Graphical state machine based programming for a graphical user interface

摘要

In one embodiment, a graphical arrangement of one or more interface elements and a definition of one or more events associated with the interface elements is used to build a state diagram model of a graphical user interface (GUI). The state diagram model of the GUI includes a plurality of states, and one or more transitions linking at least some of the states. The state diagram model may be displayed to a user, and in some cases, simulated to test functionality of the GUI. In response to user input, the state diagram model may be modified to change functionality of the GUI and/or to add functionality to the GUI. The GUI may then be generated from the state diagram model.

主权项

1. A computer-implemented method comprising:
creating, using a processor, a graphical user interface (GUI) using a layout editor, the layout editor providing a plurality of graphical elements for selection; generating, using the processor, a graphical state diagram representation for selected graphical elements from the plurality of graphical elements where:
the graphical state diagram representation includes:
a plurality of states, wherein:
the plurality of states correspond to the selected graphical elements,at least two of the plurality of states are active in a parallel mode to each other, andat least another two of the plurality of states are active in an exclusive mode to each other,a plurality of transitions, andone or more executable instructions associated with the plurality of states or the plurality of transitions, the one or more executable instructions modeling an underlying control structure of the selected graphical elements, the underlying control structure implementing a functionality of the GUI, andthe graphical state diagram representation is generated based on the selected graphical elements; and generating, using the processor, computer program instructions from the graphical state diagram representation where:
the computer program instructions implement the selected graphical elements and the underlying control structure of the selected graphical elements, andthe selected graphical elements are implemented as part of the GUI.