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US5974256A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Method for translating graphical user interface (GUI) resource data into native java code

Assignee: International Business Machines Corp
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Filing: 1997-09-29
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Granted: 1999-10-26
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Expires: 2017-09-29
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Abstract

Abstract A graphical user interface layout is defined by a resource definition file having a set of resource directives associated therewith. A method of translating the layout to native Java source code begins by identifying each resource file directive associated with the window layout. For each resource file directive, or for each subdirective within a file directive or subdirective, the method generates a stub or "snippet" of Java code. The Java code snippets may be generated by direct code or by using a text-editable file interface, and the snippets are then combined to created a Java source file.

Inventors

  • 👤 Gareth Christopher Matthews
  • 👤 Kelvin Roderick Lawrence

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-04 08:06
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F8/00; G06F8/30; G06F8/40; G06F8/41

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 38
Claim 1
Independent Claim 78 words
A method of translating a graphical user interface layout to native Java source code, the graphical user interface layout comprising at least one resource defined by a resource definition file including one or more resource directives, comprising the steps of: (a) converting at least one resource directive into a given format; (b) for each given format representing a resource directive, translating the given format into Java stub code; and (c) collecting the Java stub codes into a set.
Claim 2
Independent Claim 78 words
A method of translating a graphical user interface layout to native Java source code, the graphical user interface layout comprising at least one resource defined by a resource definition file including one or more resource directives, comprising the steps of: (a) converting at least one resource directive into a given format; (b) for each given format representing a resource directive, translating the given format into Java stub code; and (c) collecting the Java stub codes into a set.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 21 words
The method as described in claim 1 wherein step (a) includes translating a resource directive script file into the given format.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 21 words
The method as described in claim 1 wherein step (b) includes configuring the Java stub code according to a user-defined configuration.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 17 words
The method as described in claim 3 wherein the user-defined configuration is defined in an overlay file.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 32 words
The method as described in claim 1 wherein the resource directive includes at least one subdirective and step (b) also translates a given format associated with the subdirective to Java stub code.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 15 words
The method as described in claim 1 wherein the given format is a binary format.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 31 words
The method as described in claim 1 wherein the resource is a window layout resource selected from the group of window layout resources consisting of: windows, menus, bitmaps, icons and dialogs.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 18 words
The method as described in claim 1 wherein step (a) converts each resource directive into the given format.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 25 words
The method as described in claim 1 wherein the step of collecting the Java stub codes compiles the codes into an integrated Java source file.
Claim 11
Independent Claim 60 words
A method of translating a graphical user interface windowing layout to Java source code, comprising the steps of: (a) identifying each resource directive associated with the windowing layout; (b) for each resource directive identified, identifying any resource subdirective(s) associated with the resource directive; and (c) generating Java stub code for each resource directive and any subdirective(s) identified in steps (a)-(b).
Claim 12
Independent Claim 60 words
A method of translating a graphical user interface windowing layout to Java source code, comprising the steps of: (a) identifying each resource directive associated with the windowing layout; (b) for each resource directive identified, identifying any resource subdirective(s) associated with the resource directive; and (c) generating Java stub code for each resource directive and any subdirective(s) identified in steps (a)-(b).
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 31 words
The method as described in claim 10 further including the step of converting the resource directive and any subdirective(s) identified in steps (a)-(b) to a binary format prior to step (c).
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 33 words
The method as described in claim 11 wherein the step of converting to the binary format includes translating a given directive from a script format to the binary format using a resource compiler.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim 21 words
The method as described in claim 10 wherein step (c) includes configuring the Java stub code according to a user-defined configuration.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim 17 words
The method as described in claim 13 wherein the user-defined configuration is defined in an overlay file.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim 19 words
The method as described in claim 10 further including collecting the Java stub codes into a Java class file.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim 73 words
A computer program product in computer-readable media for use in migrating resource-based windowing data to Java source code, the computer program product executable in a computer having a Java virtual machine (JVM), comprising: means for identifying a set of resource directives within a resource definition file; and means, responsive to identification of the set of resource directives in the resource definition file, for translating at least one resource directives into Java stub code.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim 73 words
A computer program product in computer-readable media for use in migrating resource-based windowing data to Java source code, the computer program product executable in a computer having a Java virtual machine (JVM), comprising: means for identifying a set of resource directives within a resource definition file; and means, responsive to identification of the set of resource directives in the resource definition file, for translating at least one resource directives into Java stub code.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim 22 words
The computer program product as described in claim 16 wherein the identifying means also identifies any resource subdirective within a resource directive.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim 26 words
The computer program product as described in claim 16 wherein the translating means includes means for configuring the Java stub code according to a user-defined configuration.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim 19 words
The computer program product as described in claim 18 wherein the user-defined configuration is defined in an overlay file.
Claim 23
Independent Claim 59 words
A method of translating a graphical user interface (GUI) windowing layout associated with a platform-dependent programming environment into source code native to an object-oriented, platform-independent programming environment, comprising the steps of: identifying at least one resource data directive associated with the windowing layout; and translating the resource data directive into source code native to the object-oriented, platform-independent programming environment.
