Abstract: A method and apparatus for an innovative object oriented framework system is disclosed. The system uses an innovative framework architecture to provide the first object oriented operating system.

Abstract: A computer system has a processor, a display, and a object-oriented application interface between a user input device such as a cursor placement device and an object-oriented application program. The cursor placement device has a user button for generating a device event signal for controlling a pointer graphic on the display. The object-oriented application program includes a plurality of objects with logic and data for performing particular functions. An interactor object is responsive to a device event signal to change the display from displaying an icon to a thumbnail display. An interactable object is instantiated in an application address space, and includes data and methods for manipulating the data. The interactor object is instantiated in a system address space and is responsive to the device event signal for calling a predetermined one of the interactable object's methods to change the data therein.

Abstract: An object-oriented view system which displays a plurality of separate view areas on a computer display screen allows hierarchically arranged overlapping view areas. The views are controlled by a view hierarchy object which includes a tree structure of information associated with every view. The tree structure has multiple branches and supports recursive view support for views within views. The views are drawn directly in the screen buffer by application programs which retrieve view definition information from the view hierarchy object. The view hierarchy makes it possible for views of uncertain origin or implementation to function polymorphically within a display hierarchy.

Abstract: An object-oriented user interface utilizes object-oriented controls that operate together and compartmentalize the response code in three separate objects. The first object is called an interactable object and is incorporated into the application program. The interactable object includes a displayable representation generically referred to as an icon and a number of methods for manipulating the icon display. The display itself is managed by a second object called a view object which is associated with the display screen. The view object monitors and tracks the position of the icons on the display screen. The view object and the interactable objects are coordinated by means of an interaction object which receives input messages and event signals generated by mouse movements, mouse button presses, keyboard key presses and position information generated by the view object.

Abstract: A view system is provided for each application program in a computer system in order to display application-generated information on a display. To increase graphic speed, the view system transfers graphic information directly into the screen buffer into a screen buffer area defined by a visible area definition. In order to handle concurrently-operating view systems, each of which modifies the displayed contents of one of the multiple views, a concurrency control controls access to the visible area definitions. The concurrency control is also used to control access to update requests which are generated when a change to one view affects other views. This mechanism supports animation, tracking feedback and updating invalid areas of the display by multiple threads of execution. This mechanism also provides a framework to support unrelated threads drawing in separate views within a single window.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for an innovative object oriented framework system is disclosed. The system uses an innovative load architecture for a framework application by multiple users. The load architecture implements functions, static data and classes in a more flexible manner than prior operating systems.

Abstract: A client-server facility (CSF) interface and networking service facility (NSF) interface implement communication between application programs residing in client and server nodes of a distributed services network. The CSF interface includes remote procedure call (RPC) objects for invoking and responding to service requests at the nodes, and application programming interface (API) objects for transporting those requests between the nodes. However, the API objects only provide communication transports within a node. Accordingly, the API and RPC objects interact with dynamically-configurable protocol stacks within the NSF interfaces to complete the transport mechanism needed by an application program on the client node when accessing services on a remote server node.

Abstract: An apparatus for enabling an object-oriented application to access in an object-oriented manner a procedural operating system having a native procedural interface is disclosed. The apparatus includes a computer and a memory component in the computer. A code library is stored in the memory component. The code library includes computer program logic implementing an object-oriented class library. The object-oriented class library comprises related object-oriented classes for enabling the application to access in an object-oriented manner services provided by the operating system. The object-oriented classes include methods for accessing the operating system services using procedural function calls compatible with the native procedural interface of the operating system. The computer processes object-oriented statements contained in the application and defined by the class library by executing methods from the class library corresponding to the object-oriented statements.

Abstract: A method and system for enabling a set of object interface application elements and telephony system elements. Particular objects may be chosen depending on which elements of the telephony system will need to be interfaced. A particular object is capable of interfacing with one or more elements of the telephony system. The elements of the telephony system may be any identifiable aspect of the telephony system. For example, the objects could represent a handset or a line. Less tangible elements can also be represented, such as signals or procedures, including call progress tones, call setup, call hold, conference calls, or other call features.

Abstract: A method, system for providing help information to assist in using an object oriented operating system. The help technique is also oriented to the particular area on the screen that is indicated by a portion of the help information. When a user drags an object on a display screen and drops the object in close proximity with another object, a help display is presented with an indicator pointing to the associated area on the display. The help display provides information on the viability of the drop action and aids the user in navigating through the operation. In a preferred embodiment, the help display is presented in a balloon display pointing to the objects upon which the operation is transpiring.

Abstract: An apparatus for enabling an object-oriented application to access in an object-oriented manner a procedural operating system having a native procedural interface is disclosed. The apparatus includes a computer and a memory component in the computer. A code library is stored in the memory component. The code library includes computer program logic implementing an object-oriented class library. The object-oriented class library comprises related object-oriented classes for enabling the application to access in an object-oriented manner services provided by the operating system. The object-oriented classes include methods for accessing the operating system services using procedural function calls compatible with the native procedural interface of the operating system. The computer processes object-oriented statements contained in the application and defined by the class library by executing methods from the class library corresponding to the object-oriented statements.