Field of the Invention
The present disclosure generally relates to network based computer interaction and, more particularly, to a method and apparatus for providing a dynamic execution environment in network communication between a client and server.
Description of the Related Art
The ubiquitous nature of computer network access has ushered in a new age of interactivity. More and more applications are moving to a client/server model, where a local device contains a client for far more complex software executing on a remote system. As such, interface technology is advancing quickly to accommodate this paradigm shift.
However, such interfaces are typically static and tightly coupled to the specific application for which they are designed. It is typically not possible to customize or modify such an interface unless the application provides specific tools to do so. As such, data for these user interfaces is generally transported between the client and the server in some fixed format. Common formats for such data transmission include open standards such as Hypertext Markup Language (HTML) and proprietary formats as in business management suites such as SAP.
The client software typically interprets the data and renders the screen accordingly. User interface fields are displayed and navigation of the user interface is limited to what is provided by the server. However, in many situations it is desirable to make modifications to the user interface, such as for usability, personal preference, or to cater to different types of viewing devices. Such modifications necessitate changing both the layout and screen logic as experienced by the user, without modification of the client or server. Known solutions to the problem of altering the data flow between the client and the server involve complicated programming.
Therefore, there is a need in the art for a method and apparatus to implement a dynamic execution environment in network communication between a client and server such that data between a client and server are intercepted and modified on the fly and sent to its destination seamlessly.
In some embodiments, a computer implemented method is provided for providing a dynamic execution environment comprising receiving a base user interface from a server, creating and storing one or more intermediate representations (IR) which represent a mapping between the base user interface and a modified user interface, executing the one or more IRs to intercept network communication from the server, map between the base user interface and the modified user interface, and to send the modified user interface to one or more clients and executing the one or more IRs to intercept network communication from the one or more clients to the server with user data, map between the modified user interface and the base user interface, and to send the base user interface along with the user data to the server.
In some embodiments, the method comprises a computer implemented method for providing an event-trapping mechanism in a dynamic execution environment comprising creating one or more execution blocks, each associated with a sequence of screen events of a user interface, from a function stored in a script, storing the one or more execution blocks as handlers and executing the one or more handlers independently from each other, when the associated sequence of screen events for the handler is detected in network traffic.
In some embodiments, there is an apparatus for providing a dynamic execution environment comprising an execution environment for receiving a base user interface, an intermediate representation module (IRM) coupled to the execution environment for creating one or more intermediate representations (IRs) mapping between the base user interface and a modified user interface and an event trapping mechanism for intercepting network communication between a server and one or more clients, executing one or more event handlers associated with a modification in the modified user interface, and communicating with the intermediate representation module to perform mappings between the modified user interface and the base user interface.
So that the manner in which the above recited features of the present invention can be understood in detail, a more particular description of the invention, briefly summarized above, may be had by reference to embodiments, some of which are illustrated in the appended drawings. It is to be noted, however, that the appended drawings illustrate only typical embodiments of this invention and are therefore not to be considered limiting of its scope, for the invention may admit to other equally effective embodiments.
Embodiments of the present invention relate to a computer implemented method for providing a dynamic execution environment. In an exemplary embodiment, the present invention provides for making modifications of a base user interface for a client device making the user interface easier to use, more compact, or more appropriate according to a client need. In this manner, only those clients which require the simplified view will see them, but other clients view the original base user interface, or a different modification thereof. The dynamic execution environment uses scripting languages as a means to modify the base user interface on the fly, such that the client is unaware of any modification and the backend server (a SAP database, application server, and the like) is also unaware, but operates as if the client is using the base user interface.
When the clients 1042 . . . n try to interact with the SAP Database server 109, the dynamic execution environment 100 intercepts the communications, by filtering network traffic in between the server 102 and the clients 1042 . . . n. When the dynamic execution environment 100 intercepts a request from client 1042 for example, the dynamic execution environment 100 fetches a base user interface 109 from the sap database server 102. The dynamic execution environment 100 then executes its intermediate representation module to modify the base user interface 109 and produce a modified user interface 1121 to send to client 1042.
This script snippet shows, for example, that certain sections are deleted from the modified user interface 208 such as “Select Views”, “Organizational Data” and the like, by the intermediate representation module 106 and then sent to the client 1041 as the modified user interface 208. In some instances text boxes are moved and check-boxes renamed, as examples of the types of modifications that are scripted for the base user interface 206. This script represents the intermediate representation used to convert from a base user interface 206 to a modified user interface 208.