Claim 24
Independent Claim 59 words
A method of translating a graphical user interface (GUI) windowing layout associated with a platform-dependent programming environment into source code native to an object-oriented, platform-independent programming environment, comprising the steps of: identifying at least one resource data directive associated with the windowing layout; and translating the resource data directive into source code native to the object-oriented, platform-independent programming environment.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim 15 words
The method as described in claim 20 wherein the object-oriented, platform-independent programming environment is Java.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim 26 words
The method as described in claim 20 further including the step of converting the resource data directive into a binary format prior to the translating step.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim 22 words
The method as described in claim 22 wherein the resource data directive is converted into the binary format from a script file.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim 26 words
The method as described in claim 20 wherein the step of translating the resource data directive includes configuring the source code according to a user-defined configuration.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim 17 words
The method as described in claim 24 wherein the user-defined configuration is defined in an overlay file.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim 100 words
A Java class file defining a graphical user interface windowing layout resource and useful in porting to Java a software application associated with the graphical user interface, wherein the Java class file is generated by a method comprising the steps of: (a) identifying each resource directive associated with the windowing layout resource; (b) for each resource directive identified, identifying any resource subdirective(s) associated with the resource directive; (c) generating a Java code snippet for each resource directive and any subdirective(s) identified in steps (a)-(b); and (d) collecting the Java code snippets generated in step (c) into the Java class file.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim 100 words
A Java class file defining a graphical user interface windowing layout resource and useful in porting to Java a software application associated with the graphical user interface, wherein the Java class file is generated by a method comprising the steps of: (a) identifying each resource directive associated with the windowing layout resource; (b) for each resource directive identified, identifying any resource subdirective(s) associated with the resource directive; (c) generating a Java code snippet for each resource directive and any subdirective(s) identified in steps (a)-(b); and (d) collecting the Java code snippets generated in step (c) into the Java class file.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim 69 words
A computer, comprising: a processor; an operating system; a Java interpreter; and a translator tool for use in migrating resource-based windowing data to Java source code, comprising: means for identifying a set of resource data directives within a resource definition file; and means, responsive to identification of the set of resource data directives in the resource definition file, for translating the resource data directives into a Java class file.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim 69 words
A computer, comprising: a processor; an operating system; a Java interpreter; and a translator tool for use in migrating resource-based windowing data to Java source code, comprising: means for identifying a set of resource data directives within a resource definition file; and means, responsive to identification of the set of resource data directives in the resource definition file, for translating the resource data directives into a Java class file.
Claim 34
Independent Claim 102 words
A method of porting a software application originally written in an event-driven windowing environment into source code native to an object-oriented, platform-independent programming environment, wherein the software application is platform-dependent and has associated therewith a resource definition file including one or more resource directives that define a windowing layout, comprising the steps of: translating each resource data directive into source code native to the object-oriented, platform-independent programming environment to generate a version of the windowing layout for use in the platform-independent programming environment; and using the version of the windowing layout to port the software application to the object-oriented, platform-independent programming environment.
Claim 35
Independent Claim 102 words
A method of porting a software application originally written in an event-driven windowing environment into source code native to an object-oriented, platform-independent programming environment, wherein the software application is platform-dependent and has associated therewith a resource definition file including one or more resource directives that define a windowing layout, comprising the steps of: translating each resource data directive into source code native to the object-oriented, platform-independent programming environment to generate a version of the windowing layout for use in the platform-independent programming environment; and using the version of the windowing layout to port the software application to the object-oriented, platform-independent programming environment.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim 15 words
The method as described in claim 28 wherein the object-oriented, platform-independent programming environment is Java.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim 123 words
An application having a Java-based graphical user interface (GUI) generated by a method comprising the steps of: (a) generating a Java class file defining at least one resource of a windowing layout by: (i) identifying each resource directive associated with the windowing layout resource; (ii) for each resource directive identified, identifying any resource subdirective(s) associated with the resource directive; (iii) generating a Java code snippet for each resource directive and any subdirective(s) identified in steps (i)-(ii); and (iv) collecting the Java code snippets generated in step (iii) into the Java class file; (b) augmenting the Java class file with event management code; and (c) attaching the event management code to action processing code that performs one or more actions underneath the windowing layout.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim 123 words
An application having a Java-based graphical user interface (GUI) generated by a method comprising the steps of: (a) generating a Java class file defining at least one resource of a windowing layout by: (i) identifying each resource directive associated with the windowing layout resource; (ii) for each resource directive identified, identifying any resource subdirective(s) associated with the resource directive; (iii) generating a Java code snippet for each resource directive and any subdirective(s) identified in steps (i)-(ii); and (iv) collecting the Java code snippets generated in step (iii) into the Java class file; (b) augmenting the Java class file with event management code; and (c) attaching the event management code to action processing code that performs one or more actions underneath the windowing layout.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US5659751A Cited
US5732257A Cited
US5784553A Cited
US5781739A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 2002-10-25 2003-04-26 2003-10-26 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 2006-10-25 2007-04-26 2007-10-26 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2010-10-25 2011-04-26 2011-10-26 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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