GB2392260A

GB2392260A - Software application system with an executable file and a user specified data file relating to functions of the application

Info

Publication number: GB2392260A
Application number: GB0211223A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Andrew David Kirkwood; Paul Hannah
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2002-05-16
Filing date: 2002-05-16
Publication date: 2004-02-25
Also published as: GB0211223D0

Abstract

A software application system comprises an executable file and a data file. The data file contains data for use in execution of the application. The data file is operable to interact with the executable file to allow parameters stored in the data file relating to a function of the application to be user specified. The parameters might define the look and feel of the application. The part of the data file holding the parameters could be configured to be capable of user modification. The data file could include items to generate on screen user controls for the application. The data file could contain data from main sources, each item could be independent or linked. The data file could be configured to allow other objects to be associated with stored data items by linking or otherwise, examples of the other objects are text, audio or video files. The data file could include web pages, URLs and the resource objects associated with them. The data file could contain an item operable to execute the application. The system could be configured to run independently of any other software but able to interact or interface with the other software if desired.

Description

IMPROVED SOFTWARE APPLICATION SYSTEM

The invention relates to an improved software application system.

Conventional software applications generally comprise an application file, usually in the form of an executable (.exe) file which carries out the 5 functions of the software and a data file usually in the form of a (.dat) file which contains the data which is used by the executable file in the running of the application. In such conventional software, all of the functionality of the application is specified in the executable file which cannot be modified by a user of the application.

10 Thus with such software, user specified functionality and appearance is not possible.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved software application system which overcomes or at least minimises the abovementioned problems.

15 Thus and in accordance with the present invention there is provided an improved software application system comprising a file in executable format and a data file containing data for use in execution of the application, wherein said data file is operable to interact with said executable file to allow parameters of said file relating to a function of said system to be user 20 specified.

With this arrangement it is possible to provide a system in which a significant proportion of the control over the functions carried out by the À e À 8 ae. À À À e À À e. À À.. À.

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application can be imparted to the data file reducing to a minimum the functionality requirements of the executable file.

By imparting control of the functions carried out by the application to the data file, user interaction with the data file will allow user modification 5 and/or personalisation of the functions carried out by the application, along with the appearance of displays generated when the application is executed.

Preferably a part of said data file comprises data items which define the look and feel of the application when executed on a computer display and most preferably this part of the file is configured so as to be capable of user 10 modification. Preferably said data file also includes data items to generate on-screen user controls preferably in the form of a user interface to allow control over the application by a user when running. Preferably these data items are also capable of user modification.

Preferably the data file contains data from many sources such as, for 15 example, word processor documents, spread sheets, web pages. Each item of data can be independent or linked. Web pages, documents or spread sheets can, for example, be placed in the data file over the intemet, a local intranet or manually.

Data items may be linked to executable files or other applications to 20 allow them to be viewed or executed and said files or applications can be embedded in the data file or can be separate or remote therefrom.

Preferably the data file is configured to allow other objects to be .. À À.

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associated with stored data item, whether by linking or otherwise, and the other objects may comprise text, audio or video files.

Preferably, where the data file includes web pages, the file can contain both the uniform resource locator (URL) list and the resource subjects 5 associated or linked hereto. Altematively the file can include the list only.

Preferably, at least one data item in said data file is operable to interact with the application executable file.

Preferably the application of the invention is configured to run independently of any other software running on the user's computer, for to example, an intemet browser, but may interact or interface with this software if desired or if appropriate.

The invention will now be described further by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which: Figure 1 shows in schematic form one application system in 15 accordance with the present invention; and Figure 2 shows one example of user interface generated during operation of the application.

Referring now to Figure 1 there is shown an application comprising an application data file 11 and associated executable file 12 in accordance 20 with the present invention. As can be seen, the data file 11 contains a number of different items 1 3a-d, all of different types and which are accessed in different ways. For example, the data file 11 is shown to contain two web ..... . À À À

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pages 13a-d and these are external URL objects which are accessed by the intemet. In these circumstances, the data file 11 may contain only the link to the web page or may contain the actual HTML files themselves. Two further ATE documents are shown, a Power Point presentation 1 3b and a Worddocument 5 13c which are accessible over a local intranet. As an alternative to this, the entire files 13b,c may actually be stored within the data file 11 itself.

Text, video, audio or other comments or objects 14 are shown attached to various of the items stored.

The data file 11 also contains data items which are configured to 10 generate a user interface which allows the user to carry out a number of different operations whilst the application is running. One example of such a user interface 16 is shown in Figure 2. As can be seen, this interface consists of a number of user control buttons 17, a display area 18 and infommation space 19. ()f course, the user interface 16 can be any desired configuration 1 S as appropriate and the interface shown is simply an example.

The display area 18 can be utilised to display items selected by the user stored in the data file 11. The information area 19 can be utilised to display advertising or other marketing information. For example, the area 19 can be used to display the corporate image of one particular company. The 20 user control buttons 17 are utilised for performing user operations such as for example next data object, previous data object, play audio comment, close user interface, minimise user interface, e-mail data file.

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will now be described with reference to its operation upon execution.

The application can be launched in one of two ways. The data file 11 can be activated by, for example, double clicking on the file name within an operating system environment and this will lead to the application being 5 launched. The the data file 11 will launch the application executable file and will cause generation of the user interface.

Altematively, the application can be launched by activation of the application executable file by, for example, double clicking on the file name in the operating system and this will cause the application executable file 12 to 10 interact with the data file 11 to cause generation of the user interface 16.

As previously discussed, the user interface 16 will be generated and will be independent of any other application which is running on the computer, for example, browser software or other application software. However, the application software may interact with the operating system software, browser 15 software or other application software on the computer where such interaction is required to enable the application to function properly as hereinafter described. It is envisaged that once the application is launched, a user will be able to interact with the interface 16 to allow certain data items 13 to be 20 specified as being stored In the data file 11. For example, a user may be able to drag and drop files from other applications into the data file 11 using the user interface 16. The user can also, if desired, specify a path through the data items 13 stored in the data file 11 whereby a user can view these data À À.e À.. À. À

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files sequentially in a predetermined order by simply utilising the next data item and previous data item buttons 17 on the interface. The user can also specify a particular data item 13 which will be the first data item viewed upon launching the application.

5 Once a data file 11 has been created in accordance with a user's wishes, the data file 11 can be stored in any suitable location on the computer. The user interface can enable the following functionality to the data file 11 by use of appropriate buttons 17 and each function will be set out 10 below. NEXT FUNCTION

If this function is utilised by the user, the application will take the user to the next specified data item in the data file 11. To do this, the application will launch any associated application software necessary to enable the data 15 item 13 to be displayed or executed. The application will also play or display any comment, any text, or audio or video object 14 associated with the data item. In moving to the next data item 13, it does not matter where that data item is stored whether it be stored on the same computer, on another computer in a local intranet or on another computer remotely over the 20 internet. If the file of the data item is available on the same computer or over the local intranet, then it may be possible to view this file by launching only its associated application file. Where the data item is held on a remote computer and is accessible over the internet, it will of course be necessary for the À À À À À

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application to launch an internet browser to allow the data item to be viewed.

5 PLAY MEDIA ASSOCIATED WITH CURRENT DATA ITEM.

If an object 14 in the form of text and/or audio and/or video is associated with the data item 13 being viewed then this can be automatically or otherwise displayed or played to a user. The display or play of the media may be undertaken within the application, if suitable executable files are 10 provided, or can utilise application software run available on the computer upon which the application is running. The media can be played as many times as is required.

HOME Using this function, a user can move to the data item 13 which is l 5 defined as being the home item by the user.

DOWN It is possible for data items 13 within the data file to be stored on a multi-layer structure. If this is the case, it may be necessary to move downwards through the structure rather than simply from one data item to 20 another at the same level. If this function is utilised, the user is taken to the next data item down in the data file if one exists.

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up This function takes a user to the corresponding data item 13 in the next level up as with the down function.

SAVE/SAVE AS

5 This function allows a user to save the data items onto the data file once selected. It also allows the data file 11 to be saved onto a computer at a position which can be specified by a user.

OPEN This function allows a user to open a suitable dialogue to allow data 10 files stored on the computer to be selected for viewing. Each stored data file 11 will contain executable files which will enable the application to run, in conjunction with the application executable files independently of each other.

MINIMISE

This function allows the user to minimise the user interface to a host 15 computer toolbar.

CLOSE This function allows the user to close the user interface 16 and end execution of the application. The function can be configured to prompt a user to first save any data items 13 selected for the data list being viewed when 20 the close function is activated.

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NEW This function enables the user to open a new data file in which new data items can be stored.

COMMENTS

5 This function enables the user to enable or suppress the display of text, audio or video objects 14 associated with data items in the data file.

CONTENT

This function allows a user to view the contents of a data file 11 and may also be configured to allow manipulation thereof such as, for example, 10 the order in which the contents are to be displayed.

FREEZE/UNFREEZE

This function allows a user to attach a copy of a data item 13 in full to the data file 11 rather than simply a link to the full copy of the data file which may be contained elsewhere. The function will also allow a copy retained in 15 the data file to be removed should a user wish to do so. The function may also provide an update function whereby new copies of the same but updated data item can replace previously held data items in the data file.

ADD/DELETE/ED IT/MOVE

These functions allow the user to add, delete, edit or move data 20 items within the current data file. It is anticipated that this function will not be available to the data items which are used in the generation of the user À.. À À..

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interface or the personalisation of the user interface such as the type of control buttons provided and the size and shape of the display and information areas. It will also not allow any information presented on the information area to be modified or amended by the user.

5 It can be seen that the user is able to specify within the data file which items they require from the functions listed above.The listed functions are given by way of example only and are not exhaustive.Thus by interaction with the data file a user can specify the functions available when the application is executed.

10 It will be appreciated that once a user has an application executable file present on their computer, they will be able to execute any suitable data file with which they are provided. Because the data file can store data in a suitably compressed form, it is possible for the data files to be maintained at relatively small size making it simple for such files to be forwarded to persons 15 by way of e-mail or in any other suitable manner.

Thus a user can control the functionality given to a person to whom the data file is sent by specifying the availability of those functions in the data file. Executindg the application executable file will result in the application being given the functions, and appearance, as dictated by data items in the 20 data file.

This enables the application software to be used in a number of areas. For example, if a company or retail outlet knows that potential customers have the application executable file 12 on their computer, they can À À À À À

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generate a data file with appropriate data items of interest to potential customers stored in that file. Because the data file 11 contains a suitable proportion of the functionality of the application, it is possible for that company or retail outlet to personalise the look and feel of the application to their own 5 needs. For example, the user interface 16 associated with the data file can be configured in a manner which reflect the corporate identity of the company or retailer who has generated that data file. In fact, executable files can be contained within the data file which allows the user to forward appropriate details such as for example, orders or purchasing information to the company 10 or retail outlet simply by emailing the data file to the company or retail outlet I once the application has been closed down.

Other areas of application can easily be envisaged.

For example, electronic newsletters can be formed by data files formed in applications of this type. All the data for inclusion in the newsletter 15 is retained within the data file 11 with a path specified through data indicating the sequence in which the data should be viewed. Furthermore, the data file can contain information relating to houses to be sold by an estate agent for ' example and in this circumstance the data file retains all the necessary I information in relation to a number of houses, for example, suitable 20 photographs and sales particulars. In this case, the details can be emailed to potential customers simply by emailing the data file if they already have the application executable file on their computer. The data file can be updated as the new properties appear on the market and these can also be emailed to I À e.. À À À À

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potential customers.

It will also be appreciated that the system of the present invention can be used to generate a virtual web site insofar as all necessary information which could be included on a web site could be contained within the data file 5 and emailed to appropriate parties or accessed over a local intemet network.

Whilst a number of examples are given above it will be appreciated that the system of the invention can be used in any circumstance where a collection of data is required to be maintained, updated or provided to a number of different parties in a simple and convenient manner.

10 It is of course to be understood that the invention is not intended to be restricted to details above but in which to be described by way of example only. À e À. À c. À À eÀ À À À a.

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Claims

1. A software application system comprising an application file in executable format and a data file containing data for use in execution of the application, characterized in that said data file is 5 operable to interact with the executable file to allow parameters of said file relating to function of the system to be user specified.

2. An application system according to Claim 1 characterized in that a

part of said data file comprises data item which define the look and feel of the application when executed on a computer display.

10 3, An application system according to Claim 2 characterized in that said part of the data file is configured so as to be capable of user modification. 4. An application system according to Claim 2 or Claim 3 characterized in that said data file also includes data items to 15 generate on-screen user controls in the form of a user interface to allow control over the application by a user when running.

5. An application system according to any preceding claim characterized in that said data file contains data from many sources, and each item of data is independent or linked.

20 6. An application system according to Claim 5 wherein that data file is configured to allow other objects to be associated with stored data items by linking or otherwise, said other objects comprising text.

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audio or video files.

7. An application system according to Claim 6 wherein the data file includes web pages and contains both the uniform resource locator (URL) list and the resource subjects associated or linked thereto.

5 8. An application system according to Claim 1 wherein at least one data item in said data file is operable to execute the application executable file.

9. An application system according to Claim 1 wherein the application system is configured to run independently of any other software 10 running in the user's computer, but can interact or interface with such software if desired or appropriate.

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