MULTI-STEP PROGRESS INDICATOR AND METHOD FOR INDICATING PROGRESS IN A MULTI-STEP COMPUTER APPLICATION

• US 20090235194A1
• Filed: 03/11/2008
• Published: 09/17/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 03/11/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Xerox Corporation (Xerox Holdings Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Xerox Corporation (Xerox Holdings Corp.)
• Inventors: Hawes, Michael Kerrigan, Arndt, Mary Ellen, Forte, Anna
• Granted Patent: US 8,166,413 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/772
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/34 Graphical or visual programming
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/451 Execution arrangements for user interfaces

Abstract

A system and method for displaying and providing access to information on a display unit are provided for combining a plurality of logical progression steps into a plurality of predetermined groups. Each of the plurality of predetermined groups includes a subset of data. The system and method includes displaying the plurality of predetermined groups in a collapsed format; prompting a user to expand a first group of the plurality of predetermined groups; allowing the user to access and input data into the first group; and allowing the user to access a second group of the plurality of predetermined groups once all logical progression steps in the first group have been completed by the user.

Claims

1. A method for displaying and providing access to information on a display unit, the method comprising:

combining a plurality of logical progression steps into a plurality of predetermined groups, each of the plurality of predetermined groups includes a subset of data;

displaying the plurality of predetermined groups in a collapsed format;

prompting a user to expand a first group of the plurality of predetermined groups;

allowing the user to access and input data into the first group; and

allowing the user to access a second group of the plurality of predetermined groups once all logical progression steps in the first group have been completed by the user.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein each group of the plurality of predetermined groups contains a same number of logical progression steps.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein each group of the plurality of predetermined groups contains a different number of logical progression steps.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein each group of the plurality of predetermined groups continuously indicates to the user what step of the multi-step logical progression the user has reached.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein one or more indicators indicate to the user which groups of the plurality of predetermined groups has been completed.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein one group of the plurality of predetermined groups is in expanded format, whereas all the other groups of the plurality of predetermined groups are in collapsed format.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of predetermined groups are incorporated within a web-based wizard-like software program.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of predetermined groups are completed in a sequential order.

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of predetermined groups are completed in a non-sequential order.

10. The method according to claim 1, wherein an active group of the plurality of predetermined groups is displayed in a different format then all the non-active groups of the plurality of predetermined groups.

11. A system for displaying and providing access to information, the system comprising:

a software application for combining a plurality of logical progression steps into a plurality of predetermined groups, each of the plurality of predetermined groups includes a subset of data;

a display unit for displaying the plurality of predetermined groups in a collapsed format;

an inputting/outputting device for;

prompting a user to expand a first group of the plurality of predetermined groups;

allowing the user to access and input data into the first group; and

allowing the user to access a second group of the plurality of predetermined groups once all logical progression steps in the first group have been completed by the user.

12. The system according to claim 11, wherein each group of the plurality of predetermined groups contains a same number of logical progression steps.

13. The system according to claim 11, wherein each group of the plurality of predetermined groups contains a different number of logical progression steps.

14. The system according to claim 11, wherein each group of the plurality of predetermined groups continuously indicates to the user what step of the multi-step logical progression the user has reached.

15. The system according to claim 11, wherein one or more indicators indicate to the user which groups of the plurality of predetermined groups has been completed.

16. The system according to claim 11, wherein one group of the plurality of predetermined groups is in expanded format, whereas all the other groups of the plurality of predetermined groups are in collapsed format.

17. The system according to claim 11, wherein the plurality of predetermined groups are incorporated within a web-based wizard-like software program.

18. The system according to claim 11, wherein the plurality of predetermined groups are completed in a sequential order.

19. The system according to claim 11, wherein the plurality of predetermined groups are completed in a non-sequential order.

20. The system according to claim 11, wherein an active group of the plurality of predetermined groups is displayed in a different format then all the non-active groups of the plurality of predetermined groups.

21. A computer program product for displaying and providing access to information on a display unit, the computer program product comprising:

a storage medium readable by a processing circuit and storing instructions for execution by the processing circuit for facilitating a method comprising;

combining a plurality of logical progression steps into a plurality of predetermined groups, each of the plurality of predetermined groups includes a subset of data;

displaying the plurality of predetermined groups in a collapsed format;

prompting a user to expand a first group of the plurality of predetermined groups;

allowing the user to access and input data into the first group; and

allowing the user to access a second group of the plurality of predetermined groups once all logical progression steps in the first group have been completed by the user.