SEQUENCE DETECTION AND AUTOMATION FOR COMPLEX PORTAL ENVIRONMENTS

• US 20090144625A1
• Filed: 12/04/2007
• Published: 06/04/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 12/04/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Ryan, Corinne M., Wu, Michael C., Muller, Michael
• Granted Patent: US 10,877,778 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/723
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/3466 Performance evaluation by tracing or monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/01 Input arrangements or combined input and output arrangements for interaction between user and computer G06F3/16 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/451 Execution arrangements for user interfaces

Abstract

Embodiments of the present invention address deficiencies of the art in respect to user interface interaction automation and provide a method, system and computer program product for user interface interaction sequence detection and recording for user interface interaction automation. In an embodiment of the invention, a method for user interface interaction sequence detection and recording for user interface interaction automation can be provided. The method can include comparing a contemporary sequence of user interface actions in a user interface to a pre-stored sequence, and prompting for an expected user interface action if the contemporary sequence matches the pre-stored sequence. The method also can include prompting to store the contemporary sequence as a pre-stored sequence, and storing the contemporary sequence as a pre-stored sequence if directed in response to the prompting.

Claims

1. A method for user interface interaction sequence detection and recording for user interface interaction automation, the method comprising:

comparing a contemporary sequence of user interface actions in a user interface to a pre-stored sequence; and

,

prompting for an expected user interface action if the contemporary sequence matches the pre-stored sequence.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

prompting to store the contemporary sequence as a pre-stored sequence; and

,

storing the contemporary sequence as a pre-stored sequence if directed in response to the prompting.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein prompting for an expected user interface action if the contemporary sequence matches the pre-stored sequence, comprises prompting for an expected user interface action if the contemporary sequence exactly matches the pre-stored sequence.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein prompting for an expected user interface action if the contemporary sequence matches the pre-stored sequence, comprises prompting for an expected user interface action if the contemporary sequence matches a threshold number of user interface actions with user interface actions in the pre-stored sequence.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein prompting for an expected user interface action if the contemporary sequence matches the pre-stored sequence, comprises:

detecting hesitancy in continuing the contemporary sequence of user interface actions; and

,

prompting for an expected user interface action if the contemporary sequence matches the pre-stored sequence upon detecting the hesitancy.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein detecting hesitancy in continuing the contemporary sequence of user interface actions, comprises detecting a lapse of time between user interface interactions beyond a threshold value.

7. The method of claim 2, further comprising invoking the pre-stored sequence as a macro from a menu in the user interface.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein comparing a contemporary sequence of user interface actions in a user interface to a pre-stored sequence, comprises comparing a contemporary sequence of user interface actions in a portal environment to a pre-stored sequence.

9. A user interface data processing system comprising:

a user interface;

a table of memorized sequences; and

,

a detector-automator comprising program code enabled to compare a contemporary sequence of user interface actions in the user interface to a pre-stored sequence in the table of memorized sequences, and to prompt within the user interface for an expected user interface action if the contemporary sequence matches the pre-stored sequence.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the program code is further enabled to prompt to store the contemporary sequence as a pre-stored sequence and to store the contemporary sequence as a pre-stored sequence if directed in response to the prompting.

11. The system of claim 9, wherein the user interface is a portal environment comprising a plurality of portlets.

12. A computer program product comprising a computer usable medium embodying computer usable program code for user interface interaction sequence detection and recording for user interface interaction automation, the computer program product comprising:

computer usable program code for comparing a contemporary sequence of user interface actions in a user interface to a pre-stored sequence; and

,

computer usable program code for prompting for an expected user interface action if the contemporary sequence matches the pre-stored sequence.

13. The computer program product of claim 12, further comprising:

computer usable program code for prompting to store the contemporary sequence as a pre-stored sequence; and

,

computer usable program code for storing the contemporary sequence as a pre-stored sequence if directed in response to the prompting.

14. The computer program product of claim 12, wherein the computer usable program code for prompting for an expected user interface action if the contemporary sequence matches the pre-stored sequence, comprises computer usable program code for prompting for an expected user interface action if the contemporary sequence exactly matches the pre-stored sequence.

15. The computer program product of claim 12, wherein the computer usable program code for prompting for an expected user interface action if the contemporary sequence matches the pre-stored sequence, comprises computer usable program code for prompting for an expected user interface action if the contemporary sequence matches a threshold number of user interface actions with user interface actions in the pre-stored sequence.

16. The computer program product of claim 12, wherein the computer usable program code for prompting for an expected user interface action if the contemporary sequence matches the pre-stored sequence, comprises:

computer usable program code for detecting hesitancy in continuing the contemporary sequence of user interface actions; and

,

computer usable program code for prompting for an expected user interface action if the contemporary sequence matches the pre-stored sequence upon detecting the hesitancy.

17. The computer program product of claim 16, wherein the computer usable program code for detecting hesitancy in continuing the contemporary sequence of user interface actions, comprises computer usable program code for detecting a lapse of time between user interface interactions beyond a threshold value.

18. The computer program product of claim 13, further comprising computer usable program code for invoking the pre-stored sequence as a macro from a menu in the user interface.

19. The computer program product of claim 12, wherein the computer usable program code for comparing a contemporary sequence of user interface actions in a user interface to a pre-stored sequence, comprises computer usable program code for comparing a contemporary sequence of user interface actions in a portal environment to a pre-stored sequence.