Automatic search and replacement functionality within a computing application

• US 10,185,739 B2
• Filed: 02/23/2017
• Issued: 01/22/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 06/21/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Inventors: Mathew, Ashvin J., O'Meara, Brendan, Surpatanu, Nicolae, Somashekar, Eshwar, Taneja, Rajat
• Primary Examiner(s): Syed, Farhan M
• Application Number:
  US15/440,286
• Publication Number:
  US 20170293650A1
• Time in Patent Office: 698 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/242 Query formulation
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0635 Processing of requisition or of purchase orders

Abstract

Disclosed herein is an integration of automatic search functionality into a business application. The application is monitored for an instance wherein the user is initiating an activity that involves an expenditure. Upon detection of such an activity, a query is automatically generated based on information related to the expenditure. The query is communicated to a search component, from which corresponding search results are eventually received. Finally, at least some information related to the search results is displayed to the user. In one embodiment, assuming the user'"'"'s express or implicit approval, auto-generation of data and/or modification of business process flow are facilitated based on the search results.

Claims

1. A computing system comprising:

a processor; and

memory storing instructions executable by the processor, wherein the instructions, when executed, configure the computing system to;

generate a representation of a user interface display that represents a form associated with an application, wherein the form includes a plurality of fields, each field being

associated with a transaction parameter associated with the application, and

configured to receive an indication of user input to define the associated transaction parameter;

receive a first value through a first field of the plurality of fields;

obtain a search result based on the first value;

generate a representation of a search result display that includes the search result;

receive a selection input through the search result display that indicates the search result;

based on the indication of the search result,

automatically identify a second value associated with the search result; and

automatically select a second field of the plurality of fields, the second field being separate from the first field; and

automatically modify the representation of the user interface display by replacing the first value in the first field with the second value, and

modifying the second field to include a third value based on the search result.

2. The computing system of claim 1, wherein the first value comprises a non-numerical term.

3. The computing system of claim 1, wherein the second value comprises a non-numerical term.

4. The computing system of claim 1, wherein the second field is identified based on a type of the content of the search result.

5. The computing system of claim 1, wherein the instructions, when executed, configure the computing system to:

prior to replacing the first value with the second value,

generate a representation of an approval user input mechanism; and

receive an indication of user actuation of the approval user input mechanism, wherein the first value is replaced with the second value in response to the indication of user actuation of the approval user input mechanism.

6. The computing system of claim 1, wherein the instructions, when executed, configure the computing system to:

identify a predefined context that is not entered by the user contemporaneously with the user interface display, wherein the search result is based on the predefined context.

7. The computing system of claim 6, wherein the predefined context comprises a user context associated with the user.

8. The computing system of claim 7, wherein the user context comprises a user role associated with the user.

9. The computing system of claim 6, wherein the predefined context comprises an application context indicative of a particular workflow step associated with the application.

10. A computer-implemented method comprising:

generating a representation of a user interface display that represents a form associated with an application, wherein the form includes a plurality of fields, each field being

associated with a transaction parameter associated with the application, and

configured to receive an indication of user input to define the associated transaction parameter;

receiving a first value through a first field of the plurality of fields;

obtaining a search result based on the first value;

generating a representation of a search result display that indicates the search result;

receiving a selection input through the search result display that indicates the search result;

based on the indication of the search result,

automatically identifying a second value associated with the search result; and

automatically select a second field of the plurality of fields, the second field being separate, from the first field;

automatically modifying the representation of the user interface display by

replacing the first value in the first field with the second value, and

modifying the second field to include a third value based on the search result.

11. The computer-implemented method of claim 10, wherein the first value comprises a non-numerical term.

12. The computer-implemented method of claim 10, wherein the second value comprises a non-numerical term.

13. The computer-implemented method of claim 10, and further comprising:

prior to replacing the first value with the second value,

generate a representation of an approval user input mechanism; and

receive an indication of user actuation of the approval user input mechanism, wherein the first value is replaced with the second value in response to the indication of user actuation of the approval user input mechanism.

14. The computer-implemented method of claim 10, and further comprising:

identify a predefined context that is not entered by the user contemporaneously with the user interface display, wherein the search result is based on the predefined context.

15. The computer-implemented method of claim 14, wherein the predefined context comprises an application context indicative of a particular workflow step associated with the application.

16. The computer-implemented method of claim 14, wherein the predefined context comprises a user context associated with the user.

17. The computer-implemented method of claim 16, wherein the user context comprises a user role associated with the user.