Patent US5548745A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5548745A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and apparatus for designating context in a windowing environment
Assignee: Canon Inc
•
Filing: 1993-01-19
•
Granted: 1996-08-20
•
Expires: 2013-01-19
Abstract
Abstract A method and apparatus for defining a context environment of an editor applet which is processing data to be stored in a container applet. In the invention, a first applet is executed and the context environment indicative of the first applet is stored. A second applet is executed and examines the stored context environment indicative of the first applet. In accordance with the result of the examination, the second applet modifies its operation.
Inventors
- 👤 Alistair Egan
- 👤 Thomas S. Tullis
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 08:48
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F9/00; G06F9/06; G06F9/44; G06F9/451
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 33
Claim 1
Independent Claim
123 words
Method for defining a context environment of a second applet which has been launched from within a first applet and which processes data in conjunction with the first applet, the method comprising the steps of: first executing step for executing the first applet; storing a context environment indicative of functional capabilities of the first applet; second executing step for launching, from within the first applet, the second applet; examining the stored context environment indicative of the functional capabilities of the first applet; and modifying both functional capabilities of the second applet to be presented to a user and data processing capabilities of the second applet so as to be compatible with the context environment of the first applet examined in the examining step.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
123 words
Method for defining a context environment of a second applet which has been launched from within a first applet and which processes data in conjunction with the first applet, the method comprising the steps of: first executing step for executing the first applet; storing a context environment indicative of functional capabilities of the first applet; second executing step for launching, from within the first applet, the second applet; examining the stored context environment indicative of the functional capabilities of the first applet; and modifying both functional capabilities of the second applet to be presented to a user and data processing capabilities of the second applet so as to be compatible with the context environment of the first applet examined in the examining step.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
54 words
A method according to claim 1, wherein the examining step includes the step of determining whether the stored context environment is compatible with the processing function of the second applet and, in the case the stored context environment is determined not to be compatible, processing data in accordance with a predetermined default context environment.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
35 words
A method according to claim 2, wherein the modifying step includes the step of maintaining the context environment determined to be compatible with the second applet function until processing by the second applet is complete.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
34 words
A method according to claim 2, further comprising a step of storing data processed by the second applet in a database designated by the stored context environment or by the predetermined default context environment.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
30 words
A method according to claim 4, wherein data processed by the second applet is stored in a container designated by the stored context environment or by the default context environment.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method according to claim 1, wherein the first and second applet functions are user selectable from among a plurality of applets.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
35 words
A method according to claim 6, wherein the plurality of applets are stored in a file server and upon selection of an applet, the selected applet is loaded into a random access memory for execution.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method according to claim 7, wherein each of the plurality of applets either performs an editing function or a container function.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
20 words
A method according to claim 8, wherein the first applet is a container and the second applet is an editor.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
37 words
A method according to claim 1, wherein the first executing step includes the step of displaying a menu for selecting the second applet from among a plurality of applets at a predetermined step in the first applet.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
32 words
A method according to claim 1, wherein the step of storing the context environment indicative of the first applet includes storing a window identification and a database identification of the first applet.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
32 words
A method according to claim 9, wherein the container applet is selected from a plurality of container applets such as an E-mail message, a facsimile message, a folder, and a file cabinet.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
30 words
A method according to claim 9, wherein the editor applet is selected from a plurality of editor applets such as a text editor, a voice editor, and a message editor.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
15 words
A method according to claim 2, wherein the predetermined default environment is a pre-defined container.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
31 words
A method according to claim 1, wherein the step of storing a context environment includes the step of storing the context environment in multiple context environment suitable for the second applet.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
20 words
A method according to claim 1, wherein the second step of executing includes executing a plurality of linked editor applets.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
167 words
A method for using a context environment of a first application by a second application, launched from within the first application, to determine compatible functional capabilities to be presented to a user and to determine how to process data and where to store processed data, the method comprising the steps of: executing a first application program and storing a context environment indicative of functional capabilities of the first application program; launching a second application program from within the first application; examining the stored context environment of the first application program and determining compatible functional capabilities to operate within the context environment; modifying functional capabilities of the second application program to be presented to a user and modifying data processing of the second application program so as to be compatible with the context environment of the first application program examined in the examining step; and maintaining the functional capabilities and the data processing modifications in the second application program until the second application program has completed its function.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
167 words
A method for using a context environment of a first application by a second application, launched from within the first application, to determine compatible functional capabilities to be presented to a user and to determine how to process data and where to store processed data, the method comprising the steps of: executing a first application program and storing a context environment indicative of functional capabilities of the first application program; launching a second application program from within the first application; examining the stored context environment of the first application program and determining compatible functional capabilities to operate within the context environment; modifying functional capabilities of the second application program to be presented to a user and modifying data processing of the second application program so as to be compatible with the context environment of the first application program examined in the examining step; and maintaining the functional capabilities and the data processing modifications in the second application program until the second application program has completed its function.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
144 words
An apparatus for defining a context environment of a second applet which has been launched from within a first applet and which is processing data in conjunction with a first applet, comprising: a memory for storing a plurality of applets; and a processor for 1) selecting a first and a second applet from the memory, 2) executing the first applet, 3) storing a context environment indicative of functional capabilities of the first selected applet, 4) launching, from within the first applet, the second selected applet, 5) examining the stored context environment indicative of the functional capabilities of the first applet, and 6) modifying both functional capabilities of the second applet to be presented to a user and data processing capabilities of the second applet so as to be compatible with the context environment of the first applet based on the result of the examination.
