Flexible and extensible combination user interfaces

• US 20070113191A1
• Filed: 12/17/2004
• Published: 05/17/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 12/17/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Oracle America, Inc. (Oracle Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Siebel Systems Inc. (Oracle Corporation)
• Inventors: Keller, Carl, Flexer, Michael, Malden, Matthew, Adelberg, Bradley
• Granted Patent: US 7,747,959 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/752
• 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: G06F 9/451 Execution arrangements for user interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/02 Banking, e.g. interest calculation or account maintenance credit or loans G06Q40/03

Abstract

Flexible and extensible combination user interfaces are described. Combination user interfaces combine task-based and deductive user interfaces in such a manner that complex user interactions can be facilitated using a more meaningful and intuitive user interface than would have been possible using task-based or deductive user interfaces exclusively. The described combination user interfaces are flexible and extensible. They are flexible in that users can work on multiple tasks or switch between tasks without first needing to complete another task. They are extensible in that they can be extended to add, modify, or remove tasks or portions of tasks. User interfaces can be extended by manipulating metadata associated with the user interfaces. The combination user interface can be combined with an Inbox concept to facilitate saving and assigning tasks. The Inbox represents a work queue for a user.

Claims

1. A system for providing a flexible and extensible metadata-driven user interface that combines deductive and task-based interfaces, the user interface having an inbox, the system comprising:

a first data storage for storing a state of tasks of a user;

a second data storage for storing metadata, the metadata identifying user interface elements and indicating properties relating to the user interface elements, the metadata enabling flexibility and extensibility of the user interface through additions and modifications of the metadata; and

an inbox applet component that, when requested, provides a user interface having the inbox that enables the user to manipulate a task, the user interface generated from the second data storage, the inbox comprising items of the first data storage.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the inbox provides an indication of tasks for the user.

3. The system of claim 2 wherein the user can transfer a task in the inbox to another user.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein the user interface provides an enterprise software application.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein information of the inbox is stored in a relational database.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein information of the inbox is stored in an extensible markup language.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein an application for displaying information of the inbox is defined in the metadata.

8. The system of claim 1 wherein the inbox provides an indication of unassigned tasks.

9. The system of claim 1 wherein the inbox receives an action from the user relating to a task.

10. The system of claim 1 wherein the action is to mark the task as done.

11. The system of claim 1 wherein an available action for a task is based on information contained in the task.

12. A method performed by a computing system for providing a flexible and extensible metadata-driven user interface that combines deductive and task-based interfaces, the user interface having an inbox, the method comprising:

retrieving metadata, the metadata identifying user interface elements and indicating properties relating to the user interface elements, the database enabling flexibility and extensibility through additions and modifications of the metadata; and

providing a user interface that enables a user to manipulate a task, the user interface generated from the retrieved metadata based on an indicated task, the user interface including the inbox.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein the retrieving includes retrieving from a relational database.

14. The method of claim 12 wherein the retrieving includes retrieving from an extensible markup language.

15. A system for providing a flexible and extensible metadata-driven user interface that combines deductive and task-based interfaces, the user interface having an inbox, comprising:

an inbox applet component that retrieves a definition for the user interface from metadata, the metadata defining the user interface;

an inbox commands component that receives commands from a user in relation to the inbox and provides the received commands to the inbox applet component; and

a component that receives a request from the inbox applet component, the request relating to information contained in a database comprising information displayed in the inbox.

16. The system of claim 15 wherein the component that receives a request from the inbox applet component abstracts a data provider.

17. The system of claim 16 wherein the data provider retrieves data in a private data context, the private data context identifying data that is not shared with other users.

18. The system of claim 16 wherein the data provider retrieves data in a public data context, the public data context identifying data that is shared with other users.

19. The system of claim 15 wherein the metadata is stored in a relational database.

20. The system of claim 15 wherein the metadata is stored using an extensible markup language.

21. One or more propagated data signals collectively conveying data that causes a computing system to perform a method for providing a flexible and extensible metadata-driven user interface that combines deductive and task-based interfaces, the user interface having an inbox, the method comprising:

retrieving a definition for the user interface from metadata; and

providing a user interface based on the retrieved definition, the user interface having an inbox, the inbox comprising tasks for a user.