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US5687366A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Crossing locale boundaries to provide services

Assignee: Apple Inc
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Filing: 1995-05-05
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Granted: 1997-11-11
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Expires: 2015-05-05
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Abstract

Abstract A method and apparatus in a computer system for providing localized services on a computer system. Responsive to a request from a first process requesting a first international function, a database is scanned for a first service which provides the first international function. The database is arranged by locale. If the first service does exist in a first locale in the database, then a second locale in the database is scaned for the first service. If the second locale contains the first service then the first service is retrieved and made available to the first process. Thus, services for first process may span locale boundaries in the database wherein the first process references at least two services which reside in at least two of the locales. The functions include sorting service functions, formatting service functions.

Inventors

  • 👤 John Harvey, III
  • 👤 Andrew Michael Daniels
  • 👤 William James Saunders

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-07 20:37
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06Q; G06Q99/00

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 31
Claim 1
Independent Claim 129 words
An automatic method for providing international services on a computer system comprising the following steps: a. establishing a set of services, said set of services specifying different functions required for said international services; b. storing said services into a database in said computer system arranged by different locales; c. detecting a request from a first process requesting a first international function; d. responsive to said request, scanning in said database for a first service which provides said first international function, and if said first service does not exist in a first locale in said database, then scanning in a second locale in said database; and e. if said second locale contains said first service then retrieving said first service and making said first service available to said first process.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 129 words
An automatic method for providing international services on a computer system comprising the following steps: a. establishing a set of services, said set of services specifying different functions required for said international services; b. storing said services into a database in said computer system arranged by different locales; c. detecting a request from a first process requesting a first international function; d. responsive to said request, scanning in said database for a first service which provides said first international function, and if said first service does not exist in a first locale in said database, then scanning in a second locale in said database; and e. if said second locale contains said first service then retrieving said first service and making said first service available to said first process.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 49 words
The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of repeating steps d and e if said second locale does not contain said first service said second locale becoming said first locale, and a third locale becoming said second locale, and repeating until a locale contains said first service.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 39 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said request from said first process for said first international function includes a first attribute, and said step of scanning includes determining if said second locale contains a service having said first attribute.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 46 words
The method of claim 3 wherein said first attribute includes a first name and a first associated value and said step of scanning includes determining if said second locale contains a service having said first name and an associated value equal to said first associated value.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 39 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said request from said first process for said first international function includes a first name, and said step of scanning includes determining if said second locale contains a service having said first name.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 47 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said request from said first process for said first international function includes a first attribute and a first name, and said step of scanning includes determining if said second locale contains a service having said first name and said first attribute.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 46 words
The method of claim 6 wherein said first attribute includes a first name and a first associated value and said step of scanning includes determining if said second locale contains a service having said first name and an associated value equal to said first associated value.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 25 words
The method of claim 1 wherein scanning includes iterating through each of said set of services in said database by each of said different locales.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 29 words
The method of claim 8 wherein said iterating includes said first process invoking an iteration function, and said iteration function is invoked for each separate iteration in said database.
Claim 11
Independent Claim 98 words
A method for providing localized services on a computer system comprising the following steps: a. responsive to a request from a first process requesting a first international function, scanning in a database for a first service which provides said first international function, wherein said database is arranged by locale, and if said first service does exist in a first locale in said database, then scanning in a second locale in said database; and b. determining if said second locale contains said first service then retrieving said first service and making said first service available to said first process.
Claim 12
Independent Claim 98 words
A method for providing localized services on a computer system comprising the following steps: a. responsive to a request from a first process requesting a first international function, scanning in a database for a first service which provides said first international function, wherein said database is arranged by locale, and if said first service does exist in a first locale in said database, then scanning in a second locale in said database; and b. determining if said second locale contains said first service then retrieving said first service and making said first service available to said first process.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 28 words
The method of claim 10 wherein said first process references at least two references to at least two services which reside in at least two of said locales.
Claim 14
Independent Claim 47 words
A method for providing localized services on a computer system by a first process referencing at least two functions, said at least two functions residing in separate locales in a database containing services arranged by locale, each of said services stored into said separate locales by attribute.
Claim 15
Independent Claim 47 words
A method for providing localized services on a computer system by a first process referencing at least two functions, said at least two functions residing in separate locales in a database containing services arranged by locale, each of said services stored into said separate locales by attribute.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim 12 words
The method of claim 12 wherein said functions include text service functions.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim 12 words
The method of claim 12 wherein said functions include sorting service functions.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim 12 words
The method of claim 12 wherein said functions include formatting service functions.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim 28 words
The method of claim 15 wherein said first process references at least two references to at least two services which are in at least two of said locales.
Claim 20
Independent Claim 82 words
An apparatus comprising a processor coupled to a memory, said memory configured to include a set of services, said set of services stored into a database arranged by different locales said memory further configuring to scan in said database for a first service which provides a first function, and if said first service does not exist in a first locale in said database, then retrieving said first service from a second locale and making said first service available to said first process.
Claim 21
Independent Claim 82 words
An apparatus comprising a processor coupled to a memory, said memory configured to include a set of services, said set of services stored into a database arranged by different locales said memory further configuring to scan in said database for a first service which provides a first function, and if said first service does not exist in a first locale in said database, then retrieving said first service from a second locale and making said first service available to said first process.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim 43 words
The apparatus of claim 17 wherein said database further includes an attribute stored with each of said set of service(s), and said configuration includes a process for said determining which includes determining if said second locale contains a service having a first attribute.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim 18 words
The apparatus of claim 18 wherein said first attribute includes a first name and a first associated value.
Claim 24
Independent Claim 63 words
An apparatus for providing localized services on a computer system comprising a. a first means for storing a database arranged by locale; b. a second means receiving a request for a first international service; c. a third means for scanning through said database across locale boundaries to retrieved said first international service; and d. a fourth means for providing said first international service.
Claim 25
Independent Claim 63 words
An apparatus for providing localized services on a computer system comprising a. a first means for storing a database arranged by locale; b. a second means receiving a request for a first international service; c. a third means for scanning through said database across locale boundaries to retrieved said first international service; and d. a fourth means for providing said first international service.
Claim 26
Independent Claim 51 words
An apparatus for providing localized services on a computer system which comprises a means for a first process referencing at least two functions, said at least two functions residing in separate locales in a database containing services arranged by locale, each of said services stored into said separate locales by attribute.
Claim 27
Independent Claim 51 words
An apparatus for providing localized services on a computer system which comprises a means for a first process referencing at least two functions, said at least two functions residing in separate locales in a database containing services arranged by locale, each of said services stored into said separate locales by attribute.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim 12 words
The apparatus of claim 21 wherein said functions include text service functions.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim 12 words
The apparatus of claim 21 wherein said functions include sorting service functions.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim 12 words
The apparatus of claim 21 wherein said functions include formatting service functions.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim 28 words
The apparatus of claim 24 wherein said first process references at least two references to at least two services which are in at least two of said locales.

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 2000-11-10 2001-05-12 2001-11-11 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 2004-11-10 2005-05-12 2005-11-11 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2008-11-10 2009-05-12 2009-11-11 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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