Context management super tools and filter/sort model for aggregated display webpages

• US 20030084059A1
• Filed: 10/31/2001
• Published: 05/01/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 10/31/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Kelley, John Falk, Yuen, Jason Thomas, Heck, Michael P., Garay, Matthew D.
• Granted Patent: US 7,552,136 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 707/102
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/954 Navigation, e.g. using categorised browsing
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/06 Asset management; Financial planning or analysis
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99933 Query processing, i.e. searching
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99935 Query augmenting and refining, e.g. inexact access
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99943 Generating database or data structure, e.g. via user interface

Abstract

An information aggregation and management system and method having selective “drill-down” capabilities and employing an Object-Action Navigation methodology. A user first selects an object of interest, and then selects one or more actions to perform on said selected object. An informational object may be selected from a Context Pane, and then an available action for that object may be selected from execution. A Content Pane displays the results of the actions on the object or objects. The user may rearrange, summarize, maximize, filter and sort information for display to effectively manage display area and minimize operations necessary to obtain information and analysis of interest.

Claims

1. A method for providing information to a user through an Object-Action Navigation paradigm comprising the steps of:

displaying a Context Pane having one or more selectable objects of interest to a user;

displaying one or more selectable actions associated with an object and responsive to user selection of an associated object;

executing an action script in response to user selection of a selectable action, said action script generating a set of results; and

displaying to said user said action script results in a Content Pane, said Content Pane containing an aggregation of semi-independent information or transactional modules.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said step of executing an action script comprises performing a search for information related to said selected object.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein said step of executing an action script comprises retrieving data or information from a database.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein said step of executing an action script comprises the step of retrieving current data or information from a datafeed.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein said step of displaying said results in a content pane further comprises filtering and sorting said results prior to display.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein said step of displaying said results in a content pane comprises organizing said content pane into a plurality of selectable workspaces.

7. A computer readable medium encode with software for providing information to a user through an Object-Action Navigation paradigm, said software causing a user computer to perform the steps of:

display a context pane having one or more selectable objects of interest to a user;

display one or more selectable actions associated with an object and responsive to user selection of an associated object;

execute an action script in response to user selection of a selectable action, said action script generating a set of results; and

display to said user said action script results in a Content Pane, said Content Pane containing an aggregation of semi-independent information or transactional modules.

8. The computer readable medium of claim 7 wherein said software for executing an action script comprises software for performing a search for information related to said selected object.

9. The computer readable medium of claim 7 wherein said software for executing an action script comprises software for retrieving data or information from a database.

10. The computer readable medium of claim 7 wherein said software for executing an action script comprises software for retrieving current data or information from a datafeed.

11. The computer readable medium of claim 7 wherein said software for displaying said results in a content pane further comprises software for filtering and sorting said results prior to display.

12. The computer readable medium of claim 7 wherein said software for displaying said results in a content pane comprises software for organizing said content pane into a plurality of selectable workspaces.

13. A system for managing information through an Object-Action Navigation user interface, said system comprising:

a user profile indicating a user'"'"'s objects of interest, sources of information for said objects of interest, and a preferred display layout arrangement;

one or more server-executable action modules for retrieving and processing information from said sources of information; and

a server system which is adapted to receive user-selected web page links, execute associated action modules, format action module results and output into a new web page according to said user profile, and transmit said new web page to a web browser.

14. The system as set forth in claim 13 further comprising:

a user entitlement indicating one or more action modules to which a user is entitled to use and apply to said objects of interest;

an action module restrictor for disabling and prohibiting execution of any action modules by a user who is not entitled to use said action modules.

15. The system as set forth in claim 13 wherein said web page comprises:

a context pane containing one or more user selectable objects of interest associated with links; and

a content pane containing said formatted action module results and output, said Content Pane containing an aggregation of semi-independent information or transactional modules.