EP0602790A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Directing operation of computer systems
Assignee: Borland Software Corp
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Filing: 1993-10-29
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2013-10-29
Abstract
Abstract A computer-based training system (CBT) has one or more Application Translation Units (ATUs 340), a message engine (350), and a script engine (320). For one or more target application (360) of interest, an ATU is provided for processing events specific to that application, thereby trapping events and translating them into abstract messages or "meta-messages" for conveying information about a particular event to the system. A general operating system ATU is also provided for trapping general system events. Translated event messages are processed by event handlers (450). System or application-specific messages which are not of interest are simply allowed to pass through. The individual handlers dispatch their respective messages to the script engine (320), which includes instructions for directing the activity of the target application(s). The script engine (320), in turn, acts upon an incoming message. The dispatched message triggers appropriate action (as specified by instructions within the script).
Inventors
- 👤 Richard J. Potts
- 👤 Mark A. Vershel
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 21:23
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F9/00; G06F9/06; G06F9/46; G06F9/48; G06F9/4806; G06F9/4812; G06F9/44; G06F9/455; G06F9/45504; G06F9/45508; G06F9/45512; G06F9/54; G06F9/542; G09; G09B; G09B19/00; G09B19/0053
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 30
Claim 1
Independent Claim
60 words
A method for directing operation of a computer system including application software operating in response to system and user events, the method being characterised by: (a) monitoring said events; (b) reporting desired ones of the events as an abstract message; (c) comparing said message with script-directed instructions; and (d) directing operation of said application software according to said script-directed instructions.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
21 words
A method according to claim 1 and comprising: (e) repeating steps (a) to (d) until operation of application software is terminated.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
29 words
A method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein step (a) includes: installing at least one event hook in said application software for trapping events from said application software.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
20 words
A method according to claim 3, and comprising: blocking selected ones of the trapped events from reaching the application software.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
40 words
A method according to claim 3 or 4, wherein the installing of an event hook step includes the substep of: registering a callback function with said application software, said callback function receiving messages indicating internal events of said application software.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
21 words
A method according to any one of the preceidng claims, wherein said abstract message is a meta-message representing multiple low-level events.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
46 words
A method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein each of said events is represented by a single system message, and wherein step (d) includes sending at least one system message to said application software for effecting a specific operation of said application software.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
26 words
A method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said events includes application-specific events which result from non-system events occurring within said application software.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
33 words
A method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein step (b) includes: identifying at least one of the events; and assigning a message identifier to said identified at least one event.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
52 words
A method according to claim 9, wherein step (c) includes: matching the message identifier to an event handler; and if a match is found, invoking the event handler with the message identifier, whereupon said event handler processes said identified at least one event in accordance with selected ones of the script-directed instructions.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
50 words
A method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said script-directed instructions include at least one keyword corresponding to a selected one of the abstract messages, whereupon a desired action in the application software is effected in response to occurrence of events identified by the selected abstract message.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
43 words
A method according to claim 11, wherein said script-directed instructions includes a plurality of keywords for processing a plurality of events in the application software, whereby operation of the application software is directed at least in part by sequence of said script-directed instructions.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
22 words
A method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said application software includes at least two target applications operating concurrently.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
25 words
A method according to claim 13, wherein the task of the application software includes a user-directed operation occurring between said at least two target applications.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
84 words
A computer-based training system characterised in that there are: (a) a computer for operating application software; (b) means arranged to monitor events of application software; (c) means arranged to translate a series of said events into a single message; and (d) means arranged to compare the message with user-specified instructions, said instructions specifying at least one application software action to occur in response to a selected message, and, if a match is found, invoking said user-specified instructions for effecting said at least one action.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
26 words
A system according to claim 15, wherein the means for monitoring events includes: means for installing a hook in said application software for trapping events thereof.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
21 words
A system according to claim 16, wherein said hook includes a selected one of a system hook and a callback function.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
43 words
A system according to claim 15, 16 or 17, wherein said means for translating a series of events includes: means for identifying a sequence of events as a particular state of interest; and means for identifying said state with a unique message identifier.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
23 words
A system according to any one of claims 15 to 18, wherein said application software includes a plurality of software applications operable concurrently.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
32 words
A system according to any one of claims 15 to 19, wherein said application software includes at least one of a spreadsheet application program, database application program, and a wordprocessing application program.
Claim 21
Independent Claim
38 words
A system according to any one of claims 15 to 20, wherein said means for translating a series of events includes: means for storing information representing characteristics of the application software during the event as an information object.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
29 words
A system according to claim 21, wherein said application software includes a windows interface, and wherein said characteristics include a windows class, a windows name, and a resource ID.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
38 words
A system according to claim 15 to 22, wherein said comparing means includes: a plurality of message handlers, each for processing at least one message of interest; and means for matching a message with a single message handler.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
92 words
A computer help system comprising: (a) a computer having a screen device; (b) an input device for positioning a cursor at a desired location on the screen device; and (b) means for displaying on the screen at least one object created by a user; characterised by (c) means arranged to display on the screen a dialog means specific for said at least one screen object if said cursor is within a preselected distance of said at least one screen object, said dialog means including components responsive to signals from said input device.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
39 words
A system according to claim 24, wherein said means for displaying dialog means includes trigger means operable automatically to display said dialog means whenever the cursor is positioned within the preselected distance of said at least one screen object.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
51 words
A system according to claim 24 or 25, wherein said means for displaying dialog means includes trigger means operable to display said dialog means only when the cursor is positioned within the preselected distance of said at least one screen object and a request for information is received from the user.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
22 words
A system according to claim 26, wherein said request for information includes at least one signal generated by said cursor positioning device.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
35 words
A system according to claim 27, and comprising a keyboard device, said input device being a two-button mouse device, and said request for information comprises signals from both the keyboard device and the mouse device.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
32 words
A system according to claim 28, wherein said request for information includes a right-mouse button down signal generated by the mouse device and a shift key signal generated by the keyboard device.
Claim 30
Independent Claim
27 words
A system according to any one of claims 24 to 29, wherein said at least one object is selected from a textual object and a graphic object.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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