The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jan. 11, 2000
Filed:
Aug. 16, 1996
Ronald Allen Cain, Scotts Valley, CA (US);
Elliot Omiya, Aptos, CA (US);
David Phipps, Santa Cruz, CA (US);
Inprise Corporation, Scotts Valley, CA (US);
Abstract
A system of the present invention includes a relational database management system (RDBMS), having an object-based, interactive visual-programming language providing programming by 'visual inheritance.' A user places screen objects (e.g., boxes, screen buttons, table objects, and the like) on an on-screen window or 'form,' visually attaches selected 'properties' and 'methods' to the screen objects, and then establishes an containership-based event model that dictates how and when these properties and methods will be invoked. An object inherits (derives) properties and methods from other (parent) objects via its visual containership. In this manner, the task of creating and maintaining application programs is greatly simplified. An alternative embodiment providing an 'Object Explorer' is also described. The Explorer collapses object inspector and object tree functionality into a single UI (user interface) element. This allows the user to avoid switching back and forth between an inspector/property sheet user interface element on the one hand and an object tree user interface element on the other. Additionally, the imporved interface consumes less screen surface area.