Method and system for managing user interface messages

• US 7,657,554 B2
• Filed: 11/05/2004
• Issued: 02/02/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 11/05/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Brown, Stephen K., Smith, Walter, Murphy, Shawn M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Vital; Pierre M
• Assistant Examiner(s): OBISESAN, AUGUSTINE KUNLE
• Application Number:
  US10/982,531
• Publication Number:
  US 20060101034A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,915 Days
• Field of Search: 707/102, 707/3, 715/513, 345/10, 705/9
• US Class Current: 715/206
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management

Abstract

A system, method, data structures and computer-accessible medium is provided for storing, managing, and tracking the development of messages for computer program products. Message and message-related data for messages which computer program products display to users as part of the product'"'"'s user interface are centralized in a message catalog. A message catalog schema describes the attributes of a message separately from the attributes of one or more conditions for which a message should be displayed. Interfaces are provided for creating, localizing, documenting, maintaining, displaying, and supporting messages and message-related data in a message catalog consistent with the message catalog schema. Notifications to owners of the messages and conditions is performed periodically or whenever a change has been detected.

Claims

1. A method for managing compilable user interface messages that appear on the display of a computer system that is network connectable to one or more other computer systems via a network using a user interface (“

UI”

) message catalog, the method comprising;

creating message data in said UI message catalog, the UI message data describing resources used to manage and track the development of a UI message, including resources used to display the UI message to a user of a compiled software application program with which the UI message is associated;

creating condition data in the UI message catalog, the condition data describing at least one condition for which the UI message is displayed to the user of the compiled software application program, wherein the condition data is searchable such that a user can search the UI message catalog for UI messages associated with the condition data by inputting a search conditions attribute for a pre-defined or custom search of the UI message catalog, wherein the condition data further describes documentation data associated with the condition, the documentation data including at least one of a cause of the condition, a context of the condition, a workaround for the condition, and a resolution of the condition, and

wherein the documentation data further includes at least one of a message ID identifying the UI message that is displayed when the condition occurs, a code symbol of the identified UI message, a feature of the compiled message-enabled software application program for which the condition occurs, a sub-feature of the software application program for which the condition occurs, a documentation status of the documentation data that is publicly available to the user of the compiled message-enabled software application program, an expected use of the UI message catalog when the condition occurs, a dependency list identifying one or more services and components that might cause the condition, an escalation identifying at least one of an alias to which occurrences of the condition should escalate, and an action to take when the condition occurs;

compiling the UI message catalog into a format suitable for enabling the UI message to be merged with the compiled software application program to create a compiled message-enabled software application program;

merging the UI message from the UI catalog with the compiled software application program to create the compiled message-enabled software application program wherein said merging occurs before runtime of said compiled message-enabled software application program; and

displaying the UI message to the user when the at least one condition occurs during use of the compiled message-enabled software application program, wherein displaying is performed using the resources described in the UI message data.

2. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the UI message data describes an audience to which the user of the compiled message-enabled software application program belongs, and further comprising localizing the UI message and condition data to at least one of a level of expertise and a language of the audience.

3. The method as recited in claim 2, wherein localizing the UI message and condition data to the level of expertise of the audience includes changing the resources used to display the UI message to the user.

4. The method as recited in claim 2, wherein localizing the UI message and condition data to the language of the audience includes translating a text portion of the resources used to display the UI message to the user to the language of the audience.

5. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the resources used to develop the UI message includes a status of the UI message and an owner of the UI message, and the condition data further describing a status of the condition, and an owner responsible for the condition.

6. The method as recited in claim 5, further comprising notifying the owners about their UI messages and conditions.

7. The method as recited in claim 6, wherein notifying the owners about their UI messages and conditions is performed when the UI message and condition data changes.

8. The method as recited in claim 6, wherein notifying the owners about their UI messages and conditions is performed periodically.

9. The method as recited in claim 6, wherein notifying the owners about their UI messages and conditions is performed when the status of the UI message and the status of the condition indicate that the owners have not yet approved their UI messages and conditions.

10. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

locking the UI message and condition data in the UI message catalog after the owners have approved, wherein the locked UI message and condition data can no longer be edited; and

branching the UI message data and condition data in the UI message catalog for use with a new version of the compiled message-enabled software application program, wherein the branched data can be edited to reflect any changes in at least one of the UI message displayed to the user of the new version of the compiled message-enabled software application program, and the conditions for which the UI message is displayed.

11. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the resources used to display the UI message to the user of the compiled message-enabled software application program include at least one of a UI message catalog display container representing the UI message as one of an error, a question, and informational, a text of the tJ1 message to display in the UI message catalog display container, an icon to display in the UI message catalog display container, a button configuration for the UI message catalog display container, a message parameter representing parameters passed for the UI message, and a show again indicator of whether to display a show again user option in the UI message catalog display container.

12. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the documentation data is publicly available to the user of the compiled message-enabled software application program.

13. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the documentation data is privately available to the user of the compiled message-enabled software application program.

14. The method as recited in claim 1, the documentation data further including an expected use, the expected use indicating whether to display the UI message using the UI message catalog display container or in-line.

15. The method as recited in claim 14, wherein the expected use further indicates whether to log the UI message to a support repository.

16. A method for displaying on a display device of a computer system an interface to a user interface (“

UI”

) message catalog in which UI message data for compiled software application programs are stored, the method comprising;

receiving an input for creating a UI message, the UI message input specifying at least one condition for which the UI message is displayed to a user and at least one resource for developing the UI message, the at least one resource for developing the UI message including at least one resource for displaying the UI message;

storing the UI message in a UI message catalog in a format that enables the UI message to be merged with the compiled software application program to create a compiled message-enabled software application program in response to receiving the user UI message input, wherein said merging occurs before runtime of said compiled message-enabled software application program;

receiving an input for creating a condition, the condition input including condition data that specifies the UI message to display to the user when the condition occurs, an expected use for the condition, and a documentation of the condition, wherein the condition data further specifies documentation data associated with the condition, the documentation data including at least one of a cause of the condition, a context of the condition, a workaround for the condition, and a resolution of the condition, and

wherein the documentation data further includes at least one of a message ID identifying the UI message that is displayed when the condition occurs, a code symbol of the identified UI message, a feature of the compiled message-enabled software application program for which the condition occurs, a sub-feature of the software application program for which the condition occurs, a documentation status of the documentation data that is publicly available to the user of the compiled message-enabled software application program, an expected use of the UI message catalog when the condition occurs, a dependency list identifying one or more services and components that might cause the condition, an escalation identifying at least one of an alias to which occurrences of the condition should escalate, and an action to take when the condition occurs;

storing the condition in a UI message catalog in response to receiving the condition input;

receiving an input for bulk editing at least one UI message stored in the UI message catalog for the compiled message-enabled software application program, wherein the one or more UI messages are edited at the same time by the input, and wherein UI messages are bulk edited without changing prior existing versions of the UI messages;

compiling the UI message catalog into a format that is accessible to the compiled message-enabled software application program; and

displaying the UI message and any conditions for which the UI message is displayed to the user.

17. The method as recited in claim 16, further comprising:

receiving an input for associating the UI message and any condition for which the UI message is displayed with a version of a compiled message-enabled software application program, the version including one of an editable version and a non-editable version, the non-editable version representing a version of the compiled message-enabled software application program that has shipped.

18. The method as recited in claim 16, wherein the UI message input specifying at least one resource used to develop the UI message includes UI message input specifying a status of the UI message and an owner of the UI message, and the condition input further specifying a status of the condition, and an owner responsible for the condition.

19. The method as recited in claim 16, further comprising:

receiving an input for querying the UI message catalog to display those UI messages and conditions associated with one of the versions of the compiled message-enabled software application program.

20. The method as recited in claim 16, further comprising:

receiving an input for querying the UI message catalog to display those UI messages and conditions associated with editable versions of the compiled message-enabled software application program.

21. The method as recited in claim 16, further comprising:

receiving an input for querying the UI message catalog to display the conditions that occur most frequently.

22. The method as recited in claim 17, further comprising:

receiving an input for querying the UI message catalog to display the UI messages owned by a particular owner.

23. The method as recited in claim 17, further comprising:

receiving an input for querying the UI message catalog to display the conditions owned by a particular owner.

24. The method as recited in claim 16, further comprising:

receiving an input for updating the UI message catalog to edit the UI message and any conditions;

rejecting the updating input when the version with which the UI message and any conditions are associated is non-editable; and

updating the UI message catalog in accordance with the updating input when the version with which the UI message and any conditions are associated is editable.

25. The method as recited in claim 16, further comprising:

receiving an input for documenting a condition, the documenting input specifying at least one of a cause, condition, workaround, and resolution (CCWR) of the condition; and

displaying the CCWR of the condition.

26. The method as recited in claim 17, further comprising:

receiving an input for approving the UI message, the approving input specifying whether to update the UI message status to indicate one of whether the UI message needs review, whether the UI message has been reviewed, and whether the text of the UI message has been finalized.

27. The method as recited in claim 17, further comprising:

receiving an input for approving the condition, the approving input specifying whether to update the condition status to indicate one of whether the UI message needs review, whether the UI message has been reviewed, and whether the text of the UI message has been finalized.

28. The method as recited in claim 16, further comprising:

displaying the UI messages and conditions for the bulk edit that has been requested;

receiving a selection of a subset of the UI messages and conditions for the bulk edit that has been requested, including a default selection of all of the UI messages and conditions for the bulk editing that has been requested; and

updating the selected UI messages and condition with the specified global change.

29. The method as recited in claim 28, wherein the bulk edit is restricted to one of reassigning the selected UI messages and conditions to a new owner, approving the selected UI messages and conditions, updating the status of the selected UI messages and conditions, and deleting the selected UI messages and conditions.

30. The method as recited in claim 16, wherein the at least one resource for displaying the UI message include at least one of a UI message catalog display container representing the UI message as one of an error, a question, and information, a text of the UI message to display in the UI message catalog display container, an icon to display in the UI message catalog display container, a button configuration for command buttons in the UI message catalog display container, a UI message parameter representing parameters passed for the UI message, and a show again indicator of whether to display a show again user option in the UI message catalog display container.

31. A computer storage medium having stored thereon a compilable data structure representing a user interface (“

UI”

) message suitable for appearing on the display of a computer system that is network connectable to one or more other computer systems via a network, the data structure comprising;

a compiled message-enabled software application program attribute representing a compiled message-enabled software application program for which a UI message has been created in a merger prior to runtime of said compiled message-enabled software application;

a version attribute indicating that a version of the compiled message-enabled software application program to which the U1 message pertains;

a language attribute indicating a dominant language of a user audience to whom the UI message is displayed;

an audience attribute indicating a selected one of a type of user audience to whom the UI message is displayed, the type of user audience including a level of expertise of the user audience;

an ID attribute uniquely identifying the UI message;

a type attribute indicating whether the UI message is displayed using one of an error display container, a question display container, and an informational display container;

a status attribute indicating a status of the UI message, the status indicating one of whether the message needs review, whether the message has been reviewed, and whether the text of the message has been finalized;

a modality attribute indicating a modality of the display container used to display the UI message, the modality being one of displaying the display container always on top or beneath another window;

an icon attribute identifying an icon to display in the display container used to display the U1 message;

a show again indicator of whether the display container used to display the UI message includes a user option to not display the message again;

a text attribute containing a text of the UI message;

a parameter attribute containing a description of parameters passed for the UI message from the compiled message-enabled software application program for which this UI message has been created;

a button configuration attribute indicating a configuration of command buttons in the display container used to display the UI message;

a default button attribute indicating which command button in the display container used to display the UI message is the default;

a cancel button attribute indicating which command button in the display container used to display the UI message is activated when the display container is canceled;

at least one button text attribute containing a text of a command button in the display container used to display the UI message;

at least one owner attribute identifying an owner of the UI message;

at least one signoff attribute indicating whether the owner of the UI message has one of approved and denied the UI message; and

a search conditions attribute indicating search options to search for a specific condition, wherein the search conditions may be pre-defined or customized.

32. The computer storage media having stored thereon a data structure representing a UI message, as recited in claim 31, wherein the text attribute containing the text of the UI message includes at least one token that is resolved at run time.

33. A computer storage medium having stored thereon a compilable data structure representing a condition for which a user interface (‘

UI’

) message, that has been merged with a compiled software application program prior to runtime of a compiled message-enabled software application program, suitable for appearing on the computer display of a computer system that is network connectable to one or more other computer systems via a network on which a UI is displayed to a user, the data structure comprising;

a compiled message-enabled software application program attribute representing a compiled message-enabled software application program for which a condition may occur;

a version attribute indicating that a version of the software application program to which the condition pertains;

a language attribute indicating a dominant language of a user audience to whom a UI message for the condition is displayed;

an audience attribute indicating a selected one of a type of user audience to whom the UI message for the condition is displayed, the type of user audience including a level of expertise of the user audience;

an condition ID attribute uniquely identifying the condition;

a type attribute indicating whether the UI message is displayed using a message catalog display container for one of ail error, a question, and information;

a message ID containing a unique identifier of the UI message that is displayed for the condition;

a symbol attribute containing a code symbol used to identify the condition;

a feature attribute identifying a feature of the compiled message-enabled software application program for which the condition occurs;

a subfeature attribute identifying a subfeature of the compiled message-enabled software application program for which the condition occurs;

a status attribute indicating a status of the condition, the status indicating one of whether the condition needs review, whether the condition has been reviewed, and whether the text of the message associated with the condition has been finalized;

an expected use attribute indicating whether the UI message is one of displayed using the message catalog display container and displayed inline;

a dependency attribute containing a list of components that may cause the condition to occur, the list of components including at least one of a list of online services, online components, and local components;

a parameter attribute containing a description of parameters passed for the UI message from the compiled message-enabled software application program for which the condition occurs;

a documentation attribute containing a description of documentation for the condition;

at least one owner attribute identifying an owner of the condition;

at least one signoff attribute indicating whether the owner of the condition has one of approved and denied the condition;

a search conditions attribute indicating one or more search options to search for the condition ID attribute or the symbol attribute, wherein the search may be a pre-defined search or a custom search;

a search results attribute identifying search results in response to the search, wherein the search results attribute identifies the UI message and the status of the UI message; and

a bulk editing attribute identifying available bulk editing options for a plurality of UI messages, wherein the bulk editing attribute identifies the plurality of UI messages to be edited upon receiving a user selection of one or more UI messages while preserving the UI messages associated with versions that are not currently being bulk edited.

34. The computer storage medium having stored thereon a data structure representing a condition, as recited in claim 33, wherein the documentation attribute containing documentation of the condition includes text describing at least one of a cause of the condition, a context of the condition, a workaround for the condition, and a resolution of the condition.

35. The computer storage medium having stored thereon a data structure representing a condition, as recited in claim 34, wherein the documentation is described for the public.

36. The computer storage medium having stored thereon a data structure representing a condition, as recited in claim 34, wherein the documentation is described for internal use.

37. The computer storage medium having stored thereon a data structure representing a condition, as recited in claim 33, wherein the documentation attribute containing documentation of the condition includes text describing an alias to which occurrences of the condition should escalate.