The memory 404 comprises random access memory, read only memory, removable storage, flash memory, optical disk storage, disk drive storage, and combinations thereof. The support circuits 406 are coupled to an I/O interface 408, which in turn is connected to various I/O devices 412, including, but not limited to, mice, keyboards, displays and the like. The memory 404 stores an implementation of the dynamic execution environment 100 in
The act of modifying the base user interface 500 causes the generation of one or more intermediate representations stored in intermediate representation module 106. While in the present example the movement of a control generates the intermediate representations, one of ordinary skill in the art would realize that the generation of the intermediate representations could occur as a result of the execution of a particular command, such as a “save” command. Such an operation would allow for multiple intermediate representations in intermediate representation module 106 for multiple controls to occur at once. The intermediate representations are comprised of one or more scripts 5121, 5122 . . . 512n. The scripts 512 are later used to perform mapping operations between the modified user interface 112n and the base user interface 109. In the present example, the script 5121 is newly generated in response to the operation 510 performed on the data entry control 502. The script 5121 states that the data entry 1 field (data entry control 502) located at (X1, Y1) maps to the modified data entry control at (X2, Y2). In this manner, the scripts 512 track and map modifications from the base user interface 109 to the modified user interface 112n. In some embodiments, the scripts 512 track the relationship between particular controls of the base user interface 109 and the modified user interface 112n, such as performing a direct mapping from a first control to a second control. In some embodiments, the scripts 512 perform the mapping between particular screen locations, such as by moving any data input at a point A on the modified user interface 112n to a point B on the base user interface 109. The scripts 512 are then used to modify any outgoing data generated by the modified user interface 112n to ensure a common data format with a remote device expecting data to be transmitted by the base user interface.
The following code is an example of code that is used for creating execution blocks:
In the above snippet of JavaScript code, execution blocks are extracted from the function mm_02_on_enter( ). There are several blocks of code in this function. For example, one block begins with the label “onscreen ‘SAPLMGMM.0060’.” This represents one of the execution blocks that will be used to create a handler, such that, in an exemplary embodiment, instead of entering into the function at the first line of the function, the event trigger will cause the function to begin executing on the line immediately following “onscreen ‘SAPLMGMM.0060’” and end or return when an “enter( )” command is encountered. A similar execution is seen as being defined on the line “onscreen ‘SAPLMGMM.4000’.” The “onscreen” identifier represents an event on the modified user interface. In this instance, onscreen ‘SAPLMGMM.4000’ indicates when a page with an ID of SAPLMGMM gets invoked. Then, the set(“V[z_mm02_pricebook_restr_&V[vdx]000]”, ‘&F[Pricebook restriction]’) is called, such that the z_mm02_pricebook_restr_&V[vdx]000] element of the base user interface is set to ‘&F[Pricebook restriction]’, in addition to other modifications in the base user interface. In an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the event trapping mechanism functions as an extension to standard JavaScript, expanding the functionality available in JavaScript and allowing it to handle execution blocks and the like. Also, since the sequence of screen events is coded in the same JavaScript function, local variable definitions can be used across handlers and execution blocks. This enables different screens to share data seamlessly. In addition, screen sequences allow for events to be circumvented, or skipped around using “goto” functionality as implemented in the extension. In other exemplary embodiments, extensions are made available to different programming languages, including, but not limited to, Ruby, PHP, Python, ASP.NET and the like, to provide for the implementation of an event trapping mechanisms as described above.
Embodiments of the instant invention are directed towards modifications of a user interface for a business enterprise client as described in commonly assigned patent application Ser. No. 61/342,372, which is herein incorporated by reference. In some embodiments, the instant invention is used to modify the interface of a mobile device to provide for full functionality of the business enterprise client while allowing modification of the interface to accommodate the unique challenges of providing a mobile device interface.
The foregoing description, for purpose of explanation, has been described with reference to specific embodiments. However, the illustrative discussions above are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed. Many modifications and variations are possible in view of the above teachings. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the present disclosure and its practical applications, to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the invention and various embodiments with various modifications as may be suited to the particular use contemplated.
Various elements, devices, and modules are described above in association with their respective functions. These elements, devices, and modules are considered means for performing their respective functions as described herein.
While the foregoing is directed to embodiments of the present invention, other and further embodiments of the invention may be devised without departing from the basic scope thereof, and the scope thereof is determined by the claims that follow.
This application is a Continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/489,677, filed on Jun. 6, 2012, the content of which is incorporated herein in its entirety by reference.
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Child | 14754204 | US |