Persistent dashboard for user interface

• US 7,836,403 B2
• Filed: 06/27/2002
• Issued: 11/16/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 06/27/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Oracle America, Inc. (Oracle Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Siebel Systems Inc. (Oracle Corporation)
• Inventors: Viswanathan, Sabarivasan, Keller, Carl P., Mobley, Katherine H.
• Primary Examiner(s): TAN, ALVIN H
• Application Number:
  US10/185,180
• Publication Number:
  US 20070198944A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,064 Days
• Field of Search: 715/738, 715/739, 715/777, 715/781, 715/804, 715/809, 715/810, 715/821, 715/841, 715/843, 715513-517, 715/500, 715/526, 715/745, 717115-117, 707/3, 707/104.1, 705/35, 705/39, 705/42, 705/43, 705/5, 705/1, 705/26, 379/142.06
• US Class Current: 715/745
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/451 Execution arrangements for user interfaces

Abstract

A method, user interface module, application program interface, computer program product and system that provides access to context information in a display window that remains persistent as the user navigates the application and views application data. The persistent dashboard can be populated from a communications event, such as an inbound telephone call; from data entered by the customer service agent via the user interface, such as a response to one of a series of scripted questions; from search results of a user-initiated search; or from application data displayed in a display window of the user interface. Various types of information from enterprise databases can be captured in the persistent dashboard to address the enterprise'"'"'s business processes and needs. Information displayed in the persistent dashboard is configurable.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

pushing context information, in response to a first change in context; and

maintaining the context information, until a second change in context occurs, wherein

the context information is configured to be displayed in a first display window of a user interface of a client,

the client is configured to be communicatively coupled to a server,

the maintaining comprises

updating the context information, in response to a change in the context information, and

the server is configured to

perform the pushing to a functional control module, wherein

the functional control module is configured to be executed on the client,

the functional control module is configured to perform the updating, and

the functional control module is configured to provide a notification of an incoming communication event associated with the second change in context, and

perform the maintaining without respect to whether the first display window is currently displayed.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein

the pushing is performed substantially contemporaneously with the first change in context.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein

the context information is configurable.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein

the first change in context comprises obtaining a smart script response.

5. The method of claim 3 wherein

the first change in context comprises receiving a selection of a data record from a search result.

6. The method of claim 3 wherein

the first change in context comprises receiving an update command.

7. The method of claim 3 wherein

the first change in context comprises sending a communication command.

8. The method of claim 2 further comprising:

persistently displaying the context information in the first display window until the second change in context occurs.

9. The method of claim 2 wherein

the first change in context comprises receiving a communication event.

10. The method of claim 2 further comprising:

responsive to the second change in context, causing the functional control module to update the first display window.

11. The method of claim 2 wherein

a change in a view presented as part of the user interface corresponds to a change in context other than the first change in context and

the second change in context.

12. The method of claim 1 wherein

the maintaining is performed persistently until the second change in context;

and

the server is configured to

determine whether the first change in context has occurred,

responsive to determining that the first change in context has occurred, determine whether a communication event has occurred,

responsive to determining that the communication event has occurred,

perform a first update operation on an item of data, wherein

the item of data comprises data for the user interface, and

the first update operation uses one or more items of context information for the communication event,

determine whether a user has provided one or more items of user-entered data,

responsive to determining that the user has provided the one or more items of user-entered data, perform a second update operation on the item of data, wherein

the second update operation uses one or more items of context information, and

the one or more items of context information correspond to the one or more items of user-entered data,

determine whether the user has focused on a data record,

responsive to determining that the user has focused on a data record, perform a third update operation on the item of data, wherein

the third update operation uses context information for the data record,

determine whether a search result record is selected,

responsive to determining that the search result record is selected,

perform a fourth update operation on the item of data, wherein

the fourth update operation uses context information for the search result record,

determine whether the user interface is currently displayed, and

responsive to determining that the user interface is currently displayed, display on the user interface the item of data, wherein

the displaying comprises displaying the item of data after the updating is complete.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein

an event triggering the first change in context is configurable.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein

an event triggering the second change in context is configurable.

15. The method of claim 12 further comprising:

displaying application data in a second display window of the user interface, wherein

the context information is related to the application data.

16. The method of claim 3 further comprising:

displaying application data in a second display window, wherein

the first and the second changes in context are related to the application data.

