Methods and software for a batch processing framework for wizard-based processes

• US 7,757,234 B2
• Filed: 10/24/2005
• Issued: 07/13/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 10/24/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SAP SE
• Original Assignee: SAP AG (SAP SE)
• Inventors: Krebs, Andreas S.
• Primary Examiner(s): An; Meng-Ai
• Assistant Examiner(s): KRISHNAN, NIKHIL R
• Application Number:
  US11/257,642
• Publication Number:
  US 20070101331A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,723 Days
• Field of Search: 718/101, 718/100, 715/700
• US Class Current: 718/101
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/453 Help systems

Abstract

Disclosed herein are systems and techniques to provide for batch processing of wizards. In general, the techniques may include a computer-implemented method that comprises presenting a wizard to a user to perform a step-by-step process, with each step associated with a step type and the step type being one of confirmation, processing, optional input, or mandatory input. The process is executed as a batch process based on a user request. Then, the batch process is interrupted based on an associated step type of a current step, the interrupting comprising comparing the associated step type to a user parameter.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method, comprising:

presenting a wizard to a user to perform a step-by-step process, each step associated with a step type, the step type being one of confirmation, processing, optional input, or mandatory input, wherein the wizard is capable of presenting a user interface associated with each step in the step-by-step process;

executing the wizard process as a batch process by a batch job manager based on a user'"'"'s first request; and

interrupting the batch process based on an associated step type of a current step, the interruption determined by a comparison of the associated step type of the current step to a user parameter, wherein interrupting the batch process comprises;

presenting an augmented user interface associated with the current step incorporating at least one user interface element associated with the operations of the batch job manager configured to receive a user'"'"'s second request; and

resuming execution of the batch process based on the user'"'"'s second request.

2. The method of claim 1, where the user parameter identifies one or more step types that require interruption of the batch process.

3. The method of claim 2, where the interrupting of the batch process occurs if the step type of the current step is identified by the user parameter.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a prompt; and

resuming execution of the batch process in response to the prompt.

5. The method of claim 1, where executing the process comprises selecting a step in the process and executing the step.

6. A computer-implemented method, comprising:

presenting a wizard to a user to perform a step-by-step process, each step associated with a step type, the step type indicating whether the step requires user input, the step type being one of confirmation, processing, optional input, or mandatory input, wherein the wizard is capable of presenting a user interface associated with each step in the step-by-step process;

executing the wizard process as a batch process by a batch job manager based on a user'"'"'s first request; and

interrupting the batch process based on an associated step type of a current step when the step type indicates that user input is required, wherein interrupting the batch process comprises;

presenting an augmented user interface associated with the current step incorporating at least one user interface element associated with the operations of the batch job manager configured to receive a user'"'"'s second request; and

resuming execution of the batch process based on the user'"'"'s second request.

7. The method of claim 6, where the step type associated with a step is determined dynamically by the batch job manager based at least on information retrieved via an application programming interface associated with the wizard.

8. A computer-implemented method, comprising:

accepting control of a wizard based on a first user request, the wizard configured to perform a step-by-step process, each step associated with a step type, the step type being one of confirmation, processing, optional input, or mandatory input, wherein the wizard is capable of presenting a user interface associated with each step in the step-by-step process;

causing execution of the wizard process in batch mode by a batch job manager until a first step associated with a step type that requires user input is encountered;

presenting an augmented user interface of the wizard associated with the first step to the user, where the augmented user interface of the wizard incorporates at least one user interface element associated with the operations of the batch job manager configured to correspond to the first step, where completion of the first step is based at least in part on a second user request; and

resuming execution of the wizard process in batch mode after completion of the first step based on the second user request.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising continuing execution of the wizard process in batch mode until a second step associated with a step type that requires user input is encountered.

10. The method of claim 8, where user interfaces associated with particular steps of the wizard are not presented while the process is executing in batch mode.

11. The method of claim 8, where accepting control of the wizard includes obtaining state information for the wizard.

12. The method of claim 8, where causing execution of the wizard process includes determining from the wizard process what the next step is.

13. Software stored in non-transitory computer readable media comprising machine-readable instructions, the instructions operable when executed to:

present a wizard to a user to perform a step-by-step process, each step associated with a step type, the step type indicating whether the step requires user input, the step type being one of confirmation, processing, optional input, or mandatory input, wherein the wizard is capable of presenting a user interface associated with each step in the step-by-step process;

execute the wizard process as a batch process by a batch job manager based on a user'"'"'s first request; and

interrupt the batch process based on an associated step type of a current step when the step type indicates that user input is required, wherein interrupting the batch process comprises;

presenting an augmented user interface associated with the current step incorporating at least one user interface element associated with the operations of the batch job manager configured to receive a user'"'"'s second request; and

resuming execution of the batch process based on the user'"'"'s second request.

14. The software of claim 13, where the step type associated with a step is determined dynamically by the batch job manager based at least on information retrieved via an application programming interface associated with the wizard.