US6233726B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Development system with reference card and parameter wizard methodologies for facilitating creation of software programs
Assignee: Sybase Inc
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Filing: 1997-05-07
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Granted: 2001-05-15
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Expires: 2017-05-07
Abstract
Abstract A visual development environment is described which provides drag-and-drop code editing methodology, using Reference Card and Parameter Wizard methodologies. A Reference Card provides quick information on the most important classes and member functions, within one's code. During a session, the user may use the Reference Card to select an action that the user wants to perform. The user can search through a hierarchy of actions or perform a text search to locate the desired action, then open the Parameter Wizard to create the code (e.g., C++ code) required to perform that action. The Reference Card also provides help on all the items listed. The Parameter Wizard, which operates in conjunction with the Reference Card, guides the user through the construction of function calls. This is particularly useful for complicated functions or for functions with which the user is unfamiliar. The Parameter Wizard helps the user construct a function call by showing what argument values are required. The Parameter Wizard can also store function results in a specified variable. Using this drag-and-drop methodology, users can create program code with minimal user input or understanding.
Inventors
- 👤 Ivan Thomas Bowman
- 👤 Geno Coschi
- 👤 Robert Veitch
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 14:41
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F8/00; G06F8/20; G06F8/30; G06F8/34; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S707/00; Y10S707/99941; Y10S707/99943; Y10S707/99944
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 41
Claim 1
Independent Claim
160 words
In a computer system having a development system for creating computer programs, the development system providing objects comprising components which can be placed on a form, a method for assisting a user with creation of code for a user's computer program displayed in a code editor, the method comprising: receiving user input specifying that a particular component is to be placed on a form; in response to said user input, identifying the particular component and displaying a reference card having information specific for the particular component, including displaying a list having properties and methods that apply to the particular component; receiving user input selecting a particular method which is to be invoked for the particular component; displaying a dialog providing parameters and return type of the selected method; automatically supplying a default value for at least one of the parameters; and automatically composing a method call for the selected method and placing the method call into the user's computer program.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
160 words
In a computer system having a development system for creating computer programs, the development system providing objects comprising components which can be placed on a form, a method for assisting a user with creation of code for a user's computer program displayed in a code editor, the method comprising: receiving user input specifying that a particular component is to be placed on a form; in response to said user input, identifying the particular component and displaying a reference card having information specific for the particular component, including displaying a list having properties and methods that apply to the particular component; receiving user input selecting a particular method which is to be invoked for the particular component; displaying a dialog providing parameters and return type of the selected method; automatically supplying a default value for at least one of the parameters; and automatically composing a method call for the selected method and placing the method call into the user's computer program.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
52 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein said step of receiving user input specifying that a particular component is to be placed on a form comprises: receiving user input for selecting the particular component from a component palette and placing the particular component so selected at a particular location on the form.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 2 , wherein said user input comprises input signals from a pointing device.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 3 , wherein said user interface component includes a button object.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein said particular component is a user interface component.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
38 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein said step of automatically composing a method call for the selected method and placing the method call into the user's computer program includes placing C++ code into the user's computer program.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein said reference card displays the list of properties and methods that apply to the particular component as a hierarchical list.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
45 words
The method of claim 7 , wherein said hierarchical list comprises a plurality of nodes, so that properties and methods that apply to a particular component are represented in the hierarchical list as children nodes which depend from a parent node representing the particular component.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 8 , further comprising: receiving user input for selectively expanding and collapsing portions of the hierarchical list, for revealing or hiding particular nodes displayed on the list.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
41 words
The method of claim 1 , further comprising: receiving user input for selecting a particular method which is displayed by the reference card; and in response to said user input, displaying a prototype representing the particular method which has been selected.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 10 , wherein said prototype comprises a name for the method, parameters which the method takes, and a return value which the method returns upon completing execution.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein said code is C++ code and wherein said prototype comprises a C++ function prototype.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
41 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein said particular method is an overloaded function for receiving different parameter information, and wherein said reference card displays multiple function prototypes, one for each possible type of parameter information received by the particular method.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein said properties comprise attributes of the component which affect its display on the form.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
63 words
The method of claim 1 , further comprising: invoking the reference card for a component which has already been placed on the form by: receiving user input for dragging the component from the form and dropping it onto a code editor displaying program code for the form; and in response to said user input, displaying a reference card for the component so dragged.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method of claim 1 , further comprising: assisting the user with input of parameter information by displaying a parameter wizard dialogue showing parameter information for a method which has been selected in the reference card.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
