US6025849A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Framework for objects having authorable behaviors and appearance
Assignee: Autodesk Inc
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Filing: 1998-10-09
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Granted: 2000-02-15
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Expires: 2018-10-09
Abstract
Abstract A framework is described that serves as an expression evaluator and notification manager for software objects, and can traverse individual object models to use parts of one model to define another. An object model (data model) is a map of an object's properties and methods, and the framework of the present invention binds to the properties and methods and intercepts access to the properties for storage and evaluation of variables within the definitions of the properties. Binding the framework to the object accesses and uses the type info for the object to determine the properties of the object. In addition, the framework provides a method for the object author to override and specialize the properties to describe extensions of the type information.
Inventors
- 👤 Lawrence David Felser
- 👤 David Wayne Arsenault
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-10 00:42
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F9/00; G06F9/06; G06F9/46; G06F9/54; G06F9/542; G06F9/44; G06F9/448; G06F9/4488; G06F9/451; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S707/00; Y10S707/99941; Y10S707/99944; Y10S715/00; Y10S715/961; Y10S715/964
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 33
Claim 1
Independent Claim
79 words
A method of creating software objects for displaying information on a monitor attached to a computer, comprising the steps of: creating a flexible property container for each software object; creating at least one property of each software object, wherein the property is defined using an expression, the property of each software object being contained within the flexible property container of each software object; and selectively modifying the expression that defines the property to display desired information on the monitor.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
79 words
A method of creating software objects for displaying information on a monitor attached to a computer, comprising the steps of: creating a flexible property container for each software object; creating at least one property of each software object, wherein the property is defined using an expression, the property of each software object being contained within the flexible property container of each software object; and selectively modifying the expression that defines the property to display desired information on the monitor.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the software object is a shape.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 2, wherein the property of the shape is selected from a group comprising: draw objects, plugs, sockets, handles, custom properties, drag handlers, and message handlers.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the flexible property container controls access to the property of the software object.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the expression further comprises an expression defined using a property of a second object.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the flexible property container only evaluates the expression when required by a computer program.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the flexible property container notifies an object external to the software object when the expression is accessed.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the flexible property container notifies an object external to the software object when the expression is modified.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the flexible property container notifies an object external to the software object when the expression is destroyed.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the flexible property container notifies a system outside of an application associated with the software object when a value of the expression has been modified.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
93 words
A computer-implemented apparatus for displaying information, comprising: a computer having a monitor attached thereto; means performed by the computer for creating a corresponding flexible property container for a software object; means performed by the computer for creating at least one property of each software object, wherein the property is defined using an expression, the property of each software object being contained within the corresponding flexible property container for the software object; and means performed by the computer for selectively modifying the expression that defines the property to display desired information on the monitor.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
93 words
A computer-implemented apparatus for displaying information, comprising: a computer having a monitor attached thereto; means performed by the computer for creating a corresponding flexible property container for a software object; means performed by the computer for creating at least one property of each software object, wherein the property is defined using an expression, the property of each software object being contained within the corresponding flexible property container for the software object; and means performed by the computer for selectively modifying the expression that defines the property to display desired information on the monitor.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
102 words
An article of manufacture comprising a computer program carrier readable by a computer and embodying one or more instructions executable by the computer to perform method steps of displaying information on a monitor attached to the computer, the method comprising the steps of: creating a flexible property container for each software object; creating at least one property of each software object, wherein the property is defined using an expression, the property of each software object being contained within the flexible property container of each software object; and selectively modifying the expression that defines the property to display desired information on the monitor.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
102 words
An article of manufacture comprising a computer program carrier readable by a computer and embodying one or more instructions executable by the computer to perform method steps of displaying information on a monitor attached to the computer, the method comprising the steps of: creating a flexible property container for each software object; creating at least one property of each software object, wherein the property is defined using an expression, the property of each software object being contained within the flexible property container of each software object; and selectively modifying the expression that defines the property to display desired information on the monitor.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
12 words
The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the software object is a shape.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
29 words
The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the property of the shape is selected from a group comprising: draw objects, plugs, sockets, handles, custom properties, drag handlers, and message handlers.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
19 words
The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the flexible property container controls access to the property of the software object.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
20 words
The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the expression further comprises an expression defined using a property of a second object.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
20 words
The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the flexible property container only evaluates the expression when required by a computer program.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
23 words
The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the flexible property container notifies an object external to the software object when the expression is accessed.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
23 words
The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the flexible property container notifies an object external to the software object when the expression is modified.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
23 words
The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the flexible property container notifies an object external to the software object when the expression is destroyed.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
31 words
The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the flexible property container notifies a system outside of an application associated with the software object when a value of the expression has been modified.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
14 words
The article of manufacture of claim 12, wherein the software object is a shape.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
31 words
The article of manufacture of claim 22, wherein the property of the shape is selected from a group comprising: draw objects, plugs, sockets, handles, custom properties, drag handlers, and message handlers.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
21 words
The article of manufacture of claim 12, wherein the flexible property container controls access to the property of the software object.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
22 words
The article of manufacture of claim 12, wherein the expression further comprises an expression defined using a property of a second object.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
22 words
The article of manufacture of claim 12, wherein the flexible property container only evaluates the expression when required by a computer program.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
25 words
The article of manufacture of claim 12, wherein the flexible property container notifies an object external to the software object when the expression is accessed.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
25 words
The article of manufacture of claim 12, wherein the flexible property container notifies an object external to the software object when the expression is modified.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
25 words
The article of manufacture of claim 12, wherein the flexible property container notifies an object external to the software object when the expression is destroyed.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
33 words
The article of manufacture of claim 12, wherein the flexible property container notifies a system outside of an application associated with the software object when a value of the expression has been modified.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2003-02-14 | 2003-08-16 | 2004-02-15 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2007-02-14 | 2007-08-16 | 2008-02-15 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2011-02-14 | 2011-08-16 | 2012-02-15 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |