Patent ID: 8046754

Claim:
A computer-implemented method for customizing a user-interface control of an existing application comprising the steps of: recording a procedure description comprising a series of actions performed by a user in an application user-interface; installing the user-interface control relating to the procedure description in the existing application for execution of the procedure description and generation of the series of actions when the user-interface control is activated; and executing the installed user-interface control; wherein the step of recording a procedure description performed by the user in the application user-interface comprises the steps of: transmitting at least one request for application user-interface structure information from a procedure capturer to an operating system; receiving the application user-interface structure information from the operating system at the procedure capturer; building a control registry at the procedure capturer based on the user-interface structure information; receiving a notification of a system action at the procedure capturer during a user action within the application user-interface; and updating the control registry of the procedure capturer; wherein the step of recording a procedure description performed by the user in the application user-interface further comprises the steps of: determining a result activated by a user action at the procedure capturer; mapping the activated result into a generic description at the procedure capturer; adding the generic description to a procedure representation at the procedure capturer; determining if there are more user actions; and storing the procedure representation in the procedure capturer if there are no more user actions; wherein the step of installing the user-interface control relating to the procedure description in the existing application comprises the steps of: sending a request to the operating system from a control installer to install the control; creating and installing the control in the application user-interface through the operating system; and registering a callback at the operating system using a location supplied by the control installer; wherein the step of executing the installed user-interface control comprises the steps of: receiving a user action on the installed control at the operating system; invoking a callback function in a command player by the operating system; retrieving the procedure description at the command player; transmitting at least one request for application user-interface structure information from the command player to the operating system; receiving the application user-interface structure information from the operating system at the command player; building a control registry at the command player; and registering with the operating system for the command player to receive notification of user actions.