US 6,161,148 AGranted

Computer method and apparatus for interactive objects controls

AssigneeKodak Limited

InventorsJohn M. Pratt, Richard Sontag

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Abstract

A computer method and apparatus enable object-linking-and-embedding controls to directly communicate with each other and share resources. The computer method and apparatus thereby relieve the container application containing the controls, from accessing controls and managing communications from one control to another. The invention method and apparatus employ a file in global shared memory. The memory mapped file holds pointers for controls to directly access other controls. Using the memory mapped file, a control object is able to directly call methods and access properties of desired other control objects. The memory mapped file also holds a window handle for each control, enabling another control to directly access a working screen view supported by the respective control.

Claims22

Dependent claims

In a digital processor having a working memory for executing application programs, each application program being formed of a set of program objects and control objects, computer apparatus for enabling communications between control objects contained in a common application program, the apparatus comprising:

a plurality of control objects contained in a common application program residing in working memory, each control object (i) specifying functions, special properties, and data elements, and (ii) being initially defined for access and execution only through the common application program, the application program serving as a working object container;
and
a memory-mapped file in the working memory for enabling access to and communications between different control objects, the memory mapped file holding references to the control objects, a different reference for each control object, such that a first control object is able to directly access a second control object through the reference to the second control object in the memory mapped file, in a manner free of engaging the application program serving as a working object container in accessing the second control object.

In a digital processor having working memory for executing application programs, a method for enabling communications between control objects contained in a common application program, the method comprising the steps of:

providing a plurality of self-contained objects contained in a common application program residing in working memory, each object specifying functions and data elements, each object being initially defined for access and execution only through the common application program, the common application program serving as a working object container;
providing a memory-mapped file in the working memory;
holding references to the objects in the memory mapped file, in a manner enabling access to and communications directly between different objects, there being a different reference for each object;
and
from a working object, directly accessing a desired object through the reference to the desired object as provided in the memory mapped file, in a manner free of engaging the application program serving as a working object container in accessing the desired object.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.