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US6560770B1
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Extending the attributes of an application generated using a fourth generation programming tool
Assignee: Oracle International Corp
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Filing: 1999-05-25
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Granted: 2003-05-06
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Expires: 2019-05-25
Abstract
Abstract A method and apparatus are provided for extending the behavior and attributes of applications designed using a fourth generation language (4GL) programming tool. Specifically, a 4GL programming tool is provided that allows application designers to specify the implementation classes of the components that are used in the applications that they design using the 4GL programming tool. The implementation classes thus specified may define attributes and behaviors not supported by the corresponding component implementations provided with the 4GL programming tool. During runtime, methods in the specified implementation classes are invoked. To correctly invoke the methods of user-specified implementation classes, the interfaces of the methods must be known to the entity performing the invocations. Therefore, according to one aspect of the invention, all component implementations that are to be used by the application, including both the "standard" component implementations provided with the 4GL programming tool and the "custom" component implementations specified by the application designer, implement a common interface.
Inventors
- 👤 Sanjay Saxena
- 👤 Christopher J. Harrison
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 14:30
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F9/00; G06F9/06; G06F9/44; G06F9/448; G06F9/4488; G06F9/4492
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 28
Claim 1
Independent Claim
111 words
A method for executing an application designed by a 4GL programming tool, the method comprising the steps of: reading, from application code generated by the 4GL programming tool, a portion of said application code that a) identifies a component for the application, wherein the component is of a particular component-type for which the 4GL programming tool provides a first implementation; and b) identifies a second implementation for the component that is different from said first implementation and that is not an implementation provided by said 4GL programming tool; executing said portion of said application code by calling a constructor implemented in said second implementation to create the component within the application.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
111 words
A method for executing an application designed by a 4GL programming tool, the method comprising the steps of: reading, from application code generated by the 4GL programming tool, a portion of said application code that a) identifies a component for the application, wherein the component is of a particular component-type for which the 4GL programming tool provides a first implementation; and b) identifies a second implementation for the component that is different from said first implementation and that is not an implementation provided by said 4GL programming tool; executing said portion of said application code by calling a constructor implemented in said second implementation to create the component within the application.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
57 words
The method of claim 1 wherein: the step of reading is performed by a runtime engine residing on a server; and the step of calling the constructor is performed on a client in response to receipt at said client of a message generated by said runtime engine in response to executing said portion of said application code.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
39 words
The method of claim 2 wherein: the first implementation and the second implementation both support a common interface; and the step of calling the constructor is performed through said common interface by a message handler for said particular component-type.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
58 words
The method of claim 1 wherein: the 4GL programming tool generates said portion of the application code in response to an application programmer entering input that specifies that said application is to have a component of said particular component-type; and said application programmer entering input that specifies that said component is to be implemented using said second implementation.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
45 words
The method of claim 1 wherein: the runtime engine executes said portion of said application code by sending a message to a dispatcher; the dispatcher responds to the message by instantiating a message handler for said particular component-type; and the message handler invokes said constructor.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
40 words
The method of claim 5 wherein: the runtime engine is on a server; the dispatcher is on a client operatively coupled to said server over a network; and the runtime engine sends the message to the dispatcher over said network.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
109 words
The method of claim 1 further including the steps of: reading, from application code generated by the 4GL programming tool, a second portion of said application code that a) identifies a second component for the application, wherein the second component is of a second particular component-type for which the 4GL programming tool provides a third implementation, wherein the second component-type is different from said first particular component-type; and b) identifies a fourth implementation for the second component that is different from said third implementation; executing said second portion of said application code by calling a constructor implemented in said fourth implementation to create the second component within the application.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 7 wherein said first, second, third and fourth implementations all implement a common interface.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
153 words
A method for use in a system that includes a 4GL programming tool that allows application designers to create, through interaction with user interface objects and controls presented by the 4GL programming tool, applications that contain components that belong to a set of component-types for which implementations are provided by the 4GL programming tool, the method comprising the steps of: the 4GL programming tool providing a control for receiving data that indicates a user-specified implementation for a component of an application being designed using said 4GL programming tool; wherein said component is an instance of a component-type that belongs to said set of component-types; wherein said user-defined implementation is not one of said implementations provided by the 4GL programming tool; the 4GL programming tool generating application code that, when executed, runs said application; and wherein a portion of said application code indicates that said component is to be implemented using said user-specified implementation.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
153 words
A method for use in a system that includes a 4GL programming tool that allows application designers to create, through interaction with user interface objects and controls presented by the 4GL programming tool, applications that contain components that belong to a set of component-types for which implementations are provided by the 4GL programming tool, the method comprising the steps of: the 4GL programming tool providing a control for receiving data that indicates a user-specified implementation for a component of an application being designed using said 4GL programming tool; wherein said component is an instance of a component-type that belongs to said set of component-types; wherein said user-defined implementation is not one of said implementations provided by the 4GL programming tool; the 4GL programming tool generating application code that, when executed, runs said application; and wherein a portion of said application code indicates that said component is to be implemented using said user-specified implementation.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 9 wherein said control is one of a plurality of controls on a property palette for receiving user-specified values for a plurality of properties of said component.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 9 wherein the step of generating application code includes generating application code that is interpreted by a runtime engine to execute said application.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
