US6138170A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and system for integrating external functions into an application environment
Assignee: Apple Inc
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Filing: 1997-04-07
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Granted: 2000-10-24
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Expires: 2017-04-07
Abstract
Abstract A method and system for integrating external functions into an application environment. The system includes an application environment, and a predetermined interface for communicating with an external function library. External functions offered by the external function library are integrated into the application environment such that they can be used in a formula as if they were native functions. According to another embodiment, an application environment is provided which implements pass by asynchronous-access-mechanism variables, and enables an external function to have access to a user interface object after the function has returned from an invocation.
Inventors
- 👤 Richard J. Matheson
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 16:20
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F8/00; G06F8/30; G06F8/38
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 6
Claim 1
Independent Claim
150 words
A system for implementing an asynchronous access passing mechanism between a client and an external function, comprising: a client operative to couple an access mechanism object with a user-interface object in an application program, and operative to pass to an external function a reference to the access mechanism object; the client being operative to communicate events associated with the user-interface object to the access mechanism object, and operative to change a value of the user-interface object upon request from the access mechanism object; the external function being operative to determine a first user-interface object value via the access mechanism object and being operative to indicate to the access mechanism object a second user-interface object value; and the client being operative to determine the second user-interface object value from the access mechanism object and to reflect the second user-interface object value in the user-interface object coupled to the access mechanism object.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
150 words
A system for implementing an asynchronous access passing mechanism between a client and an external function, comprising: a client operative to couple an access mechanism object with a user-interface object in an application program, and operative to pass to an external function a reference to the access mechanism object; the client being operative to communicate events associated with the user-interface object to the access mechanism object, and operative to change a value of the user-interface object upon request from the access mechanism object; the external function being operative to determine a first user-interface object value via the access mechanism object and being operative to indicate to the access mechanism object a second user-interface object value; and the client being operative to determine the second user-interface object value from the access mechanism object and to reflect the second user-interface object value in the user-interface object coupled to the access mechanism object.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
36 words
A system according to claim 1, further comprising the access mechanism object having a predetermined interface, and the client and the external function are operative to communicate with the access mechanism object via the predetermined interface.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
14 words
A system according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined interface comprises an OLE interface.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
27 words
A system according to claim 1, wherein the external function is operative to initiate a thread, the thread being operative to communicate with the access mechanism object.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
34 words
A system according to claim 2, wherein the access mechanism object includes a scope indicator, and the external function is operative to determine the scope of the access mechanism object via the scope indicator.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2003-10-24 | 2004-04-24 | 2004-10-24 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2007-10-24 | 2008-04-24 | 2008-10-24 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2011-10-24 | 2012-04-24 | 2012-10-24 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |