US5999948A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Dynamic configuration forms in network management software
Assignee: HP Inc
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Filing: 1997-09-03
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Granted: 1999-12-07
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Expires: 2017-09-03
Abstract
Abstract One or more form descriptions are expressed in the form description language (FDL) and are entered into an FDL file. The FDL file is then registered with a dynamic forms software module using a dynamic forms API. Upon registration, the file is parsed and software "specification" objects containing a data from the file or added to the internal catalogue of compiled form descriptions. When the application requests a form to be displayed, the dynamic form software finds the entry for the form in the catalogue, constructs the form using the information from the specification objects, and displays the information to the user. The form construction process includes the selection of widgets, the binding of each widget to a data source, the layout and alignment of all widgets, and the construction of rule objects that respond to the users interaction with the form and validate the users input.
Inventors
- 👤 William Joseph Nelson
- 👤 Paul B. Greizerstein
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 05:15
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04L; H04L41/00; H04L41/02; H04L41/0213; H04L41/08; H04L41/22
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 26
Claim 1
Independent Claim
153 words
An arrangement for operating a plurality of dynamic configuration forms, the arrangement comprising: a form description language (FDL) file for the plurality of dynamic configuration forms, said FDL file including a description of a layout type to be displayed by the plurality of dynamic configuration forms, and a description of data to be displayed by the dynamic configuration forms; a dynamic form software engine, said form engine being part of the application and receiving a request from the application to display one of the plurality of dynamic configuration forms, said form engine reading said FDL file, said form engine collecting said data described by said FDL file, said form engine dynamically creating a graphical appearance of a secondary window in the application with a layout in accordance with said layout type of said FDL file, and displaying said data of said FDL file in the secondary window in accordance with said layout type.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
153 words
An arrangement for operating a plurality of dynamic configuration forms, the arrangement comprising: a form description language (FDL) file for the plurality of dynamic configuration forms, said FDL file including a description of a layout type to be displayed by the plurality of dynamic configuration forms, and a description of data to be displayed by the dynamic configuration forms; a dynamic form software engine, said form engine being part of the application and receiving a request from the application to display one of the plurality of dynamic configuration forms, said form engine reading said FDL file, said form engine collecting said data described by said FDL file, said form engine dynamically creating a graphical appearance of a secondary window in the application with a layout in accordance with said layout type of said FDL file, and displaying said data of said FDL file in the secondary window in accordance with said layout type.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
110 words
An arrangement in accordance with claim 1, further comprising: another plurality of dynamic configuration files are provided and are described be another FDL file; said form engine receiving a request from the application to display one of the plurality and another plurality of dynamic configuration forms, said software engine reading a respective said FDL file, said software engine collecting said data described by said respective FDL file, said software engine creating a secondary window in the application with a layout in accordance with said layout type of said respective FDL file, and displaying said data of said respective FDL file in the secondary window in accordance with said layout type.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
35 words
An arrangement in accordance with claim 1, wherein: said form engine also receives a data location of said data of said one dynamic configuration file, said form engine collecting said data from said data location.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
30 words
An arrangement in accordance with claim 3, wherein: said FDL file can be used with a plurality of different data locations to form said plurality of different dynamic configuration forms.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
32 words
An arrangement in accordance with claim 3, wherein: said form engine reads input from an operator of the application and modifies said data in said data location in accordance with said input.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
64 words
An arrangement in accordance with claim 1, wherein: a widget is provided for displaying and modifying said data on said dynamic configuration forms; an operator of the application modifies said data on the dynamic configuration forms through said widget; said form engine reads a modification of said data through said widget and modifies said data in said data location in accordance with said modification.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
47 words
An arrangement in accordance with claim 6, wherein: a plurality of widget types are provided for displaying and modifying said data on said dynamic configuration forms; said FDL file specifies which of said plurality of widget types are to be used for individual items of said data.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
47 words
An arrangement in accordance with claim 6, wherein: a plurality of widget types are provided for displaying and modifying said data on said dynamic configuration forms; said form engine specifies which of said plurality of widget types are to be used for specific types of said data.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
53 words
An arrangement in accordance with claim 6, wherein: a plurality of said widgets are provided for displaying and modifying individual items of said data on said dynamic configuration forms; said FDL file specifies a size of said dynamic configuration form, a size of said widgets, and an order and alignment of said widgets.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
56 words
An arrangement in accordance with claim 1, wherein: the application monitors a plurality of devices, said data are operating parameters of said devices, and said data is collected from said plurality of devices; said form engine reads input from an operator of the application and modifies said data in said devices in accordance with said input.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
32 words
An arrangement in accordance with claim 10, wherein: said devices store said data using different conventions; said form engine includes a separate means for collecting said data for each of said conventions.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
18 words
An arrangement in accordance with claim 10, wherein: said devices operate independently based on respective said operating parameters.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
21 words
An arrangement in accordance with claim 1, wherein: said FDL file includes rule descriptions for controlling a value of said data.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
19 words
An arrangement in accordance with claim 13, wherein: said rule descriptions limit values of individual items of said data.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
35 words
An arrangement in accordance with claim 13, wherein: said data includes a plurality of individual data items; said rule description varies one of said data items based on a value of another said data item.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
39 words
The method in accordance with claim 1, wherein: said form engine dynamically creating said graphical appearance includes choosing individual components, sizing said individual components, positioning and grouping said individual components, and associating said individual components with a data source.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
142 words
A method for operating a plurality of dynamic configuration forms as secondary windows in an application, the method comprising the steps of: providing a form description language (FDL) file for the plurality of dynamic configuration forms, said FDL file including a description of data to be displayed by said dynamic configuration forms; providing a dynamic form software engine, said form engine being part of the application; sending a request from the application to said form engine requesting display of one of the dynamic configuration forms; said form engine reading said FDL file; said form engine collecting said data described by said FDL file; said form engine dynamically creating a graphical appearance of a secondary window in the application with a standard layout; said form engine displaying said data of said FDL file in the secondary window in accordance with said standard layout.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
142 words
A method for operating a plurality of dynamic configuration forms as secondary windows in an application, the method comprising the steps of: providing a form description language (FDL) file for the plurality of dynamic configuration forms, said FDL file including a description of data to be displayed by said dynamic configuration forms; providing a dynamic form software engine, said form engine being part of the application; sending a request from the application to said form engine requesting display of one of the dynamic configuration forms; said form engine reading said FDL file; said form engine collecting said data described by said FDL file; said form engine dynamically creating a graphical appearance of a secondary window in the application with a standard layout; said form engine displaying said data of said FDL file in the secondary window in accordance with said standard layout.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
28 words
A method in accordance with claim 17, wherein: said form engine reads input from an operator of the application and modifies the data in accordance with the input.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
37 words
A method in accordance with claim 17, wherein: a plurality of widget types are provided for displaying and modifying the data; an operator of the application modifies the data in the dynamic configuration form through said widget.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
56 words
The method in accordance with claim 17, further comprising: providing another plurality of dynamic configuration forms; providing another form description language file for said another plurality of dynamic configuration forms; said form engine reading a respective said FDL file for said requested one of the dynamic configuration forms when said request is received from the application.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
45 words
The method in accordance with claim 17, wherein: said sending of said request includes a form type and data location, each said form type corresponding to a plurality of said data locations; said form engine collecting said data from said data location in said request.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method in accordance with claim 17, wherein: each of said dynamic configuration forms in said plurality of dynamic configuration forms groups represents a different network device.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method in accordance with claim 17, wherein: each of said plurality and said another plurality of said dynamic configuration forms represents a different aspect of a plurality of network devices.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
38 words
The method in accordance with claim 17, wherein: said dynamic creating of said graphical appearance includes choosing individual components, sizing said individual components, positioning and grouping said individual components, and associating said individual components with a data source.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US5625823A
Cited
US5625763A
Cited
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