Methods and systems for efficient behavior generation in software application development tool
View Patent ↗Methods, systems and computer product for allowing flexible definition of appearance and behavior states for an interactive application. A state table includes a first dimension and a second dimension, the first dimension configured to identify at least one programming element and the second dimension configured to identify a plurality of states of the computer system. When a state table creation operating mode is activated and alteration of at least one programming element is identified, an operand is automatically stored in a cell at each intersection of the first dimension and the second dimension. Alterations that are identified include movement of a graphical object, changes of size, color, associated text, or other graphical feature of a graphical object.
1. A method for creating a state table comprising:
providing an interactive interface for designing an application having at least one programming element, the interactive interface further having a project window, a selectable layout window, and a first selectable input to activate a state table creation operating mode;
providing at least one state table having a first dimension and a second dimension, the first dimension configured to identify the at least one programming element and the second dimension configured to identify a plurality of states of the computer system;
activating the state table creation operating mode by selecting the first selectable input, the activation of the state table creation operating mode causing the display of a state table window;
and during the state table creation:
automatically determining the programming element being modified graphically by a user, the programming element having one or more parameters;
automatically determining the one or more parameters of the programming element that was modified;
automatically including an operand corresponding to the graphically modified programming element and modified parameter into the state table; and
automatically storing the operand corresponding to the modified parameter of the programming element as a specific state in the state table.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein identifying alteration of at least one programming element includes identifying movement of a graphical object within a state creation display window from a location in a previous state.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein identifying alteration of at least one programming element includes identifying changes of size of a graphical object within a state creation display window.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein identifying alteration of at least one programming element includes identifying alteration of graphical features of a graphical object within a state creation display window.
5. The method of claim 4 , wherein the graphical features include color.
6. The method of claim 4 , wherein the graphical features include image content.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein identifying alteration of at least one programming element includes identifying alteration of at least one of text or text features associated with a graphical object within a state creation display window.
8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the programming element includes a function call.
9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the function call includes an automatic function call.
10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the operand includes data used by the automatic function call.
11. The method of claim 8 , wherein the operand includes a call given function indicating what function should be executed by the function call programming element.
12. The method of claim 1 , wherein the programming element includes a value setting function.
13. The method of claim 1 , wherein the operand includes a null operand.
14. The method of claim 1 , further comprising sending the state table with stored one or more operands over a broadcast network.
15. A computer program product residing on a computer non-transitory readable medium, the product comprising:
first computer program code for providing an interactive interface for designing an application, the interactive interface including a project window and a selectable layout window;
second computer program code for providing, upon activation of a selectable state table creation operating mode, at least one state table in a state table window, the at least one state table having a first dimension and a second dimension, the first dimension configured to identify at least one programming element and the second dimension configured to identify a plurality of states of the computer system;
third computer program code for automatically determining the programming element being modified graphically by a user, the programming element having one or more parameters;
fourth computer program code for automatically determining the one or more parameters of the programming element that was modified;
fifth computer program code for automatically including an operand corresponding to the graphically modified programming element and modified parameter into the state table; and
sixth computer program code for automatically storing the operand corresponding to the modified parameter of the programming element as a specific state in the state table, wherein the third thru sixth computer program codes are executed during state table creation.
16. The computer program product of claim 15 , wherein the alteration of the at least one programming element is performed by a user within the layout window, and further wherein the computer program product comprises fifth computer program code for presenting a representation of the alteration of the at least one programming element in the project window.
17. The computer program product of claim 15 , wherein the second computer program code identifies changes of size of a graphical object within a state creation display window.
18. The computer program product of claim 15 , wherein the second computer program code identifies alteration of graphical features of a graphical object within a state creation display window.
19. The computer program product of claim 18 , wherein the graphical features include color.
20. The computer program product of claim 18 , wherein the graphical features include image content.
21. The computer program product of claim 15 , the second computer program code identifies alteration of at least one of text or text features associated with a graphical object within a state creation display window.
22. The computer program product of claim 15 , wherein the programming element includes a function call.
23. The method of claim 22 , wherein the function call includes an automatic function call.
24. The computer program product of claim 23 , wherein the operand includes data used by the automatic function call, such that when the automatic function call is initiated by a state change of the computer system, the programming element performs its programmed function using the data specified as the operand.
25. The computer program product of claim 22 , wherein the operand includes a call given function indicating what function should be executed by the function call programming element.
26. The computer program product of claim 15 , wherein the programming element includes a value setting function.
27. The computer program product of claim 15 , wherein the operand includes a null operand.
28. A computer-based system comprising:
memory;
a display device;
an input device; and
a processor coupled to the memory, the display device, and the input device, the processor comprising:
a first component for generating a graphical user interface and presenting the graphical user interface on the display device, the graphical user interface comprises:
a graphics layout area for presenting objects selected using the input device;
a project window for presenting the objects in thumbnail form;
a state table window for presenting at least one state table having a first dimension and a second dimension, the first dimension configured to identify at least one programming element and the second dimension configured to identify a plurality of states; and
a button for activating a creation process for a new state within the state table;
a second component for identifying alteration of at least one programming element associated with one of the presented objects; and
a third component for automatically determining the programming element being modified graphically by a user, the programming element having one or more parameters;
a fourth component for automatically determining the one or more parameters of the programming element that was modified;
a fifth component for automatically including an operand corresponding to the graphically modified programming element and modified parameter into the state table; and
a sixth component for automatically storing the operand corresponding to the modified parameter of the programming element as a specific state in the state table, wherein the third thru sixth computer program codes are executed during state table creation.
29. The system of claim 28 , wherein the processor further comprises a fourth component for storing the states in the state table in the memory.
30. The system of claim 28 , wherein the second component identifies movement of a graphical object within the graphics layout area from a location in a previous state.
31. The system of claim 28 , wherein the second component identifies changes of size of a graphical object within the graphics layout area, and further wherein the first component comprises an object properties window for presenting the properties of a selected object.
32. The system of claim 28 , wherein the second component identifies alteration of graphical features of a graphical object within the graphics layout area.
33. The system of claim 32 , wherein the graphical features include color.
34. The system of claim 32 , wherein the graphical features include image content.
35. The system of claim 28 , the second component identifies alteration of at least one of text or text features associated with a graphical object within the graphics layout area.
36. The system of claim 28 , wherein the programming element includes a function call.
37. The system of claim 36 , wherein the function call includes an automatic function call.
38. The system of claim 37 , wherein the operand includes data used by the automatic function call.
39. The system of claim 36 , wherein the operand includes a call given function indicating what function should be executed by the function call programming element.
40. The system of claim 28 , wherein the programming element includes a value setting function.
41. The system of claim 28 , wherein the operand includes a null operand.
42. The system of claim 28 , further comprising a fourth component for sending the state table with stored one or more operands over a broadcast network.