EP0697655A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
System for managing external applications and files
Assignee: Canon Inc
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Filing: 1995-08-11
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2015-08-11
Abstract
Abstract A computer-implemented system for managing an external application in response to a user's selection of an item in a compound document which is displayed by a client application. The managing system includes an application manager and a file manager which are simple in construction because there is no need for them to communicate directly with the external application; rather, they simply monitor the external application. In response to user selection of an item in the compound document, the client application copies the selected item to an external temporary file and sends the temporary file name to the application manager. Based on the file name, the application manager associates an external file to the application, launches the external application, issues polling requests for activity of the external application, and outputs the file name to the file manager. In response to outputting of the file name from the application manager, the file manager commences monitoring activities of the external file to determine whether it has been modified, and, in addition, returns a pointer for the external file to the application manger. The application manager returns the pointer for the external file to the client application, and in addition returns a pointer for the external application. Upon receipt of these pointers, the client application instructs a windowing operating system to display a window for the external application. By virtue of this arrangement, a full-featured compound document capability is provided in which it is possible to perform all conventional windowing tasks such as close down or re-focus of external applications, and close down or iconization of the client application, all without any specialized communication to the external application or the external file.
Inventors
- 👤 Farzad C/O Canon Kabushiki Kaisha Bibayan
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 10:41
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F9/00; G06F9/06; G06F9/46; G06F9/54; G06F9/543; G06F9/44; G06F9/451; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S707/00; Y10S707/99951; Y10S707/99952; Y10S707/99953; Y10S707/99956
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 42
Claim 1
Independent Claim
146 words
A computer implemented system for managing an external application in response to user selection of an item in a compound document displayed from a client application, said computer implemented system comprising: an application manager which receives a file name for an external file corresponding to the selected item and which, based on the file name, associates an external application to the file, launches the external application, polls for activity of the external application, and outputs the file name; and a file manager, responsive to outputting of the file name from the application manager, which monitors the external file to determine if the external file has been modified by the external application and which returns to the application manager a pointer for the external file; wherein the application manager returns a pointer for the external application and a pointer for the external file to the client application.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
72 words
A computer implemented system according to Claim 1, wherein the client application responds to user selection of an item in the compound document by copying the selected item to a temporary file and by sending the temporary file name to the application manager, and wherein in response to receipt of the pointers from the application manager, the client application instructs a windowing operating system to display a window for the external application.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
123 words
A computer implemented system according to Claim 1, wherein the client application responds to user selection of an item in the compound document by determining if a valid pointer for the selected item has been received from the application manager, and wherein in a case where a valid pointer exists the client application instructs a windowing operating system to display a window for the external application, and wherein in a case where a valid pointer does not exist the client application copies the selected item to a temporary file, sends the temporary file name to the application manager, and in response to receipt of a pointer from the application manager, instructs the windowing operating system to display a window for the external application.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
29 words
A computer implemented system according to Claim 1, wherein in response to close down of an external application, said application manager invalidates the pointer sent to the client application.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
47 words
A computer implemented system according to Claim 4, wherein in response to close down of an external application, the external file manager determines whether the external file has been modified, and in a case where the external file has been modified re-imports data from the external file.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
48 words
A computer implemented system according to Claim 1, wherein in response to close down of the client application, the client application inspects valid pointers received from the application manager to determine whether any external applications are still present, and before closing down requests close-down of still-present external applications.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
51 words
A computer implemented system according to Claim 1, wherein in response to iconization of the client application, the client application inspects valid pointers received from the application manager to determine whether any external applications are still existing and instructs a windowing operating system to de-display any still-existing external applications before iconization.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
41 words
A computer implemented system according to Claim 7, wherein in response to restoration of an iconized client application, the client application inspects valid pointers received from said application manager and instructs the windowing operating system to re-display any still-present external applications.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
294 words
