Business software navigation control

• US 7,904,834 B2
• Filed: 11/12/2007
• Issued: 03/08/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 11/12/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SAP SE
• Original Assignee: SAP AG (SAP SE)
• Inventors: Forstmann, Gerd
• Primary Examiner(s): BAUTISTA, XIOMARA L
• Application Number:
  US11/938,629
• Publication Number:
  US 20090125847A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,212 Days
• Field of Search: 715/711, 715/738, 715/764, 715/765, 715/810, 715/819, 715/827, 715/830, 715/833, 715/834, 715/835, 715/853, 715/854, 715/856, 715/862
• US Class Current: 715/854
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0481 based on specific properties of the displayed interaction object or a metaphor-based environment, e.g. interaction with desktop elements like windows or icons, or assisted by a cursor's changing behaviour or appearance
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling

Abstract

A graphical user interface control with a plurality of elements can be used to traverse a software application used to effect business processes. In some variations, the control takes the shape of a compass rose with at least two opposite axes, the activation of which cause the information displayed within the software application to become coarser or more granular depending on which of the two axes is selected. Related techniques, apparatus, systems, and articles.

Claims

1. An article comprising a tangible machine-readable medium embodying instructions that when performed by one or more machines result in operations comprising:

displaying a navigation element during operation of a business software application to effect a business process, the navigation element comprising a control including a plurality of graphical user interface elements corresponding to at least three axes, at least two of the axes being opposing, selection of a first opposing axis initiating traversal within the business software application in a first direction along a first navigation path and selection of a second opposing axis opposite the first opposing axis initiating traversal within the business software application in a second direction opposite to the first direction along the first navigation path, selection of an axis other than an opposing axis initiating traversal within the business software application along a second navigation path;

receiving user-generated input selecting one of the axes in the navigation element; and

initiating traversal within the business software application based on the selected axis;

wherein traversal in the first direction causes information associated with the business process at a higher level to be displayed; and

wherein traversal in the second direction causes information associated with the business processes at a finer level to be displayed.

2. An article as in claim 1, wherein the navigation element is displayed as a compass rose.

3. An article as in claim 1, wherein the navigation element comprises at least two segmented concentric circular members.

4. An article as in claim 1, wherein the tangible machine-readable medium further embodies instructions that when performed by one or more machines result in operations comprising:

displaying one or more preview elements adjacent to or overlapping at least one of the axes, the preview elements containing text characterizing a preview of a navigation path associated with the corresponding axis.

5. An article as in claim 4, wherein the one or more preview elements associated with the corresponding axis are displayed in connection with a selection or mouse-over of the axis.

6. An article as in claim 1, wherein selection of at least one of the axes initiates the business software application to revert to a most recently traversed state.

7. An article as in claim 1, wherein the navigation element comprises a widget.

8. An article comprising a tangible machine-readable medium embodying instructions that when performed by one or more machines result in operations comprising:

initiating a widget during the operation of a business software application to effect a business process, the widget causing a control including a navigation element to be displayed during operation of the business software application, the navigation element comprising a plurality of graphical user interface elements corresponding to at least four axes;

receiving user-generated input selecting one of the axes in the navigation element; and

initiating traversal within the business software application along a navigation path associated with the selected axis;

wherein;

a first axis of the navigation element includes a first graphical user interface element, which when activated, displays a higher level of information associated with the business process;

a second axis of the navigation element includes a second graphical user interface element, which when activated, displays localization information associated with the business process;

a third axis of the navigation element includes a third graphical user interface element, which when activated, displays temporal information associated with the business process; and

a fourth axis of the navigation element includes a fourth graphical user interface element, which when activated, displays user or group information associated with the business process.

9. An article as in claim 8, wherein the navigation element is displayed as a compass rose.

10. An article as in claim 8, wherein the navigation element comprises at least two segmented concentric circular members.

11. An article as in claim 8, wherein the tangible machine-readable medium further embodies instructions that when performed by one or more machines result in operations comprising:

displaying one or more preview elements adjacent to or overlapping at least one of the axes, the preview elements containing text characterizing a preview of a navigation path associated with the corresponding axis.

12. An article as in claim 11, wherein the one or more preview elements associated with the corresponding axis are displayed in connection with a selection or mouse-over of the axis.

13. An article as in claim 8, wherein selection of at least one of the axes initiates the business software application to revert to a most recently traversed state.

14. A method comprising:

initiating a widget during the operation of a business software application, the widget causing a control including a navigation element to be displayed during operation of the business software application, the navigation element comprising a plurality of graphical user interface elements corresponding to at least six axes;

receiving user-generated input selecting one of the axes in the navigation element; and

initiating traversal within the business software application along a navigation path associated with the selected axis;

wherein;

a first axis of the navigation element includes a first graphical user interface element, which when activated, displays a higher level of information associated with the business process;

a second axis of the navigation element includes a second graphical user interface element, which when activated, displays localization information associated with the business process;

a third axis of the navigation element includes a third graphical user interface element, which when activated, displays temporal information associated with the business process;

a fourth axis of the navigation element includes a fourth graphical user interface element, which when activated, displays user or group information associated with the business process.

a fifth axis of the navigation element includes a fifth graphical user interface element, which when activated, displays a lower level of information associated with the business process, the fifth axis being opposite to the first axis;

a sixth element of the navigation element includes a sixth graphical user interface element, which when activated, allows a user to access his or her navigation history.

15. A method as in claim 14, wherein the navigation element is displayed as a compass rose.

16. A method as in claim 14, wherein the navigation element comprises at least two segmented concentric circular members.

17. A method as in claim 14 further comprising:

displaying one or more preview elements adjacent to or overlapping at least one of the axes, the preview elements containing text characterizing a preview of a navigation path associated with the corresponding axis.

18. A method as in claim 17, wherein the one or more preview elements associated with the corresponding axis are displayed in connection with a selection or mouse-over of the axis.

19. A method as in claim 14, wherein selection of at least one of the axes initiates the business software application to revert to a most recently traversed state.

20. A method as in claim 14, wherein the navigation element includes a current context element displaying a current context of the business software application.