US5297250A — Method of generating interfaces for use applicati…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 171 words

A method of generating interfaces for user applications, each of the interfaces being structured about a window displayable on the screen of a data processing system operating in the graphics mode, and interface including visual or dynamic items, the method comprising: displaying, in at least one survey window (16) of a survey module, an instantaneous synoptical table (18, 20) representing the constitution of an interface and composed on the basis of a descriptive status of the visual or dynamic items (22) present in the interface, said synoptical table being displayed in the form of at least one item list (18) having items accompanied by at least one list of responses (20) which itemizes the responses associated with a currently selected item (22) in the item list (18), and creating or modifying, in an interactive mode, said items (22) with the aid of at least one working window (29) under the control of the survey module, said at least one working window providing item selection and editing capabilities in said interactive mode.

Claim 2

Independent Claim 171 words

A method of generating interfaces for user applications, each of the interfaces being structured about a window displayable on the screen of a data processing system operating in the graphics mode, and interface including visual or dynamic items, the method comprising: displaying, in at least one survey window (16) of a survey module, an instantaneous synoptical table (18, 20) representing the constitution of an interface and composed on the basis of a descriptive status of the visual or dynamic items (22) present in the interface, said synoptical table being displayed in the form of at least one item list (18) having items accompanied by at least one list of responses (20) which itemizes the responses associated with a currently selected item (22) in the item list (18), and creating or modifying, in an interactive mode, said items (22) with the aid of at least one working window (29) under the control of the survey module, said at least one working window providing item selection and editing capabilities in said interactive mode.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 65 words

The method of claim 1, characterized in that in the interactive mode, with the aid of at least one working window (29) under control of said survey module, the creation or modification of specific reactions associated with said items (22), hereinafter called responses, is performed, on the basis of actions predefined outside the interface with a callup of an identifiable function of the user application.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 100 words

The method of one of claim 2 characterized in that in the interactive mode, with the aid of at least one working window under the control of said survey module, the creation or modification of said at least one item list is performed, by pooling of the responses associated with the same items in ordered fashion for sequential execution, wherein certain item lists, hereinafter called Named Response Lists, are more identifiable and are capable of being called up from inside or outside the interface, and other item lists, hereinafter called Response Lists, are less identifiable than the Named Response Lists.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 63 words

The method of claim 3, characterized in that in the interactive mode, the creation or modification of at least one particular Names Response List, hereinafter called the Initial Status, is performed, with the aid of a working window under control of said survey module, the Initial Status Response Lists for execution at the time a user application linked with said interface is initialized.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 52 words

The method of claim 3, characterized in that the interactive mode, with the aid of a working window under the control of said survey module, the creation or modification of conditional branch Responses, hereinafter called Conditions, is performed, each Condition including a branch identifier used to call up a Names Response List.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 57 words

The method of one of claim 5, characterized in that in the interactive mode, with the aid of a working window under the control of said survey module, the creation or modification of reference callup functions is performed, each Reference being linked to one Response and being capable of calling up an identifiable item of the interface.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 138 words

The method of one of claim 6, characterized in that the synoptical table is organized by category (or class) of items in a plurality of Item Lists (18), each Item List corresponding to a predetermined class and being displayable separately, as application accompanied by its Response List, each Item List (18) or Response List (20), organized by the type of constituent elements of the interface, displaying a set of descriptive rubrics for each item or component of an item and/or Response, the rubrics being selected in particular from the following: "class/type", "name", "attribute", "item status", and "reference callup", the contents of the Item Lists and Response Lists and in particular the contents of the descriptive rubrics being updated automatically from the working windows progressively with the operations of creation or modification of the interface in the interactive mode.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 38 words

The method of claim 7, characterized in that the synoptical table further includes at least one list of conditions, or Conditions List (26), displayable in a survey window after callup based on a selection in a Response List.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 78 words

The method of claim 3, characterized in that in the interactive mode, with the aid of at least one working window under the control of said survey module, the creation or modification of Response Lists is performed, by pooling of the Responses associated with the same items in ordered fashion for sequential execution, wherein certain Response Lists, hereinafter called Named Response Lists, are more identifiable and are capable of being called up from inside and/or outside the interface.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 67 words

The method of claim 2, characterized in that said synoptical table is displayed in at least one survey window (16) in the form of at least one list having items, called an Item List (18), accompanied as applicable by at least one list of Responses, or Response List (20), and further includes itemizing the Responses associated with the currently selected item (22) in the Item List (18).

