Abstract:
A method and system for dynamic management of running applications and the communications among them at runtime. Runtime dynamic assembly of running applications is achieved by providing graphical representations of the running software applications in block form, and dynamically connecting the blocks into a flow chart, each application being instantiated into a running object upon inclusion in the flow chart. The method and system of the present invention provide dynamic common access and/or a dynamic common interface to source code programs authored by different programmers at runtime, while enabling changing of existing software applications without the need for recompilation of the code. Further, the method and system of the present invention enable changing of existing running software solutions without the need for interrupting the execution of the software.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]     The present utility application claims priority and is related to U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/719,560, filed September 23, the entirety of which is incorporated by reference herein. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     1. Field of the Invention  
         [0003]     The present invention relates to a method and system for runtime dynamic management of running applications and the communications among them. Specifically, the present invention relates to the graphical presentation of instantiated objects and the creation of connections among them, at the selection of the user, while the instantiated objects are running.  
         [0004]     2. Background of the Related Art  
         [0005]     One problem in the software industry today is that it is not practicable to provide dynamic common access and/or a dynamic common interface to source code programs authored by different software developers, while the programs are running. Traditionally, software has been created by programmers as a finite solution for end users. User-specified customization or other changes in the original software typically require the changes to be made in the source code by a software developer, reassembly and recompilation of the software, and redistribution of the customized program to the end user. Any such customization requires at least the following: (a) involvement by a skilled and trained software developer; (b) recompilation of the software; and (c) interruption in program execution.  
         [0006]     There are known in the art methods and systems that enable an end user, rather than a software developer, to perform software customization. For example, graphical or iconic programming languages (also known as “environments”) permit an end user, through manipulation of a graphical diagram, to instruct a system to create and/or generate software code of behalf of the user, thus requiring little low level text-based programming experience. Examples of such graphical programming environments include Visual Basic, Delphi, Vee, LabView and DT Measure Foundry, including Visual Basic—made by Microsoft® Corporation of Redmond, Wash., Delphi—made by Borland—Software Corporation of Cupertino, Calif., Vee—made by Agilent Technologies, Inc., of Palo Alto, Calif., LabVIEW—made by National Instruments® Corporation of Austin, Tex., and DTMauseure Foundry—made by Data Translation®, Inc., of Marlboro, Mass., among others. All of these environments, however, require at least two modes: a development mode and a runtime mode, during which the developed and assembled program is compiled for loading and running (e.g., on a computer operating system, micro device, instrument, embedded hardware, virtual device or virtual operating system). Thus, while these graphical environments purport to allow end users to perform customization of existing programs by in essence providing a substitute for a trained software developer, they fail to avoid the necessity for pre-runtime recompilation of software upon making changes, and for program execution interruption to make the changes and recompile the program.  
         [0007]     An additional shortcoming of these graphical programming environments is that they are not attractive to traditional software developers, being typically limited by pre-defined graphical representations of instructions. Furthermore, while these environments purport to allow end users to create complete solutions, these solutions are frequently inefficient. In addition, such environments require end users to learn some traditional programming constructs, such as loops, conditionals, and variables, among others. Moreover, all graphical programming environments involve creation of software code in the background, on behalf of the end user, without permitting the end user to take advantage of the actual knowledge, experience and skill of trained software developers in resolving a particular problem.  
         [0008]     Other shortcomings of known graphical software environments include the fact that most graphical languages are proprietary and require translation from an existing algorithm to a specific iconic language implementation. Also, making changes to a program typically requires switching from a runtime mode for execution of the program, to a development mode for manipulation of the program flow, and vice versa. In addition, any program in a runtime mode must be terminated prior to switching to the development and assembly mode to make changes in the software.  
         [0009]     There is a general need in the art, therefore, for methods and systems that provide dynamic common access and/or a dynamic common interface to source code programs authored by different programmers at runtime. There is a further need in the art for methods and systems that enable making changes to existing software programs without the need for recompilation. There is yet a further need for methods and systems that enable making changes to existing running software solutions without the need for interrupting the execution of the software. Finally, there is a need in the art for methods and systems that permit end users to take advantage of the skills of software developers in resolving specific problems by combining different available software applications, while the software applications are in a state of execution, thereby providing an attractive solution to beginners and skilled software developers alike.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0010]     The present invention solves the above identified needs, and others, by providing a method and system for runtime dynamic management of running applications and the communications among them. The present invention permits runtime dynamic assembly of running applications by providing graphical representations of the running software applications in, e.g., block form, and dynamically connecting the blocks in a block diagram, each application being instantiated into a running object upon inclusion in the diagram. One of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate, however, that the graphical representation of compiled software applications may, besides in block form, be represented in any shape, form, or visual element.  
         [0011]     Embodiments of the method and system of the present invention provide dynamic common access and/or a dynamic common interface to source code programs authored by different programmers at runtime. In addition, embodiments of the present invention enable making changes to, including adding and subtracting, existing software applications without the need for recompilation of the code. Further, embodiments of the present invention enable making changes to existing running software solutions without the need for interrupting the execution of the software. Moreover, embodiments of the present invention permit end users to take advantage of the skills of software developers in resolving specific problems by combining different available software applications, while the software applications are in a state of execution.  
         [0012]     Other objects, features, and advantages will be apparent to persons of ordinary skill in the art from the following detailed description of the invention and the accompanying drawings. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES  
       [0013]     For a more complete understanding of the present invention, the needs satisfied thereby, and the objects, features, and advantages thereof, reference now is made to the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings.  
         [0014]      FIG. 1  presents a flow diagram of functions performed in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0015]      FIGS. 2A-2P  show Graphical User Interface (“GUI”) screens depicting an example scenario for the task of performing a calculator from the point of view of a user of the system, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0016]      FIGS. 3A-3G  show GUI screens depicting an example scenario for the task of performing a pong game from the point of view of a user of the system, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0017]      FIGS. 4A-4B  show GUI screens depicting an example scenario for the task of performing a statistical stock chart, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0018]      FIG. 5  contains a block diagram of various computer system components for use with an exemplary implementation of a system for runtime dynamic management of running applications and the communications among them, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0019]      FIG. 6  presents an exemplary system diagram of various hardware components and other features in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0020]      FIG. 7  presents an example open system architecture, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0021]     Preferred embodiments of the present invention and their features and advantages may be understood by referring to  FIGS. 1-7 , like numerals being used for like corresponding parts in the various drawings.  
         [0022]     In one embodiment, the system and method of the present invention for dynamic assembly of running applications and the connections among them while running, may be implemented as an Internet-based or other network-based system that allows the end user unlimited or virtually unlimited flexibility in terms of the types of compatible source code applications that may be connected to each other to form a graphical assembly of one or more instantiated objects or running blocks and the connections among them (alternatively referred to herein as a diagram, flow chart or graphical representation), and in terms of connecting functioning (previously or simultaneously created) diagrams, such as by nesting diagrams within each other and/or connecting blocks and flow charts in a number of possible ways. To facilitate the understanding of the description that follows, it is assumed that each source code application is previously compiled by its respective developer. One of ordinary skill in the art will understand, however, that such applications may be compiled at any point prior to their inclusion in a diagram as instantiated objects while running.  
         [0023]     An example flow diagram of functions performed in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention will now be described in reference to  FIG. 1 . After locating compatible classes of compiled code  110 , one embodiment of the method for dynamically managing running applications and their connections while running includes creating a list of available compiled codes  120  for inclusion into diagrams in the form of graphical blocks. It will be recognized by those skilled in the art that the compiled code may be supplied from or in any device or system capable of supplying compiled code, such as a network (e.g., the Internet), a server, or any local, wired or wireless storage medium. It will also be recognized by those skilled in the art that a class is a definition of an object, and is made up of the software code. To use an object, a user must instantiate an instance of the class. Therefore, if 50 television objects are needed, 50 instances of the television class should be provided. Each of the 50 instances is created by instantiation. According to accepted terminology in the art, to reduce ambiguity, classes are “created,” while objects are “instantiated.” Class creation is performed at design time when the software is being built, and involves writing the actual software code. Objects are instantiated at runtime when the program is being used. See, e.g., Thearon Willis, Jonathan Crossland &amp; Richard Blair, Beginning VB.NET 2003 327 (Wiley Publishing, Inc.) (2004).  
         [0024]     Referring now to  FIG. 1 , upon creation of a list of available compiled codes  120 , a user (e.g., an “end user”) defines one or more tasks to be performed by one or more diagrams  130  to be created through any combination of the available compiled codes (interchangeably referred to herein as “blocks”).  
         [0025]     One or more compatible classes from compiled code or blocks are then selected from the list for inclusion into the diagram  140 . Upon selection and inclusion of each block into the diagram, the block is instantiated into an object and begins to execute  150 . Graphical connections may then be created between/among the instantiated blocks, whereupon communications are established between/among the instantiated blocks  160 , while the blocks are executing. It will be recognized by those skilled in the art that the graphical connections may be created by any available user input device, such as a keyboard or mouse. It will also be recognized by those of ordinary skill in the art that communications among the instantiated objects may be established by creating one or more references among the objects, such as execution address pointers. Further, references may be established among diagrams, if one or more diagrams are being connected to complete a task, or may be brokered by a first instantiated object to facilitate an indirect connection between a second and a third instantiated objects.  
         [0026]     In one embodiment, upon creating the graphical connections among instantiated objects to establish communication  160 , the method of the present invention is complete, if the task to be performed by the diagram has been completed  190  and the user does not wish to save  195  the current diagram configuration, or saves the configuration  185 , but does not wish to reload it  170 . Furthermore, the diagram and connections may be saved in XML format, or in any other format capable of storing the type of data represented by the objects and connections. The instantiated objects may be saved, for example, as instance identifiers, such as Globally Unique Identifiers (“GUID”). The graphical connections may be saved as connector names, defined by the instance identifiers of the saved instantiated objects. It will be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art that the references may be stored by each connected instantiated object or by one of the connected objects, depending on the type of the connection (e.g., one-to-one, one-to-many, many-to-one or many-to-many).  
         [0027]     If the task to be performed by the diagram is not complete  190  and does not have to be re-defined  180 , in one embodiment, the method of the present invention continues with selecting blocks for inclusion in the diagram  140 . In one embodiment, if the task needs to be re-defined  180 , the method of the present invention continues with defining the tasks to be performed by the diagram  130 . As the diagram is being constructed by instantiating blocks  150  and creating the graphical connections to establish communication among the instantiated blocks  160 , the corresponding phase of the task to be performed by the diagram, if capable of being visually represented, may be made displayed on, e.g., a computer monitor, printed out, captured as a series of images, or made available by any other means to the end user.  
         [0028]     To further illustrate the operation of system of the present invention for dynamic assembly of running applications and the communications among them while running, an example scenario will now be described from the point of view of a user of the system, in reference to the GUI screens shown in  FIGS. 2A-2P . In the example scenario of this embodiment, the user-defined task to be performed by a diagram is a selected function performed by a calculator.  
         [0029]     Referring now to  FIG. 2A , shown therein are two exemplary windows, a first window  202 , for dynamically creating and displaying a diagram or flow chart, and a second window  201 , for dynamically displaying the output  203  of the diagram as it is being created. In this embodiment, upon clicking the mouse or otherwise making a selection, represented by indicator  204  in the flow chart window  202 , a block selection option  205  appears in flow chart window  202 , as shown in  FIG. 2B . Upon selecting the “Select Block” option  206 , a third window  209  appears on the screen, containing a list  207  of available blocks (compatible classes of compiled code) for inclusion into a diagram, as shown in  FIG. 2C . It will be recognized by those skilled in the art that the blocks may be categorized or grouped according to relevant factors, so that only certain categories or groups of blocks are displayed in list  207 . In the example scenario shown in  FIGS. 2A-2P , the list of available blocks  207  represents available compiled codes corresponding to different functions that a calculator performs, e.g., addition, subtraction, multiplication and square root, among others.  
         [0030]     Upon scrolling down the list of available blocks  207 , a graphical representation of each block  208  is shown in window  209 . Assuming that the task to be performed by the diagram is addition, for example, the user may select the “Add” block  208  from list  207  (e.g., by clicking on it with a mouse), upon which the “Add” block  208  is instantiated as an object  210 , as shown in  FIG. 2D . The output of instantiated (alternatively referred to herein as “running” or “executing”) object  210 , shown in the flow chart window  202  of  FIG. 2D , is connected to the diagram output  203 . It should be noted that, consistent with its function, instantiated “Add” object  210  has two inputs and one output. As shown in  FIG. 2D , the two inputs are for integer numbers; however, the number format may be changed by the user if the author of “Add” block  208  has provided that the type of inputs to block  208  may be changed to different number formats.  
         [0031]     As shown in  FIG. 2E , upon graphically connecting (e.g., by using a mouse) the two inputs of instantiated object  210  to blocks  211  and  212  that provide numbers, each containing a value of 0.00, the diagram output  203 , as displayed in data display window  201 , is 0 (zero). When the inputs into running object  210  are changed to 3.00 and 2.00, as shown by blocks  211  and  212 , respectively in  FIG. 2F , the diagram output  203  immediately changes value to 5, as shown in data display window  201  of  FIG. 2F .  
         [0032]     Another example of using functions performed by a calculator will now be described in reference to  FIG. 2G . In this example, the user-defined task is to calculate the result of a multiplication of two numbers, a first number and the sum of a second number and the first number. In this example, upon selection of the “Multiply” block from the list of available blocks  207  (as described above in reference to  FIG. 2C ), the block is instantiated into object  213 , which begins to run. Upon creating the graphical connection between the output of instantiated object  210  and one input to instantiated object  213 , and providing as a second input to instantiated block  213  the value in block  212 , the diagram output  203  is displayed in the data display window  201 , which is 10 (3.00+2.00=5.00×2.00=10), in the example shown in  FIG. 2G . It should be noted that once a block is selected from the list of available blocks  207 , it is instantiated into an object and begins to run, regardless of the values (or if there are no values) on its inputs and outputs. When connections are created between blocks, the thus assembled blocks continue to run, without the necessity of compiling the assembled blocks.  
         [0033]     The process of selecting and adding blocks to the diagram, thus instantiating them into running objects, continues until the user is satisfied that the task is completed. It bears mention that each block is instantiated into a running object while the instantiated objects that have already been included in the diagram continue to run; that is, it is not necessary to stop the execution of the connected blocks prior to adding more blocks.  
         [0034]     For example, the user may choose to redefine the task by selecting a second “Add” block  208  from the list of available blocks  207  shown in  FIG. 2C . Upon selection, the second “Add” block is added as instantiated object  214 , shown in  FIG. 2H . Upon creating, for example, a graphical connection connecting the first input of object  214  with the output of object  213 , and providing as the second input of object  214 , the value of block  212 , the diagram output  203  is displayed in data display window  201 , in this case the value  12 .  
         [0035]      FIG. 2I  shows the selection of a numeric selector block  215 , and  FIG. 2J  shows its addition to the diagram as object  216 . In  FIG. 2I , dragging so as to provide a connector to the numeric selector  215  adds an existing block  216 , which the numeric selector  215  has instantiated to the diagram, and connects block  216  to block  210 . Therefore, the block  216  is “owned by” (e.g., provides input to) the numeric selector  215  and will always provide the current value of block  216  to selector  215 .  
         [0036]     In  FIG. 2K , the value of numeric selector  215  is set to 4, and object  216  is connected to provide one input each to instantiated objects  210  and  213 . The second input into instantiated object  210  is the value of block  212 , while the second input into instantiated object  213  is the output of instantiated object  210 . The value of block  212  is provided as one input into instantiated object  214 , while the second input into instantiated object  214  is the output of instantiated object  213 . Upon creating the connections, the diagram output  203 , in this case  26 , is displayed in data display widow  201 .  
         [0037]      FIG. 2L  shows an output of  37  in data display window  201 , upon changing the value of numeric selector  215  to  5 . In  FIG. 2M , no value is displayed in data display window  201 , as the connection between instantiated objects  213  and  214  is severed. As there is only one input into instantiated object  214 , the diagram does not provide an output  203 , as object  214  is waiting to receive a value on its second input.  
         [0038]      FIG. 2N  shows recreating the graphical connection between instantiated objects  213  and  214  by, for example, dragging with a mouse cursor  204  from one input of instantiated object  214  to the output of instantiated object  213 . It will be appreciated that nothing will be displayed in data display window  201  until the connection is complete, despite the fact that all objects shown in flow chart window  202  are instantiated and running. Upon completing the connection, however, a value of 50 is displayed in data display window  201 , as shown in  FIG. 20 , as the value of numeric selector  215  is 6.  
         [0039]     In one embodiment, upon establishing graphical connections among instantiated objects, references among the connected objects are established, as shown in  FIG. 2P . For example,  FIG. 2P  shows how the connectors are defined in code. Upon creating a graphical connection, the reference provided by the output blocks simultaneously or approximately simultaneously obtains a property that is flagged to be provided, and this property is passed to the input block&#39;s set property, which has been flagged as requiring an input. A reference between the objects is thereby established.  
