Graphical user interface for managing discussion topics

• US 8,793,594 B2
• Filed: 06/06/2012
• Issued: 07/29/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 06/06/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Successfactors Incorporated (SAP SE)
• Original Assignee: Deepshikha Jha, Dmitri I. Krakovsky, Dominic Philip Haine, Kendra Bittner, Michael S. Dandan, Simon Gershey, Victor Tao
• Inventors: Haine, Dominic Philip, Jha, Deepshikha, Krakovsky, Dmitri I., Tao, Victor, Bittner, Kendra, Dandan, Michael S., Gershey, Simon
• Primary Examiner(s): Abdul-Ali, Omar
• Assistant Examiner(s): BHARGAVA, ANIL K
• Application Number:
  US13/490,271
• Publication Number:
  US 20130332853A1
• Time in Patent Office: 783 Days
• Field of Search: 715/753
• US Class Current: 715/753
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04803 Split screen, i.e. subdividing the display area or the window area into separate subareas
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04842 Selection of displayed objects or displayed text elements G06F3/0482 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/1095 Meeting or appointment

Abstract

One embodiment of the present invention sets forth a technique for managing discussion topics between two users. The technique involves generating a first graphical user interface (GUI) that displays a listing of one or more users with whom a first user is associated, receiving from a first user a selection of a second user from the listing of one or more users, generating a second GUI that displays a listing of topics that corresponds to both the first user and the second user, receiving from the first user data associated with a first topic to be discussed with the second user, and adding the first topic to the listing of topics.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for managing discussion topics between a first user and a second user, the method comprising:

presenting, by a processor, a first graphical user interface (GUI) configured to display a first listing of users with whom the first user is associated;

first detecting, by the processor, a first selection of the second user from the first listing of users being presented on the first GUI;

presenting, by the processor, a second GUI to replace the first GUI, the second GUI being configured to display a second listing of topics having the same state for discussion between the first user and the second user in response to detecting the first selection, wherein the second GUI further includes a context menu having a first plurality of selectable icons, wherein the second listing of topics is replaced with a third listing of topics when a first selectable icon from the first plurality of selectable icons is selected;

second detecting, by the processor, a second selection of a topic displayed in the second GUI; and

automatically modifying, by the processor, the context menu to display a second plurality of selectable icons, wherein selecting one of the second plurality of selectable icons changes the state of the selected topic.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving, by the processor, a request to sync the second listing of topics;

identifying, by the processor, a calendar event that includes the first user and the second user as participants in response to the request; and

automatically updating, by the processor, a field of the calendar event to include at least one topic from the second listing of topics.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving, by the processor, a request to generate a calendar event;

creating, by the processor, a calendar event that includes the first user and the second user as participants in response to the request; and

automatically updating, by the processor, a field of the calendar event to include at least one topic from the second listing of topics.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving, by the processor, a request to generate an email;

generating, by the processor, a draft email addressed to the second user in response to the request; and

automatically attaching, by the processor, at least one topic from the second listing of topics to the draft email.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein each topic in the second listing of topics is associated with a state being one of an open state, a completed state, a postponed state or a removed state.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the second plurality of selectable icons displayed depend on the state of the second listing of topics.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein each topic in the second listing of topics was added by the first user or the second user.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving, by the processor, data associated with a new topic to be discussed with the second user; and

adding, by the processor, the new topic to the second listing of topics.

9. A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause a computer system to manage discussion topics between a first user and a second user, by performing the steps of:

presenting a first graphical user interface (GUI) configured to display a first listing of users with whom the first user is associated;

first detecting a first selection of the second user from the first listing of users being presented on the first GUI;

presenting a second GUI to replace the first GUI, the second GUI being configured to display a second listing of topics having the same state for discussion between the first user and the second user in response to detecting the first selection, wherein the second GUI further includes a context menu having a first plurality of selectable icons, wherein the second listing of topics is replaced with a third listing of topics when a first selectable icon from the first plurality of selectable icons is selected;

second detecting, by the processor, a second selection of a topic displayed in the second GUI; and

automatically modifying, by the processor, the context menu to display a second plurality of selectable icons, wherein selecting one of the second plurality of selectable icons changes the state of the selected topic.

10. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 9, further comprising:

receiving a request to sync the second listing of topics;

identifying a calendar event that includes the first user and the second user as participants in response to the request; and

automatically updating a field of the calendar event to include at least one topic from the second listing of topics.

11. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 9, further comprising:

receiving a request to generate a calendar event;

creating a calendar event that includes the first user and the second user as participants in response to request; and

automatically updating a field of the calendar event to include at least one topic from the second listing of topics.

12. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 9, further comprising:

receiving a request to generate an email;

generating a draft email addressed to the second user in response to the request; and

automatically attaching at least one topic from the second listing of topics to the draft email.

13. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 9, wherein each topic in the listing of topics is associated with a state being one of an open state, a completed state, a postponed state or a removed state.

14. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 9, wherein the second plurality of selectable icons displayed depend on the state of the second listing of topics.

15. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 9, wherein each topic in the second listing of topics was added by the first user or the second user.

16. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 9, further comprising:

receiving, by the processor, data associated with a new topic to be discussed with the second user; and

adding, by the processor, the new topic to the second listing of topics.

17. A computer system, comprising:

a processor; and

a memory storing instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the computer system to manage discussion topics between a first user and a second user, by performing the steps of;

presenting a first graphical user interface (GUI) configured to display a first listing of users with whom the first user is associated;

first detecting a first selection of the second user from the first listing of users being presented on the first GUI;

presenting a second GUI to replace the first GUI, the second GUI being configured to display a second listing of topics having the same state for discussion between the first user and the second user in response to detecting the first selection, wherein the second GUI further includes a context menu having a first plurality of selectable icons, wherein the second listing of topics is replaced with a third listing of topics when a first selectable icon from the first plurality of selectable icons is selected;

second detecting, by the processor, a second selection of a topic displayed in the second GUI; and

automatically modifying, by the processor, the context menu to display a second plurality of selectable icons, wherein selecting one of the second plurality of selectable icons changes the state of the selected topic.

18. The system of claim 17, further comprising:

receiving a request to sync the second listing of topics;

identifying a calendar event that includes the first user and the second user as participants in response to the request; and

automatically updating a field of the calendar event to include at least one topic from the second listing of topics.

19. The system of claim 17, further comprising:

receiving a request to generate a calendar event;

creating a calendar event that includes the first user and the second user as participants in response to request; and

automatically updating a field of the calendar event to include at least one topic from the second listing of topics.

20. The system of claim 17, further comprising:

receiving a request to generate an email;

generating a draft email addressed to the second user in response to the request; and

automatically attaching at least one topic from the second listing of topics to the draft email.

21. The system of claim 17, wherein each topic in the second listing of topics is associated with a state being one of an open state, a completed state, a postponed state or a removed state.

22. The system of claim 17, wherein the second plurality of selectable icons displayed depend on the state of the second listing of topics.

23. The system of claim 17, wherein each topic in the second listing of topics was added by the first user or the second user.

24. The system of claim 17, further comprising:

receiving, by the processor, data associated with a new topic to be discussed with the second user; and

adding, by the processor, the new topic to the second listing of topics.