US6637022B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Enhanced graphical development environment for controlling program flow
Assignee: Intervoice LP
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Filing: 2000-06-26
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Granted: 2003-10-21
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Expires: 2020-06-26
Abstract
Abstract A graphical development environment for developing the program flow of an application. The environment represents the program flow as an arrow between starting and end points. A developer can modify the program flow by adding an icon representing a subroutine to any point on the arrow. Loops and possible returns of a subroutine are graphically represented by the environment. If the developer modifies the API of a subroutine, the environment graphically represents the calling routines that are affected by the API change. The environment also allows functional components of subroutines to be overwritten by the caller. In such a case, the overwritten components are executing within the caller's environment space. Different overwritten instances of an overwritable subroutine may exist in the same program flow.
Inventors
- 👤 Eric Weeren
- 👤 Myra Hambleton
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 18:41
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F8/00; G06F8/30; G06F8/34; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S715/00; Y10S715/961; Y10S715/965; Y10S715/966; Y10S715/967
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 27
Claim 1
Independent Claim
45 words
A computer system having a display means, said computer system providing a graphical development environment for users, comprising: means for graphically representing a subroutine having at least one overwritable component on said display means; and means for graphically representing whether said subroutine has been overwritten.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
45 words
A computer system having a display means, said computer system providing a graphical development environment for users, comprising: means for graphically representing a subroutine having at least one overwritable component on said display means; and means for graphically representing whether said subroutine has been overwritten.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
45 words
The computer system of claim 1 , further comprising: means for changing an application program interface (API) of said overwritable subroutine, wherein said API comprises parameters and returns for said overwritable subroutine; and means for graphically representing corresponding overwriting subroutines to flag said changed API.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
23 words
The computer system of claim 2 , wherein said means for graphically representing said corresponding overwriting subroutines changes a color of an icon.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
23 words
The computer system of claim 2 , wherein said means for graphically representing said corresponding overwriting subroutines changes a shape of an icon.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
39 words
The computer system of claim 2 , wherein changing said API causes icons to enter a defunct state and further comprising: means for clearing said defunct state; and means for automatically graphically representing a changed functionality of said API.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
22 words
The computer system of claim 1 , further comprising: means for developing overwriting components directly referencing variables in a caller's environment space.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
45 words
The computer system of claim 1 , further comprising: means for enforcing that an API of said overwritable subroutine is the same as an API of at least one of said corresponding overwriting subroutines, wherein said API comprises parameters and returns of said overwritable subroutine.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
59 words
The computer system of claim 1 , wherein said overwritable subroutine has a plurality of overwritable components and further comprising: means for a first instance of a call to said overwritable subroutine to overwrite any of said overwritable components; and means for a second instance of a call to said overwritable subroutine to overwrite any of said overwritable components.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
56 words
A computer program product having a computer readable medium having computer program logic recorded thereon for graphically developing an application on a display means, said computer program product comprising: means for graphically representing a subroutine having at least one overwritable component on said display means; and means for graphically representing whether said subroutine has been overwritten.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
56 words
A computer program product having a computer readable medium having computer program logic recorded thereon for graphically developing an application on a display means, said computer program product comprising: means for graphically representing a subroutine having at least one overwritable component on said display means; and means for graphically representing whether said subroutine has been overwritten.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
46 words
The computer program product of claim 9 , further comprising: means for changing an application program interface (API) of said overwritable subroutine, wherein said API comprises parameters and returns of said overwritable subroutine; and means for graphically representing corresponding overwriting subroutines to flag said changed API.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
24 words
The computer program product of claim 10 , wherein said means for graphically representing said corresponding overwriting subroutines changes a color of an icon.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
24 words
The computer program product of claim 10 , wherein said means for graphically representing said corresponding overwriting subroutines changes a shape of an icon.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
40 words
The computer program product of claim 10 , wherein changing said API causes icons to enter a defunct state and further comprising: means for clearing said defunct state; and means for automatically graphically representing a changed functionality of said API.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
23 words
The computer program product of claim 9 , further comprising: means for developing overwriting components directly referencing variables in a caller's environment space.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
46 words
The computer program product of claim 9 , further comprising: means for enforcing that an API of said overwritable subroutine is the same as an API of at least one of said corresponding overwriting subroutines, wherein said API comprises parameters and returns of said overwritable subroutine.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
60 words
The computer program product of claim 9 , wherein said overwritable subroutine has a plurality of overwritable components and further comprising: means for a first instance of a call to said overwritable subroutine to overwrite any of said overwritable components; and means for a second instance of a call to said overwritable subroutine to overwrite any of said overwritable components.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
40 words
A method of developing an application on a computer system having display means, comprising the steps of: graphically representing a subroutine having at least one overwritable component on said display means; and graphically representing whether the subroutine has been overwritten.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
40 words
A method of developing an application on a computer system having display means, comprising the steps of: graphically representing a subroutine having at least one overwritable component on said display means; and graphically representing whether the subroutine has been overwritten.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
43 words
The method of claim 17 , further comprising the steps of: changing an application program interface (API) of said overwritable subroutine, wherein said API comprises parameters and returns of said overwritable subroutine; and graphically representing corresponding overwriting subroutines to flag said changed API.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 18 , wherein said step of graphically representing said corresponding overwriting subroutines changes a color of an icon.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 18 , wherein said step of graphically representing said corresponding overwriting subroutines changes a shape of an icon.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method of claim 18 , wherein changing said API causes icons to enter a defunct state and further comprising the step of: clearing said defunct state; and automatically graphically representing a changed functionality of said API.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 17 , further comprising the step of: developing overwriting components directly referencing variables in a caller's environment space.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
45 words
The method of claim 17 , further comprising the step of: enforcing that an API of said overwritable subroutine is the same as an API of at least one of said corresponding overwriting subroutines, wherein said API comprises parameters and returns of said overwritable subroutine.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
57 words
The method of claim 17 , wherein said overwritable subroutine has a plurality of overwritable components and further comprising the step of: overwriting any of said overwritable components by a first instance of a call to said overwritable subroutine; and overwriting any of said overwritable components by a second instance of a call to said overwritable subroutine.
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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) | 2006-10-20 | 2007-04-21 | 2007-10-21 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2010-10-20 | 2011-04-21 | 2011-10-21 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2014-10-20 | 2015-04-21 | 2015-10-21 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |