System and method for configuring and executing a flexible computer program comprising component structures
US6490719B1 · kind B1 · utility
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Jul 26, 1999 |
| Grant date | Dec 3, 2002 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jul 26, 2019 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG06F9/44521
- WIPO fieldComputer technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A system and method for configuring and executing a flexible computer program on a data processing system. The present invention introduces a modifiable construct known as a component interface that can be linked to other component interfaces to specify a computer program. The mechanism for linking and unlinking component interfaces is easy to use and can accommodate component interfaces that are only partially specified. This enables specification of a component interface to be deferred, leading to the following useful consequences: i) component interfaces can be used to represent queries with parameters that are not specified until a context is established, and ii) component interfaces can be organized with varying levels of generality. Component interfaces also permit a “division of expertise” whereby those with expert knowledge may configure application components for use by others. Viewing, modifying, and combining of component interfaces may be performed using a visual component manager. An execution manager operating on the processor reads the component interfaces, creates executable software components (called dynamic objects under the preferred embodiment), and…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.