Computer implemented modeling and analysis of an application user interface

• US 20050289561A1
• Filed: 06/29/2004
• Published: 12/29/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 06/29/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Torres, Robert J., Steele, Fitzgerald Jr.
• Granted Patent: US 7,350,190 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 719/328
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/451 Execution arrangements for user interfaces

Abstract

A Modeling and Analysis Program (MAP) having a modeler, an estimator, and an evaluator is disclosed. The MAP guides the user through the design process. The modeler takes the user'"'"'s input of a process diagram and creates a model organized by pages. An estimator is applied to the model to calculate the performance along the pages on each path in the model. The performance is compared to criteria. If the performance is not within a range acceptable to the user, then an evaluator is invoked. The evaluator makes recommendations for modifications to the model to improve performance.

Claims

1. A computer implemented process for application interface design comprising:

entering a process diagram;

creating a model from the process diagram;

estimating a performance for a path in the model by a calculating a time to complete a path in a page of the model;

comparing the performance to a criterion; and

evaluating an element of the path by comparing the element to a rule, and, responsive to identifying a conflict between the element and the rule, displaying a recommendation to a developer for modifying the model to remove the conflict.

2. The computer implemented process of claim 1 further comprising:

calculating the time by summing each of a plurality of predictive times corresponding to each of a plurality of operations in the path.

3. The computer implemented process of claim 1 further comprising:

responsive to the developer adopting the recommendation, modifying the model in accordance with the recommendation and estimating a new performance for the path.

4. The computer implemented process of claim 1 further comprising:

creating a physical interface.

5. The computer implemented process of claim 1 further comprising:

integrating a non-task page into the model.

6. The computer implemented process of claim 1 further comprising:

saving the model as a pattern.

7. The computer implemented process of claim 1 further comprising:

entering a style comprising the type of interface used to obtain information from a user and to present information to the user of a computer application.

8. The computer implemented process of claim 1 further comprising:

entering a user environment comprising number of users, customers, machines and databases that singly or in combination may interact in order for the application to perform its purpose.

9. The computer implemented process of claim 1 further comprising:

entering a full time equivalent assumption.

10. The computer implemented process of claim 1 further comprising:

calculating a full time equivalent value for the path.

11. The computer implemented process of claim 1 further comprising:

creating a data base of a plurality of performance data wherein the performance data includes a set of predictive times associated with each of a plurality of discrete mental operations and/or with each of a plurality of discrete physical operations that a user may perform to interact with the application interface.

12. The computer implemented process of claim 11 wherein the database of performance data is classified according to a number of users, customers, machines and databases that singly or in combination may interact in order for an application to perform its purpose.

13. The computer implemented process of claim 11 wherein the database of performance data is based upon a single user envrionment.

14. The computer implemented process of claim 11 wherein the database of performance data is based upon multi-user environment.

15. The computer implemented process of claim 11 wherein the database of performance data is based upon a customer service environment.

16. The computer implemented process of claim 1 further comprising:

creating a database of models that the developer saved so that the model may be retrieved and used as an initial process diagram.

17. The computer implemented process of claim 1 further comprising:

creating a database of physical interfaces that the developer saved so that the physical interface may be retrieved and used as an initial process diagram.

18. The computer implemented process of claim 1 further comprising:

linking pages in the model by creating a defined association between one or more pages.

19. The computer implemented process of claim 1 further comprising:

mapping data fields to the model by establishing correspondences between the area of a page in a model wherein the user enters information and a logical structure of the model.

20. The computer implemented process of claim 1 further comprising:

creating a database of a plurality of evaluation data generated by algorithms of a modeling and analysis program, a modeling and analysis program FTE window, a modeler, an estimator and/or an evaluator.

21. The computer implemented process of claim 1 wherein evaluating is accomplished by invoking an evaluator that compares the operations in each page of the model to a set of rules, identifies a conflict between an operation and a rule, and displays a recommendation for modifying the model in order to remove the conflict.

