Method for specifying and controlling the invocation of a computer program
US5051898A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jun 13, 1988 |
| Grant date | Sep 24, 1991 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jun 13, 2008 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10S707/99934
- WIPO fieldComputer technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A method and related system for use with an interactive computer for invocation of a computer tool. A tool template and a tool encapsulator are provided for the tool. A tool template is a predetermined representation of processes and data employed to convey program status information to the user and to allow the user to control the program as it executes. In a specific embodiment, a tool template has a plurality of graphical constituents allowing a user to specify data and parameters, to invoke a program, to control execution of the program and to observe execution of the computer program. A tool template is to be used in connection with an encapsulator to allow a user graphical access to data through a display screen. Data is stored in an elementary unit called an object, each object being assigned a "data kind" to indicate the type of data that is contained within the object. Each object is graphically represented on a display by an icon which is determined by the object's data kind. Objects can be inserted by graphical interaction into a constituent of a tool template called a "slot". A slot represents a logical input or output of an underlying tool represented by its tool templ…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.