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US6466240B1
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Method for visually writing programs or scripts that transform structured text presented as a tree
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1999-04-02
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Granted: 2002-10-15
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Expires: 2019-04-02
Abstract
Abstract A method and system for visually writing programs or scripts that transform structured text, including text of programs in computer languages such as Cobol, C, or C++, and electronic documents such as HTML, SGML and word processor documents. The method and system is based on interactive manipulation of a graphical representation of a tree that represents structured text. Both structured text and a tree representing structured text are displayed using a graphical user interface (GUI) of a programmed computer system, for example at. a user's graphical workstation. The user can interactively apply individual visual transformation operations to the tree representing structured text and see results of these actions immediately reflected in the structured text. In addition, the user can record a sequence of tree transformation operations as a macro program. The recorded macro program may be repeatedly and automatically executed to cause systematic change in the structured text. Also, the recorded macro program can be automatically converted to a program in a traditional programming language.
Inventors
- 👤 Vadim Maslov
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 19:25
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F8/00; G06F8/40; G06F8/51; G06F8/30; G06F8/34; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S715/00; Y10S715/961; Y10S715/965; Y10S715/966; Y10S715/967
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
154 words
A data processing system for interactively building a computer program that transforms a tree that represents structured text using a graphical user interface of a computer system, comprising: a) a tree producing means for analyzing structured text and representing the structured text on a computer screen in the form of a tree, the structured text comprising at least one of a computer program, a HTML document, a Cobol program, and a word processor document; b) an interface means for providing a graphical user interface for indicating elements of the tree and for visually indicating transformations of the information produced by the tree producing means; c) a macro program that transforms structured text represented by a tree, said program being a recorded sequence of tree transformation operations that can be replayed at a later time; and d) an operating means for performing an operation on the elements in the tree selected by the interface means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
154 words
A data processing system for interactively building a computer program that transforms a tree that represents structured text using a graphical user interface of a computer system, comprising: a) a tree producing means for analyzing structured text and representing the structured text on a computer screen in the form of a tree, the structured text comprising at least one of a computer program, a HTML document, a Cobol program, and a word processor document; b) an interface means for providing a graphical user interface for indicating elements of the tree and for visually indicating transformations of the information produced by the tree producing means; c) a macro program that transforms structured text represented by a tree, said program being a recorded sequence of tree transformation operations that can be replayed at a later time; and d) an operating means for performing an operation on the elements in the tree selected by the interface means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
36 words
The data processing system as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the interface means produces output in the form of a tree in a first window and text corresponding to the tree in a second window.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
33 words
The data processing system as claimed in claim 2 , wherein the interface means causes highlighting of text in the second window to correspond to highlighting of a node in the first window.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
46 words
The data processing system as claimed in claim 3 , wherein the operating means includes visual commands applicable to tree navigation to move along the tree in a selected direction comprising one of: a forward direction, a backward direction, an up direction and a down direction.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
31 words
The data processing system as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the operating means includes visual commands applicable to transfer a tree portion between a main tree and a tree clipboard.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
27 words
The data processing system as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the operating means includes visual commands applicable to insertions and deletions of a selected tree node.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
62 words
The data processing system as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the tree is a structured text tree and the information analyzed by a tree producing means is in the form of structured text; and wherein the operating means causes changes in the tree caused by visual tree transformation commands to be immediately reflected in the structured text represented by this tree.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
26 words
The data processing system as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the macro program producing means includes steps to start and stop the macro program recording.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
28 words
The data processing system as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the macro program producing means includes steps to execute a macro program on a selected tree node.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
32 words
The data processing system as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the macro program producing means includes steps to execute a macro program on all tree nodes to satisfy user-defined search criteria.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
88 words
A method of interactively building computer programs for transforming trees using a graphical user interface of a computer system, including the steps of: a) analyzing structured text and representing the structured text on a computer screen in the form of a tree; and b) providing a graphical user interface for transforming the structured text by performing a graphical operation on the tree representative of the structured text; and c) recording a sequence of graphical operations on the tree to form a macro program that transforms the structured text.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
88 words
A method of interactively building computer programs for transforming trees using a graphical user interface of a computer system, including the steps of: a) analyzing structured text and representing the structured text on a computer screen in the form of a tree; and b) providing a graphical user interface for transforming the structured text by performing a graphical operation on the tree representative of the structured text; and c) recording a sequence of graphical operations on the tree to form a macro program that transforms the structured text.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
68 words
The method of interactively building computer programs as claimed in claim 11 , further comprising providing a macro program producing means, wherein the macro program producing means includes steps for starting and stopping the recording of the macro program, steps for executing a macro program on a selected tree node, and steps for executing a macro program on all tree nodes, to satisfy a user defined search criteria.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
44 words
The method of interactively building computer programs as claimed in claim 11 , further comprising providing a macro program producing means, wherein the macro program producing means produces a macro which becomes a new visual tree operation which can be applied to tree nodes.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
144 words
A data processing system comprising structured text having a tree that represents the structured text, the tree that represents structured text displayed in a first window, the structured text simultaneously displayed in a second window, the tree in the first window synchronized with said structured text in the second window, and the text in the second window selectively highlighted to aid in relating said tree in the first window to said structured text in the second window, and visual operations performed on the tree in the first window leading to corresponding operations being immediately and automatically performed on the structured text in the second window, and the sequence of visual operations on said tree in said first window being recorded as a macro program that can be run by a user at a later time, providing a visually constructed program that transforms structured text.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
144 words
A data processing system comprising structured text having a tree that represents the structured text, the tree that represents structured text displayed in a first window, the structured text simultaneously displayed in a second window, the tree in the first window synchronized with said structured text in the second window, and the text in the second window selectively highlighted to aid in relating said tree in the first window to said structured text in the second window, and visual operations performed on the tree in the first window leading to corresponding operations being immediately and automatically performed on the structured text in the second window, and the sequence of visual operations on said tree in said first window being recorded as a macro program that can be run by a user at a later time, providing a visually constructed program that transforms structured text.
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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) | 2005-10-14 | 2006-04-15 | 2006-10-15 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2009-10-14 | 2010-04-15 | 2010-10-15 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2013-10-14 | 2014-04-15 | 2014-10-15 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |