CREATION OF DATE WINDOW FOR RECORD SELECTION

• US 20100174757A1
• Filed: 01/02/2009
• Published: 07/08/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 01/02/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation, ServiceNow Incorporated
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Sofia, Anthony T., Jones, Steven B.
• Granted Patent: US 8,583,700 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 707/803
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management

Abstract

A method for creating a date window for record selection. The method includes defining a set of parameters for calculating a date window for record selection, automatically detecting a current date, receiving input values corresponding to the defined set of parameters, from a user via a user interface, calculating and generating the date window based on the input values and the current date detected, and providing the generated date window and data records associated with the generated date window to the user via the user interface.

Claims

1. A method for creating a date window for data record selection, the method comprising:

defining a set of parameters for calculating a date window for record selection;

automatically detecting a current date;

receiving input values corresponding to the defined set of parameters, from a user via a user interface;

calculating and generating the date window based on the input values and the current date detected; and

providing the generated date window and data records associated with the generated date window to the user via the user interface.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the defined set of parameters comprises at least one of a specified unit, a number of units to go backwards from a current unit and a number of units to be obtained.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the number of units to go backwards from the current unit represents a start of the date window, and the number of units to be obtained represents a length of the date window

4. The method of claim 2, wherein a unit comprises one of a day, week, month or year, and the current unit, the number of units to move backwards from the current unit and the number of units to be obtained are of a same type of unit as the specified unit.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising:

storing the received input values corresponding to the defined set of parameters;

determining a frequency for periodically calculating and generating a date window based on the stored, received input values and the current date detected, as desired by the user; and

calculating and generating a date window based on the determined frequency; and

providing the user with the calculated, generated date window and associated data records, based on the determined frequency.

6. A computer-implemented method for creating a date window for record selection, the method comprising:

defining a set of parameters for calculating a date window for record selection;

automatically detecting a current date;

receiving input values corresponding to the defined set of parameters, from a user via a user interface;

calculating and generating the date window based on the input values and the current date detected; and

providing the generated date window and data records associated with the generated date window to the user via the user interface.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 6, wherein the defined set of parameters comprises at least one of a specified unit, a number of units to go backwards from a current unit and a number of units to be obtained.

8. The computer-implemented method of claim 7, wherein the number of units to go backwards from the current unit represents a start of the date window, and the number of units to be obtained represents a length of the date window

9. The computer-implemented method of claim 7, wherein a unit comprises one of a day, week, month or year, and the current unit, the number of units to move backwards from the current unit and the number of units to be obtained are of a same type of unit as the specified unit.

10. The computer-implemented method of claim 9, further comprising:

storing the received input values corresponding to the defined set of parameters;

determining a frequency for periodically calculating and generating a date window based on the stored, received input values and the current date detected, as desired by the user; and

calculating and generating a date window based on the determined frequency; and

providing the user with the calculated, generated date window and associated data records, based on the determined frequency.

11. A computer program product comprising a computer useable medium including a computer readable program, wherein the computer readable program when executed on a computer causes the computer to implement a method for creating a date window for record selection, the method comprising:

defining a set of parameters for calculating a date window for record selection;

automatically detecting a current date;

receiving input values corresponding to the defined set of parameters, from a user via a user interface;

calculating and generating the date window based on the input values and the current date detected; and

providing the generated date window and data records associated with the generated date window to the user via the user interface.

12. The computer program product of claim 11, wherein the defined set of parameters comprises at least one of a specified unit, a number of units to go backwards from a current unit and a number of units to be obtained.

13. The computer program product of claim 12, wherein the number of units to go backwards from the current unit represents a start of the date window, and the number of units to be obtained represents a length of the date window

14. The computer program product of claim 12, wherein a unit comprises one of a day, week, month or year, and the current unit, the number of units to move backwards from the current unit and the number of units to be obtained are of a same type of unit as the specified unit.

15. The computer program product of claim 14, further comprising:

storing the received input values corresponding to the defined set of parameters;

determining a frequency for periodically calculating and generating a date window based on the stored, received input values and the current date detected, as desired by the user; and

calculating and generating a date window based on the determined frequency; and

providing the user with the calculated, generated date window and associated data records, based on the determined frequency.

16. A computer-implemented method for obtaining a date window for data record selection, the method comprising:

inputting input values via a user interface, the input values corresponding to a predefined set of parameters for data window creation; and

receiving, via the user interface, a date window generated based on the input values and a current date detected via the computer, and data records corresponding to the date window generated.

17. The computer-implemented method of claim 16, wherein the defined set of parameters comprises at least one of a specified unit, a number of units to go backwards from a current unit and a number of units to be obtained.

18. The computer-implemented method of claim 17, wherein the number of units to go backwards from the current unit represents a start of the date window, and the number of units to be obtained represents a length of the date window.

19. The computer implemented method of claim 16, wherein a unit comprises one of a day, week, month or year, and the current unit, the number of units to move backwards from the current unit and the number of units to be obtained are of a same type of unit as the specified unit.

20. The computer-implemented method of claim 19, further comprising:

determining a frequency for periodically calculating and generating a date window based on the same input values and a current date detected; and

receiving a date window generated based on the same input values and the current date detected, and associated data records, according to the determined frequency.