50 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein said step of receiving user input specifying that a particular component is to be placed on a form comprises: receiving user input for selecting a particular component from a component palette, followed by dragging and dropping that selected component onto a code editor.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
51 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein said step of receiving user input selecting a particular method which is to be invoked for the particular component comprises: receiving user input for selecting a particular method from the reference card, followed by dragging and dropping the particular method onto the code editor.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 18 , wherein the particular method is dropped onto the code editor at a position where the user desires insertion of the particular method into the program.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
187 words
In a computer system having a development system for creating computer programs, the development system providing objects comprising components which can be placed on a form, a method for assisting a user with creation of code for a user's computer program displayed in a code editor, the method comprising: receiving first user input which drags a particular component from a component palette and drops it onto the code editor; in response to said first user input, displaying first information specific for the particular component, said first information comprising properties and methods that apply to the particular component; receiving second user input which drags a particular method for the particular component from the reference card and drops it onto the code editor; in response to said second user input, displaying second information specific for the particular component, said second information comprising parameters and return type of the particular method; receiving third user input requesting automatic placement of code in the program; and in response to said third user input, automatically composing a method call for the selected method and placing the method call into the user's computer program.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
187 words
In a computer system having a development system for creating computer programs, the development system providing objects comprising components which can be placed on a form, a method for assisting a user with creation of code for a user's computer program displayed in a code editor, the method comprising: receiving first user input which drags a particular component from a component palette and drops it onto the code editor; in response to said first user input, displaying first information specific for the particular component, said first information comprising properties and methods that apply to the particular component; receiving second user input which drags a particular method for the particular component from the reference card and drops it onto the code editor; in response to said second user input, displaying second information specific for the particular component, said second information comprising parameters and return type of the particular method; receiving third user input requesting automatic placement of code in the program; and in response to said third user input, automatically composing a method call for the selected method and placing the method call into the user's computer program.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method of claim 20 , wherein said step which places the method call into the user's computer program comprises: automatically supplying a default value for at least one of the parameters.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 20 , wherein said particular component is a user interface component.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
196 words
In a computer system having a development system for creating computer programs, the deveopment system providing objects comprising components which can be placed on a form, a method for assisting a user with creation of code for a user's computer program displayed in a code editor, the method comprising: receiving first user input which drags a particular component from a component palette and drops it onto the code editor; in response to said first user input, displaying first information specific for the particular component, said first information comprising properties and methods that apply to the particular component; receiving second user input which drags a particular method for the particular component from the reference card and drops it onto the code editor; in response to said second user input, displaying second information specific for the particular component, said second information comprising parameters and return type of the particular method; receiving third user input requesting automatic placement of code in the program; and in response to said third user input, automatically composing a method call for the selected method and placing the method call into the user's computer program, wherein said first information is displayed as an outline.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
196 words
In a computer system having a development system for creating computer programs, the deveopment system providing objects comprising components which can be placed on a form, a method for assisting a user with creation of code for a user's computer program displayed in a code editor, the method comprising: receiving first user input which drags a particular component from a component palette and drops it onto the code editor; in response to said first user input, displaying first information specific for the particular component, said first information comprising properties and methods that apply to the particular component; receiving second user input which drags a particular method for the particular component from the reference card and drops it onto the code editor; in response to said second user input, displaying second information specific for the particular component, said second information comprising parameters and return type of the particular method; receiving third user input requesting automatic placement of code in the program; and in response to said third user input, automatically composing a method call for the selected method and placing the method call into the user's computer program, wherein said first information is displayed as an outline.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
43 words
The method of claim 23 , wherein said outline comprises a plurality of nodes, so that properties and methods that apply to a particular component are represented in the outline as children nodes which depend from a parent node representing the particular component.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 24 , further comprising: receiving user input for selectively expanding and collapsing portions of the outline, for revealing or hiding particular nodes displayed on the outline.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
147 words
A development system for creating computer programs comprising: an integrated development environment providing components which can be placed on a form and an editor for editing code for a user's computer program; and drag-and-drop programming means comprising: means for dragging a particular component from a component palette and dropping it onto the code editor; means for displaying first information specific for the particular component, said first information comprising properties and methods that apply to the particular component; means for dragging a particular method for the particular component from the reference card and dropping it onto the code editor; means for displaying second information specific for the particular component, said second information comprising parameters and return type of the particular method; and means, responsive to a user request, for automatically composing a method call for the selected method and placing the method call into the user's computer program.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
