Indicating change to data form

• US 7,523,391 B1
• Filed: 03/25/2003
• Issued: 04/21/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 03/25/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Eizenhoefer, Richard Scott
• Primary Examiner(s): Hutton, Doug
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nguyen, Maikhanh
• Application Number:
  US10/397,098
• Time in Patent Office: 2,219 Days
• Field of Search: 715/507, 715/517, 715/530, 715/511, 715/200, 715/205, 715/224, 715/221, 715/225, 715/226, 715/234, 715/250, 715/255, 715/700, 715/701, 715/702, 715/711, 715/713, 715/715, 715/760, 715/763, 715/767, 715/772, 715/780, 715/800, 715/801, 715/802, 715/808, 715/815, 715/817, 715/856, 715/857, 715/858, 715/859, 707/1, 707/3, 707/10, 707/104.1, 707/200, 709/203
• US Class Current: 715/224
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04895 Guidance during keyboard input operation, e.g. prompting
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/174 Form filling; Merging

Abstract

Indicating a change to a data field in an electronic data entry form, such as a Web page, database form, or other electronic form. Upon loading an electronic data entry form, an initial content of each data field is stored. User interaction with a data field is detected, and the current content of the data field is compared to the initial content. If the content changes from its initial content, an indicator associated with the changed data field is activated. The indicator may include an icon displayed adjacent to the data field, a change in data field border, font, color, or other sensory characteristic. If a nested data field is modified, a second indicator may be activated for the nested data field. Any indicator may be deactivated if a reset function is activated, or the new data is submitted to a server or database for further action or permanent storage.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for indicating a change to a data field in an electronic data entry form while the electronic data entry form is being modified by a user, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) loading an electronic data form from a database, wherein the electronic data form comprises one or more data entry fields surrounded by borders;

(b) detecting an initial content of a data field as a portion of the electronic data entry form, wherein the initial content comprises the content for the data field when the electronic data form is loaded;

(c) storing the initial content of the data field for future reference;

(d) comparing a current content of the data field with the initial content of the data field, the current content comprising data in the data field that has been changed by user interaction with the data field; and

(e) before initiating storage of the current content of the data field to the database, determining that the current content of the data field is different from the initial content of the data field and in response to determining that the content of the data field is different from the initial content of the data field, activating a sensible indicator in the electronic data entry form, wherein the sensible indicator provides an indication in the form of at least one of a visual indicator, an audible sound, or tactile feedback, providing a readily apparent and sensible indication in the electronic data form that the current content of the data field is different from the initial content of the data field, wherein the sensible indicator includes at least one of enlarging a border around the data field or causing the border of the data field to blink, and

wherein steps (d)-(e) are performed in response to at least one of;

(i) a removal of focus from the data field;

(ii) an expiration of a predetermined time interval since the data field was previously accessed;

(iii) a transfer of focus to the data field;

or

(iv) a selection of a refresh function.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

(a) determining whether the data field comprises a nested data field that is included in a subset of data related to the data field; and

(b) activating a second indicator that is associated with the nested data field, if the data field comprises a nested data field.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of deactivating the indicator if at least one of:

(a) a reset function is activated to replace the current content of the data field with the initial content of the data field;

or

(b) a submit function is activated to permanently replace the initial content of the data field with the current content of the data field.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the step of deactivating the indicator comprises the step of overwriting an icon with a blank icon.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the data field comprises a portion of the electronic data entry form.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the electronic data entry form comprises at least one of:

(a) a Web page;

(b) a database form;

or

(c) a table.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein prior to accessing the initial content of the data field, further comprising the steps of:

(a) loading the electronic data entry form that includes the data field;

(b) detecting the data field within the electronic data entry form; and

(c) detecting the initial content of the data field.

8. A computer-readable medium storing computer-readable machine instructions that cause an electronic device to perform the following steps:

(a) loading an electronic data form from a database, wherein the electronic data form comprises one or more data entry fields surrounded by borders;

(b) detecting an initial content of a data field as a portion of the electronic data entry form, wherein the initial content comprises the content for the data field when the electronic data form is loaded;

(c) storing the initial content of the data field for future reference;

(d) comparing a current content of the data field with the initial content of the data field, the current content comprising data in the data field that has been changed by user interaction with the data field; and

(e) before initiating storage of the current content of the data field to the database, determining that the current content of the data field is different from the initial content of the data field and in response to determining that the content of the data field is different from the initial content of the data field, activating a sensible indicator in the electronic data entry form, wherein the sensible indicator provides an indication in the form of at least one of a visual indicator, an audible sound, or tactile feedback, providing a readily apparent and sensible indication in the electronic data form that the current content of the data field is different from the initial content of the data field, wherein the sensible indicator includes at least one of enlarging a border around the data field or causing the border of the data field to blink,

wherein steps (d)-(e) are performed in response to at least one of;

(i) a removal of focus from the data field;

(ii) an expiration of a predetermined time interval since the data field was previously accessed;

(iii) a transfer of focus to the data field;

or

(iv) a selection of a refresh function.

9. A system for indicating a change to a data field in an electronic data entry form, comprising:

a processor;

a display in communication with the processor;

a user input device in communication with the processor; and

a memory in communication with the processor and storing computer-readable machine instructions that cause the processor to perform a plurality of functions including;

(a) loading an electronic data form from a database, wherein the electronic data form comprises one or more data entry fields surrounded by borders;

(b) detecting an initial content of a data field as a portion of the electronic data entry form, wherein the initial content comprises the content for the data field when the electronic data form is loaded;

(c) storing the initial content of the data field for future reference;

(d) comparing a current content of the data field with the initial content of the data field, the current content comprising data in the data field that has been changed by user interaction with the data field; and

(e) before initiating storage of the current content of the data field to the database, determining that the current content of the data field is different from the initial content of the data field and in response to determining that the content of the data field is different from the initial content of the data field, activating a sensible indicator in the electronic data entry form, wherein the sensible indicator provides an indication in the form of at least one of a visual indicator, an audible sound, or tactile feedback, providing a readily apparent and sensible indication in the electronic data form that the current content of the data field is different from the initial content of the data field, wherein the sensible indicator includes at least one of enlarging a border around the data field or causing the border of the data field to blink,

wherein steps (d)-(e) are performed in response to at least one of;

(i) a removal of focus from the data field;

(ii) an expiration of a predetermined time interval since the data field was previously accessed;

(iii) a transfer of focus to the data field;

or

(iv) a selection of a refresh function.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the indicator comprises at least one of:

(a) an icon displayed adjacent to the data field;

(b) a change in a border around the data field;

(c) a change in a font used for the current content of the data field;

(d) a change in a color of a portion of the data field;

(e) a periodic variation in a displayed intensity of a portion of the data field;

or

(f) a revised form icon located at a predefined location on the electronic data entry form.

11. The system of claim 9, wherein the machine instructions further cause the processor to perform the functions of:

(a) determining whether the data field comprises a nested data field that is included in a subset of data related to the data field; and

(b) activating a second indicator on the display that is associated with the nested data field, if the data field comprises a nested data field.

12. The system of claim 9, wherein the machine instructions further cause the processor to perform the function of deactivating the indicator if at least one of:

(a) a reset function is activated with the input device to replace the current content of the data field with the initial content of the data field;

or

(b) a submit function is activated with the input device to process the current content of the data field.

13. The system of claim 9, wherein prior to storing the initial content of the data field, the machine instructions further cause the processor to perform the functions of:

(a) loading into the memory the electronic data entry form that includes the data;

(b) detecting the data field within the electronic data entry form; and

(c) detecting the initial content of the data field.