Method and apparatus for monitoring display screen events in a screen-oriented software application too

Claim 3

A method as defined in claim 1 wherein said predefined region is defined by a start row, an end row, a start column and an end column.

Claim 4

A method as defined in claim 1 wherein the step of generating a trigger includes generating said trigger when text within said predefined region is modified and the text output cursor has exited from said predefined region.

Claim 5

A method as defined in claim 1 wherein the step of generating a trigger includes generating said trigger when text within said predefined region has changed, new text matches a desired pattern and the text output cursor exits from the predefined region.

Claim 6

A method as defined in claim 1 wherein the step of generating a trigger includes executing a subroutine.

Claim 7

A method as defined in claim 5 wherein the step of executing a subroutine includes notifying the user that said predefined application tool event has occurred.

Claim 8

A method as defined in claim 5 wherein the step of executing a subroutine includes notifying one or more of said software development tools that said predefined application tool event has occurred.

Claim 9

A method as defined in claim 7 wherein the step of notifying one or more of said software development tools includes the step of sending a message to a broadcast message server for forwarding to said one or more software development tools.

Claim 10

A method as defined in claim 5 wherein the step of executing a subroutine includes sending one or more commands to the application tool in response to occurrence of said predefined application tool event.

Claim 11

Apparatus for operating a screen-oriented software application tool in a computed-aided software development system, said software development system including computer software comprising a user interface, an operating system and one or more software development tools for performing predefined software development tasks, said apparatus comprising: an electronic digital computer for operation with said computer software, including a central processing unit and a memory unit; means for controlling communication between said software development tools and said screen-oriented application tool, said screen-oriented application tool containing a representation of a display screen comprising a two-dimensional character array and a text output cursor, said screen-oriented application tool not being designed for operation with a graphical user interface and having outputs consisting of printable text and special codes for controlling the display screen by positioning the text output cursor, writing characters to the two-dimensional character array, and clearing characters from the two-dimensional character array; means for monitoring said outputs of said application tool and detecting in said outputs the occurrence of a predefined application tool event in a predefined region of said representation of said display screen, said predefined application tool event comprising said text output cursor entering or exiting said predefined region; and means for generating a trigger in response to detecting in said outputs of said application tool the occurrence of said predefined application tool event within said predefined region, including means for generating said trigger when the text output cursor enters or exits said predefined region.

Claim 12

Apparatus for operating a screen-oriented software application tool in a computed-aided software development system, said software development system including computer software comprising a user interface, an operating system and one or more software development tools for performing predefined software development tasks, said apparatus comprising: an electronic digital computer for operation with said computer software, including a central processing unit and a memory unit; means for controlling communication between said software development tools and said screen-oriented application tool, said screen-oriented application tool containing a representation of a display screen comprising a two-dimensional character array and a text output cursor, said screen-oriented application tool not being designed for operation with a graphical user interface and having outputs consisting of printable text and special codes for controlling the display screen by positioning the text output cursor, writing characters to the two-dimensional character array, and clearing characters from the two-dimensional character array; means for monitoring said outputs of said application tool and detecting in said outputs the occurrence of a predefined application tool event in a predefined region of said representation of said display screen, said predefined application tool event comprising said text output cursor entering or exiting said predefined region; and means for generating a trigger in response to detecting in said outputs of said application tool the occurrence of said predefined application tool event within said predefined region, including means for generating said trigger when the text output cursor enters or exits said predefined region.

Claim 13

Apparatus as defined in claim 10 wherein said means for generating a trigger includes means for generating said trigger when text within said predefined region has changed, new text matches a desired pattern and the cursor exits from the predefined region.

Claim 14

Apparatus as defined in claim 10 wherein said means for generating a trigger includes means for generating said trigger when text within said predefined region is modified and the cursor has exited from said predefined region.

Claim 15

Apparatus as defined in claim 10 wherein said means for generating a trigger includes means for notifying one or more of said software development tools that said predefined application tool event has occurred.

Claim 16

Apparatus as defined in claim 10 wherein said means for generating a trigger includes means for sending one or more commands to the application tool in response to occurrence of said predefined application tool event.