System, method and article of manufacture for an activity framework design in an e-commerce based environment

• US 6,718,535 B1
• Filed: 07/30/1999
• Issued: 04/06/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 07/30/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Accenture Global Services Limited (Accenture PLC)
• Original Assignee: Accenture LLP (Accenture PLC)
• Inventors: Underwood, Roy Aaron
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen-Ba, Hoang-Vu Anthony
• Application Number:
  US09/364,164
• Time in Patent Office: 1,712 Days
• Field of Search: 717/116, 717/100, 717/101, 717/102, 717/108, 717/165, 717/120, 717/223
• US Class Current: 717/101
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/451 Execution arrangements for user interfaces

Abstract

A system and method are provided for providing an activity framework. First, a plurality of sub-activities are created which each include sub-activity logic adapted to generate an output based on an input received from a user upon execution. Second, a plurality of activities are defined which each execute the sub-activities in a unique manner upon being selected for accomplishing a goal associated with the activity. Selection of one of the activities is allowed by receiving user indicia. An interface is depicted for allowing receipt of the input and display of the output during execution of the sub-activities associated with the selected activity.

Claims

1. A method for providing an activity framework comprising the steps of:

(a) creating a plurality of sub-activities, wherein each of the plurality of sub-activities contains and executes business logic, the business logic being adapted to generate an output based on a logical unit of processing received by the plurality of sub-activities;

(b) defining an activity, the activity including a plurality of web pages, such that the activity executes the sub-activities in a unique manner upon being selected for accomplishing a goal associated with the activity in response to receiving input from a user, wherein the activity provides the logical unit of processing for each of the plurality of sub-activities;

(c) allowing selection of one of the activities by receiving user indicia; and

(d) depicting an interface for allowing receipt of the input and display of the output during execution of the sub-activities associated with the selected activity.

2. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the business logic is further adapted for verifying that all required input been received prior to generating the output.

3. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the interface includes a plurality of displays that are each displayed during the execution of a corresponding one of the sub-activities.

4. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the sub-activities each include at least one business component.

5. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the activity includes creating a service order.

6. A method as recited in claim 1, and further comprising the step of allowing access to the input received from the user by each of the sub-activities of the activities.

7. A system for providing an activity framework comprising:

(a) logic that creates a plurality of sub-activities, wherein each of the plurality of sub-activities contains and executes business logic, the business logic being adapted to generate an output based on a logical unit of processing received by the plurality of sub-activities;

(b) logic that defines an activity, the activity including a plurality of web pages, such that the activity executes the sub-activities in a unique manner upon being selected for accomplishing a goal associated with the activity in response to receiving input from a user, wherein the activity provides the logical unit of processing for each of the plurality of sub-activities;

(c) logic that allows selection of one of the activities by receiving user indicia; and

(d) logic that depicts an interface for allowing receipt of the input and display of the output during execution of the sub-activities associated with the selected activity.

8. A system as recited in claim 7, wherein the business logic is further adapted for verifying that all required input been received prior to generating the output.

9. A system as recited in claim 7, wherein the interface includes a plurality of displays that are each displayed during the execution of a corresponding one of the sub-activities.

10. A system as recited in claim 7, wherein the sub-activities each include at least one business component.

11. A system as recited in claim 7, wherein the activity includes creating a service order.

12. A system as recited in claim 7, and further comprising logic that allows access to the input received from the user by each of the sub-activities of the activities.

13. A computer program embodied on a computer readable medium for providing an activity framework comprising:

(a) a code segment that creates a plurality of sub-activities, wherein each of the plurality of sub-activities contains and executes business logic, the business logic being adapted to generate an output based on a logical unit of processing received by the plurality of sub-activities;

(b) a code segment that defines an activity, the activity including a plurality of web pages, such that the activity executes the sub-activities in a unique manner upon being selected for accomplishing a goal associated with the activity in response to receiving input from a user, wherein the activity provides the logical unit of processing for each of the plurality of sub-activities;

(c) a code segment that allows selection of one of the activities by receiving user indicia; and

(d) a code segment that depicts an interface for allowing receipt of the input and display of the output during execution of the sub-activities associated with the selected activity.

14. A computer program as recited in claim 13, wherein the business logic is further adapted for verifying that all required input been received prior to generating the output.

15. A computer program as recited in claim 13, wherein the interface includes a plurality of displays that are each displayed during the execution of a corresponding one of the sub-activities.

16. A computer program as recited in claim 13, wherein the sub-activities each include at least one business component.

17. A computer program as recited in claim 13, wherein the activity includes creating a service order.

18. A computer program as recited in claim 13, and further comprising a code segment that allows access to the input received from the user by each of the sub-activities of the activities.

19. A computer system for providing services that support a model view controller, comprising:

(a) a web page including a user interface for receiving input from a user and transmitting a request based on the input received;

(b) an activity component for receiving the request from the web page and performing high-level functions based thereon, wherein the activity component provides a context for a plurality of business functions based on the request, and wherein the activity component does not contain any business logic and the activity component does not perform any business processes;

(c) a plurality of business components, wherein the plurality of business components contain business logic such that each of the plurality of business components performs a subset of the business functions necessary to respond to the request, and wherein the plurality of business components are executed in response to receipt of a call from the activity component and the plurality of business components return values upon completion of execution; and

(d) a view for maintaining a mapping between the user interface and the plurality of business components that return the values, wherein the values are displayed on the web page.

20. A computer system as recited in claim 19, wherein the user interface includes a plurality of displays that are each displayed during the execution of a corresponding one of the business components.

21. A computer system as recited in claim 19, wherein one of the plurality of business components contains business logic for creating a service order.

22. A computer system as recited in claim 19, wherein each of the plurality of business components is granted access to the input received from the user.

23. A computer system as recited in claim 19, wherein the activity component is accessible by a plurality of web pages.

24. A computer system as recited in claim 23, wherein the activity component maintains information shared between the plurality of web pages.