         [0040]     Referring now to  FIGS. 3A-3G , therein shown is an example scenario for the task of performing a pong game from the point of view of a user of the system, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.  FIG. 3A  shows a screen shot prior to initiating a diagram or flow chart, and the pong ball is immobile, as shown in data display window  201 . The diagram outputs  301  and  302 , are respectively configured to show the next position of the pong ball and the next targets. The diagram inputs  303  and  304 , are respectively configured to show the current position of the pong ball and the current targets. Upon selecting a block of code implementing a “law” to be applied (not shown), thereby instantiating this law into object  305  (here entitled “Newton&#39;s 3 rd  Law,” which states that an object in motion remains in motion; in this example, when the game is started, the ball is provided an initial velocity vector, but does not move because it needs a block to make it move) and graphically connecting it as an output of Current Position input  303  and an input to Next Position output  301 , as shown in flow chart window  202  in  FIG. 3B , the pong ball in display window  201  begins to move down towards the paddle.  
         [0041]      FIGS. 3C-3G  show the progressive implementation of a pong game according to this example scenario of one embodiment of the present invention. Following the principles and procedures described above,  FIG. 3C  introduces a paddle  306  and an Angle Paddle instantiated object  307 , which causes the pong ball to bounce off the paddle;  FIG. 3D  introduces Wall Collision instantiated object  308 , which causes the pong ball to bounce off the walls;  FIG. 3E  introduces PongBlockDestroyer instantiated object  309 , connected to the output of Current Targets input  304  and the input of Next Targets output  302 , which causes the pong ball to destroy bricks it comes into contact with (and bounce off of them), as shown in data display window  201 ; and  FIGS. 3F and 3G  introduce Wall Shy and Newton&#39;s 3 rd  Law instantiated objects  310  and  311 , each of which respectively causes the pong ball to become accelerated/delayed by a variable factor when approaching the bottom or the walls shown in data display window  201 .  
         [0042]     Referring now to  FIGS. 4A and 4B , therein shown is an example scenario for the task of creating a statistical stock chart, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.  FIG. 4A  depicts the data display window showing variations of user-selected stocks according to user-selected criteria (e.g., minimum, maximum, average, and median values, with such values being provided once an hour, once a day, every two days, or at any selected interval). The exemplary diagram shown in flow chart window  202  in  FIG. 4B  causes the results displayed in the data display window  201 , shown in  FIG. 4A .  
         [0043]     The present invention may be implemented using hardware, software or a combination thereof and may be implemented in one or more computer systems or other processing systems. In one embodiment, the invention is directed toward one or more computer systems capable of carrying out the functionality described herein. An example of such a computer system  500  is shown in  FIG. 5 .  
         [0044]     Computer system  500  includes one or more processors, such as processor  504 . The processor  504  is connected to a communication infrastructure  506  (e.g., a communications bus, cross-over bar, or network). Various software embodiments are described in terms of this exemplary computer system. After reading this description, it will become apparent to a person skilled in the relevant art(s) how to implement the invention using other computer systems and/or architectures.  
         [0045]     Computer system  500  can include a display interface  502  that forwards graphics, text, and other data from the communication infrastructure  506  (or from a frame buffer not shown) for display on the display unit  530 . Computer system  500  also includes a main memory  508 , preferably random access memory (RAM), and may also include a secondary memory  510 . The secondary memory  510  may include, for example, a hard disk drive  512  and/or a removable storage drive  514 , representing a floppy disk drive, a magnetic tape drive, an optical disk drive, etc. The removable storage drive  514  reads from and/or writes to a removable storage unit  518  in a well known manner. Removable storage unit  518 , represents a floppy disk, magnetic tape, optical disk, etc., which is read by and written to removable storage drive  514 . As will be appreciated, the removable storage unit  518  includes a computer usable storage medium having stored therein computer software and/or data.  
         [0046]     In alternative embodiments, secondary memory  510  may include other similar devices for allowing computer programs or other instructions to be loaded into computer system  500 . Such devices may include, for example, a removable storage unit  522  and an interface  520 . Examples of such may include a program cartridge and cartridge interface (such as that found in video game devices), a removable memory chip (such as an erasable programmable read only memory (EPROM), or programmable read only memory (PROM)) and associated socket, and other removable storage units  522  and interfaces  520 , which allow software and data to be transferred from the removable storage unit  522  to computer system  500 .  
         [0047]     Computer system  500  may also include a communications interface  524 . Communications interface  524  allows software and data to be transferred between computer system  500  and external devices. Examples of communications interface  524  may include a modem, a network interface (such as an Ethernet card), a communications port, a Personal Computer Memory Card International Association (PCMCIA) slot and card, etc. Software and data transferred via communications interface  524  are in the form of signals  528 , which may be electronic, electromagnetic, optical or other signals capable of being received by communications interface  524 . These signals  528  are provided to communications interface  524  via a communications path (e.g., channel)  526 . This path  526  carries signals  528  and may be implemented using wire or cable, fiber optics, a telephone line, a cellular link, a radio frequency (RF) link and/or other communications channels. In this document, the terms “computer program medium” and “computer usable medium” are used to refer generally to media such as a removable storage drive  514 , a hard disk installed in hard disk drive  512 , and signals  528 . These computer program products provide software to the computer system  500 . The invention is directed to such computer program products.  