A computer implemented system for managing an external application in response to user selection of an item in a compound document displayed by a client application, said computer implemented system comprising: a windowing operating system for displaying windows; a client application, interacting with said windowing operating system which creates, retrieves and stores compound documents and displays compound documents for user selection of an item therein, wherein in response to user selection of an item in the compound document said client application copies the selected item to a temporary file and outputs a temporary file name; an application manager instantiated by said client application, said application manager including (a) an application tracker which outputs polling requests to check for existence of external applications, (b) an application finder responsive to polling requests from the application tracker which confirms whether an external application is present, (c) an application pool manager for creating, adding and removing application entry objects, the application pool manager also for receiving the file name from the client application and outputting it, and for returning a pointer for the external file and the external application to the client application, and (d) an application launcher which associates an external application to the file name output by said client application and which launches the external application; and a file manager, instantiated by the client application, said file manager including (i) a file tracker responsive to polling requests from the application tracker to check for modification of the file created by the client application, and (ii) a file pool manager for creating, adding and removing a file entry object corresponding to the file, the file pool manager being responsive to output of the external file name from the application pool manager by creating a file entry object.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
39 words
A computer implemented system according to Claim 9, wherein in response to output of the pointer for the external file and external application, the client application instructs the windowing operating system to display a window for the external application.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
66 words
A computer implemented system according to Claim 9, wherein the client application responds to user selection of an item in the compound document by determining if a valid pointer for the selected item has been received from the application manager, and wherein in a case where a valid pointer exists the client application instructs a windowing operating system to display a window for the external application.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
29 words
A computer implemented system according to Claim 9, wherein in response to close down of an external application, said application manager invalidates the pointer sent to the client application.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
47 words
A computer implemented system according to Claim 12, wherein in response to close down of an external application, the external file manager determines whether the external file has been modified, and in a case where the external file has been modified re-imports data from the external file.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
48 words
A computer implemented system according to Claim 9, wherein in response to close down of the client application, the client application inspects valid pointers received from the application manager to determine whether any external applications are still present, and before closing down requests close-down of still-present external applications.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
51 words
A computer implemented system according to Claim 9, wherein in response to iconization of the client application, the client application inspects valid pointers received from the application manager to determine whether any external applications are still present and instructs a windowing operating system to de-display any still-present external applications before iconization.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
41 words
A computer implemented system according to Claim 15, wherein in response to restoration of an iconized client application, the client application inspects valid pointers received from said application manager and instructs the windowing operating system to re-display any still-present external applications.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
56 words
A computer implemented system according to Claim 9, wherein said application finder confirms that an external application is still present by testing the external application window handle, the external application task handle, matching the external application instance handle against the external application window handle, and matching the external application task handle against the external,application window handle.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
154 words
A computer implemented method for managing an external application in response to user selection of an item in a compound document displayed from a client application, said method comprising the steps of: instantiating an application manager which commences polling operations to determine whether external applications are present and whether associated external files have been modified; instantiating a file manager responsive to polling requests from the application manager to determine whether an external application has been modified and to inform the application manager of same; displaying a compound document from a client application; responding to user selection of an item in the compound document by creating an external file corresponding to the selected item, outputting a file name corresponding to the selected item to the application manager, associating an external application to the file name, launching the external application, and returning, to the client application, a pointer for the external file and the external application.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
39 words
A method according to Claim 18, further comprising the step of responding to receipt of the pointer for the external file and the external application by instructing a windowing operating system to display a window for the external application.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
82 words
A method according to Claim 18, wherein said step of responding to user selection of an item in the compound document includes the steps of determining if a valid pointer for the selected item has been received from the application manager, instructing the windowing operating system to display a window for the external application in the case where a valid pointer exists, and sending an external file name to the application manager in a case where a valid pointer does not exist.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
28 words
A method according to Claim 18, further comprising the step of responding to close down of the external application by invalidating the pointer sent to the client application.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
29 words
A method according to Claim 21, further comprising the step of re-importing external file data to the compound document in a case where the external file has been modified.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
49 words
A method according to Claim 18, further comprising the step of responding to close down of the client application by inspecting pointers received from the application manger to determine whether any external applications are still present, and requesting close-down of still-present external applications before closing down the client application.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
50 words
A method according to Claim 18, further comprising the steps of responding to iconization of the client application by inspecting the pointers received from the application manager to determine whether any external applications are still present and instructing the windowing operating system to de-display any still-present external applications before iconizing.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
39 words
A method according to Claim 24, further comprising the step of responding to restoration of the iconized client application by inspecting pointers received from the application manager and instructing the windowing operating system to re-display any still-present external applications.
