Action pad
First Claim
1. A method for integrating objects external to a business information management system into the business information management system via a user interface of an application program, each of the objects including content and having one of a plurality of object types, the application program operating according to a collaboration mode and a decision support mode, comprising:
- displaying the user interface in the collaboration mode, the user interface including a drop area for receiving the objects by the business information management system and an action area having a plurality of graphical controls corresponding to functions under the collaboration mode;
when the object is moved to the drop area, switching the application program to the decision support mode;
determining an object type of the object;
based upon the object type, determining a set of subroutines corresponding to the object type that updates data stored in the business information system;
comparing content structure of the object with known content structures, the known content structures including at least one of a form structure and a table structure, and further comparing a field pattern of the form structure for the content of the object received in the drop area to pre-stored field patterns to determine whether the object has a recognized form structure;
when the comparison generates a match, identifying a set of subroutines associated with data fields in the matching structure;
if the comparison does not generate a match,analyzing the content of the object for identifying context and subject matter of the object content, andbased on the identified context and subject matter of the object content, determining a set of subroutines associated with the identified context and subject matter; and
displaying an interactive list of the subroutines associated with the object type, the matching structure, and the identified context and subject matter of the object content.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Integration techniques for bridging business management software systems with external objects and data. An action pad application program window provides an interface to these integration techniques, and includes a drop area to receive external objects by drag-and-drop, an information area to display information about received external objects and data, and an action menu to display actions responsive to the received external objects and data. When an external object is received in the drop area, a determination is made as to what actions are associated with the object type, and the actions are displayed in the action menu. The content of the external object is also examined, and additional actions, dependent on the content, are displayed. The action pad application program also actively monitors a user'"'"'s e-mail and calendar, importing messages and events into the business management systems.
13 Citations
38 Claims
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1. A method for integrating objects external to a business information management system into the business information management system via a user interface of an application program, each of the objects including content and having one of a plurality of object types, the application program operating according to a collaboration mode and a decision support mode, comprising:
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displaying the user interface in the collaboration mode, the user interface including a drop area for receiving the objects by the business information management system and an action area having a plurality of graphical controls corresponding to functions under the collaboration mode; when the object is moved to the drop area, switching the application program to the decision support mode; determining an object type of the object; based upon the object type, determining a set of subroutines corresponding to the object type that updates data stored in the business information system; comparing content structure of the object with known content structures, the known content structures including at least one of a form structure and a table structure, and further comparing a field pattern of the form structure for the content of the object received in the drop area to pre-stored field patterns to determine whether the object has a recognized form structure; when the comparison generates a match, identifying a set of subroutines associated with data fields in the matching structure; if the comparison does not generate a match, analyzing the content of the object for identifying context and subject matter of the object content, and based on the identified context and subject matter of the object content, determining a set of subroutines associated with the identified context and subject matter; and displaying an interactive list of the subroutines associated with the object type, the matching structure, and the identified context and subject matter of the object content. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 29)
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15. A machine-readable storage medium having stored thereon instructions adapted to be executed by a processor to perform a method for integrating objects external to a business information management system into the business information management system via a user interface of an application program, each of the objects including a content and having one of a plurality of object types, the application program operating according to a collaboration mode and a decision support mode, comprising:
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displaying the user interface in the collaboration mode, the user interface including a drop area for receiving the objects by the business information management system and an action area having a plurality of graphical controls corresponding to functions under the collaboration mode; when the object is moved to the drop area, switching the application program to the decision support mode; determining an object type of the object; based upon the object type, determining a set of subroutines corresponding to the object type that updates data stored in the business information system; comparing content structure of the object with known content structures, the known content structures including at least one of a form structure and a table structure, and further comparing a field pattern of the form structure for the content of the object received in the drop area to pre-stored field patterns to determine whether the object has a recognized form structure; when the comparison generates a match, identifying a set of subroutines associated with data fields in the matching structure; if the comparison does not generate a match, analyzing the content of the object for identifying context and subject matter of the object content, and, based on the identified context and subject matter of the object content, determining a set of subroutines associated with the identified context and subject matter; and displaying an interactive list of the subroutines associated with the object type, the matching structure, and the identified context and subject matter of the object content. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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27. A method for integrating objects into a business information management system via a user interface of an application program, each of the objects including a content and being associated with one of a plurality of object types, the application program having a collaboration mode and a decision support mode, comprising:
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displaying the user interface according to the collaboration mode, the user interface including a drop area for receiving the objects by the business information management system and an action area for a plurality of graphical controls corresponding to functions under the collaboration mode; when the object is moved to the drop area, switching the application program to the decision support mode; identifying an object type of the object as a business contact, and for the business contact type; searching the business information management system; determining whether the business contact already is stored in the business information management system; and if not, updating the business information management system with business contact; comparing the content structure of the identified object with known content structures, the known content structures including at least one of a form structure and a table structure, and further comparing a field pattern of the form structure for the content of the object received in the drop area to pre-stored field patterns to determine whether the object has a recognized form structure; when the comparison generates a match, identifying a set of subroutines associated with data fields in the matching structure; if the comparison does not generate a match, analyzing the content of the object for identifying context and subject matter of the object content, and, based on the identified context and subject matter of the object content, determining a set of subroutines associated with the identified context and subject matter; and displaying an interactive list of the subroutines associated with the object type, the matching structure, and the identified context and subject matter of the object content. - View Dependent Claims (28, 30, 31, 32, 33)
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34. A method for integrating objects into a business information management system via a user interface of an application program, each of the objects including a content and being associated with one of a plurality of object types, the application program having a collaboration mode and a decision support mode, comprising:
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displaying the user interface according to the collaboration mode, the user interface including a drop area for receiving the objects by the business information management system and an action area for a plurality of graphical controls corresponding to functions under the collaboration mode; when the object is moved to the drop area, switching the application program to the decision support mode; identifying an object type as a sender, searching information about the sender in the business information management system; retrieving the information about the sender from the business information management system; displaying the information about the sender; determining a set of subroutines relating to the sender; comparing the content structure of the identified object with known content structures, the known content structures including at least one of a form structure and a table structure, and further comparing a field pattern of the form structure for the content of the object received in the drop area to pre-stored field patterns to determine whether the object has a recognized form structure; when the comparison generates a match, identifying a set of subroutines associated with data fields in the matching structure; if the comparison does not generate a match, analyzing the content of the object for identifying context and subject matter of the object content, and, based on the identified context and subject matter of the object content, determining a set of subroutines associated with the identified context and subject matter; and displaying an interactive list of the subroutines associated with the object type, the matching structure, and the identified context and subject matter of the object content. - View Dependent Claims (35, 36, 37, 38)
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Specification