Claim 21
Independent Claim
144 words
An apparatus for defining a context environment of a second applet which has been launched from within a first applet and which is processing data in conjunction with a first applet, comprising: a memory for storing a plurality of applets; and a processor for 1) selecting a first and a second applet from the memory, 2) executing the first applet, 3) storing a context environment indicative of functional capabilities of the first selected applet, 4) launching, from within the first applet, the second selected applet, 5) examining the stored context environment indicative of the functional capabilities of the first applet, and 6) modifying both functional capabilities of the second applet to be presented to a user and data processing capabilities of the second applet so as to be compatible with the context environment of the first applet based on the result of the examination.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
52 words
An apparatus according to claim 18, wherein the processor determines whether the stored context environment is compatible for processing of the second selected applet and, in the case the stored context environment is determined not to be compatible, the processor processes the second applet in accordance with a predetermined default context environment.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
25 words
An apparatus according to claim 19, wherein the processor maintains the context environment of the second applet until the second applet has completed its function.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
37 words
An apparatus according to claim 19, further comprising a database for storing the data processed by the second applet wherein the database location is designated by the stored context environment or by the predetermined default context environment.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
31 words
An apparatus according to claim 21, wherein the data processed by the second applet is stored in a container designated by the stored context environment or by the default context environment.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
26 words
An apparatus according to claim 18, further comprising a selector for selecting one of the first and second application programs, the selector including an icon display.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
32 words
An apparatus according to claim 23, wherein a plurality of icons are displayed on a monitor in a tool palette and an applet is selected on the basis of the icon image.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
40 words
An apparatus according to claim 18, wherein the memory is a file server for storing a plurality of applets and upon selection of an applet, the selected applet is loaded into a random access memory for execution by the processor.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
23 words
An apparatus according to claim 18, wherein each of the plurality of stored applets either performs an editing function or a container function.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
20 words
An apparatus according to claim 18, wherein the first applet is a container and the second applet is an editor.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
26 words
An apparatus according to claim 18, wherein the context environment stored by the processor includes a window handle and a database identification of the first applet.
Claim 32
Independent Claim
206 words
An apparatus for using a context environment of a first application by a second application, launched from within the first application, in order to determine compatible functional capabilities to be presented to a user and in order to determine how to process data and where to store the processed data, comprising: memory means for storing application programs; selection means for launching at least a first application program and a second application program from memory; and processing means for 1) executing the first application program in accordance with the selection means and storing a context environment indicative of functional capabilities of the first application program, 2) executing the second application program from within the first application program in accordance with a selection by the selection means, 3) examining the stored context environment of the first application program and determining compatible functional capabilities to operate within the context environment, 4) modifying functional capabilities of the second selected application program to be presented to a user and modifying data processing of the second application program so as to be compatible with the context environment of the first selected application program, and 5) maintaining functional capabilities and data processing modifications until the second selected application program has completed its function.
Claim 33
Independent Claim
206 words
An apparatus for using a context environment of a first application by a second application, launched from within the first application, in order to determine compatible functional capabilities to be presented to a user and in order to determine how to process data and where to store the processed data, comprising: memory means for storing application programs; selection means for launching at least a first application program and a second application program from memory; and processing means for 1) executing the first application program in accordance with the selection means and storing a context environment indicative of functional capabilities of the first application program, 2) executing the second application program from within the first application program in accordance with a selection by the selection means, 3) examining the stored context environment of the first application program and determining compatible functional capabilities to operate within the context environment, 4) modifying functional capabilities of the second selected application program to be presented to a user and modifying data processing of the second application program so as to be compatible with the context environment of the first selected application program, and 5) maintaining functional capabilities and data processing modifications until the second selected application program has completed its function.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US5097533A
Cited
US5119465A
Cited
US5450567A
Cited
US5313581A
Cited
US5349680A
Cited
US5349658A
Cited
US5442779A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1999-08-20 | 2000-02-19 | 2000-08-20 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2003-08-20 | 2004-02-19 | 2004-08-20 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2007-08-20 | 2008-02-19 | 2008-08-20 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |