Configurable software application

Abstract

A configurable software application is provided, where the software application may be designed on a platform including at least one configuration utility for enabling end users to customize various aspects of the application. For example, end users may use the configuration utility to customize one or more user interface elements, event handlers, data handlers, and/or data elements of the application. The software application may be automatically updated to incorporate the user customizations. In one implementation, custom user interface elements may be used to control a navigation of the application or an interaction with data elements of the application. In another implementation, custom data elements, based on a hierarchical metadata structure, may dictate an organization of the application. In another implementation, custom event handlers may control business logic and rules for the application, while custom data handlers may control interfacing with the data elements.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for configuring a software application, comprising:
 configuring a framework associated a software application built on a service oriented architecture using one or more configuration utilities that expose the framework associated with the software application;   building one or more displays associated with the software application, wherein the one or more displays are configured with the one or more configuration utilities that expose the framework associated with the software application; and   displaying a populated user interface associated with the software application, wherein the populated user interface includes the one or more displays configured with the one or more configuration utilities.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein configuring the framework associated the software application includes using the one or more configuration utilities to create or extend one or more metadata records that control the software application and the one or more displays associated with the software application. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein building the one or more displays associated with the software application includes binding one or more metadata records created or extended with the one or more configuration utilities to a hierarchical metadata structure that controls the software application. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the one or more metadata records control navigation and interaction associated with the one or more displays. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein configuring the framework associated the software application includes:
 using the one or more configuration utilities to create or extend one or more data handlers that control the software application and convert data elements from the hierarchical metadata structure to a format associated with the exposed framework; and   using the one or more configuration utilities to create or extend one or more event handlers that initiate one or more actions in response to one or more events associated with the software application.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the exposed framework associated with the software application includes a hierarchical metadata structure that contains one or more data elements within the one or more displays, the one or more displays within one or more chapters that describe relationships among the one or more data elements, and the one or more chapters within one or more groups that assign one or more roles to one or more users. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the one or more displays are built and displayed in the populated user interface in response to receiving an authenticated request from one or more of the users. 
     
     
         8 . A system for configuring a software application, wherein the system comprises one or more processors configured to:
 configure a framework associated a software application built on a service oriented architecture in response to one or more inputs to one or more configuration utilities that expose the framework associated with the software application;   build one or more displays associated with the software application, wherein the one or more displays are configured with the one or more inputs to the one or more configuration utilities that expose the framework associated with the software application; and   display a populated user interface associated with the software application, wherein the populated user interface includes the one or more displays configured with the one or more configuration utilities.   
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the one or more inputs to the one or more configuration utilities create or extend one or more metadata records that control the software application and the one or more displays associated with the software application. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the one or more processors are further configured to bind one or more metadata records created or extended with the one or more inputs to the one or more configuration utilities to a hierarchical metadata structure that controls the software application to build the one or more displays. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the one or more metadata records control navigation and interaction associated with the one or more displays. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the one or more processors are further configured to:
 create or extend one or more data handlers in response to the one or more inputs to configure the framework associated with the software application, wherein the one or more data handlers control the software application and convert data elements from the hierarchical metadata structure to a format associated with the exposed framework; and   create or extend one or more event handlers in response to the one or more inputs to configure the framework associated with the software application, wherein the one or more event handlers initiate one or more actions in response to one or more events associated with the software application.   
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the exposed framework associated with the software application includes a hierarchical metadata structure that contains one or more data elements within the one or more displays, the one or more displays within one or more chapters that describe relationships among the one or more data elements, and the one or more chapters within one or more groups that assign one or more roles to one or more users. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the one or more processors build the displays and display the populated user interface in response to receiving an authenticated request from one or more of the users. 
     
     
         15 . A computer-readable storage medium for configuring a software application, wherein the computer-readable storage medium contains computer-executable instructions that cause one or more processors to:
 configure a framework associated a software application built on a service oriented architecture in response to one or more inputs to one or more configuration utilities that expose the framework associated with the software application;   build one or more displays associated with the software application, wherein the one or more displays are configured with the one or more inputs to the one or more configuration utilities that expose the framework associated with the software application; and   display a populated user interface associated with the software application, wherein the populated user interface includes the one or more displays configured with the one or more configuration utilities.   
     
     
         16 . The computer-readable storage medium of  claim 15 , wherein the one or more inputs to the one or more configuration utilities create or extend one or more metadata records that control the software application and the one or more displays associated with the software application. 
     
     
         17 . The computer-readable storage medium of  claim 15 , wherein the computer-executable instructions further cause the one or more processors to bind one or more metadata records created or extended with the one or more inputs to a hierarchical metadata structure that controls the software application to build the one or more displays. 
     
     
         18 . The computer-readable storage medium of  claim 17 , wherein the one or more metadata records control navigation and interaction associated with the one or more displays. 
     
     
         19 . The computer-readable storage medium of  claim 17 , wherein the computer-executable instructions further cause the one or more processors to:
 create or extend one or more data handlers in response to the one or more inputs to configure the framework associated with the software application, wherein the one or more data handlers control the software application and convert data elements from the hierarchical metadata structure to a format associated with the exposed framework; and   create or extend one or more event handlers in response to the one or more inputs to configure the framework associated with the software application, wherein the one or more event handlers initiate one or more actions in response to one or more events associated with the software application.   
     
     
         20 . The computer-readable storage medium of  claim 15 , wherein the exposed framework associated with the software application includes a hierarchical metadata structure that contains one or more data elements within the one or more displays, the one or more displays within one or more chapters that describe relationships among the one or more data elements, and the one or more chapters within one or more groups that assign one or more roles to one or more users. 
     
     
         21 . The computer-readable storage medium of  claim 20 , wherein the one or more processors build the displays and display the populated user interface in response to receiving an authenticated request from one or more of the users.