Shortcut enabled, context aware information management

• US 20030135498A1
• Filed: 01/15/2002
• Published: 07/17/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 01/15/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Thorson, Derral Charles, Bodin, William Kress
• Granted Patent: US 7,310,636 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 707/4
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/2423 Interactive query statement specification based on a database schema
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/2428 Query predicate definition using graphical user interfaces, including menus and forms G06F16/2423 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/24575 using context
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0481 based on specific properties of the displayed interaction object or a metaphor-based environment, e.g. interaction with desktop elements like windows or icons, or assisted by a cursor's changing behaviour or appearance
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99932 Access augmentation or optimizing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99933 Query processing, i.e. searching
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99934 Query formulation, input preparation, or translation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99942 Manipulating data structure, e.g. compression, compaction, compilation

Abstract

A context aware, shortcut enabled system of presenting information through a user interface, implementing memory prostheses and context-oriented changes in meanings of shortcuts. Embodiments include selecting a context, receiving a shortcut entered through the user interface, the shortcut having a associated with it a shortcut field name set comprising one or more shortcut field names, and associating at least one context value to the context. Embodiments also include inferring, in dependence upon the context, a context table name and a context field name for a query, creating the query, selecting records from an information database by use of the query, whereby selected records are selected, and downloading the selected records to the client device for display.

Claims

1. A context aware, shortcut enabled method of presenting information through a user interface on a client device, the method comprising the steps of:

selecting a context;

receiving a shortcut entered through the user interface, the shortcut having a associated with it a shortcut field name set comprising one or more shortcut field names;

inferring from a context definition table, in dependence upon the context, a context table name and a context field name;

selecting information records from an information database in dependence upon the context, the context table name, the shortcut fields names, and the context field name; and

displaying selected records through the user interface on the client device.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein selecting records further comprises creating a query, wherein the query includes:

the context table name as a table for the query;

the shortcut fields names as field names for the query; and

the context and the context field name in a condition for the query.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein selecting a context further comprises selecting a default context.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein selecting a context further comprises receiving a context from the client device, the context entered by a user through the user interface.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the context has an initial context value, and the method comprises the further steps of:

assigning, in response to user input through the user interface, a new context value to the context; and

repeating, in response to user input from the user interface, the steps of assigning a new context value to the context, inferring a context table name and a context field name, selecting records, and downloading selected records.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising selecting a display form in dependence upon the shortcut value, wherein displaying selected records through the user interface on the client device further comprises downloading the selected records to the client device for display in the display form.

7. A context aware, shortcut enabled system of presenting information through a user interface on a client device, the system comprising:

means for selecting a context;

means for receiving a shortcut entered through the user interface, the shortcut having a associated with it a shortcut field name set comprising one or more shortcut field names;

means for inferring from a context definition table, in dependence upon the context, a context table name and a context field name;

means for selecting information records from an information database in dependence upon the context, the context table name, the shortcut fields names, and the context field name; and

means for displaying selected records through the user interface on the client device.

8. The system of claim 7 wherein means for selecting records further comprises means for creating a query, wherein the query includes:

the context table name as a table for the query;

the shortcut fields names as field names for the query; and

the context and the context field name in a condition for the query.

9. The system of claim 7 wherein means for selecting a context further comprises means for selecting a default context.

10. The system of claim 7 wherein means for selecting a context further comprises means for receiving a context from the client device, the context entered by a user through the user interface.

11. The system of claim 7 wherein the context has an initial context value, and the system comprises:

means for assigning, in response to user input through the user interface, a new context value to the context; and

means for repeating, in response to user input from the user interface, the steps of assigning a new context value to the context, inferring a context table name and a context field name, selecting records, and downloading selected records.

12. The system of claim 7 further comprising means for selecting a display form in dependence upon the shortcut value, wherein means for displaying selected records through the user interface on the client device further comprises means for downloading the selected records to the client device for display in the display form.

13. A context aware, shortcut enabled computer program product of presenting information through a user interface on a client device, the computer program product comprising:

a recording medium;

means, recorded on the recording medium, for selecting a context;

means, recorded on the recording medium, for receiving a shortcut entered through the user interface, the shortcut having a associated with it a shortcut field name set comprising one or more shortcut field names;

means, recorded on the recording medium, for inferring from a context definition table, in dependence upon the context, a context table name and a context field name;

means, recorded on the recording medium, for selecting information records from an information database in dependence upon the context, the context table name, the shortcut fields names, and the context field name; and

means, recorded on the recording medium, for displaying selected records through the user interface on the client device.

14. The computer program product of claim 13 wherein means, recorded on the recording medium, for selecting records further comprises means, recorded on the recording medium, for creating a query, wherein the query includes:

the context table name as a table for the query;

the shortcut fields names as field names for the query, and

the context and the context field name in a condition for the query.

15. The computer program product of claim 13 wherein means, recorded on the recording medium, for selecting a context further comprises means, recorded on the recording medium, for selecting a default context.

16. The computer program product of claim 13 wherein means, recorded on the recording medium, for selecting a context further comprises means, recorded on the recording medium, for receiving a context from the client device, the context entered by a user through the user interface.

17. The computer program product of claim 13 wherein the context has an initial context value, and the computer program product comprises:

means, recorded on the recording medium, for assigning, in response to user input through the user interface, a new context value to the context; and

means, recorded on the recording medium, for repeating, in response to user input from the user interface, the steps of assigning a new context value to the context, inferring a context table name and a context field name, selecting records, and downloading selected records.

18. The computer program product of claim 13 further comprising means, recorded on the recording medium, for selecting a display form in dependence upon the shortcut value, wherein means, recorded on the recording medium, for displaying selected records through the user interface on the client device further comprises means, recorded on the recording medium, for downloading the selected records to the client device for display in the display form.