Creation of date window for record selection

• US 8,583,700 B2
• Filed: 01/02/2009
• Issued: 11/12/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 01/02/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation, ServiceNow Incorporated
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Jones, Steven B., Sofia, Anthony T.
• Primary Examiner(s): LE, DEBBIE M
• Application Number:
  US12/348,071
• Publication Number:
  US 20100174757A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,775 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 707/803
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management

Abstract

A method for creating a date window for record selection. The method includes defining a set of parameters for calculating a date window for record selection, automatically detecting a current date, receiving input values corresponding to the defined set of parameters, from a user via a user interface, calculating and generating the date window based on the input values and the current date detected, and providing the generated date window and data records associated with the generated date window to the user via the user interface.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for creating a date window for record selection, the method comprising:

defining by a computer a set of parameters for calculating a date window for record selection, wherein the defined set of parameters comprises a number of units to backwards from a current unit and a number of units to be obtained, wherein the number of units to go backwards from the current unit represents a start of the date window and the number of units to be obtained represents a length of the date window;

automatically detecting by the computer a current date;

receiving by the computer input values corresponding to the defined set of parameters, from a user via a user interface;

calculating and generating by the computer the date window based on the input values and the current date detected, wherein the start of the date window is determined by the received input value corresponding to the number of units to go backwards from the current unit and the length of the date window is determined by the received input value corresponding to the number of units to be obtained;

providing by the computer the generated date window and data records associated with the generated date window to the user via the user interface;

storing by the computer the received input values corresponding to the defined set of parameters;

determining by the computer a periodic frequency for calculating and generating a date window based on the stored, received input values and the current date detected;

automatically calculating by the computer and generating a date window based on the determined periodic frequency; and

automatically providing by the computer to the user the calculated, generated date window and associated data records, based on the determined periodic frequency.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the defined set of parameters comprises a specified unit.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 2, wherein the specified unit comprises a type comprising one of a day, week, month or year, and wherein the current unit, the number of units to move backwards from the current unit and the number of units to be obtained are of the same type as the specified unit.

4. A computer program product comprising a non-transitory computer useable medium including a computer readable program, wherein the computer readable program when executed on a computer causes the computer to implement a method for creating a date window for record selection, the method comprising:

defining a set of parameters for calculating a date window for record selection, wherein the defined set of parameters comprises a number of units to go backwards from a current unit and a number of units to be obtained, wherein the number of units to go backwards from the current unit represents a start of the date window and the number of units to be obtained represents a length of the date window;

automatically detecting a current date;

receiving input values corresponding to the defined set of parameters, from a user via a user interface;

calculating and generating the date window based on the input values and the current date detected, wherein the start of the date window is determined by the received input value corresponding to the number of units to go backwards from the current unit and the length of the date window is determined by the received input value corresponding to the number of units to be obtained;

providing the generated date window and data records associated with the generated date window to the user via the user interface;

storing the received input values corresponding to the defined set of parameters;

determining a periodic frequency for calculating and generating a date window based on the stored, received input values and the current date detected;

automatically calculating and generating a date window based on the determined periodic frequency; and

automatically providing the user with the calculated, generated date window and associated data records, based on the determined periodic frequency.

5. The computer program product of claim 4, wherein the defined set of parameters comprises a specified unit.

6. The computer program product of claim 5, wherein the specified unit comprises a type comprising one of a day, week, month or year, and wherein the current unit, the number of units to move backwards from the current unit and the number of units to be obtained are of the same type as the specified unit.

7. A computer-implemented method for creating a date window for record selection, the method comprising:

defining by a computer a set of parameters for calculating a date window for record selection, wherein the defined set of parameters comprises a number of units to go backwards from a current unit and a number of units to be obtained, wherein the number of units to go backwards from the current unit represents a start of the date window and the number of units to be obtained represents a length of the date window;

automatically detecting by the computer a current date;

receiving by the computer input values corresponding to the defined set of parameters, from a user via a user interface; and

calculating and generating by the computer the date window based on the input values and the current date detected, wherein the start of the date window is determined by the received input value corresponding to the number of units to go backwards from the current unit and the length of the date window is determined by the received input value corresponding to the number of units to be obtained.

8. The computer-implemented method of claim 7, wherein the defined set of parameters comprises a specified unit.

9. The computer-implemented method of claim 8, wherein the specified unit comprises a type comprising one of a day, week, month or year, and wherein the current unit, the number of units to move backwards from the current unit and the number of units to be obtained are of the same type as the specified unit.