Patent ID: 8826158
Filing Date: 2014-09-02
Classification: G06F

Abstract:
1. A device for determining changes to a graphical user interface (GUI) that does not require the use of a configuration file or the use of data from a previous operation of an application computer program, comprising: a) a first function block, having an input for receiving a GUI in which an application computer program is currently running, and having an output for transmitting what the first function block received and produced, wherein the first function block is on a user-definable computing device that includes a microprocessor; b) a second function block for determining a first tree structure for the GUI and its content while the application computer program is currently running, having an input connected to the output of the first function block, and having an output for transmitting what the second function block received and produced, wherein the second function block is on the user-definable computing device that includes the microprocessor; c) a third function block for identifying a communication from the application computer program to the GUI while the application computer program is currently running, having a first input connected to the output of the second function block, having a second input, having a third input, and having an output for transmitting what the third function block received and produced, wherein the third function block is on the user-definable computing device that includes the microprocessor; d) a fourth function block for determining if the communication identified in the third function block does not change the GUI while the application computer program is currently running and, if so, returning operation of the device to the third function block, otherwise transferring operation of the device to a fifth function block, having an input connected to the output of the third function block, and having an output connected to the second input of the third function block for transmitting what the fourth function block received and produced, wherein the fourth function block is on the user-definable computing device that includes the microprocessor; e) the fifth function block for determining if the GUI has changed while the application computer program is currently running and, if so, determining a second tree structure for the changed GUI while the application computer program is currently running, having an input connected to the output of the fourth function block, and having an output for transmitting what the fifth function block received and produced, wherein the fifth function block is on the user-definable computing device that includes the microprocessor; f) a sixth function block for comparing the first tree structure to the second tree structure and identifying a change there between, having an input connected to the output of the fifth function block, and having an output for transmitting what the sixth function block received and produced, wherein the sixth function block is on the user-definable computing device that includes the microprocessor; g) a seventh function block for discarding the first tree structure, having an input connected to the output of the sixth function block, and having an output for transmitting what the seventh function block received and produced, wherein the seventh function block is on the user-definable computing device that includes the microprocessor, and where the sixth function block is comprised of: h) an eighth function block for renaming the second tree structure as the first tree structure, having an input connected to the output of the seventh function block, and having an output for transmitting what the eighth function block received and produced, wherein the eighth function block is on the user-definable computing device that includes the microprocessor; and i) a ninth function block for transmitting the identified change to a user, and returning operation of the device to the third function block, having an input connected to the output of the eighth function block, and having an output connected to the third input of the third function block for transmitting what the ninth function block received and produced, wherein the ninth function block is on the user-definable computing device that includes the microprocessor.