22. The computer implemented process of claim 1 wherein estimating is accomplished by invoking an estimator that calculates the time by obtaining a predictive time for each operation from a performance database and summing the times for each page and path.

23. The computer implemented process of claim 1 wherein estimating is accomplished by invoking an estimator that computes a full time equivalent value for completion of all pages in a path of the model.

24. The computer implemented process of claim 1 further comprising:

assigning a task to a user in a non-task page.

25. A programmable apparatus to perform usability modeling and analysis of an application interface design by a developer comprising:

a computer;

a computer readable storage medium connected to the computer;

a program stored in the storage medium wherein the program comprises instructions to cause the computer to;

create a model in the program;

calculate a performance for the model;

compare the performance to a criterion;

determine if the performance is acceptable;

evaluate the model to find a conflict between an element of the model and a rule; and

provide a recommendation to the developer on how to remove the conflict.

26. The programmable apparatus of claim 25 further comprising instructions to the computer to repeat the process until the performance value is acceptable to the developer.

27. The programmable apparatus of claim 25 further comprising instructions to the computer to create the model from a process diagram.

28. The programmable apparatus of claim 25 further comprising instructions to the computer to select the process diagram from a pattern.

29. The programmable apparatus of claim 25 further comprising:

means for the developer to enter the process diagram.

30. The programmable apparatus of claim 25 further comprising:

means for editing the process diagram.

31. The programmable apparatus of claim 25 further comprising:

means for determining a predictive time for a an operation in a path of a page.

32. The programmable apparatus of claim 25 wherein determining the predictive time for an operation in a path of a page is accomplished by comparing a task in the page to a corresponding task in a performance data table having a predictive time associated with the corresponding task.

33. The programmable apparatus of claim 25 wherein the conflict is found by comparing an element in a page to a rule.

34. The programmable apparatus of claim 25 wherein, responsive to a user determination that a performance is within a range acceptable to the developer, adding the model to an application to create an interface.

35. The programmable apparatus of claim 25 further comprising:

means for calculating a full time equivalent for the path.

36. A computer software product for user interface usability design comprising:

a modeling and analysis program that creates a model having a plurality of elements;

an estimator that calculates a performance for the model;

an evaluator that compares the plurality of elements to a plurality of rules and responsive to finding a conflict between an element and a rule, displaying a recommendation for modifying the element to remove the conflict.

37. The computer software product of claim 36 wherein the estimator calculates the performance by summing each of a plurality of predictive times corresponding to each of a plurality of operations in the path.

38. The computer software product of claim 36 wherein responsive to a developer adopting the recommendation, the modeling and analysis program modifies the model in accordance with the recommendation and the estimator calculates a new performance for the path.

39. The computer software product of claim 36 wherein the modeling and analysis program creates an interface from the model.

40. The computer software product of claim 36 wherein the modeling and analysis program integrates a non-task page and the model into an application view.

41. The computer software product of claim 36 wherein the modeling and analysis program saves the model as a pattern.

42. The computer software product of claim 36 wherein an evaluation data file for receiving a style, a user environment and a full time equivalent assumption.

43. The computer software product of claim 36 wherein the modeling and analysis program calculates a full time equivalent value for the path.

44. A computer implemented process for application interface design comprising:

entering a process diagram;

entering a style comprising the type of interface used to obtain information from a user and to present information to the user of a computer application;

entering a user environment comprising number of users, customers, machines and databases that singly or in combination may interact in order for the application to perform its purpose;

entering a full time equivalent assumption;

creating a model from the process diagram;

estimating a performance for a path in the model by a calculating a time to complete a path in a page of the model by summing each of a plurality of predictive times corresponding to each of a plurality of operations in the path;

comparing the performance to a criterion;

calculating a full time equivalent value for the path;

evaluating an element of the path by comparing the element to a rule, and, responsive to identifying a conflict between the element and the rule, displaying a recommendation to a developer for modifying the model to remove the conflict;

responsive to the developer adopting the recommendation, modifying the model in accordance with the recommendation and estimating a new performance for the path;

integrating a non-task page into the model; and

creating a physical interface from the model.