How Dynamic Web Applications Use Templates to Fetch Data
A method for web applications to use abstract templates that automatically connect to back-end databases based on the user's device or platform.
Original patent title: “System and methodology for dynamic application environment employing runtime execution templates”
A method for web applications to use abstract templates that automatically connect to back-end databases based on the user's device or platform. Granted to Intellisync LLC in 2006 with 45 claims and 78 forward citations.
Key facts
Coverage
What does this patent actually cover?
This patent describes a system where web pages are built using 'templates' rather than hard-coded logic. These templates contain abstractabstractA short summary at the front of the patent describing the invention. Not legally binding.Read more → references—placeholders that don't say exactly what to do, but instead point to a dictionary. When a user requests a page, a 'Template Services Module' looks up these placeholders in the dictionary to find the correct code (a run-time handler) to execute. This allows the same template to pull different data or display differently depending on whether the user is on a desktop PC, a mobile browser, or another platform, without rewriting the core application code.
The gap
What does this patent NOT cover?
- Does not cover static web pages that do not use abstractabstractA short summary at the front of the patent describing the invention. Not legally binding.Read more → references or template-based dynamic generation.
- Does not cover client-side only applications that lack a back-end database or server-side run-time handler.
- Does not cover hard-coded application logic where the interface and database queries are permanently linked together.
These exclusions are unique to PatentBrief — derived from the actual claim language, not patent-office boilerplate.
What made this novel
The innovation is the use of a dictionary to map abstractabstractA short summary at the front of the patent describing the invention. Not legally binding.Read more → template references to specific run-time handlers at the moment of request, effectively creating a 'late-binding' system for web content.
Schematic visualization of the patent's claim structure. Hand-drawn diagrams in progress for each landmark patent.
Where you've seen this
Real-world examples
Modern server-side rendering frameworks like Django or Ruby on Rails
CMS platforms that swap themes while keeping database content consistent
Enterprise web portals that adjust UI layouts based on user device detection
Why it matters
The bigger picture
This patent addresses the 'write once, run anywhere' challenge of the late 90s web. By decoupling the user interface (the template) from the data-fetching logic (the handler), it allowed developers to maintain a single codebase while supporting multiple device types and user sessions, a foundational concept for modern web frameworks.
Filed
February 24, 1999
Granted
September 19, 2006
Market context
Who's building on this
Companies in this space
Major web framework developers and enterprise software companies utilize these principles. Companies like Salesforce and various CMS providers rely on similar template-driven architectures to serve dynamic content across diverse client devices.
Market impact
This technology helped standardize the transition from static HTML sites to dynamic, data-driven web applications. It enabled the rapid scaling of enterprise software by allowing developers to update back-end services without needing to redesign the front-end templates for every individual client device.
Claim 1 — Plain English
What this patent covers
This patent describes a system where web pages are built using 'templates' rather than hard-coded logic. These templates contain abstract references—placeholders that don't say exactly what to do, but instead point to a dictionary. When a user requests a page, a 'Template Services Module' looks up these placeholders in the dictionary to find the correct code (a run-time handler) to execute. This allows the same template to pull different data or display differently depending on whether the user is on a desktop PC, a mobile browser, or another platform, without rewriting the core application code.
The clever bit
The innovation is the use of a dictionary to map abstract template references to specific run-time handlers at the moment of request, effectively creating a 'late-binding' system for web content.
What it does not cover
- Does not cover static web pages that do not use abstract references or template-based dynamic generation.
- Does not cover client-side only applications that lack a back-end database or server-side run-time handler.
- Does not cover hard-coded application logic where the interface and database queries are permanently linked together.
Patent timeline
Application submitted to the patent office
Application published, typically 18 months after filing
Patent officially issued
PatentBrief Score
Impact Score
High impact
Citation count
38/40
Highly cited
Claim breadth
20/20
Very broad protection
Recency
5/20
Granted 10–20 years ago
Assignee scale
20/20
Major company or institution
PatentBrief Impact Score — based on citation count, claim breadth, recency, and assignee scale. Not a legal assessment.
Heuristic Value Estimate
What this patent might be worth
$86K – $276K
Midpoint $173K · expired or expiring · industry ×1.6
Heuristic only — blends forward/backward citation counts, claim scope, time remaining, litigation history, and CPC-derived industry baseline. Real valuations need a professional appraisal.
The original legal language
Original claims
45 claims as filed with the patent office.
Concepts involved
Citations
Patent lineage
Cite this patent
Huck, T. A., & LaRue, C. (2006). How Dynamic Web Applications Use Templates to Fetch Data (U.S. Patent No. 7,111,231). U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/7111231/microsoft-word-docx-format
Auto-generated from the patent record. Double-check author order and the issue date against the official USPTO document before submitting.
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Common Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
What does How Dynamic Web Applications Use Templates to Fetch Data cover?
A method for web applications to use abstract templates that automatically connect to back-end databases based on the user's device or platform.
Who owns patent US 7111231?
Intellisync LLC owns this patent, granted in 2006.
When does this patent expire?
This patent is expected to expire on September 19, 2026, when the invention enters the public domain.
What is patent US 7111231 cited by?
This patent has been cited by 78 later patents that build on its ideas.
What problem does this patent solve?
This patent addresses the 'write once, run anywhere' challenge of the late 90s web. By decoupling the user interface (the template) from the data-fetching logic (the handler), it allowed developers to maintain a single codebase while supporting multiple device types and user sessions, a foundational concept for modern web frameworks.
What does this patent NOT cover?
Does not cover static web pages that do not use abstract references or template-based dynamic generation.
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