Extending the attributes of an application generated using a fourth generation programming tool
US6560770B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | May 25, 1999 |
| Grant date | May 6, 2003 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | May 25, 2019 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG06F9/4492
- WIPO fieldComputer technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
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.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.