61 words
The method of claim 11 wherein: the implementations provided by the 4GL programming tool for the set of component-types each support a common interface; the user-specified implementation supports said common interface; and during execution of the application, said component and any components implemented using the implementations provided by the 4GL programming tool are instantiated through calls made through said common interface.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
127 words
A computer-readable medium carrying one or more sequences of instructions for executing an application designed by a 4GL programming tool, wherein execution of the one or more sequences of instructions by one or more processors causes the one or more processors to perform the steps of: reading, from application code generated by the 4GL programming tool, a portion of said application code that a) identifies a component for the application, wherein the component is of a particular component-type for which the 4GL programming tool provides a first implementation; and b) identifies a second implementation for the component that is different from said first implementation; executing said portion of said application code by calling a constructor implemented in said second implementation to create the component within the application.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
127 words
A computer-readable medium carrying one or more sequences of instructions for executing an application designed by a 4GL programming tool, wherein execution of the one or more sequences of instructions by one or more processors causes the one or more processors to perform the steps of: reading, from application code generated by the 4GL programming tool, a portion of said application code that a) identifies a component for the application, wherein the component is of a particular component-type for which the 4GL programming tool provides a first implementation; and b) identifies a second implementation for the component that is different from said first implementation; executing said portion of said application code by calling a constructor implemented in said second implementation to create the component within the application.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
58 words
The computer-readable medium of claim 13 wherein: the step of reading is performed by a runtime engine residing on a server; and the step of calling the constructor is performed on a client in response to receipt at said client of a message generated by said runtime engine in response to executing said portion of said application code.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
40 words
The computer-readable medium of claim 14 wherein: the first implementation and the second implementation both support a common interface; and the step of calling the constructor is performed through said common interface by a message handler for said particular component-type.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
59 words
The computer-readable medium of claim 13 wherein: the 4GL programming tool generates said portion of the application code in response to an application programmer entering input that specifies that said application is to have a component of said particular component-type; and said application programmer entering input that specifies that said component is to be implemented using said second implementation.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
46 words
The computer-readable medium of claim 13 wherein: the runtime engine executes said portion of said application code by sending a message to a dispatcher; the dispatcher responds to the message by instantiating a message handler for said particular component-type; and the message handler invokes said constructor.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
41 words
The computer-readable medium of claim 17 wherein: the runtime engine is on a server; the dispatcher is on a client operatively coupled to said server over a network; and the runtime engine sends the message to the dispatcher over said network.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
113 words
The computer-readable medium of claim 13 further including instructions for performing the steps of: reading, from application code generated by the 4GL programming tool, a second portion of said application code that a) identifies a second component for the application, wherein the second component is of a second particular component-type for which the 4GL programming tool provides a third implementation, wherein the second component-type is different from said first particular component-type; and b) identifies a fourth implementation for the second component that is different from said third implementation; executing said second portion of said application code by calling a constructor implemented in said fourth implementation to create the second component within the application.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 19 wherein said first, second, third and fourth implementations all implement a common interface.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
155 words
A computer-readable medium carrying instructions to implement a 4GL programming tool that allows application designers to create, through interaction with user interface objects and controls presented by the 4GL programming tool, applications that contain components that belong to a set of component-types for which implementations are provided by the 4GL programming tool, the computer-readable medium carrying instructions for performing the steps of: the 4GL programming tool providing a control for receiving data that indicates a user-specified implementation for a component of an application being designed using said 4GL programming tool; wherein said component is an instance of a component-type that belongs to said set of component-types; wherein said user-defined implementation is not one of said implementations provided by the 4GL programming tool; the 4GL programming tool generating application code that, when executed, runs said application; and wherein a portion of said application code indicates that said component is to be implemented using said user-specified implementation.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
155 words
A computer-readable medium carrying instructions to implement a 4GL programming tool that allows application designers to create, through interaction with user interface objects and controls presented by the 4GL programming tool, applications that contain components that belong to a set of component-types for which implementations are provided by the 4GL programming tool, the computer-readable medium carrying instructions for performing the steps of: the 4GL programming tool providing a control for receiving data that indicates a user-specified implementation for a component of an application being designed using said 4GL programming tool; wherein said component is an instance of a component-type that belongs to said set of component-types; wherein said user-defined implementation is not one of said implementations provided by the 4GL programming tool; the 4GL programming tool generating application code that, when executed, runs said application; and wherein a portion of said application code indicates that said component is to be implemented using said user-specified implementation.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
32 words
The computer-readable medium of claim 21 wherein said control is one of a plurality of controls on a property palette for receiving user-specified values for a plurality of properties of said component.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
28 words
The computer-readable medium of claim 21 wherein the step of generating application code includes generating application code that is interpreted by a runtime engine to execute said application.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
62 words
The computer-readable medium of claim 23 wherein: the implementations provided by the 4GL programming tool for the set of component-types each support a common interface; the user-specified implementation supports said common interface; and during execution of the application, said component and any components implemented using the implementations provided by the 4GL programming tool are instantiated through calls made through said common interface.
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) | 2006-05-05 | 2006-11-04 | 2007-05-06 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2010-05-05 | 2010-11-04 | 2011-05-06 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2014-05-05 | 2014-11-04 | 2015-05-06 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |