Patent ID: 6513072
Filing Date: 2003-01-28
Classification: G06F

Abstract:
A method for associating data bearing objects with user interface objects comprising:defining a controlling object between a plurality of data bearing objects and a plurality of user interface objects, said controlling object having capability to communicate in a standard message format; defining a plurality of association objects, wherein each one of said plurality of association objects has a corresponding one of said plurality of user interface objects, said each one of said plurality of association objects being capable of communicating with said corresponding one of said plurality of user interface objects using messages in format specific to said corresponding one of said plurality of user interface objects, and further being capable of communicating in standard message format with said controlling object; linking each of said plurality of association objects with a corresponding one of said plurality of user interface objects and said controlling object such that in response to a standard message received from said controlling object for one of said plurality of user interface objects, said corresponding association object translating said standard message to a message format specific to said one of said plurality of user interface objects and sending said message format specific to said one of said plurality of user interface objects to said one of said plurality of user interface objects and in response to receiving from said one of said plurality of user interface objects a message in said format specific to said one of said plurality of user interface objects said corresponding association object translating said message in said format specific to said one of said plurality of association objects to said standard message format and sending said standard message to said controlling object.