System, method and computer program product for application development using a visual paradigm to combine existing data and applications

A computer program product for generating an application, comprising:

• computer code for recording an interaction with a first application for capturing a functionality of the first application;
• computer code for recording an interaction with a second application for capturing a functionality of the second application;
• computer code for generating a pattern based on the recorded interactions;
• and
• computer code for generating an application based on the pattern, wherein the interactions recorded in the pattern are repeated upon replay of the pattern for providing the functionalities of the first and second applications.

A system for generating an application, comprising:

• logic for recording an interaction with a first application for capturing a functionality of the first application;
• logic for recording an interaction with a second application for capturing a functionality of the second application;
• logic for generating a pattern based on the recorded interactions;
• and
• logic for generating an application based on the pattern, wherein the interactions recorded in the pattern are repeated upon replay of the pattern for providing the functionalities of the first and second applications.

A method for creating an application utilizing a graphical user interface, comprising:

• displaying an interface;
• allowing a user to specify interactions with multiple applications via the interface;
• recording the interactions;
• generating a pattern based on the recorded interactions;
• displaying the pattern on a graphical user interface, wherein the pattern includes a graphical representation of each interaction;
• allowing the user to add additional functionality to the pattern, wherein a graphical representation of the additional functionality is displayed on the graphical user interface.

A method for executing a pattern-based application, comprising:

• receiving a request for data;
• selecting a pattern for retrieving the requested data, the pattern having stored therein a recorded interaction with at least one external application, the interaction being for obtaining data;
• replaying the pattern;
• conducting the recorded interaction as specified in the pattern for obtaining the requested data;
• and
• receiving the requested data.

A method for executing a pervasive application generated from other applications, comprising:

• determining a current state of an existing application based on user interface output of the application;
• performing an action pre-defined for the current state of the existing application;
• and
• retrieving data from the existing application, wherein the data is generated in response to the performance of the action.

A system for creation and playback of an application, comprising

• a plurality of application instances, each application instance representing an application;
• an instance manager for managing the application instances;
• a state recognizer for recognizing a state of an existing application based on user interface output of the existing application;
• an application server for performing interactions with the existing application at a particular state;
• and
• a visual tool for recording interaction with the existing application for later replay by the application server.

A method for creating and executing an application utilizing a graphical user interface, comprising:

• displaying an interface;
• allowing a user to specify interactions with multiple applications via the interface;
• wherein the interaction with a first application is at a user-interface level of the first application;
• recording the interactions;
• generating a pattern based on the recorded interactions;
• displaying the pattern on a graphical user interface, wherein the pattern includes a graphical representation of each interaction;
• allowing the user to add additional functionality to the pattern, wherein a graphical representation of the additional functionality is displayed on the graphical user interface;
• allowing the user to connect representations of the interactions via the graphical user interface for specifying an order of execution of the interactions in the pattern;
• recognizing a portion of the pattern as a prefix of an already existing pattern, and creating a branching of the pattern from the already existing pattern;
• coupling the pattern to another pattern;
• allowing specification of output relating to the pattern for multiple client devices;
• saving the pattern in memory;
• wherein the pattern further includes prerecorded interactions;
• generating an application based on the pattern, wherein the interactions recorded in the pattern are repeated upon replay of the pattern for providing the functionalities of the applications;
• publishing the application as a network service;
• receiving a request for data;
• selecting a pattern for retrieving the requested data, the pattern having stored therein a recorded interaction with at least one external application, the interaction being for obtaining data;
• replaying the pattern;
• conducting the recorded interaction as specified in the pattern for obtaining the requested data;
• receiving the requested data;
• processing the received data for output on multiple types of devices;
• and
• outputting the data.