Dynamic chart control that triggers dynamic contextual actions

• US 9,081,466 B2
• Filed: 09/10/2012
• Issued: 07/14/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 09/10/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SAP SE
• Original Assignee: SAP SE
• Inventors: Gauthier, Alain, El-Jayousi, Mohannad, Ghorayeb, Roy, Lavoie, Vincent, Liang, Xuebo, Abdukalykov, Rolan
• Primary Examiner(s): Kim, Matt
• Assistant Examiner(s): Samwel, Daniel
• Application Number:
  US13/608,756
• Publication Number:
  US 20140075390A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,037 Days
• Field of Search: 715700-866
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/048 Interaction techniques based on graphical user interfaces [GUI]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0484 for the control of specific functions or operations, e.g. selecting or manipulating an object, an image or a displayed text element, setting a parameter value or selecting a range
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04842 Selection of displayed objects or displayed text elements G06F3/0482 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0631 Resource planning, allocation, distributing or scheduling for enterprises or organisations
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/08 Insurance

Abstract

A system and method are described herein that provide for dynamically controlling a chart visualized in a user interface by turning business objects visualized in the chart into clickable action buttons to trigger corresponding business actions. Business objects are retrieved from a backend server and displayed as visual representations in a chart rendered in a calendar application user interface. A user clicking or tapping a visual representation in the chart triggers a corresponding predefined action that has been customized in the connected system or backend server and is dynamically assigned to the chart control based on the business context of the calendar application.

Claims

1. A method for dynamically controlling business objects in a timeline chart visualized in a calendar application, the method comprising:

retrieving the business objects stored in a backend system;

categorizing the business objects into customized categories;

assigning predefined actions to be performed on the business objects to the customized categories, each category having a unique set of assigned actions;

displaying visual representations of the business objects in the timeline chart on a user interface, wherein each of the business objects is represented by a visual bar and the visual bar is a selectable action button;

upon selection of at least one of the visual bars via the selectable action button, triggering at least one of the predefined actions based on a categorization of the associated business object, the at least one of the predefined actions including grouping the visual representations of the business objects in the timeline chart; and

displaying an updated version of the timeline chart based on the triggering of the predefined action;

wherein a first predefined action includes a single tap of the visual bar and responsive to the single tap, displaying detailed information regarding the business object associated with the visual bar; and

wherein a second predefined action includes a double tap of the visual bar and responsive to the double tap, grouping the visual representations of the business objects in the chart.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the user action includes at least one of touching, tapping, pinching, swiping, pressing, shaking, and circling a touch screen of a device displaying the user interface.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the user action includes at least one of clicking a mouse, clicking a trackball, entering an input in a keypad, and entering an input in a keyboard.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the chart is a Gantt chart.

5. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

dynamically assigning the predefined actions to a chart control at runtime based on a business context of the calendar application.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein different predetermined actions for each category are triggered based on a performed number or type of user interaction.

17. The method according to claim 1, wherein the position and sizing of each of the visual bars is determined by attribute of the corresponding business object relative to user-selectable time interval scales of the timeline chart.

18. The method according to claim 1, wherein the customized categories include an analytic source.

19. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

responsive to the single tap, displaying an analytic chart of the business object associated with the visual bar; and

responsive to the double tap, setting a status for the business object associated with the visual bar.

7. A device having a calendar application stored thereon to dynamically control business objects in a timeline chart visualized in the calendar application, the device comprising:

an arrangement performing the following;

retrieving the business objects stored in a backend system;

categorizing the business objects into customized categories;

assigning predefined actions to be performed on the business objects to the customized categories, each category having a unique set of assigned actions;

displaying visual representations of the business objects in the timeline chart on a user interface, wherein each of the business objects is represented by a visual bar and the visual bar is a selectable action button;

upon selection of at least one of the visual bars via the selectable action button, triggering at least one of the predefined actions based on a categorization of the associated business object, the at least one of the predefined actions including grouping the visual representations of the business objects in the timeline chart; and

displaying an updated version of the timeline chart based on the triggering of the predefined action;

wherein a first predefined action includes a single tap of the visual bar and responsive to the single tap, displaying detailed information regarding the business object associated with the visual bar; and

a second predefined action includes a double tap of the visual bar and responsive to the double tap, grouping the visual representations of the business objects in the chart.

