Methods and systems for configuring software applications

Abstract

Systems, methods, and computer program products are provided for customizing software application programs, including self-service applications. In one implementation, a customer selects software components from a standard set of components provided by a developer. The selected software components are then used to form a customized software application. Thereafter, the customized software application may be used by an end user to perform one or more tasks.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this disclosure, illustrate various embodiments and aspects of the present invention. In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an exemplary system environment, consistent with certain embodiments of the present invention;

FIG. 2 a is an illustration of an exemplary perspective screen view, consistent with certain embodiments of the present invention;

FIGS. 2 b and 2c are illustrations of exemplary patterns, consistent with certain embodiments of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a conceptual diagram of pattern granularity, consistent with certain embodiments of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is an illustration of an exemplary application editor screen or graphical user interface (GUI), consistent with certain embodiments of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is an illustration of an exemplary view editor GUI, consistent with certain embodiments of the present invention;

FIGS. 6 a, 6b, and 6c are illustrations of exemplary application editor GUIs, consistent with certain embodiments of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is an illustration of an exemplary perspective screen view, consistent with certain embodiments of the present invention;

FIG. 8 is an architectural overview of an exemplary software implementation, consistent with certain embodiments of the present invention;

FIG. 9 is an illustration of an exemplary user entry screen for personalization, consistent with certain embodiments of the present invention;

FIG. 10 is a block diagram of an exemplary software customization method, consistent with certain embodiments of the present invention; and

FIG. 11 is a block diagram of an exemplary software customization method, consistent with certain embodiments of the present invention.

Claims

1. A method for customizing a software application, comprising: providing a standard set of components for the software application, the standard set of components being created by a developer and comprising visual application components, business logic components, and configuration components;identifying a selected set of components from the standard set of components based on selections made by a customer; andforming a customized application program from the selected set of components, wherein the customized application program is capable of performing at least one task for an end user.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing one or more objects, wherein forming the customized application program comprises forming the customized application program by combining the one or more objects with the standard set of components.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the one or more objects comprise one or more delta components.

4. The method of claim 2, further comprising storing the one or more objects in a separate namespace from the standard set of components.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein one or more of the visual application components, business logic components, and configuration components may be selected by the customer to form the customized application program.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of the components of the standard set of components comprises a roadmap pattern component or a context assistance pattern component.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of the components of the standard set of components is further customizable by the end user.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of identifying is performed with the aid of an editor application program.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the customized software application comprises a self-service application.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the self-service application comprises at least one of: a time-management application, an employee management application, and an employee compensation application.

11. A system for providing customizable application programs, the system comprising: a standard set of computer software components comprising visual application components, business logic components, and configuration components, the standard set of components defining a floorplan of an application program;an editor application configured to permit a customer to select from the standard set of computer software components and identify a selected set of components; andan application compiler configured to form a customized floorplan of the application program based on the selected set of components.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the customized floorplan of the application program provides a customized application program that is capable of performing at least one task.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the customized software application comprises one or more objects.

14. The system of claim 12, wherein the one or more objects are stored in a separate namespace from the standard set of computer software components.

15. The system of claim 11, wherein one or more of the visual application components, business logic components, and configuration components can be selected by the customer to form the customized floorplan of the application program.

16. The system of claim 11, wherein at least one of the components of the standard set of computer software components comprises a roadmap pattern component or a context assistance pattern component.

17. The system of claim 11, wherein at least one components of the standard set of computer software components is further customizable by an end user.

18. The system of claim 11, wherein the application program comprises a self-service application.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the self-service application comprises at least one of: a time-management application, an employee management application, and an employee compensation application.

20. A method for providing customizable application programs, comprising: providing a standard set of computer software components, the computer software components comprising visual application components, business logic components, and configuration components;identifying a selected set of components from the standard set of computer software components based on selections made by a customer;forming a customized application program based on the selected set of components.

21. The method of claim 20, further comprising providing one or more objects, wherein forming the customized application program comprises forming the customized application program by combining the one or more objects with the standard set of components.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the one or more objects comprise one or more delta components.

23. The method of claim 21, further comprising storing the one or more objects in a separate namespace from the standard set of components.

24. The method of claim 20, wherein one or more of the visual application components, business logic components, and configuration components may be selected by the customer to form the customized application program.

25. The method of claim 20, wherein at least one of the components of the standard set of components comprises a roadmap pattern component or a context assistance pattern component.

26. The method of claim 20, wherein at least one component of the standard set of components is further customizable by the end user.

27. The method of claim 20, wherein the step of identifying is performed with the aid of an editor application program.

28. The method of claim 20, wherein the customized application program comprises a self-service application.

29. The method of claim 28, wherein the self-service application comprises at least one of: a time-management application, an employee management application, and an employee compensation application.

30. A computer program product embodied on a computer-readable medium, comprising: a set of software components that constitute an application floorplan, the components comprising visual application components, configuration components, and business logic components; andan editor program configured to permit a customer to create a customized application program by selecting software components from the set of software components constituting the application floorplan.

31. The computer program product of claim 30, wherein the set of software components is part of a larger set of components, and wherein the larger set of components may be used to define additional floorplans.

32. The computer program product of claim 31, wherein the editor program is further configured to permit a customer to create additional customized application programs based on the additional floorplans.

33. The computer program product of claim 30, wherein the customized application program comprises a self-service application.

34. The computer program product of claim 33, wherein the self-service application comprises at least one of: a time-management application, an employee management application, and an employee compensation application.