Performing server actions using template with field that can be completed without obtaining information from a user
First Claim
1. A method of operating a server machine to perform server actions, the method comprising:
- storing, at said server machine, a template having pre-defined user data for use in performing server actions, wherein the template includesa plurality of fields,attribute data associated with each of the fields, andpreviously entered user data associated with at least one field of said plurality,wherein the attribute data indicates whether it is necessary to obtain information to complete a corresponding field from users of the template;
receiving a request from a client machine for performance of a server action using the template; and
in response to the request, performing a server action using the template wherein the step of performing the server action includes, for each of the fields of said plurality;
determining from the attribute data whether it is necessary to obtain information to complete the field;
if it is not necessary to obtain information to complete the field, then performing the server action without obtaining information from the client machine to complete the field, said performing the server action without obtaining information from the client machine includes, for the at least one field, using the previously entered user data to complete the at least one field; and
if it is necessary to obtain information to complete the field, then obtaining information from the client machine to complete the field prior to performing the server action.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A server machine has a first user interface for interactively producing templates and a second user interface provided through a client machine, such as a wireless telephone, for performing server actions using templates. In response to signals received through the first user interface, the server produces a template for use in performing server actions, such as creating e-mail messages, scheduling appointments, or submitting database queries. The template includes a field and a attribute data indicating whether it is necessary to obtain information through the second user interface to complete the field. The server receives a request from the client machine for performance of a server action using the template. In response, the server performs the server action, determining from the attribute data whether it is necessary to obtain information to complete the field. If not, the server performs the server action without obtaining information through the second user interface to complete the field. But if it is necessary, the server obtains information from the client machine through the second user interface to complete the field.
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Citations
26 Claims
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1. A method of operating a server machine to perform server actions, the method comprising:
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storing, at said server machine, a template having pre-defined user data for use in performing server actions, wherein the template includes a plurality of fields, attribute data associated with each of the fields, and previously entered user data associated with at least one field of said plurality, wherein the attribute data indicates whether it is necessary to obtain information to complete a corresponding field from users of the template; receiving a request from a client machine for performance of a server action using the template; and in response to the request, performing a server action using the template wherein the step of performing the server action includes, for each of the fields of said plurality; determining from the attribute data whether it is necessary to obtain information to complete the field; if it is not necessary to obtain information to complete the field, then performing the server action without obtaining information from the client machine to complete the field, said performing the server action without obtaining information from the client machine includes, for the at least one field, using the previously entered user data to complete the at least one field; and if it is necessary to obtain information to complete the field, then obtaining information from the client machine to complete the field prior to performing the server action. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A method of performing server actions that require user input, the method comprising the steps of:
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storing, at a server machine, a plurality of user-defined templates associated with a plurality of server actions that the server machine can perform, each of said templates includes a plurality of fields previously indicated to be editable or non-editable by a user defining said template, attribute data associated with each of the fields, and previously entered user data associated with at least one field of said plurality of fields; receiving, from a client machine, a request to perform a particular server action of said plurality of server actions; determining, from said plurality of templates, a set of templates that are associated with said particular server action; transmitting to said client machine information that allows a user of said client machine to select a particular template in said set of templates; receiving, from the client machine, a signal that selects said particular template; providing at least one edit page from said server machine to said client machine for each field indicated to be editable by said user defining said template; and performing said particular server action using previously entered user data from said particular template as at least a portion of the user input required for said particular server action.
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20. A computer-readable storage medium storing instructions for performing server actions, the instructions including instructions for performing the steps of:
- receiving first user input for a template, said template is at least one of a message generation template, an appointment scheduling template, and a database query submission template;
storing said template at a server machine, said template includes previously entered user data to serve as input data for one or more fields requiring input for performance of a server action;
after said template has been stored, receiving from a client machine a request to perform a server action that requires user input for a plurality of fields;
receiving a signal from said client machine that indicates whether to use said template to perform said server action;
if said signal indicates to use said template to perform said server action, then performing said server action using said previously entered user data as user input for one or more of said plurality of fields;
if said signal indicates to not use any template to perform said server action, then performing the steps of;
requesting user input for said plurality of fields from said client machine; and
performing said server action using user input received from said client machine for said plurality of fields. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23)
- receiving first user input for a template, said template is at least one of a message generation template, an appointment scheduling template, and a database query submission template;
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24. A method of performing server actions, comprising:
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receiving first user input to create a user-defined template including a first plurality of fields and pre-defined data for at least one of said first plurality of fields, said first user input indicates whether each of said first plurality of fields is an editable field or a non-editable field; storing said template at a server machine; receiving a request from a client machine to perform a first server action using said template, said first server action requires user input for a second plurality of fields corresponding to said first plurality of fields of said template; providing at least one edit page from said server machine to said client machine to receive information for each field in said first plurality of fields indicated to be an editable field by said first user input, said at least one edit page is provided for less than all of said second plurality of fields requiring user input for said first server action; and performing said first server action by using said pre-defined data from at least one of said first plurality of fields of said template as input for at least one of said second plurality of fields requiring user input for said first server action. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26)
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Specification