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 78 words

The method of claim 10, characterized in that in the interactive mode, with the aid of at least one working window under the control of said survey module, the creation or modification of Response Lists is performed, by pooling of the Responses associated with the same items in ordered fashion for sequential execution, wherein certain Response Lists, hereinafter called Named Response Lists, are more identifiable and are capable of being called up from inside and/or outside the interface.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 104 words

The method of claim 1, characterized in that the interface to be generated is broken down into basic constituent elements, such as said items or components thereof, by categories of predefined identical structure; the synoptical table is organized in such a manner as to identify each constituent element or its category; and defining for at least one category, at least one working window (29), preferably a dialog window, that is capable of being called up from the survey module, either in the element creation mode after identification of the category in question, or in the display/modification mode after identification of the particular constituent element.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 64 words

The method of claim 12, characterized in that said working windows are pooled in an editing module controlled by the survey module, said editing module further including a module for block information exchange of said constituent elements, of the cut/copy/paste type, and capable of determining the format of the current block from the identification of the category of the constituent element to be manipulated.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 62 words

The method of claim 13 characterized in that the categories of the constituent elements are chosen from among known types of items, such as window, menu bar, dialog box, message box, components of items such as menus, buttons, or on the basis of reactions associated with the items, conditional branch reactions, and callups of items of the interface made via these reactions.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 62 words

The method of claim 12, characterized in that the categories of the constituent elements are chosen from among known types of items, such as window, menu bar, dialog box, message box, components of items such as menus, buttons, or on the basis of reactions associated with the items, conditional branch reactions, and callups of items of the interface made via these reactions.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 63 words

The method of claim 1, characterized in that a test module is associated with the interface, the test module being capable of effecting the display of all or part of the interface or of dynamic execution of all or part of the interface progressively with its creation or modification in order to display the behavior of the interface and/or of the user application.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 54 words

The method of claim 1, characterized in that in the interactive mode with the aid of at least one working window (29) under control of said survey module, the creation and modification of specific reactions associated with said items (22) hereinafter called Responses, is performed, on the basis of actions predefined inside the interface.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 36 words

The method as set forth in claim 1 wherein among the dynamic items of the interface there is included a response R -- ACTION that enables execution of a subroutine which exists in a user application.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 35 words

The method as set forth in claim 1 wherein among the dynamic items of the interface there is includes a response R -- BEEP for producing a sound used particularly for warning an end user.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 31 words

The method as set forth in claim 1 wherein among the dynamic items of the interface there is includes a response R -- CTLSTATUS for modifying the status of a CONTROL.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 31 words

The method as set forth in claim 1 wherein among the dynamic items of the interface there is included a response R -- DIALOGBOX for opening and initializing a dialog box.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 34 words

The method as set forth in claim 1 wherein among the dynamic items of the interface there is included a response R -- ENDDIALOG for closing a dialog box and entering a return code.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 39 words

The method as set forth in claim 1 wherein among the dynamic items of the interface there is included a response R -- EXIT for exiting a list of responses within which said R -- EXIT response is included.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 39 words

The method as set forth in claim 1 wherein among the dynamic items of the interface there is included a response R -- FORWARD which enables forwarding information from one CONTROL to another CONTROL in a same dialog box.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 34 words

The method as set forth in claim 1 wherein among the dynamic items of the interface there is included a response R -- ITEMSTATUS which enables modifying the execution status of a menu choice.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 35 words

The method as set forth in claim 1 wherein among the dynamic items of the interface there is included a response R -- MENUBAR for dynamically associating a particular menu bar with a given window.

