System, method and computer program product for interacting with a process diagram

• US 9,239,722 B1
• Filed: 03/31/2010
• Issued: 01/19/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Salesforce.com, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Salesforce.com, Inc.
• Inventors: Calahan, Patrick, Rajaram, Varadarajan, Park, David, Canizares, Miguel, Dhandapani, Venkadeshkumar, Goel, Shilpa
• Primary Examiner(s): TRAPANESE, WILLIAM C
• Application Number:
  US12/751,906
• Time in Patent Office: 2,120 Days
• Field of Search: 715/801, 715/764
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04842 Selection of displayed objects or displayed text elements G06F3/0482 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04845 for image manipulation, e.g. dragging, rotation, expansion or change of colour
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/34 Graphical or visual programming
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/44 Arrangements for executing specific programs
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 11/206 Drawing of charts or graphs
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 11/60 Editing figures and text; Combining figures or text

Abstract

In accordance with embodiments, there are provided mechanisms and methods for interacting with a process diagram. These mechanisms and methods for interacting with a process diagram may allow for a user'"'"'s enhanced interactive experience with the process diagram. The ability of embodiments to provide such enhancements may allow for improved navigation of the process diagram, searching of the process diagram, editing of the process diagram, etc.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

incorporating, by a system, one or more steps into a process diagram to be displayed to a user, where the one or more steps include;

data dynamically retrieved from data storage accessible by a plurality of users, the data to be displayed to the user within the one or more steps for viewing by the user, and

an update to one or more fields of data to be displayed to the user, where the update includes data shared by the plurality of users and used by a plurality of applications of the system; and

incorporating one or more states into the process diagram by the system, where the one or more steps are associated with the one or more states.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising incorporating a sidebar into an interface associated with the process diagram.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the sidebar appears when the one of the one or more steps and one or more states of the process diagram are selected.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the sidebar is used to incorporate one or more additional elements into the process diagram.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein one or more elements are selected from the sidebar and dragged onto the process diagram in order to incorporate them into the process diagram.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising incorporating a properties pane component into an interface associated with the process diagram.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the properties pane component appears when one or more elements of the process diagram are selected.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising incorporating a search component into an interface associated with the process diagram.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the update to the one or more fields of data includes one or more of a lookup value, a formula, a recipient, an assignee, a due date, and an endpoint.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more steps include sending a message to one or more recipients.

11. A non-transitory machine-readable medium carrying one or more sequences of instructions which, when executed by one or more processors, are configured to cause a computer to implement the steps of:

incorporating, by a system, one or more steps into a process diagram to be displayed to a user, where the one or more steps include;

data dynamically retrieved from data storage accessible by a plurality of users, the data to be displayed to the user within the one or more steps for viewing by the user, and

an update to one or more fields of data to be displayed to the user, where the update includes data shared by the plurality of users and available for use by a plurality of applications of the system; and

incorporating one or more states into the process diagram by the system, where the one or more steps are associated with the one or more states.

12. An apparatus, comprising:

a processor; and

one or more stored sequences of instructions which, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to carry out the steps of;

incorporating, by a system, one or more steps into a process diagram to be displayed to a user, where the one or more steps include;

data dynamically retrieved from data storage accessible by a plurality of users, the data to be displayed to the user within the one or more steps for viewing by the user, and

an update to one or more fields of data to be displayed to the user, where the update includes data shared by the plurality of users and available for use by a plurality of applications of the system; and

incorporating one or more states into the process diagram by the system, where the one or more steps are associated with the one or more states.