8. The device according to claim 7, wherein the user action includes at least one of touching, tapping, pinching, shaking, and circling a touch screen of the device.

9. The device according to claim 7, wherein the user action includes at least one of clicking a mouse, clicking a trackball, entering an input in a keypad, and entering an input in a keyboard.

10. The device according to claim 7, wherein the chart is a Gantt chart.

11. The device according to claim 7, wherein the predefined actions are dynamically assigned to a chart control at runtime based on a business context of the calendar application.

12. The device according to claim 7, wherein the predefined actions are assigned to the customized categories during runtime.

13. The device according to claim 7, wherein the predefined actions include at least one of:

ungrouping the visual representations of the business objects in the chart, displaying an analytic chart for the business object of the selected visual representation, and setting a status for the business object of the selected visual representation.

14. The device according to claim 7, wherein different predetermined actions for each category are triggered based on a performed number or type of user interaction.

15. An apparatus for dynamically controlling business objects in a Gantt chart visualized in timeline interface, the apparatus comprising:

a mobile device; and

a calendar application displayed on a user interface of the mobile device, the calendar application being executed to;

retrieve the business objects stored in a backend system;

categorize the business objects into customized categories;

display visual representations of the business objects in the Gantt chart on the user interface, wherein each of the business objects is represented by a visual bar and the visual bar is a selectable action button;

during runtime, assign predefined actions to be performed on the business objects to the customized categories, each category having a unique set of assigned actions;

during runtime, dynamically assign the predefined actions to a chart control based on a business context of the calendar application;

upon selection of at least one of the visual bars via the selectable action button, trigger at least one of the predefined actions based on a categorization of the associated business object, the at least one of the predefined actions including grouping the visual representations of the business objects in the timeline chart; and

display an updated version of the timeline chart based on the triggering of the predefined action;

wherein different predetermined actions for each category are triggered based on a performed number or type of user interaction;

wherein a first predefined action includes a single tap of the visual bar and responsive to the single tap, displaying detailed information regarding the business object associated with the visual bar; and

wherein a second predefined action includes a double tap of the visual bar and responsive to the double tap, grouping the visual representations of the business objects in the chart.

16. A system for dynamically controlling business objects in a Gantt chart visualized in timeline interface, the system comprising:

at least one backend server storing business objects;

a computer system running software to communicate to a mobile device;

the mobile device executing an application for display on an user interface of the mobile device, the application executed to;

retrieve the business objects from the at least one backend server;

categorize the business objects into customized categories;

display visual representations of the business objects in the Gantt chart on the user interface, wherein each of the business objects is represented by a visual bar and the visual bar is a selectable action button;

during runtime, assign predefined actions to be performed on the business objects to the customized categories, each category having a unique set of assigned actions;

during runtime, dynamically assign the predefined actions to a chart control based on a business context of the calendar application;

upon selection of at least one of the visual bars via the selectable action button, trigger at least one of the predefined actions based on a categorization of the associated business object, the at least one of the predefined actions including grouping the visual representations of the business objects in the timeline chart; and

display an updated version of the timeline chart based on the triggering of the predefined action;

wherein different predetermined actions for each category are triggered based on a performed number or type of user interaction;

wherein a first predefined action includes a single tap of the visual bar and responsive to the single tap, displaying detailed information regarding the business object associated with the visual bar; and

wherein a second predefined action includes a double tap of the visual bar and responsive to the double tap, grouping the visual representations of the business objects in the chart.