17. A computer program product comprising:

pushing instructions to push context information, in response to a first change in context, wherein

the context information is configured to be displayed in a first display window of a user interface of a client;

maintaining instructions to maintain the context information, until a second change in context occurs; and

a computer-readable medium to store the pushing instructions and the maintaining instructions, wherein

the client is communicatively coupled to a server,

the maintaining instructions comprise

instructions for updating the context information, in response to a change in the context information,

instructions for making a determination with respect to whether an inbound call is able to be automatically associated with a contact record, wherein

if said determination indicates that said inboundcall is unable to be automatically associated with any contact record, a search is enabled,

said search is entered through the user interface,

a search result is produced by said search,

said search result is a result contact record,

said search result is displayed in response to an actuation of a user control,

said second change in context is a selection of said search result,

the updating is configurably limited to a set of fields associated with said first display window, and

a past version of the context information is configured to be available for a subsequent retrieval,

the pushing instructions and the maintaining instructions are configured to be executed on the server, and

the pushing instructions and the maintaining instructions are configured to cause the server to

perform the pushing to a functional control module, wherein

the functional control module is configured to be executed on the client, and

the functional control module is configured to provide a notification of an incoming communication event associated with the second change in context, and

perform the maintaining without respect to whether the first display window is currently displayed.

18. The computer program product of claim 17 wherein

the pushing instructions are configured to cause the pushing to be performed substantially contemporaneously with the first change in context,

the server is configured to

determine whether the first change in context has occurred,

responsive to determining that the first change in context has occurred, determine whether a communication event has occurred,

responsive to determining that the communication event has occurred, perform a first update operation on an item of data, wherein

the item of data comprises data for the user interface, and

the first update operation uses one or more items of context information for the communication event,

determine whether a user has provided one or more items of user-entered data,

responsive to determining that the user has provided the one or more items of user-entered data, perform a second update operation on the item of data, wherein

the second update operation uses one or more items of context information, and

the one or more items of context information correspond to the one or more items of user-entered data,

determine whether the user has focused on a data record,

responsive to determining that the user has focused on a data record, perform a third update operation on the item of data, wherein

the third update operation uses context information for the data record,

determine whether a search result record is selected,

responsive to determining that the search result record is selected, perform a fourth update operation on the item of data, wherein

the fourth update operation uses context information for the search result record,

determine whether the user interface is currently displayed,

responsive to determining that the user interface is currently displayed, display on the user interface the item of data, wherein

the displaying comprises displaying the item of data after the updating is complete,

responsive to the second change in context, cause the functional control module to update the first display window, and

if said second change in context is a selection of a search result, store a past version of the context information for retrieval, and

the maintaining instructions are configured to cause the context information to be maintained persistently until the second change in context.

19. A system comprising:

a computer readable storage medium;

means for pushing context information for display in a first display window of a user interface of a client, in response to a first change in context; and

means for maintaining the context information for display in the first display window, until a second change in context occurs, wherein

the client is communicatively coupled to a server,

the pushing means and the maintaining means are configured to be executed on the server,

the means for maintaining comprises

means for updating the context information, in response to a change in the context information,

the means for updating comprises

means for making a determination with respect to whether an inbound call is able to be automatically associated with a contact record, wherein

if said determination indicates that said inbound call is unable to be automatically associated with any contact record, a search is enabled,

said search is entered through the user interface,

a search result is produced by said search,

said search result is a result contact record,

said search result is displayed in response to an actuation of a user control,

said second change in context is a selection of said search result,

the means for updating is configurably limited to a set of fields associated with said first display window, and

a past version of the context information is configured to be available for a subsequent retrieval, and

the pushing means and the maintaining means are configured to cause the server to perform the pushing to a functional control module, wherein

the functional control module is configured to be executed on the client, and

the functional control module is configured to

provide a notification of an incoming communication event associated with the second change in context, and

perform the maintaining without respect to whether the first display window is currently displayed.

20. The system of claim 19 wherein

the means for pushing are configured to perform the pushing substantially contemporaneously with the first change in context,

the server is configured to

determine whether the first change in context has occurred,

responsive to determining that the first change in context has occurred, determine whether a communication event has occurred,

responsive to determining that the communication event has occurred, perform a first update operation on an item of data, wherein

the item of data comprises data for the user interface, and

the first update operation uses one or more items of context information for the communication event,

determine whether a user has provided one or more items of user-entered data,

responsive to determining that the user has provided the one or more items of user- entered data, perform a second update operation on the item of data, wherein

the second update operation uses one or more items of context information, and

the one or more items of context information correspond to the one or more items of user-entered data,

determine whether the user has focused on a data record,

responsive to determining that the user has focused on a data record, perform a third update operation on the item of data, wherein

the third update operation uses context information for the data record,

determine whether a search result record is selected,

responsive to determining that the search result record is selected, perform a fourth update operation on the item of data, wherein

the fourth update operation uses context information for the search result record,

determine whether the user interface is currently displayed,

responsive to determining that the user interface is currently displayed, display on the user interface the item of data, wherein

the displaying comprises displaying the item of data after the updating is complete,

responsive to the second change in context, cause the functional control module to update the first display window, and

if said second change in context is a selection of a search result, store a past version of the context information for retrieval, and

the means for maintaining are configured to maintain the context information persistently until the second change in context.