147 words
A development system for creating computer programs comprising: an integrated development environment providing components which can be placed on a form and an editor for editing code for a user's computer program; and drag-and-drop programming means comprising: means for dragging a particular component from a component palette and dropping it onto the code editor; means for displaying first information specific for the particular component, said first information comprising properties and methods that apply to the particular component; means for dragging a particular method for the particular component from the reference card and dropping it onto the code editor; means for displaying second information specific for the particular component, said second information comprising parameters and return type of the particular method; and means, responsive to a user request, for automatically composing a method call for the selected method and placing the method call into the user's computer program.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
34 words
The system of claim 26 , wherein said means which places the method call into the user's computer program comprises: means for automatically supplying a default value for at least one of the parameters.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
15 words
The system of claim 26 , wherein said particular component is a user interface component.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
156 words
A development system for creating computer programs comprising: an integrated development environment providing components which can be placed on a form and an editor for editing code for a user's computer program; and drag-and-drop programming means comprising: means for dragging a particular component from a component palette and dropping it onto the code editor; means for displaying first information specific for the particular component, said first information comprising properties and methods that apply to the particular component; means for dragging a particular method for the particular component from the reference card and dropping it onto the code editor; means for displaying second information specific for the particular component, said second information comprising parameters and return type of the particular method; and means, responsive to a user request, for automatically composing a method call for the selected method and placing the method call into the user's computer program, wherein said first information is displayed as an outline.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
156 words
A development system for creating computer programs comprising: an integrated development environment providing components which can be placed on a form and an editor for editing code for a user's computer program; and drag-and-drop programming means comprising: means for dragging a particular component from a component palette and dropping it onto the code editor; means for displaying first information specific for the particular component, said first information comprising properties and methods that apply to the particular component; means for dragging a particular method for the particular component from the reference card and dropping it onto the code editor; means for displaying second information specific for the particular component, said second information comprising parameters and return type of the particular method; and means, responsive to a user request, for automatically composing a method call for the selected method and placing the method call into the user's computer program, wherein said first information is displayed as an outline.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
43 words
The method of claim 29 , wherein said outline comprises a plurality of nodes, so that properties and methods that apply to a particular component are represented in the outline as children nodes which depend from a parent node representing the particular component.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
146 words
In a computer system having a development system for creating computer programs, the development system providing objects comprising components which can be placed on a form, a method for assisting a user with creation of code for a user's computer program displayed in a code editor, the method comprising: receiving user input specifying that a particular component is to be placed on a form; in response to said user input, identifying the particular component displaying screen feedback providing information specific for the particular component, including displaying properties and methods that apply to the particular component; receiving user input selecting a particular method which is to be invoked for the particular component; displaying a dialog providing parameters and return type of the selected method; and in response to drag-and-drop input from the user, automatically creating a method call for the selected method in the user's computer program.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
146 words
In a computer system having a development system for creating computer programs, the development system providing objects comprising components which can be placed on a form, a method for assisting a user with creation of code for a user's computer program displayed in a code editor, the method comprising: receiving user input specifying that a particular component is to be placed on a form; in response to said user input, identifying the particular component displaying screen feedback providing information specific for the particular component, including displaying properties and methods that apply to the particular component; receiving user input selecting a particular method which is to be invoked for the particular component; displaying a dialog providing parameters and return type of the selected method; and in response to drag-and-drop input from the user, automatically creating a method call for the selected method in the user's computer program.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 31 , wherein the method also operates to insert declarations for any local variables that the method requires.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
52 words
The method of claim 31 , wherein, said step of receiving user input specifying that a particular component is to be placed on a form comprises: receiving user input for selecting the particular component from a component palette and placing the particular component so selected at a particular location on the form.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method of claim 31 , wherein said step of automatically creating a method call for the selected method includes automatically generating appropriate C++ code for insertion into the user's computer program.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 31 , wherein said step of displaying a dialog includes displaying a prototype representing the particular method which has been selected.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2004-05-14 | 2004-11-13 | 2005-05-15 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2008-05-14 | 2008-11-13 | 2009-05-15 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2012-05-14 | 2012-11-13 | 2013-05-15 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |