Flexible and extensible combination user interfaces
First Claim
1. A computer system the computer system comprising:
- a first data storage for storing a state of a task of a user, wherein the task is a unit of activity that can be performed as a sequence of multiple steps, anda goal comprises the task and a second task;
a second data storage for storing metadata, the metadata identifying elements of a user interface and indicating properties relating to the elements, the metadata enabling flexibility and extensibility of the user interface through additions and modifications of the metadata, whereinthe metadata comprises a unit of metadata defining a context menu associated with an inbox applet component;
the inbox applet component, wherein the inbox applet component is configured to, when requested, provide the user interface, whereinthe user interface has an inbox that enables the user to manipulate the task,the user interface is generated from the second data storage, andthe inbox comprises items of the first data storage; and
logic configured to provide automatic behavior triggered by the task wherein the automatic behavior includes enforcement of a business rule.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Flexible and extensible combination user interfaces are described. Combination user interfaces combine task-based and deductive user interfaces in such a manner that complex user interactions can be facilitated using a more meaningful and intuitive user interface than would have been possible using task-based or deductive user interfaces exclusively. The described combination user interfaces are flexible and extensible. They are flexible in that users can work on multiple tasks or switch between tasks without first needing to complete another task. They are extensible in that they can be extended to add, modify, or remove tasks or portions of tasks. User interfaces can be extended by manipulating metadata associated with the user interfaces. The combination user interface can be combined with an Inbox concept to facilitate saving and assigning tasks. The Inbox represents a work queue for a user.
25 Citations
21 Claims
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1. A computer system the computer system comprising:
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a first data storage for storing a state of a task of a user, wherein the task is a unit of activity that can be performed as a sequence of multiple steps, and a goal comprises the task and a second task; a second data storage for storing metadata, the metadata identifying elements of a user interface and indicating properties relating to the elements, the metadata enabling flexibility and extensibility of the user interface through additions and modifications of the metadata, wherein the metadata comprises a unit of metadata defining a context menu associated with an inbox applet component; the inbox applet component, wherein the inbox applet component is configured to, when requested, provide the user interface, wherein the user interface has an inbox that enables the user to manipulate the task, the user interface is generated from the second data storage, and the inbox comprises items of the first data storage; and logic configured to provide automatic behavior triggered by the task wherein the automatic behavior includes enforcement of a business rule. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A method performed by a computing system to, the method comprising:
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retrieving metadata from a database, the metadata identifying user interface elements and indicating properties relating to the user interface elements, wherein the database enables flexibility and extensibility through additions to and modifications of the metadata; retrieving a task from a unit of storage, wherein the task is a unit of activity that can be performed as a sequence of multiple steps, and a goal comprises the task and a second task; providing a user interface that enables a user to manipulate the task, the user interface generated from the retrieved metadata based on an indicated task, the user interface including the inbox, wherein the user interface comprises the user interface elements, and the metadata comprises a unit of metadata defining a context menu associated with an inbox applet component; providing automatic behavior triggered by the task, wherein the automatic behavior comprises enforcement of the business rule; and storing the task in the unit of storage after the user has manipulated the task. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14)
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15. A system the system comprising:
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a unit of storage; an inbox applet component, stored in the unit of storage, that retrieves a definition for a user interface from metadata, wherein the metadata defines the user interface, and the metadata comprises a unit of metadata for defining a context menu associated with the inbox applet component; an inbox commands component that receives commands from a user in relation to an inbox and provides the commands to the inbox applet component; a component that receives a request from the inbox applet component, the request relating to information contained in a database comprising information displayed in the inbox with respect to a task, wherein the task is a unit of activity that can be performed as a sequence of multiple steps, and a goal comprises the task and a second task; logic configured to provide automatic behavior triggered by the task, wherein the automatic behavior includes enforcement of a business rule. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A computer program product in a unit of storage configured to perform a method, the method comprising:
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retrieving a definition for a user interface from metadata stored in a unit of storage; and providing the user interface based on the definition, wherein the user interface comprises an inbox, the inbox comprising a task for a user, wherein the task is a unit of activity that can be performed as a sequence of multiple steps, and a goal comprises the task and a second task, the user interface enables the user to manipulate the task, the metadata comprises a unit of metadata defining a context menu associated with the inbox; providing automatic behavior triggered by the task, wherein the automatic behavior includes enforcement of a business rule; and storing the task in the unit of storage after the user has manipulated the task.
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Specification