Application instantiation based upon attributes and values stored in a meta data repository, including tiering of application layers objects and components

#Our invention relates to instantiation of software applications running on a computer. More particularly, our invention relates to instantiation of these applications, especially multi-tiered applications, from a meta data repository containing attributes and values of the attributes. A further aspect of our application is an n-tiered software application for Internet and/or Intranet deployment where the tiers pass data and commands between tiers.

#Occasionally, revolutionary technology advances are made that redefine how business is conducted. Less than five years ago, one of these leaps occurred in the form of the Internet. Although the Internet itself had been in existence for decades, the addition of a powerful catalyst application, the World Wide Web, started a chain reaction. The result is a new software platform that unites companies, organizations, and individuals previously separated by geography, language, and culture into a virtually connected, electronic global village. This platform has dramatically reshaped-and will continue to affect-the nature of all computing, information exchange, and commerce.

#As we move from the latter half of the 1990s and into 2000, the Internet is the driving impetus behind almost all new technology and application developments. As much as it has already changed the software industry, yet to come are the numerous solutions that will dramatically affect businesses and consumers worldwide. Organizations that take advantage of this new and advanced computing paradigm and utilize Internet-based software solutions will gain significant competitive advantage.

#Our invention may be understood by reference to the Figures appended hereto.

#FIG. 1 is a high level overview of the “server” and “clients” of our application, including mobile clients, personal digital assistants, connected clients, and thin clients.

#FIG. 2 is an illustration of the component architecture of the three tiered exemplification of our invention, with an applet manager/graphical user interface manager, an object manager, and a data manager, along with an object repository.

#Our invention is a method and program product for implementing a software application for Internet/Intranet interactions by a plurality of users, through the use of a multi-tiered application instantiated through attribute-value entries in a metadata repository. Specifically, through the use of a metadata repository and a tiered architecture that is instantiated through the contents of the metadata repository, we are able to instantiate an application running on a computer, where the application is one having multiple layers. The tiered application is constructed using object oriented programming such that the layers contain objects. The layers also have interfaces to pass data and commands between layers. In one embodiment of our invention the application is instantiated by extracting attribute-value data from a metadata repository.

#In still another embodiment of our invention a program product is provided that contains machine readable program code for instantiating a tiered application using a metadata repository.

#One embodiment of our invention is a method and program product for instantiating a program product to support a distributed sales and/or service organization, as shown in FIG. 1. The instantiated program must support, among others, mobile clients 11, personal digital assistants 21, connected clients 31, and thin clients 41. Mobile clients 11 include field sales 13 and/or service 14 personnel. Likewise, personal digital assistant 21 supported users include field sales 23 and service 25 personnel. Connected clients 31 include, by way of example, call center staff 33, such as telemarketing staff 35 and support staff 37. Thin clients 41 include “internet” and “intranet” supported users, using, for example, Java, HTML, and ActiveX, and are exemplified by Call Center staff 43, resellers 44, strategic partners 45, and customers 46.