SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR GENERATING A CUSTOMIZED WORKFLOW USER INTERFACE

• US 20080040676A1
• Filed: 08/10/2006
• Published: 02/14/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 08/10/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba (Toshiba Corporation), Toshiba Tec Corporation (Toshiba Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba (Toshiba Corporation), Toshiba Tec Corporation (Toshiba Corporation)
• Inventors: GARG, Man Mohan, Mathur, Alok, Savov, Andrey
• Granted Patent: US 7,757,178 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/762
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/451 Execution arrangements for user interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management

Abstract

The subject application is directed to a system and method for generating a customized workflow user interface. Predetermined graphical user interface elements are first stored in an associated data storage. The graphical user interface elements are then generated on an associated display. Each graphical user interface element is then associated with an abstraction interface. Selection data is then received corresponding to selected graphical user interface elements. User interface data is thereafter generated in accordance with the selection data and the associated abstraction interface. Workflow data is subsequently output representing document processing operations corresponding to the selected graphical user interface elements. Thereafter, the workflow data is communicated to an associated document processing device.

Claims

1. A customized workflow user interface system comprising:

means adapted for storing data representative of a plurality of predetermined graphical user interface elements;

means adapted for generating data representative of the plurality of graphical user interface elements on an associated display, each of the plurality of predetermined graphical user interface elements being associated with an abstraction interface;

means adapted for receiving selection data representative of a plurality of selected graphical user interface elements from the plurality of predetermined graphical user interface elements;

interface generator means adapted for generating user interface data in accordance with the selection data and associated abstraction interface;

output means adapted for outputting workflow data representative of a plurality of document processing operations corresponding to the selected graphical user interface elements; and

means adapted for communicating the workflow data to an associated document processing device.

2. The customized workflow user interface system of claim 1 further comprising means adapted for receiving at least one secondary graphical user interface element wherein:

the interface generator means includes means adapted for generating the user interface data in accordance with the at least one secondary graphical user interface element; and

the output means includes means adapted for outputting workflow data corresponding to the at least one secondary graphical user interface element.

3. The customized workflow user interface system of claim 1 wherein the abstraction interface is comprised of application user interface wrappers corresponding to the graphical user interface elements.

4. The customized workflow user interface system of claim 3 wherein the graphical user interface elements include at least one of windows, edit boxes, and push button graphical elements.

5. The customized workflow user interface system of claim 1 wherein the workflow data includes data representative of at least one document processing operation.

6. The customized workflow user interface system of claim 5 wherein the at least one document processing operation is facsimile transmission, printing, scanning, copying, file transfer, file storage, or electronic mail transmission.

7. A method for generating a customized workflow user interface comprising the steps of:

storing data representative of a plurality of predetermined graphical user interface elements;

generating data representative of the plurality of graphical user interface elements on an associated display, each of the plurality of predetermined graphical user interface elements being associated with an abstraction interface;

receiving selection data representative of a plurality of selected graphical user interface elements from the plurality of predetermined graphical user interface elements;

generating user interface data in accordance with the selection data and associated abstraction interface;

outputting workflow data representative of a plurality of document processing operations corresponding to the selected graphical user interface elements; and

communicating the workflow data to an associated document processing device.

8. The method for generating a customized workflow user interface of claim 7 further comprising the step of receiving at least one secondary graphical user interface element wherein:

the step of generating user interface data includes generating the user interface data in accordance with the at least one secondary graphical user interface element; and

the step of outputting workflow data includes outputting workflow data corresponding to the at least one secondary graphical user interface element.

9. The method for generating a customized workflow user interface of claim 7 wherein the abstraction interface is comprised of application user interface wrappers corresponding to the graphical user interface elements.

10. The method for generating a customized workflow user interface of claim 9 wherein the graphical user interface elements include at least one of windows, edit boxes, and push button graphical elements.

11. The method for generating a customized workflow user interface of claim 7 wherein the workflow data includes data representative of at least one document processing operation.

12. The method for generating a customized workflow user interface of claim 11 wherein the at least one document processing operation is facsimile transmission, printing, scanning, copying, file transfer, file storage, or electronic mail transmission.

13. A computer-implemented method for generating a customized workflow user interface comprising the steps of:

storing data representative of a plurality of predetermined graphical user interface elements;

generating data representative of the plurality of graphical user interface elements on an associated display, each of the plurality of predetermined graphical user interface elements being associated with an abstraction interface;

receiving selection data representative of a plurality of selected graphical user interface elements from the plurality of predetermined graphical user interface elements;

generating user interface data in accordance with the selection data and associated abstraction interface;

outputting workflow data representative of a plurality of document processing operations corresponding to the selected graphical user interface elements; and

communicating the workflow data to an associated document processing device.

14. The computer-implemented method for generating a customized workflow user interface of claim 13 further comprising the step of receiving at least one secondary graphical user interface element wherein:

the step of generating user interface data includes generating the user interface data in accordance with the at least one secondary graphical user interface element; and

the step of outputting workflow data includes outputting workflow data corresponding to the at least one secondary graphical user interface element.

15. The computer-implemented method for generating a customized workflow user interface of claim 13 wherein the abstraction interface is comprised of application user interface wrappers corresponding to the graphical user interface elements.

16. The computer-implemented method for generating a customized workflow user interface of claim 15 wherein the graphical user interface elements include at least one of windows, edit boxes, and push button graphical elements.

17. The computer-implemented method for generating a customized workflow user interface of claim 13 wherein the workflow data includes data representative of at least one document processing operation.

18. The computer-implemented method for generating a customized workflow user interface of claim 17 wherein the at least one document processing operation is facsimile transmission, printing, scanning, copying, file transfer, file storage, or electronic mail transmission.