System for dynamically configuring a user interface display

• US 6,948,133 B2
• Filed: 03/19/2002
• Issued: 09/20/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 03/23/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Siemens Medical Solutions USA Incorporated (Siemens AG)
• Original Assignee: Siemens Medical Solutions Health Services Corporation (Siemens AG)
• Inventors: Haley, John D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bayerl, Raymond J.
• Application Number:
  US10/100,867
• Publication Number:
  US 20030001893A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,281 Days
• Field of Search: 715/780, 715/760, 715/762, 715/748, 715/749, 715/809, 715/843, 715/764, 715/765, 715/744, 715/513, 715/505, 715/506, 715/507, 715/503, 719/331, 719/332, 719/315, 719/318, 719/328, 707/10, 707/104.1, 707/6, 707/3, 707/103.R
• US Class Current: 715/780
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/451 Execution arrangements for user interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99936 Pattern matching access
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99945 Object-oriented database structure processing

Abstract

A system for dynamically configuring a user interface display, including image elements for prompting user data entry, includes an input data processor for receiving input data via a prompt element for display in the user interface. A database associates a condition with input data received via the prompt element An image element processor determines whether the received input data satisfies the condition and at least either activates or inactivates an image element in the user interface display in response to the determination.

Claims

1. A system for dynamically configuring a user interface display including image elements for prompting user data entry, comprising:

an input data processor for receiving input data via a prompt element for display in a user interface;

a database associating a condition with an input data item received via said prompt element and with at least one of a plurality of different actions altering a corresponding plurality of different characteristics of image elements in a user interface display wherein said database associates a dynamically variable condition with said input data item, said dynamically variable condition being subject to being at least one of, (a) deleted and (b) modified in response to said input data item; and

an image element processor for using said database in determining whether said received input data item satisfies said condition and altering said different characteristics including by at least one of, (a) activating an image element and (b) indicating data entry in an image element is mandatory in the user interface display in response to said determination.

2. A system according to claim 1, wherein

said database comprises a table.

3. A system according to claim 1, wherein

said database also associates a data item destination identifier with said input data item received via said prompt element, said data item destination identifier identifying a destination data record for accommodating said identified data item.

4. A system according to claim 1, wherein

said database also associates a data item destination identifier with said input data item received via said prompt element, said data item destination identifier identifying a destination data record for accommodating said data item and

said activating said image element in said displayed user interface comprises (i) displaying said image element in said displayed user interface and (ii) making said image element responsive to user command.

5. A system according to claim 1, wherein

said database further associates a type parameter with said input data item received via said prompt element, said type parameter identifying a displayed prompt element type.

6. A system according to claim 5, wherein

said prompt element type signifying said prompt element supports at least one of, (a) receiving input data, (b) providing a user selectable set of input items, (c) receiving date data, (d) receiving address data, (e) receiving personal information and (f) receiving user identification and authentication information.

7. A system according to claim 1, wherein

said user interface display comprises at least one of, (a) a document, (b) a form, (c) a questionnaire, (d) a spreadsheet, (e) web page and (f) a browser.

8. A system for dynamically configuring a user interface display including image elements for prompting user data entry, comprising:

an input data processor for receiving input data via a prompt element for display in a user interface;

a database associating a plurality of conditions with an input data item received via said prompt element and with a plurality of different actions altering a corresponding plurality of different characteristics of image elements in a user interface display wherein said plurality of conditions include a dynamically variable condition subject to being at least one of, (a) deleted and (b) modified in response to said input data item; and

an image element processor for using said database in determining whether said received input data item satisfies said plurality of conditions and altering said different characteristics including by at least one of, (a) activating an image element and (b) indicating data entry in an image element is mandatory in the user interface display in response to said determination.

9. A system according to claim 8, wherein

said plurality of conditions include a condition dynamically added in response to said input data item.

10. A system according to claim 8, wherein

said plurality of conditions include a condition for determining whether said received input data item represents a particular selection from between displayed alternative options.

11. A system for dynamically configuring a user interface display including image elements for prompting user data entry, comprising:

an input processor for receiving an input data item via a prompt element for display in a user interface;

a database associating a plurality of conditions with said input data item and with a plurality of different actions altering a corresponding plurality of different characteristics of image elements in a user interface display, said plurality of conditions including a dynamically variable condition subject to being at least one of, (a) added and (b) modified in response to said input data item; and

an image element processor for using said database in altering a characteristic of an image element in said user interface display in response to said dynamically variable condition.

12. A system according to claim 11, wherein

said dynamically variable condition is subject to being deleted in response to said input data item and

said dynamically variable condition is provided to said database at least one of (a) prior to display of said a user interface and (b) during display of said user interface.

13. A system according to claim 11, wherein

said input processor receives input data updating previously entered data and indicates said previously entered data has been updated.

14. A system according to claim 11, wherein

said database also associates a data item destination identifier with said prompt element, said data item destination identifier identifying a destination data record for accommodating said identified data item.

15. A processing system for use with a user interface display including image elements for prompting user data entry, comprising:

a database linking a plurality of data item identifiers with a single prompt element of a user interface display image, said plurality of data item identifiers including first and second data item identifiers and associating a plurality of conditions with said prompt element and with a plurality of different actions altering a corresponding plurality of different characteristics of image elements in a user interface display, said plurality of conditions including a dynamically variable condition subject to being at least one of, (a) added and (b) modified in response to said input data item; and

a processor for using said first data item identifier to identify a set of data items comprising items individually selectable for entry by a user via said single prompt element and for using said second data item identifier to identify a destination data record for accommodating a data item entered via said single prompt element.

16. A method for dynamically configuring a user interface display including image elements for prompting user data entry, comprising the steps of:

receiving input data via a prompt element for display in a user interface;

associating a condition with an input data item received via said prompt element and with a plurality of different actions altering a corresponding plurality of different characteristics of image elements in a user interface display wherein said plurality of conditions include a dynamically variable condition subject to being at least one of, (a) deleted and (b) modified in response to said input data item; and

determining whether said received input data item satisfies said condition and altering said different characteristics including by at least one of, (a) activating an image element and (b) indicating data entry in an image element is mandatory in a user interface display in response to said determination.

17. A method for dynamically configuring a user interface display including image elements for prompting user data entry, comprising the steps of:

receiving input data via a prompt element for display in a user interface;

associating a plurality of conditions with said input data item and with a plurality of different actions altering a corresponding plurality of different characteristics of image elements in a user interface display, said plurality of conditions including a dynamically variable condition subject to being at least one of, (a) added and (b) modified in response to said input data item; and

altering a characteristic of an image element in said user interface display in response to said dynamically variable condition.