Transaction flow editing tool

• US 6,243,092 B1
• Filed: 12/02/1997
• Issued: 06/05/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 12/02/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Aspect Communications Corporation (Alvaria Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Aspect Communications Corporation (Alvaria Incorporated)
• Inventors: Okita, Glen K., Lin, Fung-Wah, McCalmont, David T., Agarwal, Suresh K., Chan, Yiu Man, Blatt, Robert A., Bodie, Margaret K.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bayerl, Raymond J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Thai, Cuong T.
• Application Number:
  US08/982,938
• Time in Patent Office: 1,281 Days
• Field of Search: 345/356, 345/348, 345/346, 345/347, 345/967, 345/965, 345/966, 345/349, 345/333, 345/334, 364/188
• US Class Current: 715/866
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/34 Graphical or visual programming
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/51 Centralised call answering arrangements requiring operator intervention , e.g. call or contact centers for telemarketing
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/5166 in combination with interactive voice response systems or voice portals, e.g. as front-ends
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/523 with call distribution or queueing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 715/965 for process control and configuration
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 715/966 Computer process, e.g. operation of computer

Abstract

A system, method, and article of manufacture for editing visual primitives of a transaction flow used by a transaction processing system. A visual representation of a transaction flow containing visual primitives is accessed from a storage device by a digital computer. The visual primitives are then displayed on the visual display. The system then edits the visual primitives in a manner that provides for unrestricted placement of the visual primitives. A visual indicator is displayed if the transaction flow is incomplete. Alphanumeric text can be added to a visual primitive or placed elsewhere within the transaction flow. A connection is automatically established between a pair of visual primitives if the visual primitives overlap one another. Transaction flow templates can be selected and modified by the visual editing system.

Claims

1. An apparatus for editing visual primitives representing a transaction flow used by a transaction processing system, the apparatus comprising:

a digital computer;

a data storage device coupled to the digital computer and configured to store the transaction flow, the transaction flow comprising a series of operations, and being associated with visual primitives where each visual primitive represents a respective operation of the transaction flow;

a visual display coupled to the digital computer and configured to display the visual primitives; and

an editor operated by the digital computer and coupled to the data storage device and the visual display, the editor being configured to access the transaction flow and to;

facilitate editing of the visual primitives;

facilitate repositioning at least one visual primitive in the transaction flow to improve the transaction flow appearance;

facilitate rerouting connection lines associated with the repositioned visual primitive, said rerouting comprising performing a limited search for alternate connection line routes; and

display a visual indicator if configuration of a first operation of the transaction flow is incomplete, the visual indicator being displayed so as to be associated with a first visual primitive representative of the first operation.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the visual indication mechanism is further configured to display the first visual indicator within the first visual primitive to indicate the first operation as requiring additional configuration information.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the editor is configured to add alphanumeric text within visual primitives.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the editor is configured to add alphanumeric text in the transaction flow.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the editor further includes a mechanism configured to display a radio button and a check box in the same visual primitive.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the editor further includes a mechanism configured to display the visual primitives representing the transaction flow in a first window on the visual display and simultaneously display the visual primitives representing the transaction flow in a second window on the visual display.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein a portion of the visual primitives representing the transaction flow is displayed in each window and the portion of the visual primitives representing the transaction flow displayed in each window can be adjusted independently of the other window.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 further including a cut and paste mechanism coupled to the editor and configured to select a visual primitive at a first location in the transaction flow, store the visual primitive in a temporary location, and insert the visual primitive at a second location in the transaction flow.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the cut and paste mechanism further includes a mechanism configured to delete the visual primitive at the first location in the transaction flow.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the transaction flow accessed by the editor is a transaction flow template.

11. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the transaction flow template is part of a help system.

12. A computer software product including a medium readable by a processor, the medium having stored thereon a sequence of instructions which, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to:

access a transaction flow from a data storage device of a computer system, the transaction flow comprising a series of operations, and being associated with visual primitives where each visual primitive represents a respective operation of the transaction flow;

display the visual primitives representing the transaction flow using a visual display of the computer system;

edit the visual primitives to configure the series of operations comprising the transaction flow;

reposition at least one visual primitive in the transaction flow to improve the transaction flow appearance;

reroute connection lines associated with the repositioned visual primitive, said rerouting comprising performing a limited search for alternate connection line routes; and

display visual primitives representing the transaction flow on a visual display of the computer system, each visual primitive representing a respective operation of the transaction flow.

13. The computer software product of claim 12 further including instructions which, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to add alphanumeric text in the transaction flow.

14. The computer software product of claim 12 further including instructions which, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to display a radio button and a check box in the same visual primitive.

15. The computer software product of claim 12 further including instructions which, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to display the visual primitives representing the transaction flow in a first window on the visual display and simultaneously display the visual primitives representing the transaction flow in a second window on the visual display.

16. The computer software product of claim 12 further including instructions which, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to select a visual primitive at a first location in the transaction flow, store the visual primitive in a temporary location, and insert the visual primitive at a second location in the transaction flow.

17. A method comprising:

accessing a transaction flow from a data storage device of a computer system, the transaction flow comprising a series of operations, and being associated with visual primitives where each visual primitive represents a respective operation of the transaction flow;

displaying the visual primitives representing the transaction flow on a visual display of the computer system;

editing the visual primitives to configure the series of operations comprising the transaction flow;

repositioning at least one visual primitive in the transaction flow to improve the transaction flow appearance;

rerouting connection lines associated with the repositioned visual primitive, said rerouting comprising performing a limited search for alternate connection line routes; and

displaying a visual indicator if configuration of a first operation of the transaction flow is incomplete, the visual indicator being displayed so as to be associated with a first visual primitive representative of the first operation.

18. The method of claim 17 further including repositioning at least one visual primitive in the transaction flow to optimize the transaction flow.

19. The method of claim 17 displaying the visual indicator within the first visual primitive to indicate the first operation as requiring additional configuration information.

20. The method of claim 17 further including adding alphanumeric text within at least one visual primitive.

21. The method of claim 17 further including adding alphanumeric text in the transaction flow.

22. The method of claim 17 further including editing properties of at least one operation via a representative visual primitive.

23. The method of claim 17 wherein the displaying of the visual primitives representing the transaction flow further includes displaying the visual primitives representing the transaction flow in a first window on the visual display and simultaneously displaying the visual primitives representing the transaction flow in a second window on the visual display.

24. The method of claim 23 wherein a portion of the visual primitives representing the transaction flow is displayed in each window and the portion of the visual primitives displayed in each window can be adjusted independently of the other window.

25. The method of claim 17 further including searching the transaction flow for a first string of alphanumeric text or symbols and replacing a located first string with a second string of alphanumeric text or symbols.

26. The method of claim 17 further including:

selecting a visual primitive at a first location in the transaction flow;

storing the visual primitive in a temporary location; and

inserting the visual primitive at a second location in the transaction flow.

27. The method of claim 26 further including deleting the visual primitive at the first location in the transaction flow.

28. The method of claim 17 wherein the transaction flow accessed from the data storage device is a transaction flow template.

29. The method of claim 28 wherein the transaction flow template is part of a help system.

30. The method of claim 17 further including changing the scale of the transaction flow displayed on the visual display.