Nested roadmap navigation in a graphical user interface

• US 8,578,271 B2
• Filed: 12/10/2009
• Issued: 11/05/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 12/10/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SAP SE
• Original Assignee: SAP AG (SAP SE)
• Inventors: Ronnewinkel, Christopher, Stieler, Susann, Laugwitz, Bettina
• Primary Examiner(s): Chow, Doon
• Assistant Examiner(s): CHIUSANO, ANDREW TSUTOMU
• Application Number:
  US12/634,857
• Publication Number:
  US 20110145738A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,426 Days
• Field of Search: 715/712, 715/708, 715/713, 715/772, 715/810
• US Class Current: 715/712
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0485 Scrolling or panning
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/00 Administration; Management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling

Abstract

Systems and methods for nested roadmap information navigation in a graphical user interface (GUI) where a sequence of items is generated and stored in a memory of a computer system. The sequence of items includes at least one compound item. A number of user interface (UI) elements are displayed in a GUI screen, wherein each UI element represents an item of the sequence of items, and wherein the UI elements are ordered according to the sequence of items. The displayed UI elements include a UI element representing a compound item of the sequence of items. The compound item could be selected as a currently active item. The UI element representing the selected compound item can gradually expand to display one or more new UI elements representing component items subordinate to the compound item. The first of the component items is automatically selected as a currently active item.

Claims

1. A non-transitory computer readable medium having computer readable instructions stored thereon for execution by a processor to perform a method for nested roadmap information navigation, the method comprising:

storing a sequence of items in a memory of a computer system, wherein the sequence of items includes a compound item;

displaying a process roadmap including a plurality of user interface (UI) elements in a first area of a graphical user interface (GUI) screen associated with the computer system, wherein each UI element represents one or more items of the sequence of items including the compound item, and wherein the UI elements are displayed in an order corresponding to an order associated with the sequence of items, displaying the process roadmap including the plurality of UI elements comprises;

displaying the plurality of UI elements as a horizontal sequence of graphical objects,

displaying a label next to or within a UI element of the plurality of UI elements, wherein the label indicates a position of a corresponding item in the sequence of items, and

displaying the UI element representing the compound item as a modified graphical object in the horizontal sequence of graphical objects;

automatically scrolling the plurality of UI elements to move a UI element representing a selected as currently active item of the sequence of items in a focal area of the GUI;

receiving a selection of the compound item as currently active item;

in response to receiving the selection, dynamically generating at least one component item subordinate to the compound item;

expanding a UI element representing the compound item to gradually include in the first area of the GUI screen at least one new UI element representing the generated at least one component item; and

gradually removing at least one of the plurality of UI elements displayed in the first area of the GUI screen in at least one direction of expansion of the UI element representing the compound item.

2. The computer readable medium of claim 1 having computer readable instructions stored thereon for execution by a processor to perform the method for nested roadmap information navigation, the method further comprising:

displaying an interface corresponding to a task in a second area of the GUI screen, wherein the task is assigned to currently active item, and wherein the interface allows a user to one or more of accessing and entering data pertinent to the execution of the task.

3. The computer readable medium of claim 1, wherein storing the sequence of items comprises:

grouping a plurality of tasks of a process for execution in the computer system; and

assigning a task of the plurality of tasks to an item of the sequence of items.

4. The computer readable medium of claim 1, wherein dynamically generating the at least one component item comprises:

generating the at least one component item in correspondence with a system event or based on a user input related to a previously selected item from the sequence of items.

5. The computer readable medium of claim 1, wherein expanding the UI element representing the compound item comprises:

splitting the UI element representing the compound item in two UI half elements corresponding to the compound item;

widening a gap between the two UI half elements by moving in opposite directions one or more of the two UI half elements; and

gradually including the at least one new UI element representing the generated at least one component item between the two UI half elements corresponding to the compound item.

6. The computer readable medium of claim 1, wherein expanding the UI element representing the compound item comprises:

automatically selecting one of the generated at least one component item as currently active item.

7. The computer readable medium of claim 1, wherein expanding the UI element representing the compound item comprises:

displaying the at least one new UI element representing the generated at least one component item in emerging mode while being gradually included in the first area of the GUI screen, wherein the emerging mode includes gradual shift from different levels of transparency to opacity.

8. In a computer system coupled with a display to render a graphical user interface (GUI), a method for nested roadmap information navigation comprising:

storing a sequence of items in a memory of the computer system, wherein the sequence of items includes a compound item;

displaying a process roadmap including a plurality of user interface (UI) elements in a first area of a GUI screen associated with the computer system, wherein each UI element represents one or more items of the sequence of items including the compound item, and wherein the UI elements are displayed in an order corresponding to an order associated with the sequence of items, displaying the process roadmap including the plurality of UI elements comprises;

displaying the plurality of UI elements as a horizontal sequence of graphical objects,

displaying a label next to or within a UI element of the plurality of UI elements, wherein the label indicates a position of a corresponding item in the sequence of items, and

displaying the UI element representing the compound item as a modified graphical object in the horizontal sequence of

graphical objects;

automatically scrolling the plurality of UI elements to move a UI element representing a selected as currently active item of the sequence of items in a focal area of the GUI;

receiving a selection of the compound item as currently active item;

in response to receiving the selection, dynamically generating at least one component item subordinate to the compound item;

expanding a UI element representing the compound item to gradually include in the first area of the GUI screen at least one UI element representing the generated at least one component item; and

gradually removing at least one of the plurality of UI elements displayed in the first area of the GUI screen in at least one direction determined by the expansion of the UI element representing the compound item.

9. The method of claim 8 further comprising:

displaying an interface corresponding to a task in a second area of the GUI screen, wherein the task is assigned to currently active item, and wherein the interface allows a user to one or more of accessing and entering data pertinent to the execution of the task.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein storing the sequence of items comprises:

grouping a plurality of tasks of a process for execution in the computer system; and

assigning a task of the plurality of tasks to an item of the sequence of items.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein dynamically generating the at least one component item comprises:

generating at least one component item based on a user input related to a previously selected item from the sequence of items.

12. The method of claim 8, wherein expanding the UI element representing the compound item comprises:

splitting the UI element representing the compound item in two UI half elements corresponding to the compound item;

widening a gap between the two UI half elements by moving in opposite directions one or more of the two UI half elements; and

gradually including the at least one new UI element representing the at least one component item between the two UI half elements corresponding to the compound item.

13. The method of claim 8, wherein expanding the UI element representing the compound item comprises:

automatically selecting one of the generated at least one component item as currently active item.

14. The method of claim 8, wherein expanding the UI element representing the compound item comprises:

displaying the at least one new UI element representing the generated at least one component item in emerging mode while being gradually included in the first area of the GUI screen, wherein the emerging mode includes gradual shift from different levels of transparency to opacity.

15. A computer controlled display system rendering a graphical user interface (GUI) for nested roadmap navigation, the GUI comprising:

a process roadmap area for displaying a plurality of user interface (UI) elements, wherein each UI element represents one or more items from a sequence of items, and wherein the UI elements are displayed in an order corresponding to an order associated with the sequence of items, displaying the plurality of UI elements comprises;

displaying the plurality of UI elements as a horizontal sequence of graphical objects,

displaying a label next to or within a UI element of the plurality of UI elements, wherein the label indicates a position of a corresponding item in the sequence of items, and

displaying the UI element representing the compound item as a modified graphical object in the horizontal sequence of graphical objects;

a modified UI element from the plurality of UI elements representing a compound item from the sequence of items, wherein

upon receiving a selection of the compound item as currently active item the modified UI element expands to gradually include at least one UI element representing at least one component item subordinate to the compound item, wherein the at least one component item is dynamically generated in response to receiving the selection,

at least one of the plurality of UI elements displayed in the process roadmap area is gradually removed in at least one direction of expansion of the modified UI element, and

an item of the at least one item subordinate to the compound item is selected as currently active item; and

a focal area, wherein the plurality of UI elements scroll automatically to move a UI element representing the selected as currently active item of the sequence of items in the focal area.

16. The computer controlled display system of claim 15 rendering the GUI further comprising:

a work area for displaying an interface corresponding to a task of a process, wherein the task is assigned to the selected as currently active item, and wherein the interface allows a user to one or more of entering and accessing data pertinent to the execution of the task.

17. The computer controlled display system of claim 15 rendering the GUI further comprising:

a toolbar area to display at least one command option pertinent to the nested roadmap navigation.