Generating floating desktop representation of extracted model object

• US 9,105,006 B2
• Filed: 05/29/2009
• Issued: 08/11/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 05/29/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Red Hat, Inc. (International Business Machines Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Red Hat, Inc. (International Business Machines Corporation)
• Inventors: Williamson, Eric
• Primary Examiner(s): BHARGAVA, ANIL K
• Application Number:
  US12/475,460
• Publication Number:
  US 20100306682A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,265 Days
• Field of Search: 715/762, 715/763, 715/764, 715/771
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0481 based on specific properties of the displayed interaction object or a metaphor-based environment, e.g. interaction with desktop elements like windows or icons, or assisted by a cursor's changing behaviour or appearance
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/451 Execution arrangements for user interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management

Abstract

Embodiments relate to systems and methods for generating a floating desktop representation of an extracted model object. Aspects relate to object-based modeling using modeling objects that can be extracted from spreadsheet cells, database entries, or other sources. A modeling client can host modeling logic and an application programming interface (API) to create, access, manipulate, and import/export modeling objects used in modeling applications, such as engineering, medical, financial, and other modeling platforms. In aspects, the source data can be accepted into the modeling client from consumer or business-level applications, whose cell, database, or other data content can be extracted and encapsulated in object-oriented format, such as extensible markup language (XML) format. An icon or other desktop representation can be generated to present the extracted model object for selection and use in the local environment of the modeling client. The extracted model object can also be exchanged with other applications or platforms.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

executing an instance of an application on a client computer system, the application comprising a set of source data;

selecting a portion of the set of source data from the instance of the application to extract a data element and an attribute of the selected portion of source data;

encapsulating the selected portion of source data in a model object, the selected portion of source data comprising the extracted data element and attribute;

generating a snapshot representation of the model object on an interface of the client computer system, wherein the snapshot representation is a compact visual representation of the extracted data element and attribute and comprises a column header corresponding to the extracted data element and attribute;

receiving user input selecting the snapshot representation;

accessing, by a processor executing the application, the selected portion of the source data encapsulated in the model object in response to the user input, wherein the application comprises a user application; and

changing, by the application, a value for the data element to update the data element in the selected portion of the source data encapsulated in the model object to create an updated model object, wherein the snapshot representation corresponds to the updated model object in response to changing the value.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the set of source data comprises at least one of spreadsheet data, database data, word processing data, or presentation data.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the model object is encoded in extensible markup language (XML) format.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the attribute comprises at least one of a function call parameter or a linkage parameter.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the interface of the client computer system comprises a graphical user interface.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the model object is importable into at least one application other than the application comprising the set of source data via the snapshot representation.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the set of source data is hosted in at least one of local storage of the client computer system or remote storage.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the snapshot representation comprises a column including one or more rows, each row including a value corresponding to the extracted data element and attribute.

9. A client computer system comprising:

an interface to a set of source data; and

a processor, to communicate with the set of source data via the interface, the processor to;

execute an instance of an application on a client computer system, the application comprising a set of source data,

select a portion of the set of source data from the instance of the application to extract a data element and an attribute of the selected portion of source data,

encapsulate the selected portion of source data in a model object, the model object comprising the extracted data element and attribute,

generate a snapshot representation of the model object on an interface of the client system, wherein the snapshot representation is a compact visual representation of the extracted data element and attribute and comprises a column header corresponding to the extracted data element and attribute,

receive user input selecting the snapshot representation;

access, by the application, the selected portion of the source data encapsulated in the model object in response to the user input, wherein the application comprises a user application; and

change, by the application, a value for the data element to update the data element in the selected portion of the source data encapsulated in the model object to create an updated model object, wherein the snapshot representation corresponds to the updated model object in response to changing the value.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the set of source data comprises at least one of spreadsheet data, database data, word processing data, or presentation data.

11. The system of claim 9, wherein the model object is encoded in extensible markup language (XML) format.

12. The system of claim 9, wherein the attribute comprises at least one of a function call parameter or a linkage.

13. The system of claim 9, wherein the interface of the client computer system comprises a graphical user interface.

14. The system of claim 9, wherein the model object is importable into at least one application other than the application comprising the set of source data via the snapshot representation.

15. The system of claim 9, wherein the set of source data is hosted in at least one of local storage of the client computer system or remote storage.

16. The system of claim 9, wherein the snapshot representation comprises a column including one or more rows, each row including a value corresponding to the extracted data element and attribute.

17. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium including instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to:

execute an instance of an application on a client computer system, the application comprising a set of source data;

select a portion of the set of source data from the instance of the application to extract a data element and an attribute of the selected portion of source data;

encapsulate the selected portion of source data in a model object, the model object comprising the extracted data element and attribute;

generate a snapshot representation of the model object on an interface of the client computer system, wherein the snapshot representation is a compact visual representation of the extracted data element and attribute and comprises a column header corresponding to the extracted data element and attribute;

receive user input selecting the snapshot representation;

access, by a processor executing the application, the selected portion of the source data encapsulated in the model object in response to the user input, wherein the application comprises a user application; and

change, by the application, a value for the data element to update the data element in the selected portion of the source data encapsulated in the model object to create an updated model object, wherein the snapshot representation corresponds to the updated model object in response to changing the value.