Abstract: A method and apparatus for associating message types, elements, and/or content with data from one or more data stores are provided. Current limitations on the tracking and management of information contained within or associated with message types and elements are overcome through an association manager or “data linking engine” that provides context-driven workflow management for end-users. The end-users may work in an application context that is not integrated in the messaging system. The application context may include databases, systems, data stores, links in Web pages, etc. If the association manager appends data to a given message, recipients of that message have the ability to access added functionality within the context of the messaging system.

Abstract: A method and framework for dynamically aggregating data and functionality to runtime objects in order to increase component reuse and ease integration of disparate objects are presented. The present invention makes possible the reuse and integration of virtually any runtime object without consideration of the platform for which the component was originally created. Runtime aggregation of inheritance, fields, functions, and types is presented. Also, methods presented include: Inheritance, data, and method “eclipsing”; Runtime instantiation on an “as needed” basis; Dynamic runtime transformation of objects; and Aggregation design time cuing.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for partial updating of client interfaces in a client-server environment. The client updates the corresponding server-side through a middleware “engine.” Individual interface element change requests may be queued. Programmatically defined events may trigger processing of the change request queue on the client, resulting in partial updating of an interface container, such as a Web page or XML document, in the client interface context. Processing may occur on the server, where resultant client update requests are likewise queued. Alternative programmatically defined events may trigger the return of the server change queue to the client. Only those elements of the interface container affected by changes in the queue are updated. This partial updating method replaces the need for refreshing an entire interface, thus affording a more desktop-like look and feel.

Abstract: A method and system for instructing a computer in a system of a declarative computer programming language. Unlike traditional declarative languages, the programming language may be neither relational nor functional, neither procedural nor imperative. The declarative programming elements may be defined as a meta-description of logic and data. The basic morphology of this meta-description may be a data construct known as a Lattice. Lattices derive declarative power from their inclusion of “Attributes” and “Sites”. Attributes are declarative properties that determine the internal behavior of a Lattice; while Sites are declarative data access points that establish the external relationship a Lattice may have with other Lattices, Lattice Containers, and Lattice Elements. Each of these data constructs are highly adaptable, recursive, and expandable, providing the entire language with a degree of flexibility that facilitates a very high level of abstraction.