CUSTOMIZABLE USER INTERFACE INCLUDING CONTACT AND BUSINESS MANAGEMENT FEATURES

• US 20110313805A1
• Filed: 06/18/2010
• Published: 12/22/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 06/18/2010
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Mondri, Ron, Heydemann, Christian, Gupta, Vineet
• Application Number:
  US12/819,169
• Publication Number:
  US 20110313805A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/7.14
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/063112 Skill-based matching of a person or a group to a task
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06316 Sequencing of tasks or work
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06393 Score-carding, benchmarking or key performance indicator [KPI] analysis
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising

Abstract

Embodiments provide aspects of a workspace interface that includes a number of customizable business role workspaces, but are not so limited. In an embodiment, a computer-implemented method provides a number of role-specific workspaces as part of an integrated business development application, each role-specific workspace including role-specific ribbon tools, gadgets, and/or tabs tailored to address particular aspects of a business or business role. In one embodiment, a number of customizable role-specific workspaces are combined with personal information management features as part of providing an integrated business management solution. Other embodiments are included and available.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

providing aspects of a workspace interface including;

providing a tool ribbon section including workspace tools;

providing a number of selectable role options including;

a first role option associated with a first role-specific workspace that includes first role-specific tabs, first role-specific key performance indicators, and first role-specific record lists;

a second role option associated with a second role-specific workspace that includes second role-specific tabs, second role-specific key performance indicators, and second role-specific record lists; and

a third role option associated with a third role-specific workspace that includes third role-specific tabs, third role-specific key performance indicators, and third role-specific record lists;

providing a configurable preview pane to display list items and other information for each role option; and

displaying the workspace interface.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising creating a new role option associated with a new personalized role for the workspace interface.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising defining one or more new role tabs, new role key performance indicators, and new role record lists for the new role option.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising modifying one or more of the role-specific tabs, gadgets, and record lists of a role-specific workspace.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising updating the configurable preview pane according to a preview configuration change.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising updating one or more of a section of the configurable preview pane, a role-specific gadget, and a role-specific tab.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising defining role options for a sales role workspace, a marketing role workspace, and a project manager role workspace, each role workspace including a customizable interface presentation.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising integrating email and time management information with the workspace interface.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising creating tab parameters, list items, and configuring filters to display select role details for a particular role workspace.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising providing:

sales role details including lead details, forecast details, opportunity details, and sales history details;

marketing role details including marketing campaign details, branding details, and distribution channel details; and

project management details including project details, project task details, and team calendar details.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing role-specific ribbon commands for each role-specific workspace.

12. A computer-implemented user interface comprising:

a tools portion including specific ribbon tools for a number of role-specific workspaces;

a role selection portion including a number of selectable role workspaces including;

a sales role workspace including sales-related tabs, gadgets, and record lists;

a marketing role workspace including marketing-related tabs, gadgets, and record lists; and

a project role workspace including project-related tabs, gadgets, and record lists; and

a role workspace portion to display workspace details associated with each selected workspace including a customizable preview portion to display record list information.

13. The interface of claim 12, further comprising a contact management workspace including contact related tabs and contact related records.

14. The user interface of claim 12, the sales role workspace including sales leads, forecasts, and opportunities.

15. The user interface of claim 12, the marketing role workspace including campaign metrics.

16. The user interface of claim 12, the personalized project management role workspace including ongoing projects and tasks.

17. A computer readable medium including encoded instructions that operate to provide a workspace interface comprising:

integrating a number of personalized workspaces and information management features that include;

a sales workspace that includes sales-related ribbon tools and gadgets;

a marketing workspace that includes marketing-related ribbon tools and gadgets; and

,

a project workspace that includes project-related ribbon tools and gadgets;

using one or more of the number of personalized workspaces to manage aspects of an ongoing business;

modifying customizable aspects of the workspace interface; and

displaying the workspace interface to correspond with any modified aspects.

18. The computer readable storage medium of claim 17 including encoded instructions that operate to provide the workspace interface further comprising selecting a role-specific workspace and creating a new tab that includes a number of role-specific records for the role-specific workspace.

19. The computer readable storage medium of claim 17 including encoded instructions that operate to provide the workspace interface further comprising creating a new workspace to correspond to a new business function.

20. The computer readable storage medium of claim 17 including encoded instructions that operate to provide the workspace interface further comprising one or more of adding, creating, and removing role-specific gadgets and tabs for one or more of the personalized workspaces.