Claim 28

Dependent Claim 43 words

The method as set forth in claim 1 wherein among the dynamic items of the interface there is included a response R -- MESSAGEBOX for opening a message box to inform the end user of an act via the contents of a message.

Claim 29

Dependent Claim 37 words

The method as set forth in claim 1 wherein among the dynamic items of the interface there is included a response R -- SELECT for placing an active point on a given CONTROL of a dialog box.

Claim 30

Dependent Claim 33 words

The method as set forth in claim 1 wherein among the dynamic items of the interface there is included a response R -- SETCONTROL for giving a CONTROL the contents of a variable.

Claim 31

Dependent Claim 34 words

The method as set forth in claim 1 wherein among the dynamic items of the interface there is included a response R -- SETVARIABLE for saving the contents of a CONTROL in a variable.

Claim 32

Dependent Claim 32 words

The method as set forth in claim 1 wherein among the dynamic items of the interface there is included a response R -- WINDOW for performing an operation on a given window.

Claim 33

Dependent Claim 35 words

The method of claim 1, wherein said survey module comprises a survey menu which enables the selection of a class of elements to be displayed in the survey window with which a user may work.

Claim 34

Dependent Claim 89 words

The method of claim 1, further comprising breaking down said interface to be generated into a plurality of categories of predefined identical structure having a plurality of basic constituent elements such as said items or components of said items, into categories of predefined identical structure, said categories of constituent elements being chosen from among known types of items including window, menu bar, dialog box, message box and components of items including menu buttons, check box, radio button, list box, text, text zone, horizontal scrolling bar and vertical scrolling bar.

Claim 35

Dependent Claim 84 words

The method of claim 1 wherein said survey module further comprises an editing menu which comprises three groups of commands, a first group having the commands "Cut", "Copy", and "Paste", a second group containing the command "Attributes", which upon selection, opens a working window which has the attributes of a current element selected from the list displayed in the survey window, and a third group of commands having variable contents which vary depending upon the manner in which the editing menu has been entered.

Claim 36

Dependent Claim 67 words

The method of claim 34 wherein said survey module includes a survey menu which enables the selection of a class of elements to be displayed in the survey window, and wherein said third group of commands contains the commands "new menu bar", "new menu", "new menu choice", "new responses" and "new condition" when the editing menu is entered from a "menu bar" class of the survey menu.

Claim 37

Dependent Claim 64 words

The method of claim 34 wherein said survey module includes a survey menu which enables the selection of a class of elements to be displayed in the survey window, and wherein said third group of commands contains the commands "new named response list", "new response", and "new condition" when the editing menu is entered from a "named response list" class of the survey menu.

Claim 38

Dependent Claim 64 words

The method of claim 34 wherein said survey module includes a survey menu which enables the selection of a class of elements to be displayed in the survey window, and wherein said third group of commands contains the commands "new message list", "new message", "new response" and "new condition", when the editing menu is entered from a "message list" class of the survey menu.

Claim 39

Dependent Claim 57 words

The method of claim 34 wherein said survey module includes a survey menu which enables the selection of a class of elements to be displayed in the survey window, and wherein said third group of commands contains the command "new message box" when the editing menu is entered from a "message box" class of the survey menu.

Claim 40

Dependent Claim 59 words

The method of claim 34 wherein said survey module includes a survey menu which enables the selection of a class of elements to be displayed in the survey window, and wherein said third group of commands contains the commands "new response" and "new condition" when the editing menu is entered from an "initial status" class of the survey menu.

Claim 41

Dependent Claim 51 words

The method of claim 34 wherein said survey module includes a survey menu which enables the selection of a class of elements to be displayed in the survey window, and wherein said third group of commands contains the command "new variable" when the editing menu is entered from a "variable" class.

