Apparatus and method for linking software modules
US5386568A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Dec 1, 1992 |
| Grant date | Jan 31, 1995 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Dec 1, 2012 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG06F8/36
- WIPO fieldComputer technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
An apparatus and method for interconnecting a plurality of independent software modules by means of specially configured software objects called "Input" and "Output". The software objects are implemented through library functions which include functions for making an Output object, making an Input object, adding actions to Input objects, making connections between the Input and Output objects of various software modules, sending messages from one software module to another, and receiving messages sent by another software module. The invention also provides a system for interconnecting a plurality of hardware modules, each of which may employ different internal data formats. Additionally, a novel graphical user interface is provided, whereby a user can create, destroy, inspect and/or hide connections between software modules, as well as display data flow between modules.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.