Manipulating A Data Source Using A Graphical User Interface

• US 20070300172A1
• Filed: 09/04/2007
• Published: 12/27/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 04/18/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SAP SE
• Original Assignee: SAP AG (SAP SE)
• Inventors: Lee, Robert, Korman, Adam, Runge, Bernhard
• Granted Patent: US 8,151,203 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/764
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 715/968 interface for database querying and retrieval

Abstract

A target audience for a marketing campaign is selected using a graphical user interface. A first graphical representation of a customer data attribute is dragged from a first window and dropped in a second window. A second graphical representation of a customer data attribute is dragged near the graphical representation of an initial profile that is created in the second window in response to the dropping of the first graphical representation. The second graphical representation is dropped in an action area presented when the second graphical representation is dragged near the graphical representation of the initial profile.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for selecting a target audience for a marketing campaign using a graphical user interface, the method comprising:

creating an initial audience profile in a window on a display represented by a graphical representation; and

updating the initial audience profile by receiving user input representing dragging a data attribute near the graphical representation of the initial audience profile, picking an action area from one or more action areas that are presented when the data attribute is dragged near the graphical representation, and dropping the data attribute in the picked action area.

2. The method as in claim 1 wherein creating the initial audience profile includes creating the initial audience profile by a user action.

3. The method as in claim 1 wherein creating the initial audience profile includes creating the initial audience profile by a default action.

4. The method as in claim 1 wherein updating the initial audience profile includes narrowing the initial audience profile by dragging, picking, and dropping the data attribute into one of the action areas presented near the graphical representation.

5. The method as in claim 1 wherein the one or more action areas include a menu window centered on the graphical representation which opens up when the data attribute is dragged near the graphical representation, and where the menu window is divided into one or more portions with each portion serving as an action area.

6. The method as in claim 5 wherein the menu window is circular.

7. The method as in claim 1 further comprising generating a list of names with corresponding contact information from the updated audience profile.

8. A computer-implemented method for selecting a target audience for a marketing campaign using graphical representations in a graphical user interface, the method comprising:

graphically representing at least one of a first data attribute and a second data attribute on a display, with each of the data attributes representing valid entries for one or more fields from a data source having one or more records;

receiving a first user input that causes the first data attribute to be dragged and dropped in a window on the display;

in response to the first user input that causes the first data attribute to be dropped, creating a graphical representation of records from the data source that include the first data attribute;

receiving a second user input that causes the second data attribute to be dragged in the window on the display;

presenting one or more action areas associated with the graphical representation in the window as the second data attribute is dragged near the graphical representation;

receiving a third user input that causes the second data attribute to be dropped in one of the action areas; and

in response to the third user input that causes the second data attribute to be dropped, updating the graphical representation of the records from the data source based on the action area in which the second data attribute was dropped.

9. The method as in claim 8 wherein creating the graphical representation includes creating the graphical representation that illustrates a number of the records from the data source that include the first data attribute.

10. The method as in claim 8 wherein presenting one or more action areas includes presenting an action area that graphically represents a Boolean operation to be performed on the records from the data source that include the first data attribute relative to records from the data source that include the second data attribute.

11. The method as in claim 10 wherein the Boolean operation associated with the action area includes at least one of a refine operation, a split operation, and a complement operation.

12. The method as in claim 8 wherein updating the graphical representation includes providing real-time feedback as to a number of the records from the data source represented by the updated graphical representation.

13. The method as in claim 8 wherein presenting one or more action areas includes presenting a menu window centered on the graphical representation of records which opens up when a data attribute is dragged near the graphical representation, and where the menu window is divided into one or more portions with each portion serving as an action area.

14. The method as in claim 13 wherein the menu window is circular.

15. The method as in claim 14 wherein the circular menu window is centered on the graphical representation and is divided up into one or more portions with each portion serving as an action area.

16. The method as in claim 8 wherein presenting one or more action areas includes presenting one or more action areas based on a most probable actions needed.

17. The method as in claim 8 wherein presenting one or more action areas includes presenting action area that depend on a type of the graphical representation created and the data attribute being dragged near the graphical representation.

18. The method as in claim 8 further comprising displaying a graphic of a data attribute category having one or more data attributes in a window on the display wherein the graphic indicates a relative sizing of a number of records from the data source for each data attribute contained in the data attribute category.

19. The method as in claim 8 further comprising receiving additional user inputs that cause additional data attributes to be dragged near the graphical representation and dropped in an action area presented near the graphical representation which updates the graphical representation.

20. The method as in claim 8 wherein the graphical representation of the records from the data source includes a profile of customers for a marketing campaign.

21. The method as in claim 20 wherein updating the graphical representation includes creating a target group of customers for the marketing campaign.