Claim 42

Dependent Claim 54 words

The method of claim 34 wherein said survey module includes a survey menu which enables the selection of a class of elements to be displayed in the survey window, and wherein said third group of commands contains a "new window" command when said editing menu is entered from a "window" class of the survey.

Claim 43

Dependent Claim 62 words

The method of claim 34 wherein said survey module includes a survey menu which enables the selection of a class of elements to be displayed in the survey window, and wherein said third group of commands contains the commands "new dialog box", "new response" and "new conditions" when said editing menu is entered from a "dialog box" class of the survey menu.

Claim 44

Dependent Claim 25 words

The method of claim 1 wherein the survey module also comprises an expansion menu enabling a user to work with subportions of the synoptical table.

Claim 45

Dependent Claim 35 words

The method of claim 43 wherein said expansion menu is designed to allow, when entered through a dialog box command of the survey menu, the selection of one of the components of a dialog box.

Claim 46

Dependent Claim 156 words

Apparatus for generating interfaces, said apparatus including a data processing system having a central processing unit, a central memory loaded with an operating system program, a screen working in the graphics mode, at least one input peripheral capable of moving a pointer from place to place on the screen, the apparatus further comprising a set of programs operatively associated with the system for displaying on the screen, in at least one survey window of a survey module, a synoptical table representing the constitution of at least a part of the interface and composed on the basis of a descriptive status of the visual or dynamic items (22) present in the interface and for creating or modifying, in an interactive mode, said items (22), with the aid of at least one working window under the control of the survey module, wherein said at least one working window provides item selection and editing capabilities in said interactive mode.

Claim 47

Dependent Claim 156 words

Apparatus for generating interfaces, said apparatus including a data processing system having a central processing unit, a central memory loaded with an operating system program, a screen working in the graphics mode, at least one input peripheral capable of moving a pointer from place to place on the screen, the apparatus further comprising a set of programs operatively associated with the system for displaying on the screen, in at least one survey window of a survey module, a synoptical table representing the constitution of at least a part of the interface and composed on the basis of a descriptive status of the visual or dynamic items (22) present in the interface and for creating or modifying, in an interactive mode, said items (22), with the aid of at least one working window under the control of the survey module, wherein said at least one working window provides item selection and editing capabilities in said interactive mode.

Claim 48

Dependent Claim 55 words

The apparatus of claim 45, characterized in that said set of programs includes an autonomous interface operating module, arranged to be capable of being associated with the generated interface independently of said survey module and if applicable of said editing module, in order to enable the dynamic execution of this interface with a user application.

Claim 49

Dependent Claim 77 words

The apparatus of claim 45, characterized in that in the interactive mode, with the aid of at least one working window (29) under the control of said survey module, there is included means for the creation or modification of the specific reactions associated with said items (22), hereinafter called Response, on the basis of actions predefined inside or outside the interface, and when outside the interface with a callup of an identifiable function of the user application.

Claim 50

Dependent Claim 88 words

The apparatus of claim 47, wherein the interface is broken down into basic constituent elements by categories of predefined identical structure, the synoptical table is organized in such a manner as to identify each constituent element or its category, for at least one category, at least one working window (29) is defined that is capable of being called up from the survey module, either in an element creation mode after identification of the category in question, or in a display/modification mode after identification of the particular constituent element.

Claim 51

Dependent Claim 58 words

The apparatus of claim 45 further including a test module means operatively associated with the interface for effecting the display of all or part of the interface or of dynamic execution of all or part of the interface progressively with its creation or modification in order to display the behavior of the interface or of the user application.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1997-03-21	1997-09-20	1998-03-22	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2001-03-21	2001-09-20	2002-03-22	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2005-03-21	2005-09-20	2006-03-22	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Method of generating interfaces for use applications that are displayable on the screen of a data processing system, and apparatus for performing the method

Abstract

Inventors

Bibliographic Details

Claims Analysis

References Cited (Backward Citations)

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Assigned Categories & Tags

Assign Category Tag