wherein;

paint process execution programs for painting the GUI components are stored in the simple graphics representation program components, and

animation execution program for animating the GUI components are stored in the rich graphics representation program components.

2. The GUI application development apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the edit processing section executes edit processing of properties, methods, and events corresponding to the selected GUI component.

3. A method for generating a GUI application, the method comprising:

receiving user input information selecting a GUI component for the GUI application and selecting a simple graphics representation for the selected GUI component or a rich graphics representation for the selected GUI component;

extracting from a logical component storage section a logic program component defining functions performed by the selected GUI component in the GUI application;

when the user input information indicates a selection of a simple graphics representation, extracting from a simple graphics representation component storage section a simple graphics representation program component defining simple graphics display information of the selected GUI component in the GUI application, the selected simple graphics representation program component including a paint process execution program for painting the selected GUI component in the GUI application;

when the user input information indicates a selection of a rich graphics representation, extracting from a rich graphics representation component storage section a rich graphics representation program component defining rich graphics display information of the selected GUI component in the GUI application, the selected rich graphics representation program component including an animation execution program for animating the GUI component in the GUI application; and

generating the selected GUI component based on the extracted logic program component and on the extracted simple graphics representation program component or the extracted rich graphics representation program component.

4. The method according to claim 3, further comprising edit processing of properties, methods, and events corresponding to the selected GUI component.

5. A computer-readable medium having a computer program that executes a method for generating a GUI application, the method comprising:

receiving user input information selecting a GUI component for the GUI application and selecting a simple graphics representation for the selected GUI component or a rich graphics representation for the selected GUI component;

extracting from a logical component storage section a logic program component defining functions performed by the selected GUI component in the GUI application;

when the user input information indicates a selection of a simple graphics representation, extracting from a simple graphics representation component storage section a simple graphics representation program component defining simple graphics display information of the selected GUI component in the GUI application, the selected simple graphics representation program component including a paint process execution program for painting the selected GUI component in the GUI application;

when the user input information indicates a selection of a rich graphics representation, extracting from a rich graphics representation component storage section a rich graphics representation program component defining rich graphics display information of the selected GUI component in the GUI application, the selected rich graphics representation program component including an animation execution program for animating the GUI component in the GUI application; and

generating the selected GUI component based on the extracted logic program component and on the extracted simple graphics representation program component or the extracted rich graphics representation program component.

6. The computer-readable medium according to claim 5, wherein the method further comprises edit processing of properties, methods, and events corresponding to the selected GUI component.