US6237004B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
System and method for displaying data using graphical user interface control elements
Assignee: International Business Machines Corp
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Filing: 1998-02-24
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Granted: 2001-05-22
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Expires: 2018-02-24
Abstract
Abstract The present invention is a system, method, and computer readable medium for determining which graphic user interface (GUI) control element, including a graphic symbol and associated control code, to use to display particular data. The present invention uses a data-driven model, wherein the GUI control element, referred to as a widget, for a particular set of data is determined dynamically, based on information contained in a database. A widget may be created, displayed, and modified without having to change the program code which uses the widget to display data. As a program executes, it is determined that data needs to be displayed as part of a graphical user interface. The program which is executing calls a generic GUI manager, which determines which widget to use for the particular data at this point in the program and displays the widget. The generic GUI manager reads a database entry associated with the data to be displayed. The database entry contains information, or characteristics, regarding the data. The characteristics are then analyzed by the generic GUI manager to determine which type of widget to use to display the data. An appropriate widget is then selected and used. Both homogenous changes (i.e. graphic symbol changes, where the behavior remains the same) and heterogeneous changes (i.e. where both the graphic symbol and the behavior change) are supported.
Inventors
- 👤 John Paul Dodson
- 👤 Minh Nguyen
- 👤 Chris Alan Schwendiman
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 16:07
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F9/00; G06F9/06; G06F9/44; G06F9/451; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S707/00; Y10S707/99941; Y10S707/99943
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 33
Claim 1
Independent Claim
72 words
A method for displaying data as a program is executing, comprising the steps of: obtaining one or more characteristics associated with the data, wherein the characteristics are stored in a database that is separate from the program that is executing; dynamically selecting a graphical user interface control element to display the data, based on the characteristics associated with the data; and displaying the data using the selected graphical user interface control element.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
72 words
A method for displaying data as a program is executing, comprising the steps of: obtaining one or more characteristics associated with the data, wherein the characteristics are stored in a database that is separate from the program that is executing; dynamically selecting a graphical user interface control element to display the data, based on the characteristics associated with the data; and displaying the data using the selected graphical user interface control element.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
23 words
A method according to claim 1 , wherein said obtaining step comprises the step of reading a database entry associated with the data.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method according to claim 2 , wherein the database entry associated with the data may be changed without changing the program.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
32 words
A method according to claim 1 , wherein said selecting step further comprises the step of determining, based on the characteristics associated with the data, a graphic symbol to represent the data.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
18 words
A method according to claim 4 , wherein the graphic symbol is associated with one or more behaviors.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
31 words
A method according to claim 1 , wherein said selecting step further comprises the step of choosing one of a plurality of graphical user interface control elements stored in a library.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
106 words
An information handling system, comprising: a display means; a program, executing in the information handling system; data used by said program, wherein said data is to be displayed on said display means; a database containing characteristics associated with said data; means for obtaining one or more selected characteristics associated with said data from said database; means for dynamically selecting a graphical user interface control element to display said data on said display means, based on the selected characteristics associated with said data; and means for displaying said data on said display means, wherein said data is displayed by using the selected graphical user interface control element.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
106 words
An information handling system, comprising: a display means; a program, executing in the information handling system; data used by said program, wherein said data is to be displayed on said display means; a database containing characteristics associated with said data; means for obtaining one or more selected characteristics associated with said data from said database; means for dynamically selecting a graphical user interface control element to display said data on said display means, based on the selected characteristics associated with said data; and means for displaying said data on said display means, wherein said data is displayed by using the selected graphical user interface control element.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
33 words
An information handling system according to claim 7 , wherein said means for obtaining comprises means for reading a database entry in said database, wherein the database entry is associated with said data.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
24 words
An information handling system according to claim 8 , wherein the database entry associated with said data may be changed without changing said program.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
34 words
An information handling system according to claim 7 , wherein said means for selecting further comprises means for determining, based on the characteristics associated with said data, a graphic symbol to represent said data.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
20 words
An information handling system according to claim 10 , wherein the graphic symbol is associated with one or more behaviors.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
33 words
An information handling system according to claim 7 , wherein said means for selecting further comprises means for choosing one of a plurality of graphical user interface control elements stored in a library.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
96 words
A computer readable medium for controlling displaying of data on a display means as a program is executing, comprising: means for obtaining one or more characteristics associated with the data, wherein the characteristics are stored in a database that is separate from the program that is executing; means for dynamically selecting a graphical user interface control element to display the data on the display means, based on the characteristics associated with the data; and means for displaying the data on the display means by using the selected graphical user interface control element to display the data.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
96 words
A computer readable medium for controlling displaying of data on a display means as a program is executing, comprising: means for obtaining one or more characteristics associated with the data, wherein the characteristics are stored in a database that is separate from the program that is executing; means for dynamically selecting a graphical user interface control element to display the data on the display means, based on the characteristics associated with the data; and means for displaying the data on the display means by using the selected graphical user interface control element to display the data.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
25 words
A computer readable medium according to claim 13 , wherein said means for obtaining comprises means for reading a database entry associated with the data.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
24 words
A computer readable medium according to claim 14 , wherein the database entry associated with the data may be changed without changing the program.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
34 words
A computer readable medium according to claim 13 , wherein said means for selecting further comprises means for determining, based on the characteristics associated with the data, a graphic symbol to represent the data.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
20 words
A computer readable medium according to claim 16 , wherein the graphic symbol is associated with one or more behaviors.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
33 words
A computer readable medium according to claim 13 , wherein said means for selecting further comprises means for choosing one of a plurality of graphical user interface control elements stored in a library.