         [0048]     Computer programs (also referred to as computer control logic) are stored in main memory  508  and/or secondary memory  510 . Computer programs may also be received via communications interface  524 . Such computer programs, when executed, enable the computer system  500  to perform the features of the present invention, as discussed herein. In particular, the computer programs, when executed, enable the processor  504  to perform the features of the present invention. Accordingly, such computer programs represent controllers of the computer system  500 .  
         [0049]     In an embodiment where the invention is implemented using software, the software may be stored in a computer program product and loaded into computer system  500  using removable storage drive  514 , hard drive  512 , or communications interface  524 . The control logic (software), when executed by the processor  504 , causes the processor  504  to perform the functions of the invention as described herein. In another embodiment, the invention is implemented primarily in hardware using, for example, hardware components, such as application specific integrated circuits (ASICs). Implementation of the hardware state machine so as to perform the functions described herein will be apparent to persons skilled in the relevant art(s).  
         [0050]     In yet another embodiment, the invention is implemented using a combination of both hardware and software.  
         [0051]      FIG. 6  presents an exemplary system diagram of various hardware components and other features in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in  FIG. 6 , in an embodiment of the present invention, each source code author  630 ,  639  and  640  creates a stand alone source code application, and makes it available, via network  634 , to user  643 . User  643 , via the system of the present invention residing on terminal  644 , creates a flow chart by connecting the source codes provided by users  630 ,  639  and  640 . The terminal  644  is coupled to a server  633 , on which portions of the data used by the created flow chart are stored, via a network  634 , such as the Internet, via couplings  635 ,  636 .  
         [0052]     Each of the terminals  631 ,  637 ,  641 ,  644  is, for example, a personal computer (PC), minicomputer, mainframe computer, microcomputer, telephone device, personal digital assistant (PDA), or other device having a processor and input capability. The terminal  631  is coupled to a server  633 , such as a PC, minicomputer, mainframe computer, microcomputer, or other device having a processor and a repository for data or connection to a repository for maintained data.  
         [0053]     In one exemplary embodiment, the system for dynamic assembly of running applications and the connections among them while running may be implemented, for example, as a Microsoft.net® desktop application program (Microsoft.net® is made by Microsoft® Corporation of Redmond, Wash.), which may reside on a computer hard drive, database or other repository of data, or be uploaded from the Internet or other network (e.g., from a personal computer (PC), minicomputer, mainframe computer, microcomputer, telephone device, personal digital assistant (PDA), or other device having a processor and input capability). It will be recognized by those skilled in the art, however, that any available software tool capable of implementing the concepts described herein may be used to implement the system and method of the present invention.  
         [0054]     One embodiment of the present invention is based on an open system architecture  700 , as shown in  FIG. 7 . In this embodiment, the system for dynamic assembly of running applications and the connections among them while running includes an Available Code/Block List module  710 , a Task Diagram module  720 , and a Runtime Memory module  730 . After identifying a task to be performed, a user selects the blocks needed to complete the task, instantiates these blocks into running objects  740  . . .  750  in Running Memory module  730 , while adding them to Task Diagram Module  720  and creating graphical connections to enable communications among the instantiated objects to complete the task while the objects are running, and without causing interruption in program execution.  
         [0055]     In one embodiment, the end user of the method and system of the present invention may be the ultimate consumer of data created as a result of the functioning of the system, such as a data analyst. An end user of the system, in another embodiment, may be a programmer, who creates flow charts based on the blocks that are available to the system. In yet another embodiment, the end user may be a user that provides the data to the system of the present invention, to be processed and manipulated by others. Those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate the unlimited spectrum of end users of the system and method of the present invention.  
         [0056]     While the present invention has been described in connection with preferred embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that variations and modifications of the preferred embodiments described above may be made without departing from the scope of the invention. Other embodiments will be apparent to those skilled in the art from a consideration of the specification or from a practice of the invention disclosed herein. It is intended that the specification and the described examples are considered exemplary only, with the true scope of the invention indicated by the following claims.