Logistics management system having user interface with tiered data entry

• US 7,337,411 B1
• Filed: 03/31/2003
• Issued: 02/26/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Unisys Corporation
• Original Assignee: Unisys Corporation
• Inventors: Rasmus, Todd M., Racine, Sandra J., Jungers, Scott A., Jancik, Joann E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Cabeca; John
• Assistant Examiner(s): CHAUDHURI, ANITA
• Application Number:
  US10/403,587
• Time in Patent Office: 1,793 Days
• Field of Search: 715/762, 715/763, 715/764, 715/780, 715/810, 715/505, 715/508, 715/705, 715/708, 707/104.1
• US Class Current: 715/780
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0483 Interaction with page-structured environments, e.g. book metaphor
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management

Abstract

A system is described that includes a host computer and a client computer. The host computer maintains data defining a set of selectable items, and the client computer executes a user interface module that presents a user interface that includes a first selection mechanism populated with a first subset of the items for selection by a user and a search input. In response to activation of the search input mechanism the user interface module presents a second selection mechanism populated with a second subset of the search items that includes a greater number of the search items than the first subset.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a host computer that maintains respective text-based identification codes for a set of selectable items associated with freight shipments; and

a client computer executing a user interface module that presents a single window having;

a text input field to receive one of the identification codes that, when submitted by a user, selects a corresponding one of the plurality of selectable items,

a first selection mechanism that presents a first subset of the selectable items for selection by the user, wherein the user interface module automatically updates the first subset of the selectable items to include the selectable items that correspond to the identification codes previously submitted by the user in the text input field,

a search input, and

a second selection mechanism,

wherein, in response to activation of the search input when the text input field is empty, the second selection mechanism presents all of the set of the selectable items for selection by the user, and

wherein, in response to activation of the search input when the text input field contains text, the user interface module utilizes the text contained within the text input field as a narrowing parameter to determine a second subset of the selectable items.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein, in response to the user selecting an item from the second selection mechanism, the user interface module mechanism, dynamically updates the first subset of the selectable items to include the selected items.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the user interface module automatically displays a respective one of the identification codes in the text input field when the user selects one of the selectable items using either the first selection mechanism or the second selection mechanism.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the user interface module generates the first subset to include items from the set of selectable items that the user has most recently selected using any of the text input field, the first selection mechanism, and the second selection mechanism.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the host computer selects one of the selectable items based on one of an identification code entered in the text input field, input received from the first selection mechanism, and input received from the second selection mechanism, and performs logistics management tasks associated with the selected item.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the display means includes automatic display means for automatically displaying a respective one of the identification codes in the text input field when the user selects one of the selectable items using either of the selection mechanisms without communicating with the network interface.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the user interface module generates the first subset to include items from the set of selectable items that the user has most frequently selected using any of the text input field, the first selection mechanism and the second selection mechanism.

8. A method comprising:

maintaining respective text-based identification codes for a plurality of items associated with freight shipments;

presenting a user interface having a single window that includes a text input field to receive the identification codes, a first selection mechanism, a second selection mechanism, and a search input;

presenting a first subset of the plurality of items within the first selection mechanism for selection by the user, wherein the first subset of the plurality of items is determined based on identification codes previously entered in the text input field,

in response to activation of the search input by the user when the text input field is empty, presenting all of the plurality of items within the second selection mechanism; and

in response to activation of the search input by the user when the text input field is contains text, presenting a second subset of the plurality of items within the second selection mechanism using any text within the text input field as a narrowing parameter to determine the second subset of the plurality of items.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising updating the first subset to include any item selected using the second selection mechanism.

10. The method of claim 8, further comprising updating the first subset of the plurality of items to include one of the items from the second subset of the plurality of items when the user enters one of the identification codes within the text input field.

11. The method of claim 8, further comprising displaying a respective one of the identification codes in the text input field when the user selects one of the plurality of items using either of the selection mechanisms.

12. The method of claim 8, further comprising invoking a client-side software module to add one of the plurality of items to the first subset without communicating with a web server when the user enters a respective one of the identification codes within the text input field.

13. The method of claim 8, further comprising determining the first subset of the plurality of the items to include any of the plurality of items that the user has most recently selected.

14. The method of claim 8, further comprising selecting items using one of the text input field, the first selection mechanism, and the second selection mechanism, and performing one or more logistics management tasks for managing freight shipments based on the selected items.

15. The method of claim 8, further comprising generating the first subset to include items from the plurality of items that the user has most frequently selected using any of the text input field, the first selection mechanism and the second selection mechanism.

16. A system comprising:

a computing means for maintaining respective text-based identification codes for a set of selectable items associated with freight shipments;

a network interface means for generating a user interface that presents a single window having;

a text input field to receive the identification codes,

a first selection mechanism that presents a first subset of the selectable items for selection by a user, a second selection mechanism that is initially populated with all of the set of selectable items, and

a search input; and

a display means for presenting the user interface to the user,

wherein the network interface means include updating means for automatically updating the first subset based on identification codes entered in the text input field,

wherein, in response to activation of the search input when the text input field is empty, the display means presents the all of the set of selectable items within the second selection mechanism, and

wherein, in response to activation of the search input when the text input field contains text, the display means presents within the second selection mechanism a second subset of the plurality of items using any text within the text input field as a narrowing parameter to determine the second subset of the plurality of items.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the network interface includes update means for updating the first subset of the selectable items to include items selected from the second subset by the user.

18. The system of claim 16, wherein the network interface means generates the first subset to include items from the set of selectable items according to one at least one of the selectable items that the user has most frequently selected, and the selectable items that the user has most recently selected.

19. The system of claim 16, wherein the computing means includes selection means for selecting one of the selectable items based on one of an identification code entered in the text input field, input received from the first selection mechanism, and input received from the second selection mechanism, and means for performing logistics management tasks associated with the selected item.