MODEL FOR EXTENSIONS TO SYSTEM PROVIDING USER INTERFACE APPLICATIONS
A customized application that is declared based on an abstract class definition derived from a declared host component model associated with a host software application implementing business processes and providing a graphical display associated with a user interface (UI) for a user in a client program executing on a client frontend device storing metadata associated with the UI for the client frontend device may be initiated, the metadata including a declaration of the declared host component model and a declaration of the abstract class definition. Access to data and functionality of the host software application may be obtained via the customized application. Customized output may be provided that is different from host output provided by the host software application, the customized output generated by accessing, via the abstract class definition, the declared host component model, for accessing the same data and functionality that is accessed by the host software application.
1 . A system comprising:
a customized user interface manager configured to initiate execution of a customized application that is declared based on an abstract class definition derived from a declared host component model associated with a host software application implementing one or more business processes and providing a graphical display associated with a user interface (UI) for a user in a client program executing on a client frontend device that is separate from a backend device storing metadata associated with the UI for the client frontend device, the metadata including a declaration of the declared host component model and a declaration of the abstract class definition;
a customized access engine configured to obtain access to data and functionality of the host software application via the customized application; and
a customized view engine configured to provide customized output for the user that is different from host output provided by the host software application, the customized output generated by the customized application accessing, via the abstract class definition, the declared host component model, for accessing the same data and functionality that is accessed by the host software application.
2 . The system of claim 1 wherein:
the customized output for the user includes visual output displayed on the graphical display, and
the client program is a browser.
3 . The system of claim 2 wherein:
the customized output for the user includes at least one custom pane displayed on the graphical display that is a different arrangement of data that is displayed by executing the host software application.
4 . The system of claim 1 wherein:
the customized output for the user includes nonvisual output.
5 . The system of claim 4 wherein:
the customized output for the user includes triggering an event and storing a result of the event in a database.
6 . The system of claim 1 wherein:
the customized user interface manager is configured to:
receive a model of the customized application; and
interpret the model of the customized application for execution by the client program.
7 . The system of claim 1 wherein the declared host component model includes:
a controller declaration configured to indicate one or more run-time event handlers;
a data model declaration configured to indicate a structural description of data associated with the declared host component;
an input port declaration configured to indicate one or more run-time inputs to the declared host component; and
an output port declaration configured to indicate one or more run-time outputs from the declared host component.
8 . A computer program product tangibly embodied on a computer-readable medium and including executable code that, when executed, is configured to cause at least one data processing apparatus to:
initiate execution of a customized application that is declared based on an abstract class definition derived from a declared host component model associated with a host software application implementing one or more business processes and providing a graphical display associated with a user interface (UI) for a user in a client program executing on a client frontend device that is separate from a backend device storing metadata associated with the UI for the client frontend device, the metadata including a declaration of the declared host component model and a declaration of the abstract class definition;
obtain access to data and functionality of the host software application via the customized application; and
provide customized output for the user that is different from host output provided by the host software application, the customized output generated by the customized application accessing, via the abstract class definition, the declared host component model, for accessing the same data and functionality that is accessed by the host software application.
9 . The computer program product of claim 8 wherein:
the customized output for the user includes visual output displayed on the graphical display, and
the client program is a browser.
10 . The computer program product of claim 9 wherein:
the customized output for the user includes at least one custom pane displayed on the graphical display that is a different arrangement of data that is displayed by executing the host software application.
11 . The computer program product of claim 8 wherein:
the customized output for the user includes nonvisual output.
12 . The computer program product of claim 11 wherein:
the customized output for the user includes triggering an event and storing a result of the event in a database.
13 . The computer program product of claim 8 wherein the executable code, when executed, is configured to cause the at least one data processing apparatus to:
receive a model of the customized application; and
interpret the model of the customized application for execution by the client program.
14 . The computer program product of claim 8 wherein the declared host component model includes:
a controller declaration configured to indicate one or more run-time event handlers;
a data model declaration configured to indicate a structural description of data associated with the declared host component;
an input port declaration configured to indicate one or more run-time inputs to the declared host component; and
an output port declaration configured to indicate one or more run-time outputs from the declared host component.
15 . A method comprising:
initiating execution of a customized application that is declared based on an abstract class definition derived from a declared host component model associated with a host software application implementing one or more business processes and providing a graphical display associated with a user interface (UI) for a user in a client program executing on a client frontend device that is separate from a backend device storing metadata associated with the UI for the client frontend device, the metadata including a declaration of the declared host component model and a declaration of the abstract class definition;
obtaining access to data and functionality of the host software application via the customized application; and
providing customized output for the user that is different from host output provided by the host software application, the customized output generated by the customized application accessing, via the abstract class definition, the declared host component model, for accessing the same data and functionality that is accessed by the host software application.
16 . The method of claim 15 wherein:
the customized output for the user includes visual output displayed on the graphical display, and
the client program is a browser.
17 . The method of claim 16 wherein:
the customized output for the user includes at least one custom pane displayed on the graphical display that is a different arrangement of data that is displayed by executing the host software application.
18 . The method of claim 15 wherein:
the customized output for the user includes nonvisual output.
19 . The method of claim 18 wherein:
the customized output for the user includes triggering an event and storing a result of the event in a database.
20 . The method of claim 15 wherein the declared host component model includes:
a controller declaration configured to indicate one or more run-time event handlers;
a data model declaration configured to indicate a structural description of data associated with the declared host component;
an input port declaration configured to indicate one or more run-time inputs to the declared host component; and
an output port declaration configured to indicate one or more run-time outputs from the declared host component.