Scripting system

Claim 2

A computer--implemented method for scripting an application program function comprising the steps of: instantiating a script interpreter, the script interpreter being responsive to a trigger event such that in response to the trigger event the script interpreter interprets scripts commands in an attached script; attaching a script to the script interpreter, the script defining a script event by which the script is triggered, the script further including script commands including a command to execute the application program function; and executing the application program to detect a trigger event and providing the script interpreter with the detected trigger event.

Claim 3

A method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of executing the script interpreter in response to detection of a trigger event to interpret corresponding scripts.

Claim 4

A method according to claim 2, wherein in said executing step, in response to interpreting a command to execute the application program function, the script interpreter invokes the application program function.

Claim 5

A method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of forming a library list which includes an entry point for the application program function.

Claim 6

A method according to claim 4, wherein the script interpreter refers to the library list in response to interpreting a script command to execute the application program function.

Claim 7

A method according to claim 4, wherein the library list forming step includes the step of forming a library list of entry points for utility functions, and wherein the attached script includes script commands to execute utility functions.

Claim 8

A method according to claim 6, wherein the script interpreter refers to the library list in response to interpreting a script command to execute the utility function.

Claim 9

A method according to claim 6, wherein the utility functions include a function to set a trigger event.

Claim 10

A method according to claim 6, wherein the utility functions include a function to invoke another script.

Claim 11

A method according to claim 6, wherein the utility functions include a function to determine whether an event is set.

Claim 12

A method according to claim 4, wherein said library list forming step includes the step of forming a library list which includes entry points for a function from a second application program.

Claim 13

A method according to claim 11, wherein the script interpreter refers to the library list in response to interpreting a script command to execute the function exported from the second application program.

Claim 14

A method according to claim 1, wherein script commands include commands to execute utility functions.

Claim 15

A method according to claim 13, wherein the utility functions include a function to set a trigger event.

Claim 16

A method according to claim 13, wherein the utility functions include a function to invoke another script.

Claim 17

A method according to claim 13, wherein the utility functions include a function to determine whether an event is set.

Claim 18

A method according to claim 1, wherein the script commands include commands to execute a function from a second application program.

Claim 19

A computer--implemented method for scripting exported application program functions comprising the steps of: forming an initialization file that includes a dynamic link library list for an entry point to the exported application program function; instantiating a script interpreter, the script interpreter being responsive to a trigger event to trigger an attached script; attaching a script to the script interpreter, the script defining a script event by which the script is triggered, the script further including script commands including commands to execute the exported application program function; indexing into the script interpreter a correlation list of attached scripts and script events by which the attached scripts are triggered; executing the application program to detect a trigger event and providing the script interpreter with the detected trigger event; and executing the script interpreter in response to a detected trigger event, said executing step including the step of interpreting the script commands in the attached script that corresponds to the trigger event listed in the correlation list of attached scripts, said interpreting step including the step of executing the exported application program function based on the entry point listed in the dynamic link library in response to interpreting a script command to execute the exported application program function.

Claim 20

A computer--implemented method for scripting exported application program functions comprising the steps of: forming an initialization file that includes a dynamic link library list for an entry point to the exported application program function; instantiating a script interpreter, the script interpreter being responsive to a trigger event to trigger an attached script; attaching a script to the script interpreter, the script defining a script event by which the script is triggered, the script further including script commands including commands to execute the exported application program function; indexing into the script interpreter a correlation list of attached scripts and script events by which the attached scripts are triggered; executing the application program to detect a trigger event and providing the script interpreter with the detected trigger event; and executing the script interpreter in response to a detected trigger event, said executing step including the step of interpreting the script commands in the attached script that corresponds to the trigger event listed in the correlation list of attached scripts, said interpreting step including the step of executing the exported application program function based on the entry point listed in the dynamic link library in response to interpreting a script command to execute the exported application program function.

Claim 21

A method according to claim 18, wherein said initialization file forming step includes the step of forming an initialization file of entry points for utility functions, and wherein the attached script includes script commands to execute utility functions.

Claim 22

A method according to claim 19, wherein the script interpreter refers to the initialization file in response to interpreting a script command to execute the utility function.

Claim 23

A method according to claim 19, wherein the utility functions include a function to set a trigger event.

Claim 24

A method according to claim 19, wherein the utility functions include a function to invoke another script.

Claim 25

A method according to claim 19, wherein the utility functions include a function to determine whether an event is set.

Claim 26

A method according to claim 18, wherein said initialization file forming step includes the step of forming an initialization file to entry points for a function exported from a second application program.

Claim 27

A method according to claim 24, wherein the script interpreter refers to the initialization file in response to interpreting a script command to execute the function exported from the second application program.

