Methods and systems for inputting data into a computer system

• US 7,519,919 B2
• Filed: 05/17/2004
• Issued: 04/14/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 05/16/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SAP SE
• Original Assignee: SAP AG (SAP SE)
• Inventors: Beringer, Joerg, Hatscher, Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): Theriault; Steven B
• Application Number:
  US10/846,670
• Publication Number:
  US 20050022126A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,793 Days
• Field of Search: 715/507, 715/508, 715/792, 715/744, 715/780, 715/829, 715/845, 715/906, 715/224, 715/225, 715/768, 715/837, 715/851, 719/329, 714/57
• US Class Current: 715/780
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/451 Execution arrangements for user interfaces

Abstract

A computer system includes a user-interface. The user-interface includes a graphical program interface with one or more input controls. The input controls are arranged for inputting data into the computer system. The graphical program interface also includes a graphical selection interface. The graphical selection interface includes one or more select controls that are arranged for selecting data suitable to be inputted by selected input controls and for inputting the selected data in the selected input control as input data.

Claims

1. A computer device comprising:

a user interface executing on the computer device, wherein the user interface comprises;

a graphical program interface comprising a text input field for receiving a user selection, and

a graphical selection interface displayed within the graphical program interface upon the user selection of the text input field, wherein the text input field is free from obstruction by the graphical selection interface, the graphical selection interface including;

a search control configured to search for data choices,

a results field for displaying the data choices after the search, and

a select control configured to receive a selection of one of the data choices and to input the selected data choice in the text input field;

a processor communicatively connected to the graphical program interface and executing instructions to;

automatically determine at least one predetermined property of the text input field in response to the user selection of the text input field;

generate search criteria based on the at least one predetermined property;

search, with the search control and the search criteria, for the data choices;

display the data choices at the results field of the graphical selection interface.

2. The computer device of claim 1, wherein the search control comprises a type control for selecting a data type corresponding to a data type to be inputted at the text input field and wherein only data is displayed in the result field, which corresponds to the selected data type.

3. The computer device of claim 1, wherein searching for the data choices comprises:

selecting a predetermined list of data suitable to be inputted in at the text input field, wherein the list is associated with the property of the text input field.

4. The computer device of claim 1, further comprising:

an extensive search control arranged for activating a search program interface outside the graphical program interface.

5. A method for inputting data in a computer system, comprising:

providing a graphical program interface at a user-interface of the computer system, wherein the graphical program interface comprises a text input field;

receiving a user selection of the text input field;

providing a graphical selection interface displayed within the graphical program interface upon the user selection of the text input field, wherein the text input field is free from obstruction by the graphical selection interface, the graphical selection interface comprising a select control, a search control, and a results field;

automatically determining at least one predetermined property of the selected text input field;

generating search criteria based on the at least one predetermined property;

searching, with the search control and the search criteria, for the data choices;

displaying the data choices in the results field of the graphical selection interface;

selecting a data choice from the displayed data choices using the select control; and

inputting the data choice at the text input field.

6. A computer program product tangibly embodied in a machine-readable storage device, comprising program code which, when run on a programmable apparatus, performs a method comprising:

providing a graphical program interface at a user-interface of the computer system, wherein the graphical program interface comprises a text input field;

receiving a user selection of the text input field;

providing a graphical selection interface displayed within the graphical program interface upon the user selection of the text input field, wherein the text input field is free from obstruction by the graphical selection interface, the graphical selection interface comprising a select control, a search control, and a results field;

automatically determining at least one predetermined property of the selected text input field;

generating search criteria based on the at least one predetermined property;

searching, with the search control and the search criteria, for the data choices;

displaying the data choices in the results field of the graphical selection interface;

selecting a data choice from the displayed data choices using the select control; and

inputting the data choice at the text input field.

7. An article of manufacture with a computer-usable medium having computer-readable instructions tangibly embodied therein for providing access to resources available on that computer, the computer-readable instructions comprising instructions for causing the computer to perform a method comprising:

providing a graphical program interface at a user-interface of the computer system, wherein the graphical program interface comprises a text input field;

receiving a user selection of the text input field;

providing a graphical selection interface displayed within the graphical program interface upon the user selection of the text input field, wherein the text input field is free from obstruction by the graphical selection interface, the graphical selection interface comprising a select control, a search control, and a results field;

automatically determining at least one predetermined property of the selected text input field;

generating search criteria based on the at least one predetermined property;

searching, with the search control and the search criteria, for the data choices;

displaying the data choices in the results field of the graphical selection interface;

selecting a data choice from the displayed data choices using the select control; and

inputting the data choice at the text input field.