21. A computer-readable medium comprising:

an application program interface comprising

a command definition for

a pushing command to push context information, in response to a first change in context, wherein

the context information is configured to be displayed in a first display window of a user interface of a client, and

a maintaining command to maintain the context information for display, until a second change in context occurs, wherein

the client is communicatively coupled to a server,

the maintaining command is configured to cause updating of the context information, in response to a change in the context information,

the pushing command and the maintaining command are configured to be executed on the server, and

the pushing command and the maintaining command are configured to cause the server to perform the pushing to a functional control module, wherein

 

the functional control module is configured to be executed on the client,

 

the functional control module is configured to perform the updating, and

 

the functional control module is configured to provide a notification of an incoming communication event associated with the second change in context, and

perform the maintaining without respect to whether the first display window is currently displayed; and

instructions to implement the command definition.

22. The computer-readable medium of claim 21 wherein

the pushing command is executed substantially contemporaneously with the first change in context, and

the server is configured to

determine whether the first change in context has occurred,

responsive to determining that the first change in context has occurred, determine whether a communication event has occurred,

responsive to determining that the communication event has occurred, perform a first update operation on an item of data, wherein

the item of data comprises data for the user interface, and

the first update operation uses one or more items of context information for the communication event,

determine whether a user has provided one or more items of user-entered data,

responsive to determining that the user has provided the one or more items of user-entered data, perform a second update operation on the item of data, wherein

the second update operation uses one or more items of context information, and

the one or more items of context information correspond to the one or more items of user-entered data,

determine whether the user has focused on a data record,

responsive to determining that the user has focused on a data record, perform a third update operation on the item of data, wherein

the third update operation uses context information for the data record,

determine whether a search result record is selected,

responsive to determining that the search result record is selected, perform a fourth update operation on the item of data, wherein

the fourth update operation uses context information for the search result record,

determine whether the user interface is currently displayed,

responsive to determining that the user interface is currently displayed, display on the user interface the item of data for the user interface,

responsive to the second change in context, cause the functional control module to update the first display window, and

if said second change in context is a selection of a search result, store a past version of the context information for retrieval, and

the maintaining command is configured to persistently maintain the context information until the second change in context.

23. A user interface module embodied in a computer-readable medium, wherein the user interface module comprises:

pushing instructions to push context information, in response to a first change in context, wherein

the context information is configured to be displayed in a first display window of a user interface of a client; and

maintaining instructions to maintain the context information, until a second change in context occurs, wherein

the maintaining instructions are configured to cause updating of the context information, in response to a change in the context information,

the client is communicatively coupled to a server,

the pushing instructions and the maintaining instructions are configured to be executed on the server, and

the pushing instructions and the maintaining instructions are configured to perform the pushing to a functional control module, wherein

the functional control module is configured to be executed on the client,

the functional control module is configured to perform the updating, and

the functional control module is configured to

provide a notification of an incoming communication event associated with the second change in context, and

perform the maintaining without respect to whether the first display window is currently displayed.

24. The user interface module embodied in the computer-readable medium of claim 23 wherein

the pushing instructions are executed substantially contemporaneously with the first change in context,

the server is configured to

determine whether the first change in context has occurred,

responsive to determining that the first change in context has occurred, determine whether a communication event has occurred,

responsive to determining that the communication event has occurred, perform a first update operation on an item of data, wherein

the item of data comprises data for the user interface, and

the first update operation uses one or more items of context information for the communication event,

determine whether a user has provided one or more items of user-entered data,

responsive to determining that the user has provided the one or more items of user-entered data, perform a second update operation on the item of data, wherein

the second update operation uses one or more items of context information, and

the one or more items of context information correspond to the one or more items of user-entered data,

determine whether the user has focused on a data record,

responsive to determining that the user has focused on a data record, perform a third update operation on the item of data, wherein

the third update operation uses context information for the data record,

determine whether a search result record is selected,

responsive to determining that the search result record is selected, perform a fourth update operation on the item of data, wherein

the fourth update operation uses context information for the search result record,

determine whether the user interface is currently displayed,

responsive to determining that the user interface is currently displayed, display on the user interface the-item of data, wherein

the displaying comprises displaying the item of data after the updating is complete,

responsive to the second change in context, cause the functional control module to update the first display window, and

if said second change in context is a selection of a search result, store a past version of the context information for retrieval, and

the maintaining instructions are executed such that the context information is maintained persistently until the second change in context, wherein

variables representing a phone number and a number of calls in a queue are passed as arguments to update the item of data.