Claim 28

A method according to claim 18, wherein script commands include commands to execute utility functions.

Claim 29

A method according to claim 26, wherein the utility functions include a function to set a trigger event.

Claim 30

A method according to claim 26, wherein the utility functions includes a function to invoke another script.

Claim 31

A method according to claim 26, wherein the utility functions include a function to determine whether an event is set.

Claim 32

A method according to claim 18, wherein the script commands include commands to execute a function from a second application program.

Claim 33

A computerized apparatus for scripting exported functionality from an application program, said apparatus comprising: a memory for storing (a) an application program which includes an entry point for the exported functionality, (b) a script interpreter, the script interpreter being responsive to a trigger event such that in response to the trigger event the script interpreter interprets script commands in an attached script, and (c) a script which defines a script event by which the script is triggered and which includes script commands to execute the exported functionality of the application program; and a processor for instantiating the script interpreter, for attaching the script to the script interpreter, and for executing the application program so as to detect a trigger event and so as to provide the script interpreter with the detected trigger event; wherein in response to the detected trigger event, the script interpreter interprets the script commands in the attached script so as to cause the exported functionality of the application program to be executed commencing from the entry point of the application program.

Claim 34

A computerized apparatus for scripting exported functionality from an application program, said apparatus comprising: a memory for storing (a) an application program which includes an entry point for the exported functionality, (b) a script interpreter, the script interpreter being responsive to a trigger event such that in response to the trigger event the script interpreter interprets script commands in an attached script, and (c) a script which defines a script event by which the script is triggered and which includes script commands to execute the exported functionality of the application program; and a processor for instantiating the script interpreter, for attaching the script to the script interpreter, and for executing the application program so as to detect a trigger event and so as to provide the script interpreter with the detected trigger event; wherein in response to the detected trigger event, the script interpreter interprets the script commands in the attached script so as to cause the exported functionality of the application program to be executed commencing from the entry point of the application program.

Claim 35

An apparatus according to claim 31, wherein said memory stores a library list which includes the entry point for the exported functionality of the application program.

Claim 36

An apparatus according to claim 32, wherein the script interpreter refers to the library list in response to interpreting a script command to execute the application program function.

Claim 37

An apparatus according to claim 32, wherein the library list includes entry points for utility functions, and wherein the attached script includes script commands to execute utility functions.

Claim 38

An apparatus according to claim 34, wherein the script interpreter refers to the library list in response to interpreting a script command to execute the utility function.

Claim 39

An apparatus according to claim 34, wherein the utility functions include a function to set a trigger event.

Claim 40

An apparatus according to claim 34, wherein the utility functions include a function to invoke another script.

Claim 41

An apparatus according to claim 34, wherein the utility functions include a function to determine whether an event is set.

Claim 42

An apparatus according to claim 32, wherein the library list includes entry points for a function from a second application program.

Claim 43

An apparatus according to claim 39, wherein the script interpreter refers to the library list in response to interpreting a script command to execute the function exported from the second application program.

Claim 44

An apparatus according to claim 31, wherein script commands include commands to execute utility functions.

Claim 45

An apparatus according to claim 41, wherein the utility functions include a function to set a trigger event.

Claim 46

An apparatus according to claim 42, wherein the utility functions include a function to invoke another script.

Claim 47

An apparatus according to claim 42, wherein the utility functions include a function to determine whether an event is set.

Claim 48

An apparatus according to claim 31, wherein the script commands include commands to execute a function from a second application program.

Claim 51

An apparatus according to claim 46, wherein the initialization file includes entry points for utility functions, and wherein the attached script includes script commands to execute utility functions.

Claim 52

An apparatus according to claim 47, wherein the script interpreter refers to the initialization file in response to interpreting a script command to execute the utility function.

Claim 53

An apparatus according to claim 47, wherein the utility functions include a function to set a trigger event.

Claim 54

An apparatus according to claim 47, wherein the utility functions include a function to invoke another script.

Claim 55

An apparatus according to claim 47, wherein the utility functions include a function to determine whether an event is set.

Claim 56

An apparatus according to claim 46, wherein the initialization file includes entry points for a function exported from a second application program.

Claim 57

An apparatus according to claim 52, wherein the script interpreter refers to the initialization file in response to interpreting a script command to execute the function exported from the second application program.

Claim 58

An apparatus according to claim 46, wherein script commands include commands to execute utility functions.

Claim 59

An apparatus according to claim 54, wherein the utility functions include a function to set a trigger event.

Claim 60

An apparatus according to claim 54, wherein the utility functions includes a function to invoke another script.

Claim 61

An apparatus according to claim 54, wherein the utility functions include a function to determine whether an event is set.

Claim 62

An apparatus according to claim 46, wherein the script commands include commands to execute a function from a second application program.