Computer-implemented graphical user interface previews
First Claim
1. A processor-implemented method for defining data for performing a database operation, wherein the data is defined through a plurality of user interface displays, said method comprising:
- displaying a first visual indicator in a first interface display defining first data, the first visual indicator providing access to a second interface display for defining second data to be used during the database operation, wherein when the first visual indicator receives focus, a first tool tip is displayed for a pre-determined amount of time, and wherein when the pre-determined amount of time has expired, the first tool tip is replaced with a preview of the second interface display that includes data and metadata for performing the database operation, the metadata including information describing data content, data context, and structure of data in a database;
providing focus to the first visual indicator for the pre-determined amount of time such that the preview of the second interface is displayed, wherein the preview of the second interface display is a visual duplicate of the structure of the actual second interface display and includes both the first data that was defined through the first interface display and one or more placeholders indicating locations where data to be retrieved from the database is to be placed in the actual second interface display; and
performing the database operation, wherein the database operation is performed upon receiving activation of the first visual indicator, and wherein the data content, data context, and structure of the data described in the metadata corresponding to the preview of the second interface, are replaced with actual data content, actual data context, and actual structure of the data corresponding to the actual second interface display resulting from performance of the database operation.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Systems and methods for generating previews of interfaces. A system and method can be configured to define data for use in an operation, wherein the data is defined through a plurality of displays. An indication is received of a visual indicator receiving focus, wherein the visual indicator is displayed with a first display that is used to define first data. The visual indicator provides access to a second display for defining second data to be used during the operation. A preview is generated of the second display based upon the first display'"'"'s visual indicator receiving focus.
31 Citations
38 Claims
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1. A processor-implemented method for defining data for performing a database operation, wherein the data is defined through a plurality of user interface displays, said method comprising:
- displaying a first visual indicator in a first interface display defining first data, the first visual indicator providing access to a second interface display for defining second data to be used during the database operation, wherein when the first visual indicator receives focus, a first tool tip is displayed for a pre-determined amount of time, and wherein when the pre-determined amount of time has expired, the first tool tip is replaced with a preview of the second interface display that includes data and metadata for performing the database operation, the metadata including information describing data content, data context, and structure of data in a database;
providing focus to the first visual indicator for the pre-determined amount of time such that the preview of the second interface is displayed, wherein the preview of the second interface display is a visual duplicate of the structure of the actual second interface display and includes both the first data that was defined through the first interface display and one or more placeholders indicating locations where data to be retrieved from the database is to be placed in the actual second interface display; and
performing the database operation, wherein the database operation is performed upon receiving activation of the first visual indicator, and wherein the data content, data context, and structure of the data described in the metadata corresponding to the preview of the second interface, are replaced with actual data content, actual data context, and actual structure of the data corresponding to the actual second interface display resulting from performance of the database operation. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 33, 34, 35, 36)
- displaying a first visual indicator in a first interface display defining first data, the first visual indicator providing access to a second interface display for defining second data to be used during the database operation, wherein when the first visual indicator receives focus, a first tool tip is displayed for a pre-determined amount of time, and wherein when the pre-determined amount of time has expired, the first tool tip is replaced with a preview of the second interface display that includes data and metadata for performing the database operation, the metadata including information describing data content, data context, and structure of data in a database;
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14. A processor-implemented method for use within a content creation software application to perform a database operation, the method comprising:
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accessing a first interface item through a first interface, the first interface item providing access to a second interface for defining data to be used within the software application, wherein the first interface and the second interface are for creating and handling the same content, wherein when the first interface item receives focus, a first message is displayed for a pre-determined amount of time, and wherein when the pre-determined amount of time has expired, the first message is replaced with a preview of the second interface display that includes data and metadata for performing the database operation, the metadata including information describing data content, data context, and structure of data in a database; providing focus to the first interface item for the pre-determined amount of time such that the preview of the second interface is displayed, wherein the preview of the second interface display is a visual duplicate of the structure of the actual second interface display and includes data that was defined through the first interface and one or more placeholders indicating locations where data to be retrieved from the database is to be placed in the actual second interface display; and performing the database operation, wherein the database operation is performed upon receiving activation of the first interface item, and wherein the data content, data context, and structure of the data described in the metadata corresponding to the preview of the second interface display, are replaced with actual data content, actual data context, and actual structure of the data corresponding to the actual second interface display resulting from performance of the database operation. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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30. A processor-implemented apparatus for defining data for use in a database operation, wherein the data is defined through a plurality of displays, comprising:
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means for displaying a first visual indicator in a first interface display defining first data, the first visual indicator providing access to a second interface display for defining second data to be used during the database operation, wherein when the first visual indicator receives focus, a first tool tip is displayed for a pre-determined amount of time, and wherein when the pre-determined amount of time has expired, the first tool tip is replaced with a preview of the second interface display that includes data and metadata for performing the database operation, the metadata including information describing data content, data context, and structure of data in a database; means for providing focus to the first visual indicator for the pre-determined amount of time such that the preview of the second interface is displayed, wherein the preview of the second interface display is a visual duplicate of the structure of the actual second interface display and includes the first data that was defined through the first interface and one or more placeholders indicating locations where data to be retrieved from the database is to be placed in the actual second interface display; and performing the database operation, wherein the database operation is performed upon receiving activation of the first visual indicator, and wherein the data content, data context, and structure of the data described in the metadata corresponding to the preview of the second interface, are replaced with actual data content, actual data context, and actual structure of the data corresponding to the actual second interface display resulting from performance of the database operation.
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31. A processor-implemented apparatus for use within a content creation software application to perform a database operation, comprising:
- means for accessing a first interface item through a first interface, the first interface item providing access to a second interface for defining data to be used within the software application, wherein the first interface and the second interface are for creating and handling the same content, wherein when the first interface item receives focus, a first message is displayed for a pre-determined amount of time, and wherein when the pre-determined amount of time has expired, the first message is replaced with a preview of the second interface that includes data and metadata for performing the database operation the metadata including information describing data content, data context, and structure of data in a database;
means for providing focus to the first interface item for a pre-determined amount of time such that the preview of the second interface is displayed, wherein the preview of the second interface display is a visual duplicate of the structure of the actual second interface display and includes data that was defined through the first interface and one or more placeholders indicating locations where data to be retrieved from the database is to be placed in the second interface display; and performing the database operation, wherein the database operation is performed upon receiving activation of the first interface item, and wherein the data content, data context, and structure of the data described in the metadata corresponding to the preview of the second interface display, are replaced with actual data content, actual data context, and actual structure of the data corresponding to the actual second interface display resulting from performance of the database operation.
- means for accessing a first interface item through a first interface, the first interface item providing access to a second interface for defining data to be used within the software application, wherein the first interface and the second interface are for creating and handling the same content, wherein when the first interface item receives focus, a first message is displayed for a pre-determined amount of time, and wherein when the pre-determined amount of time has expired, the first message is replaced with a preview of the second interface that includes data and metadata for performing the database operation the metadata including information describing data content, data context, and structure of data in a database;
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32. A processor-implemented apparatus for use within a content creation software application to perform a database operation, comprising:
first computer software instructions configured to access a first interface item through a first interface, the first interface item providing access to a second interface for defining data to be used within the software application, wherein the first interface and the second interface are for creating and handling the same content, wherein when the first interface item receives focus, a first message is displayed for a pre-determined amount of time, and wherein when the pre-determined amount of time has expired, the first message is replaced with a preview of the second interface that includes data and metadata for performing the database operation, the metadata including information describing data content, data context, and structure of data in a database;
second computer software instructions configured to provide focus to the first interface item for the pre-determined amount of time such that the preview of the second interface is displayed, wherein the preview of the second interface display is a visual duplicate of the structure of the actual second interface display and includes data that was defined through the first interface and one or more placeholders indicating locations where data to be retrieved from the database is to be placed in the actual second interface display third computer software instruction configured to perform the database operation, wherein the database operation is performed upon receiving activation of the first interface item, and wherein the data content, data context, and structure of the data described in the metadata corresponding to the preview of the second interface display, are replaced with actual data content, actual data context, and actual structure of the data corresponding to the actual second interface display resulting from performance of the database operation.
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37. A computer-implemented system, comprising:
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one or more processors; one or more computer-readable storage mediums containing software instructions executable on the one or more processors to cause the one or more processors to perform operations including; displaying a first visual indicator in a first interface display defining first data, the first visual indicator providing access to a second interface display for defining second data to be used during the database operation, wherein when the first visual indicator receives focus, a first tool tip is displayed for a pre-determined amount of time, and wherein when the pre-determined amount of time has expired, the first tool tip is replaced with a preview of the second interface display that includes data and metadata for performing the database operation, the metadata including information describing data content, data context, and structure of data in a database; providing focus to the first visual indicator for the pre-determined amount of time such that the preview of the second interface is displayed, wherein the preview of the second interface display is a visual duplicate of the structure of the actual second interface display and includes both the first data that was defined through the first interface display and one or more placeholders indicating locations where data to be retrieved from the database is to be placed in the actual second interface display; and performing the database operation, wherein the database operation is performed upon receiving activation of the first visual indicator, and wherein the data content, data context, and structure of the data described in the metadata corresponding to the preview of the second interface, are replaced with actual data content, actual data context, and actual structure of the data corresponding to the actual second interface display resulting from performance of the database operation.
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38. A computer-readable storage medium encoded with instructions that when executed on one or more processors within a computer system perform a method, comprising:
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displaying a first visual indicator in a first interface display defining first data, the first visual indicator providing access to a second interface display for defining second data to be used during the database operation, wherein when the first visual indicator receives focus, a first tool tip is displayed for a pre-determined amount of time, and wherein when the pre-determined amount of time has expired, the first tool tip is replaced with a preview of the second interface display that includes data and metadata for performing the database operation, the metadata including information describing data content, data context, and structure of data in a database; providing focus to the first visual indicator for the pre-determined amount of time such that the preview of the second interface is displayed, wherein the preview of the second interface display is a visual duplicate of the structure of the actual second interface display and includes both the first data that was defined through the first interface display and one or more placeholders indicating locations where data to be retrieved from the database is to be placed in the actual second interface display; and performing the database operation, wherein the database operation is performed upon receiving activation of the first visual indicator, and wherein the data content, data context, and structure of the data described in the metadata corresponding to the preview of the second interface, are replaced with actual data content, actual data context, and actual structure of the data corresponding to the actual second interface display resulting from performance of the database operation.
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Specification