Claim 22
Independent Claim
142 words
A method for dynamically selecting a graphical user interface control element to display data from a first program as the first program is executing, comprising the steps of: passing control from the first program to a second program; obtaining, by the second program, one or more characteristics associated with the data, wherein the characteristics are stored in a database that is independent from the first program; selecting, by the second program, a particular graphical user interface control element from a plurality of graphical user interface control elements stored in a library, wherein the particular graphical user interface control element is selected based on the characteristics associated with the data; displaying the data, by the second program, wherein said displaying uses the particular graphical user interface control element to display the data; and returning control from the second program to the first program.
Claim 23
Independent Claim
142 words
A method for dynamically selecting a graphical user interface control element to display data from a first program as the first program is executing, comprising the steps of: passing control from the first program to a second program; obtaining, by the second program, one or more characteristics associated with the data, wherein the characteristics are stored in a database that is independent from the first program; selecting, by the second program, a particular graphical user interface control element from a plurality of graphical user interface control elements stored in a library, wherein the particular graphical user interface control element is selected based on the characteristics associated with the data; displaying the data, by the second program, wherein said displaying uses the particular graphical user interface control element to display the data; and returning control from the second program to the first program.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
23 words
A method according to claim 19 , wherein said obtaining step further comprises the step of reading a database entry containing the characteristics.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
27 words
A method according to claim 19 , wherein each graphical user interface control element stored in the library includes a graphic symbol and one or more behaviors.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
150 words
An information handling system, comprising: a display means; a first program, executing in the information handling system; data used by said first program, wherein said data is to be displayed on said display means; a database containing characteristics associated with said data; a library containing a plurality of graphical user interface control elements; a second program, for displaying said data used by said first program; means for obtaining, by said second program, one or more characteristics associated with said data, wherein the characteristics are obtained from said database; means for selecting, by said second program, a particular graphical user interface control element from said library, wherein the particular graphical user interface control element is selected based on the characteristics associated with said data; and means for displaying said data, by said second program, on said display means, wherein said data is displayed using the particular graphical user interface control element.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
150 words
An information handling system, comprising: a display means; a first program, executing in the information handling system; data used by said first program, wherein said data is to be displayed on said display means; a database containing characteristics associated with said data; a library containing a plurality of graphical user interface control elements; a second program, for displaying said data used by said first program; means for obtaining, by said second program, one or more characteristics associated with said data, wherein the characteristics are obtained from said database; means for selecting, by said second program, a particular graphical user interface control element from said library, wherein the particular graphical user interface control element is selected based on the characteristics associated with said data; and means for displaying said data, by said second program, on said display means, wherein said data is displayed using the particular graphical user interface control element.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
25 words
An information handling system according to claim 22 , wherein said means for obtaining further comprises means for reading a database entry containing the characteristics.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
29 words
An information handling system according to claim 22 , wherein each graphical user interface control element stored in the library includes a graphic symbol and one or more behaviors.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
144 words
A computer readable medium for controlling displaying of data on a display means as a first program is executing, comprising: means for passing control from the first program to a second program; means for obtaining, by the second program, one or more characteristics associated with the data, wherein the characteristics are stored in a database that is independent from the first program; means for selecting, by the second program, a particular graphical user interface control element from a plurality of graphical user interface control elements stored in a library, wherein the particular graphical user interface control element is selected based on the characteristics associated with the data; means for displaying the data, by the second program, wherein said displaying uses the particular graphical user interface control element to display the data; and means for returning control from the second program to the first program.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
144 words
A computer readable medium for controlling displaying of data on a display means as a first program is executing, comprising: means for passing control from the first program to a second program; means for obtaining, by the second program, one or more characteristics associated with the data, wherein the characteristics are stored in a database that is independent from the first program; means for selecting, by the second program, a particular graphical user interface control element from a plurality of graphical user interface control elements stored in a library, wherein the particular graphical user interface control element is selected based on the characteristics associated with the data; means for displaying the data, by the second program, wherein said displaying uses the particular graphical user interface control element to display the data; and means for returning control from the second program to the first program.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
25 words
A computer readable medium according to claim 25 , wherein said means for obtaining further comprises means for reading a database entry containing the characteristics.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
29 words
A computer readable medium according to claim 25 , wherein each graphical user interface control element stored in the library includes a graphic symbol and one or more behaviors.
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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) | 2004-05-21 | 2004-11-20 | 2005-05-22 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2008-05-21 | 2008-11-20 | 2009-05-22 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2012-05-21 | 2012-11-20 | 2013-05-22 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |