INTELLIGENT ROADMAP NAVIGATION IN A GRAPHICAL USER INTERFACE

• US 20110145737A1
• Filed: 12/10/2009
• Published: 06/16/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 12/10/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SAP SE
• Original Assignee: SAP SE
• Inventors: Toubal-Seghir, Farid, Ronnewinkel, Christopher, Stieler, Susann, LAUGWITZ, BETTINA
• Granted Patent: US 8,775,952 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/763
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0485 Scrolling or panning

Abstract

Systems and methods for intelligent information navigation in a graphical user interface (GUI) where a sequence of items is generated and stored in a memory of a computer system. A number of graphical elements are displayed on a screen of a GUI, wherein each graphical element corresponds to an item of the sequence of items, and wherein the graphical elements are ordered according to the sequence. When requested, the graphical elements scroll in a chosen direction to gradually include a new graphical element into the screen at the direction of scrolling. Respectively, the scrolling could gradually exclude from the screen a graphical element at opposite direction. An item of the sequence of items could be selected as a currently active item. The displayed graphical elements are automatically scrolled to move the graphical element corresponding to the currently active item at a focal position within the screen.

Claims

1. An article of manufacture having computer readable instructions stored thereon for execution by a processor to perform a method for intelligent information navigation comprising:

storing a sequence of items in a memory of the computer system, wherein a task of a process is assigned to an item of the sequence of items, and wherein an execution of the task changes a state of completion of the process;

displaying a plurality of graphical elements in a first screen area, wherein each graphical element corresponds to an item of the sequence of items, and wherein the plurality of graphical elements is ordered in correspondence with the sequence of items;

when requested, scrolling the plurality of graphical elements to gradually include at least one new graphical element in the first screen area from direction of scrolling;

receiving a selection of an item of the sequence of items as a currently active item; and

scrolling automatically the plurality of graphical elements to display a graphical element corresponding to the currently active item at a focal position within the first screen area.

2. The article of manufacture of claim 1, having computer readable instructions stored thereon for execution by a processor to perform the method for intelligent information navigation, the method further comprising:

displaying in a second screen area an interface corresponding to a task, wherein the task is assigned to the currently active item, and wherein the interface allows a user to one or more of accessing and entering data pertinent to an execution of the task.

3. The article of manufacture of claim 2, having computer readable instructions stored thereon for execution by a processor to perform the method for intelligent information navigation, the method further comprising:

scrolling automatically the plurality of graphical elements to display the graphical element corresponding to the currently active item at the focal position within the first screen area when changing a GUI focus to the second screen area form another screen area.

4. The article of manufacture of claim 2, having computer readable instructions stored thereon for execution by a processor to perform the method for intelligent information navigation, the method further comprising:

receiving a selection of a next item of the sequence of items as a next currently active item by confirming the data displayed on the second screen area;

scrolling automatically the plurality of graphical elements to display a graphical element corresponding to the next currently active item at the focal position within the first screen area; and

displaying in the second screen area an interface corresponding to a next task, wherein the task is associated with the next currently active item, and wherein the interface allows a user to one or more of entering and accessing data pertinent to an execution of the next task.

5. The article of manufacture of claim 1, wherein storing the sequence of items comprises:

generating an item of the sequence of items based on a program object description, wherein the program object description specifies an attribute to define a behavior of the item.

6. The article of manufacture of claim 1, wherein displaying the plurality of graphical elements in the first screen area comprises:

displaying the plurality of graphical elements as a horizontal sequence of similar graphical objects; and

displaying a label next or within a graphical element of the plurality of graphical elements, wherein the label indicates a position of a corresponding item in the sequence of items.

7. The article of manufacture of claim 1, wherein scrolling the plurality of graphical elements comprises:

receiving a selection of a GUI control to request scrolling in a particular direction.

8. The article of manufacture of claim 1, wherein scrolling the plurality of graphical elements comprises:

displaying the at least one new graphical element in an emerging mode while being gradually included in the first screen area.

9. In a computer system coupled with a display to render a graphical user interface (GUI), a method for intelligent information navigation comprising:

storing a sequence of items in a memory of the computer system, wherein a task of a process is assigned to an item of the sequence of items, and wherein an execution of the task changes a state of completion of the process;

displaying a plurality of graphical elements in a first screen area, wherein each graphical element corresponds to an item of the sequence of items, and wherein the plurality of graphical elements is ordered in correspondence with the sequence of items;

when requested, scrolling the plurality of graphical elements to gradually include at least one new graphical element in the first screen area from direction of scrolling;

receiving a selection of an item of the sequence of items as a currently active item; and

scrolling automatically the plurality of graphical elements to display a graphical element corresponding to the currently active item at a focal position within the first screen area.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

displaying in a second screen area an interface corresponding to a task, wherein the task is assigned to the currently active item, and wherein the interface allows a user to one or more of accessing and entering data pertinent to an execution of the task.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

scrolling automatically the plurality of graphical elements to display the graphical element corresponding to the currently active item at the focal position within the first screen area when changing a GUI focus to the second screen area form another screen area.

12. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

receiving a selection of a next item of the sequence of items as a next currently active item by confirming the data displayed on the second screen area;

scrolling automatically the plurality of graphical elements to display a graphical element corresponding to the next currently active item at the focal position within the first screen area; and

displaying in the second screen area an interface corresponding to a next task, wherein the task is associated with the next currently active item, and wherein the interface allows a user to one or more of entering and accessing data pertinent to an execution of the next task.

13. The method of claim 9, wherein storing the sequence of items comprises:

generating an item of the sequence of items based on a program object description, wherein the program object description specifies an attribute to define a behavior of the item.

14. The method of claim 9, wherein displaying the plurality of graphical elements in the first screen area comprises:

displaying the plurality of graphical elements as a horizontal sequence of similar graphical objects; and

displaying a label next or within a graphical element of the plurality of graphical elements, wherein the label indicates a position of a corresponding item in the sequence of items.

15. The method of claim 9, wherein scrolling the plurality of graphical elements comprises:

receiving a selection of a GUI control to request scrolling in a particular direction.

16. The method of claim 9, wherein scrolling the plurality of graphical elements comprises:

displaying the at least one new graphical element in an emerging mode while being gradually included in the first screen area.

17. A computer controlled display system rendering a graphical user interface (GUI) for intelligent information navigation, the GUI comprising:

a roadmap area for displaying a plurality of graphical elements, wherein each graphical element of the plurality of graphical elements corresponds to an item from a sequence of items, and wherein the plurality of graphical elements is ordered in correspondence with the sequence of items;

at least one control graphical element selectable with a user input device to request a scrolling of the plurality graphical elements to gradually include at least one new graphical element in the first screen area at direction of scrolling; and

a focal area, wherein the plurality of graphical elements scroll automatically to move a graphical element corresponding to an item or the sequence of items in the focal area when the item is selected as a currently active item.

18. The GUI of claim 17, further comprising:

a work area for displaying an interface corresponding to a task of a process, wherein the task is associated with the currently active item, and wherein the interface allows a user to one or more of enter and access data pertinent to an execution of the task.

19. The GUI of claim 17, further comprising:

a label area to display a label next or within a graphical element corresponding to an item of the sequence of items, wherein the label indicates a position of a corresponding item in the sequence of items.

20. The GUI of claim 17, further comprising:

a toolbar area to display a command option pertinent to the currently displayed information in one or more of the first screen area and the second screen area.