Claim 26
Independent Claim
230 words
An apparatus for managing an external application in response to user selection of an item in a compound document displayed from a client application, said apparatus comprising: a display for displaying compound documents and windows corresponding to the client application and external applications; a memory for storing program steps corresponding to a windowing operating system which responds to instructions to display the client application and external applications on said display, and for storing program instruction sequences corresponding to the client application; and a processor for executing the stored program instruction sequences in said memory, wherein said stored program instruction sequences include steps to (a) instantiate an application manager which commences polling operations to determine whether external applications are present and whether associated external files have been modified, (b) instantiate a file manager responsive to polling requests from the application manager to determine whether an external application has been modified and to inform the application manager of same, (c) display a compound document from a client application, and (d) respond to user selection of an item in the compound document by creating an external file corresponding to the selected item, outputting a file name corresponding to the selected item to the application manager, associating an external application to the file name, launching the external application, and returning, to the client application, a pointer for the external file and the external application.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
44 words
An apparatus according to Claim 26, wherein said stored program instruction sequences further include steps to respond to receipt of the pointer for the external file and the external application by instructing the windowing operating system to display a window for the external application.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
85 words
An apparatus according to Claim 26, wherein said stored program instruction sequences to respond to user selection of an item in the compound document further include steps to determine if a valid pointer for the selected item has been received from the application manager, instruct the windowing operating system to display a window for the external application in the case where a valid pointer exists, and send an external file name to the application manager in a case where a valid pointer does not exist.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
33 words
An apparatus according to Claim 26, wherein said stored program instruction sequences further include steps to respond to close down of the external application by invalidating the pointer sent to the client application.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
34 words
An apparatus according to Claim 29, wherein said stored program instruction sequences further include steps to re-import external file data to the compound document in a case where the external file has been modified.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
54 words
An apparatus according to Claim 26, wherein said stored program instruction sequences further include steps to respond to close down of the client application by inspecting pointers received from the application manger to determine whether any external applications are still present, and requesting close-down of still-present external applications before closing down the client application.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
55 words
An apparatus according to Claim 26, wherein said stored program instruction sequences further include steps to respond to iconization of the client application by inspecting the pointers received from the application manager to determine whether any external applications are still present and instructing the windowing operating system to de-display any still-present external applications before iconizing.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
44 words
An apparatus according to Claim 32, wherein said stored program instruction sequences further include steps to respond to restoration of the iconized client application by inspecting pointers received from the application manager and instructing the windowing operating system to re-display any still-present external applications.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
169 words
Computer-executable process steps which manages an external application in response to user selection of an item in a compound document displayed from a client application, the process steps including: a first instantiation step which instantiates an application manager which commences polling operations to determine whether external applications are present and whether associated external files have been modified; a second instantiation step which instantiates a file manager responsive to polling requests from the application manager to determine whether an external application has been modified and to inform the application manager of same; a displaying step which displays a compound document from a client application; a responding step which responds to user selection of an item in the compound document by creating an external file corresponding to the selected item, outputting a file name corresponding to the selected item to the application manager, associating an external application to the file name, launching the external application, and returning, to the client application, a pointer for the external file and the external application.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
40 words
Computer-executable process steps according to Claim 34, further comprising a step which responds to receipt of the pointer for the external file and the external application by instructing a windowing operating system to display a window for the external application.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
73 words
Computer-executable process steps according to Claim 34, wherein said responding step includes a determining step which determines if a valid pointer for the selected item has been received from the application manager, instructs the windowing operating system to display a window for the external application in the case where a valid pointer exists, and sends an external file name to the application manager in a case where a valid pointer does not exist.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
29 words
Computer-executable process steps according to Claim 34, further comprising a step which responds to close down of the external application by invalidating the pointer sent to the client application.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
30 words
Computer-executable process steps according to Claim 37, further comprising a step which re-imports external file data to the compound document in a case where the external file has been modified.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
51 words
Computer-executable process steps according to Claim 34, further comprising a step which responds to close down of the client application by inspecting pointers received from the application manger to determine whether any external applications are still present, and which requests close-down of still-present external applications before closing down the client application.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
51 words
Computer-executable process steps according to Claim 34, further comprising a step which responds to iconization of the client application by inspecting the pointers received from the application manager to determine whether any external applications are still present and instructing the windowing operating system to de-display any still-present external applications before iconizing.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
40 words
Computer-executable process steps according to Claim 40, further comprising a step which responds to restoration of the iconized client application by inspecting pointers received from the application manager and instructing the windowing operating system to re-display any still-present external applications.
Claim 42
Independent Claim
15 words
A method, system or apparatus having the features of any combination of the preceding claims.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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