Method and system for report presentation and navigation in a computer system

• US 6,569,205 B1
• Filed: 07/26/1999
• Issued: 05/27/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 07/26/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Poggi, Valerie S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Herndon, Heather R.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Bieneman, Charles A
• Application Number:
  US09/361,779
• Time in Patent Office: 1,401 Days
• Field of Search: 707/500, 345/853, 345/854, 345/855, 715/500
• US Class Current: 715/202
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus

Abstract

A method and system for report presentation and navigation in a computer system that includes multiple reports about multiple components. The method and system include defining relationships between the multiple reports and the multiple components, and visually representing the relationships on a currently displayed report. The method and system further include visually indicating a position of the currently displayed report among the relationships, thereby reducing user disorientation while navigating through the multiple reports.

Claims

1. A method for providing a report presentation and navigation in a computer system that includes multiple reports about multiple components, comprising the steps of:

(a) defining relationships between the multiple reports and the multiple components;

(b) visually representing the relationships on each displayed report using a report locator map, the report locator map comprising an array of elements, wherein each element is indexed by a report name and a component level name, and wherein the relationships are represented by placing the elements at intersections in the array where a corresponding report is available for a corresponding component level;

(c) visually indicating a position of a currently displayed report among the relationships; and

(d) enabling a user to click on any element within the report locator map to navigate in one jump to the corresponding report.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein step (c) further includes the step of:

indicating the position of the currently displayed report by displaying a graphic on the corresponding element.

3. A graphical user interface for report navigation in a computer system that includes multiple reports about multiple components, wherein a set of relationships exist between the multiple reports and the multiple components, comprising:

means for displaying a current report;

means for visually representing the set of relationships on each displayed report using a report locator map, the report locator map comprising an array of elements, wherein each element is indexed by a report name and a component level name, and wherein the relationships are represented by placing the elements at intersections in the array where a corresponding report is available for a corresponding component level;

means for visually indicating a position of the currently displayed report among the set of relationships; and

means for enabling a user to click on any element within the report locator map to navigate in one jump to the corresponding report.

4. The system of claim 3 wherein the position of the currently displayed report is indicated by displaying a graphic on the corresponding element.

5. A computer-readable medium for providing a report presentation and navigation in a computer system that includes multiple reports about multiple components, the program instructions for:

(a) defining relationships between the multiple reports and the multiple components;

(b) visually representing the relationships on each displayed report using a report locator map, the report locator map comprising an array of elements, wherein each element is indexed by a report name and a component level name, and wherein the relationships are represented by placing the elements at intersections in the array where a corresponding report is available for a corresponding component level;

(c) visually indicating a position of the currently displayed report among the relationships; and

(d) enabling a user to click on any element within the report locator map to navigate in one jump to the corresponding report.

6. The computer-readable medium of claim 5 wherein program instruction (c) further includes the program instruction of:

i) indicating the position of the currently displayed report by displaying a graphic on the corresponding element.

7. A report locator map that is displayed on reports in a computer system, comprising:

an array of elements, wherein each element is indexed by a report name and a component level name, wherein the elements are placed at intersections in the array where a corresponding report is available for a corresponding component level;

a graphic displayed on one of the elements corresponding to a currently displayed report that indicates a position of the currently displayed report among a hierarchy of reports; and

means for navigating in one jump to any report displayed in the report locator map in response to a user clicking on a corresponding element within the report locator map, thereby providing drill up, drill down and drill diagonal report navigation.