Lean context driven user interface

• US 20070192710A1
• Filed: 02/15/2006
• Published: 08/16/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 02/15/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: SAP AG (SAP SE)
• Original Assignee: SAP AG (SAP SE)
• Inventors: Semmier, Martin, Platz, Frank
• Application Number:
  US11/355,825
• Publication Number:
  US 20070192710A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/764
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/451 Execution arrangements for user interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/453 Help systems

Abstract

A method for soliciting user interaction in a computer application includes presenting, on a first user interface screen, a most frequently accessed user interface portion for soliciting input from the user for a set of fields that are most frequently accessed. A semi-regularly access user interface portion is presented, on the first user interface screen, for allowing the user to provide input for a set of fields that are accessed semi-regularly. The user is allowed to switch to an expert user interface, on a second user interface screen, for allowing the user to provide input for any field.

Claims

1. A method for soliciting user interaction in a computer application, comprising:

presenting, on a first user interface screen, a most frequently accessed user interface portion for soliciting input from the user for a set of fields that are most frequently accessed;

presenting, on the first user interface screen, a semi-regularly access user interface portion for allowing the user to provide input for a set of fields that are accessed semi-regularly; and

allowing the user to switch to an expert user interface, on a second user interface screen, for allowing the user to provide input for any field.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the most frequently accessed user interface portion for soliciting input from the user for a set of fields that are most frequently accessed is, in a first phase, limited to soliciting input from the user for a set of fields that are most frequently accessed in the first phase and, in one or more subsequent phases, limited to soliciting input from the user for a set of fields that are most frequently accessed in the respective subsequent phase.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the first phase is a first phase of a multi-phased business process and the one or more subsequent phases are one or more subsequent phases of the multi-phased business process.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the computer application is a web portal in communication with a web server.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the first user interface screen is split into two sections to display, in the first of the two sections, the most frequently accessed user interface portion, and in the second of the two sections, the semi-regularly access user interface portion.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein all fields of the most frequently accessed user interface portion are concurrently displayed.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein one or more the fields of the semi-regularly access user interface portion are accessible by navigation.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the first user interface screen contains a link to the expert user interface on the second user interface screen.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the set of fields that are most frequently accessed are mandatory fields.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the set of fields that are most frequently accessed are the fields that are utilized 80% of the time.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the set of fields that are accessed semi-regularly are the fields that are utilized 15% of the time.

12. A user interface for soliciting user interaction in a computer application, comprising:

a most frequently accessed user interface portion, on a first user interface screen, for soliciting input from the user for a set of fields that are most frequently accessed;

a semi-regularly access user interface portion, on the first user interface screen, for allowing the user to provide input for a set of fields that are accessed semi-regularly; and

a link, on the first user interface screen for displaying an expert user interface, on a second user interface screen, for allowing the user to provide input for any field.

13. The user interface of claim 12, wherein the most frequently accessed user interface portion for soliciting input from the user for a set of fields that are most frequently accessed is, in a first phase, limited to soliciting input from the user for a set of fields that are most frequently accessed in the first phase and, in one or more subsequent phases, limited to soliciting input from the user for a set of fields that are most frequently accessed in the respective subsequent phase.

14. The user interface of claim 13, wherein the first phase is a first phase of a multi-phased business process and the one or more subsequent phases are one or more subsequent phases of the multi-phased business process.

15. The user interface of claim 12, wherein the computer application is a web portal in communication with a web server.

16. The user interface of claim 12, wherein the first user interface screen is split into two sections to display, in the first of the two sections, the most frequently accessed user interface portion, and in the second of the two sections, the semi-regularly access user interface portion.

17. The user interface of claim 12, wherein all fields of the most frequently accessed user interface portion are concurrently displayed.

18. The user interface of claim 12, wherein one or more the fields of the semi-regularly access user interface portion are accessible by navigation.

19. The user interface of claim 12, wherein the first user interface screen contains a link to the expert user interface on the second user interface screen.

20. The user interface of claim 12, wherein the set of fields that are most frequently accessed are mandatory fields.

21. The user interface of claim 12, wherein the set of fields that are most frequently accessed are the fields that are utilized 80% of the time.

22. The user interface of claim 12, wherein the set of fields that are accessed semi-regularly are the fields that are utilized 15% of the time.

23. A computer system comprising:

a processor; and

a program storage device readable by the computer system, embodying a program of instructions executable by the processor to perform method steps for soliciting user interaction in a computer application, the method comprising;

presenting, on a first user interface screen, a most frequently accessed user interface portion for soliciting input from the user for a set of fields that are most frequently accessed;

presenting, on the first user interface screen, a semi-regularly access user interface portion for allowing the user to provide input for a set of fields that are accessed semi-regularly; and

allowing the user to switch to an expert user interface, on a second user interface screen, for allowing the user to provide input for any field.

24. The computer system of claim 23, wherein the most frequently accessed user interface portion for soliciting input from the user for a set of fields that are most frequently accessed is, in a first phase, limited to soliciting input from the user for a set of fields that are most frequently accessed in the first phase and, in one or more subsequent phases, limited to soliciting input from the user for a set of fields that are most frequently accessed in the respective subsequent phase.

25. The computer system of claim 24, wherein the first phase is a first phase of a multi-phased business process and the one or more subsequent phases are one or more subsequent phases of the multi-phased business process.

26. The computer system of claim 23, wherein the computer application is a web portal in communication with a web server.

27. The computer system of claim 23, wherein the first user interface screen is split into two sections to display, in the first of the two sections, the most frequently accessed user interface portion, and in the second of the two sections, the semi-regularly access user interface portion.

28. The computer system of claim 23, wherein all fields of the most frequently accessed user interface portion are concurrently displayed.

29. The computer system of claim 23, wherein one or more the fields of the semi-regularly access user interface portion are accessible by navigation.

30. The computer system of claim 23, wherein the first user interface screen contains a link to the expert user interface on the second user interface screen.

31. The computer system of claim 23, wherein the set of fields that are most frequently accessed are mandatory fields.

32. The computer system of claim 23, wherein the set of fields that are most frequently accessed are the fields that are utilized 80% of the time.

33. The computer system of claim 23, wherein the set of fields that are accessed semi-regularly are the fields that are utilized 15% of the time.