Method and reusable object for scheduling script execution in a compound document

Claim 2

In a machine-implemented document-centric application processing system including a data processor coupled to a user display, to means for accepting user requests and to memory means including persistent storage means for storing an object-oriented operating system and a class library of objects including a plurality of data objects and a plurality of program objects, said memory means including a script-editing program object, a schedule-time object editor, an icon-display program object, an event-scheduling system and a plurality of parts and part editors, a machine-executed method for scheduling script execution in a compound document object, said method comprising the steps of: (a) spawning in said memory means an instance of a reusable CHRON object including at least one script object and at least one schedule-time object, said instance being contained in said compound document object; (b) creating for display on said user display a CHRON icon having at least one schedule field for displaying at least part of said at least one schedule-time object; (c) responsive to a user request to revise said at least one schedule-time object, performing the steps of (c.1) spawning in said memory means an instance of said schedule-time object editor and (c.2) updating a temporary schedule-time object in said memory means according to at least one corresponding said user request; (d) comparing said temporary schedule-time object to a valid schedule-time object format rule; (e) returning an error condition to said user display if said temporary schedule-time object form is invalid; otherwise (f) sending a message to said event-scheduling system requesting the creation of a persistent event object for executing said at least one script object according to the schedule specified by said temporary schedule-time object.

Claim 3

The method of claim 1 wherein each said CHRON icon schedule field comprises: a time-of-day display when said schedule-time object schedules the daily execution of the corresponding said script object at said time-of-day; a time-date-year display when said schedule-time object schedules a single execution of the corresponding said script object at said time-date-year; a date display when said schedule-time object schedules the annual execution of the corresponding said script object at said date; a weekday display when said schedule-time object schedules the weekly execution of the corresponding said script object; and no time display when said schedule-time object schedules execution of the corresponding said script object according to an internal tabular specification.

Claim 4

The method of claim 2 further comprising the step of: (g) responsive to a user request to edit said at least one script object, performing the steps of (g.1) spawning in said memory means an instance of said script object editor and (g.2) updating a persistent script object in said memory means according to at least one corresponding said user request.

Claim 5

The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of: (g) responsive to a user request to edit said at least one script object, performing the steps of (g.1) spawning in said memory means an instance of said script object editor and (g.2) updating a persistent script object in said memory means according to at least one corresponding said user request.

Claim 6

A reusable compound document script scheduling object for scheduling script execution in a compound document object in a machine-implemented document-centric application processing system including a data processor coupled to a user display, to means for accepting user requests and to memory means including persistent storage means for storing an object-oriented operating system and a class library of objects including a plurality of data objects and a plurality of program objects, said memory means including a script-editing program object, a schedule-time object editor, an icon-display program object, an event-scheduling system and a plurality of parts and part editors, said reusable script scheduling object comprising: at least one script object having information for specifying a script to be executed at a predetermined time; at least one schedule-time object having information for specifying at least one predetermined time at which the associated said script object is scheduled for execution; object container means stored in said memory means for containing said at least one script object and said at least one schedule-time object and for linking the components of said reusable script scheduling object with other said parts contained in said compound document; and registration means coupled to said event-scheduling system for creating a persistent event object in said persistent storage means for executing said script at said predetermined time.

Claim 7

A reusable compound document script scheduling object for scheduling script execution in a compound document object in a machine-implemented document-centric application processing system including a data processor coupled to a user display, to means for accepting user requests and to memory means including persistent storage means for storing an object-oriented operating system and a class library of objects including a plurality of data objects and a plurality of program objects, said memory means including a script-editing program object, a schedule-time object editor, an icon-display program object, an event-scheduling system and a plurality of parts and part editors, said reusable script scheduling object comprising: at least one script object having information for specifying a script to be executed at a predetermined time; at least one schedule-time object having information for specifying at least one predetermined time at which the associated said script object is scheduled for execution; object container means stored in said memory means for containing said at least one script object and said at least one schedule-time object and for linking the components of said reusable script scheduling object with other said parts contained in said compound document; and registration means coupled to said event-scheduling system for creating a persistent event object in said persistent storage means for executing said script at said predetermined time.

Claim 8

The reusable script scheduling object of claim 5 further comprising: icon display means for creating for display on said user display a CHRON icon having at least one schedule field for displaying at least part of said at least one schedule-time object; and GUI linkage means coupled to said schedule-time object for launching said schedule-time object editor for editing said schedule-time object responsive to a user request.

Claim 9

The reusable script scheduling object of claim 6 wherein each said CHRON icon schedule field comprises: a time-of-day display when said schedule-time object schedules the daily execution of the corresponding said script object at said time-of-day; a time-date-year display when said schedule-time object schedules a single execution of the corresponding said script object at said time-date-year; a date display when said schedule-time object schedules the annual execution of the corresponding said script object at said date; a weekday display when said schedule-time object schedules the weekly execution of the corresponding said script object; and no time display when said schedule-time object schedules execution of the corresponding said script object according to an internal tabular specification.

Claim 10

The reusable script scheduling object of claim 7 wherein said GUI linkage means includes means for launching said script-editing program object to edit said script object responsive to a user request.

Claim 11

The reusable script scheduling object of claim 6 wherein said GUI linkage means includes means for launching said script-editing program object to edit said script object responsive to a user request.

Claim 12

An object-oriented compound document processing system comprising: a data processor; a user display coupled to said data processor; means for accepting user requests coupled to said data processor; memory means including persistent storage means coupled to said data processor for storing an object-oriented operating system and a class library of objects including a plurality of data objects and a plurality of program objects; an event-scheduling system coupled to said object oriented operating system in said memory means for creating persistent event objects in said persistent storage means; a plurality of compound documents each containing one or more parts in said memory means; a plurality of part editors each for editing a particular part type in said memory means; one or more reusable script-scheduling objects each for scheduling script execution in a compound document; at least one script object in each said reusable script-scheduling object for specifying a script to be executed at a predetermined time; at least one script-editing program object in said memory means for editing said script objects in said memory means; at least one schedule-time object in each said reusable script scheduling-object for specifying at least one predetermined time at which an associated said script object is scheduled for execution; at least one schedule-time object editor in said memory means for editing said schedule-time objects; and registration means in each said reusable script scheduling object coupled to said event-scheduling system for creating a persistent event object in said persistent storage means for executing said script at said predetermined time.

Claim 13

An object-oriented compound document processing system comprising: a data processor; a user display coupled to said data processor; means for accepting user requests coupled to said data processor; memory means including persistent storage means coupled to said data processor for storing an object-oriented operating system and a class library of objects including a plurality of data objects and a plurality of program objects; an event-scheduling system coupled to said object oriented operating system in said memory means for creating persistent event objects in said persistent storage means; a plurality of compound documents each containing one or more parts in said memory means; a plurality of part editors each for editing a particular part type in said memory means; one or more reusable script-scheduling objects each for scheduling script execution in a compound document; at least one script object in each said reusable script-scheduling object for specifying a script to be executed at a predetermined time; at least one script-editing program object in said memory means for editing said script objects in said memory means; at least one schedule-time object in each said reusable script scheduling-object for specifying at least one predetermined time at which an associated said script object is scheduled for execution; at least one schedule-time object editor in said memory means for editing said schedule-time objects; and registration means in each said reusable script scheduling object coupled to said event-scheduling system for creating a persistent event object in said persistent storage means for executing said script at said predetermined time.

Claim 14

The object-oriented compound document processing system of claim 10 further comprising: icon display means for creating for display on said user display a CHRON icon having at least one schedule field for displaying at least part of said at least one schedule-time object; GUI linkage means coupled to said schedule-time object for launching said schedule-time object editor for editing said schedule-time object responsive to a user request.

Claim 15

The object-oriented compound document processing system of claim 11 wherein each said CHRON icon schedule field comprises: a time-of-day display when said schedule-time object schedules the daily execution of the corresponding said script object at said time-of-day; a time-date-year display when said schedule-time object schedules a single execution of the corresponding said script object at said time-date-year; a date display when said schedule-time object schedules the annual execution of the corresponding said script object at said date; a weekday display when said schedule-time object schedules the weekly execution of the corresponding said script object; and no time display when said schedule-time object schedules execution of the corresponding said script object according to an internal tabular specification.

Claim 16

The object-oriented compound document processing system of claim 12 wherein said GUJI linkage means includes means for launching said script-editing program object to edit said script object responsive to a user request.

Claim 17

The object-oriented compound document processing system of claim 11 wherein said GUI linkage means includes means for launching said script-editing program object to edit said script object responsive to a user request.

Claim 18

A computer program product for use in scheduling script execution in compound document objects in a machine-implemented document-centric application processing system including a data processor coupled to a user display, to means for accepting user requests and to memory means including persistent storage means for storing an object-oriented operating system and a class library of objects including a plurality of data objects and a plurality of program objects, said memory means including a script-editing program object, a schedule-time object editor, an icon-display program object, an event-scheduling system and a plurality of parts and part editors, said computer program product comprising: a recording medium; means recorded on said recording medium for directing said document-centric application processing system to spawn in said memory means an instance of a reusable CHRON object including at least one script object and at least one schedule-time object, said instance being contained in said compound document object; means recorded on said recording medium for directing said document-centric application processing system to create for display on said user display a CHRON icon having at least one schedule field for displaying at least part of said at least one schedule-time object; means recorded on said recording medium for directing said document-centric application processing system to perform the steps of, responsive to a user request to revise said at least one schedule-time object, spawning in said memory means an instance of said schedule-time object editor and updating a temporary schedule-time object in said memory means according to at least one corresponding said user request; means recorded on said recording medium for directing said document-centric application processing system to compare said temporary schedule-time object to a valid schedule-time object format rule in said memory means; means recorded on said recording medium for directing said document-centric application processing system to perform the steps of returning an error condition to said user display if said temporary schedule-time object form is invalid, otherwise sending a message to said event-scheduling system requesting the creation of a persistent event object for executing said at least one script object according to the schedule specified by said temporary schedule-time object.

Claim 19

A computer program product for use in scheduling script execution in compound document objects in a machine-implemented document-centric application processing system including a data processor coupled to a user display, to means for accepting user requests and to memory means including persistent storage means for storing an object-oriented operating system and a class library of objects including a plurality of data objects and a plurality of program objects, said memory means including a script-editing program object, a schedule-time object editor, an icon-display program object, an event-scheduling system and a plurality of parts and part editors, said computer program product comprising: a recording medium; means recorded on said recording medium for directing said document-centric application processing system to spawn in said memory means an instance of a reusable CHRON object including at least one script object and at least one schedule-time object, said instance being contained in said compound document object; means recorded on said recording medium for directing said document-centric application processing system to create for display on said user display a CHRON icon having at least one schedule field for displaying at least part of said at least one schedule-time object; means recorded on said recording medium for directing said document-centric application processing system to perform the steps of, responsive to a user request to revise said at least one schedule-time object, spawning in said memory means an instance of said schedule-time object editor and updating a temporary schedule-time object in said memory means according to at least one corresponding said user request; means recorded on said recording medium for directing said document-centric application processing system to compare said temporary schedule-time object to a valid schedule-time object format rule in said memory means; means recorded on said recording medium for directing said document-centric application processing system to perform the steps of returning an error condition to said user display if said temporary schedule-time object form is invalid, otherwise sending a message to said event-scheduling system requesting the creation of a persistent event object for executing said at least one script object according to the schedule specified by said temporary schedule-time object.

Claim 20

The computer program product of claim 15 wherein each said CHRON icon schedule field comprises: a time-of-day display when said schedule-time object schedules the daily execution of the corresponding said script object at said time-of-day; a time-date-year display when said schedule-time object schedules a single execution of the corresponding said script object at said time-date-year; a date display when said schedule-time object schedules the annual execution of the corresponding said script object at said date; a weekday display when said schedule-time object schedules the weekly execution of the corresponding said script object; and no time display when said schedule-time object schedules execution of the corresponding said script object according to an internal tabular specification.

Claim 21

The computer program product of claim 16 further comprising: means recorded on said recording medium for directing said document-centric application processing system to perform the steps of, responsive to a user request to edit said at least one script object, spawning in said memory means an instance of said script object editor and updating a persistent script object in said memory means according to at least one corresponding said user request.

Claim 22

The computer program product of claim 15 further comprising: means recorded on said recording medium for directing said document-centric application processing system to perform the steps of, responsive to a user request to edit said at least one script object, spawning in said memory means an instance of said script object editor and updating a persistent script object in said memory means according to at least one corresponding said user request.