Systems and methods for rendering and increasing portability of document-based user interface software objects

Abstract

Systems and methods for rendering document-based user interface software objects are disclosed. User interface software objects may be represented in a document object model on a first computer system. These objects may then be communicated to a second computer system on which they are similarly rendered through use of a document object model on a second computer system. A document on a first computer system may also be updated to reflect either user input through a user interface software object included in the document, or changes induced by server side logic. The updates may be incrementally communicated to and rendered in a second computer system. Location-neutral user interface software objects may be developed without regard to whether the software object will ultimately reside on a client or server computer system, wherein the user interface software object is equally capable of being supported on either one of a client or

1 . Computer-readable media embodying instructions executable by a first computer system that cause the first computer system to perform a method of rendering a document-based user interface software object, the method comprising: 
 representing the document-based user interface software object in a document object model that comprises a data structure for representing documents in the first computer system;    translating the document object model, including the representation of the document-based user interface software object, into computer-readable characters; and    transmitting the computer-readable characters to a second computer system.    
   
   
       2 . The computer-readable media of  claim 1 , wherein the software objects comprise HTML code.  
   
   
       3 . The computer-readable media of  claim 1 , wherein the software objects comprise XML code.  
   
   
       4 . The computer-readable media of  claim 1 , wherein the first computing system comprises a server and the second computer system comprises a client.  
   
   
       5 . The computer-readable media of  claim 1 , wherein the first computing system comprises a client.  
   
   
       6 . A method of rendering a document-based user interface object comprising: 
 storing a document-based user interface object in a computer system;    storing a document object model, that comprises a data structure for representing documents, in the computer system; and    representing the document-based user interface object in the document object model in the computer system.    
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the computer system comprises a server.  
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the computer system comprises a client.