Graphical authoring and editing of mark-up language sequences

Abstract

A graphical mark-up language authoring system using drag and drop placement of symbols representing mark-up language elements on a computer screen drawing and connecting the blocks by lines representing data and control flow to create a mark-up language sequence design. The symbols are instances of a mark-up language element that include the properties and attributes of that element. The system also includes a mark-up language view of the elements and their attributes and properties. The system permits effective authoring of mark-up language sequences by users not expert in mark-up language sequence design.

1 . A computer program product for enabling a computer to provide graphical authoring and editing of a mark-up language sequence, wherein the mark-up language sequence comprises at least a portion of an interactive electronic technical manual test program sequence for testing at least a portion of at least one system of a helicopter, comprising:
 software instructions for enabling the computer to perform predetermined operations; and   a computer readable medium bearing the software instructions;   the predetermined operations including the steps of:   displaying a plurality of user-selectable graphical symbols, wherein each graphical symbol is representative of a mark-up language component, wherein each mark-up language component;   configuring the code of the first mark-up language component for use in the mark-up language sequence by initializing the attributes and properties of the first component responsive to the presence of the second component;   configuring the code of the second mark-up language component for use in the mark-up language sequence by initializing the attributes and properties of the second component responsive to the presence of the first component;   selecting a first component in response to user input;   displaying a first graphical representation of the first selected component;   selecting a second component in response to user input;   displaying a second graphical representation of the second selected component;   connecting the first graphical representation to the second graphical representation by one or more lines on a graphical interface in response to user input;   displaying the attributes and properties of the first selected component on a graphic interface in response to user input;   editing the attributes and properties of the first selected component in response to user input;   displaying the attributes and properties of the second selected component on a graphic interface in response to user input;   editing the attributes and properties of the second selected component in response to user input; and   displaying mark-up language code associated with each selected component on a graphic interface in response to user input, wherein the mark-up language code comprises at least a portion of an interactive electronic technical manual test program sequence for testing at least a portion of a system of a helicopter; and   
     wherein the computer provides graphical authoring and editing capability of at least a portion of an interactive electronic technical manual test program sequence for testing at least a portion of at least one system of a helicopter. 
   
   
       2 . A graphical mark-up language authoring system for authoring interactive technical manual test program sequences, comprising:
 a memory containing a graphical mark-up language authoring tool program, a mark-up language component library and a mark-up language sequence, wherein the mark-up language sequence is an interactive electronic technical manual test program sequence; and   a computer connected to the memory, the computer operable to execute the graphical mark-up language authoring tool program, wherein the graphical mark-up language authoring tool program supports the creation of mark-up language for the mark-up language sequence by permitting a user of the computer to author an interactive technical manual test program sequence by selecting a symbol representative of a mark-up language component from a mark-up language component library having a plurality of user-selectable mark-up language components.   
   
   
       3 . The graphical mark-up language authoring system of  claim 2 , wherein each of the plurality of user-selected components within the mark-up language component library has an attribute module and the graphical mark-up language authoring tool is operable to create the mark-up language code responsive to one of the attribute modules. 
   
   
       4 . The graphical mark-up language authoring system of  claim 2 , wherein each graphical mark-up language component comprises mark-up language code and the graphical mark-up language authoring tool program is operable to display the mark-up language code on a graphic display. 
   
   
       5 . The graphical mark-up language authoring system of  claim 2 , further comprising a display for displaying one or more of the mark-up language component library, the mark-up language sequence, mark-up language component attributes and properties and mark-up language code. 
   
   
       6 . The graphical mark-up language authoring system of  claim 2 , wherein the interactive electronic technical manual test program sequence comprises data and logic for diagnosing at least a portion of a system on an aircraft. 
   
   
       7 . The graphical mark-up language authoring system of  claim 6 , wherein the aircraft is a helicopter. 
   
   
       8 . A method for creating a component in a mark-up language component library having a plurality of such components for use in a graphical mark-up language authoring system, comprising:
 accepting a plurality of resources for a unit of primary functionality of a mark-up language component, wherein a first resource of the plurality of resources comprises a mark-up language code, and a second resource of the plurality of resources comprises an attribute module, the attribute module comprising the attributes and properties of the mark-up language element;   designating a graphical symbol representative of the mark-up language component;   grouping the mark-up language code, the attribute module and the graphical symbol in a database to form the mark-up language component; and   inserting the mark-up language component to a mark-up language component library.   
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising the step of providing configuration assistance through the attributes and properties of the attribute module for adapting the mark-up language code for use in a mark-up language sequence when the component is included in the mark-up language sequence. 
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising the steps of
 displaying a plurality of user-selectable graphical symbols, wherein each graphical symbol is representative of a mark-up language component;   connecting a first graphical representation of the first graphical symbol to a second graphical representation of the second graphical symbol;   configuring the code of the first mark-up language component for use in the mark-up language sequence by initializing the attributes and properties of the first component responsive to the presence of the second component; and   configuring the code of the second mark-up language component for use in the mark-up language sequence by initializing the attributes and properties of the second component responsive to the presence of the first component.   
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising the step of positioning the first selected component and the second selected component on a graphic interface in response to user input. 
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the step of positioning comprises:
 selecting a first component;   displaying a first graphical representation of the first selected component;   selecting a second component;   displaying a second graphical representation of the second selected component; and   connecting the first graphical representation to the second graphical representation by one or more lines on the graphic interface.   
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the lines are generated on the graphic display in response to user input. 
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising the step of displaying the attributes and properties of the first selected component on a graphic interface. 
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising the step of editing the attributes and properties of the first selected component. 
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising the step of displaying the attributes and properties of the second selected component on a graphic interface. 
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising the step of editing the attributes and properties of the second selected component. 
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising the step of displaying the mark-up language code associated with each selected component on a graphic interface. 
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the mark-up language sequence comprises at least a portion of an interactive electronic technical manual test program sequence, wherein the interactive electronic technical manual test program sequence comprises data or logic for testing at least a portion of a system of an aircraft. 
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the aircraft is a helicopter. 
   
   
       21 . A graphical interface for authoring interactive electronic technical manual test program sequences comprising a display element, said display element having separate sections for displaying a library of graphical representation of mark-up language components and a graphical representation of a mark-up language sequence, wherein the mark-up language sequence is an integrated electronic technical manual test program sequence. 
   
   
       22 . The graphical interface of  claim 21 , further comprising sections for displaying mark-up language code corresponding to a mark-up language component, wherein the mark-up language component is a unit of functionality for use in an integrated electronic technical manual test program sequence. 
   
   
       23 . The graphical interface of  claim 22 , further comprising sections for displaying attributes and properties corresponding to a mark-up language component, wherein the mark-up language component is a unit of functionality for use in an integrated electronic technical manual test program sequence. 
   
   
       24 . The graphical interface of  claim 23 , wherein said sections are displayed in the form of windows, wherein the windows can be relocated on the display element and resized in response to user input.