System and method for combining multiple software panes

• US 20070174778A1
• Filed: 12/30/2005
• Published: 07/26/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 12/30/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SAP SE
• Original Assignee: SAP SE
• Inventors: Spielmann, Nicola, Johnson, Clare
• Granted Patent: US 9,298,476 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/764
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/453 Help systems

Abstract

A user interface messaging system and method that determines whether the substance of a message relates to information contained in more than one pane, provides the user with an option to merge the panes containing the information related to the substance of the message, and merges the panes into one pane. The merged pane may be displayed on a display device, and it may comprise stages of a guided activity.

Claims

1. A method of providing a user a message in a user interface comprising:

determining whether the substance of the message relates to information contained in more than one pane;

providing the user with an option to merge the panes containing the information related to the substance of the message; and

merging the more than one pane into one pane.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising receiving a selection from the user to merge the panes containing the information related to the substance of the message.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising displaying the merged pane on a display device.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein the information originally contained in more than one pane is displayed on the display device simultaneously.

5. The method of claim 3 wherein the message is displayed using a visual effect to catch the user'"'"'s attention.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the substance of the message relates to an error.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the information comprises stages of a guided activity.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the information resides in a database.

9. A computer-readable medium comprising instructions, the execution of which cause a computer to perform the method comprising:

determining whether the substance of the message relates to information contained in more than one pane;

providing the user with an option to merge the panes containing the information related to the substance of the message; and

merging the more than one pane into one pane.

10. The computer-readable medium of claim 9 further comprising receiving a selection from the user to merge the panes containing the information related to the substance of the message.

11. The computer-readable medium of claim 9 further comprising displaying the merged pane on a display device.

12. The computer-readable medium of claim 11 wherein the information originally contained in more than one pane is displayed on the display device simultaneously.

13. The computer-readable medium of claim 11 wherein the message is displayed using a visual effect to catch the user'"'"'s attention.

14. The computer-readable medium of claim 9 wherein the substance of the message relates to an error.

15. The computer-readable medium of claim 9 wherein the information comprises stages of a guided activity.

16. The computer-readable medium of claim 9 wherein the information resides in a database.