Facilitating data manipulation in a browser-based user interface of an enterprise business application

• US 8,327,257 B2
• Filed: 02/02/2010
• Issued: 12/04/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 04/04/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: NetSuite Inc. (Oracle Corporation)
• Original Assignee: NetSuite Inc. (Oracle Corporation)
• Inventors: Braud, Luke A., Goldwasser, Baruch, Goldberg, Evan M.
• Primary Examiner(s): RIES, LAURIE ANNE
• Application Number:
  US12/698,879
• Publication Number:
  US 20100138734A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,036 Days
• Field of Search: 715/212, 715/219, 715/220, 715/227, 715/255
• US Class Current: 715/219
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/166 Editing, e.g. inserting or deleting
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/00 Commerce

Abstract

Optimal presentation and editing of business data in a browser-based user interface of an integrated web-based business information system is described, including a browser at a user computer in dynamic communication with a web server allowing database editing and updating without browser page refreshes. For optimizing the data input/editing experience of the user, an array of features in various combinations is provided including: single-click instantiation of cell editing in a table displayed by the browser; single off-click or keyboard commits instantiating cell-wise data transfers; bulk editing allowing group modification of data elements across a plurality of adjacently-displayed or non-adjacently displayed records; client-side, location-based caching of old cell values allowing selective go-back for any edited or bulk-edited cell, in any order desired by the user, prior to a page-refreshing input event; and easy establishment/modification of sub-records associated with any of a displayed list of records using sub-record access icons, rollover menus, and auxiliary browser windows.

Claims

1. In an integrated business system having a web server and at least one database, a method for presenting and editing business data derived from the database, comprising:

at a user computer, receiving a web page from said web server and displaying a rendering thereof to a user in a browser window, said web page rendering including a table having data cells arranged in rows and columns, each row of data cells corresponding to a common record derived from said database, each column of data cells corresponding to a common data element type stored in said database for said records;

receiving at a first data cell in said table a single-click from a user to establish a selection of said first data cell;

responsive to said single-click and without requiring intervening user input, placing said first cell in an EDIT state and visually highlighting said first cell for editing;

receiving at a second data cell in said table a bulk selection input from the user, said second data cell being in the same column of said table as said first data cell;

responsive to said bulk selection input, visually highlighting a first data cell group for bulk editing, said first cell group comprising said second cell and any data cells in said table positioned between said first data cell and said second data cell;

receiving editing commands from the user setting a value of said first data cell to a first value, said editing commands ending with a first terminating input comprising one of (i) a first click-off comprising a click within said browser window outside said first cell, or (ii) a first cell-committing keyboard input; and

responsive to said first terminating input, setting a value of each data cell in said first data cell group to said first value and transferring said first value to the web server, without requiring a page refresh of the browser, for association with each data cell in said first data cell group in the database.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said bulk selection input comprises a simultaneous combination of a keyboard SHIFT and a single-click.

3. The method of claim 1, each data cell in said first data cell group comprising an initial value prior to said receiving editing commands, further comprising:

maintaining the initial value of each data cell in said first data cell group in a memory of said user computer associated with said browser;

receiving a subsequent user selection of any of said first data cell or said first data cell group;

receiving a go-back command from the user; and

responsive to said go-back command, retrieving the initial value corresponding to said subsequently selected data cell, resetting the value of said subsequently selected data cell to said initial value, and transferring said initial value to the web server, without requiring a page refresh of the browser, for storage in association with said subsequently selected data cell.

4. The method of claim 1, each data cell in said first data cell group comprising an initial value prior to said receiving editing commands, further comprising:

maintaining the initial value of each data cell in said first data cell group in a memory of said user computer associated with said browser;

subsequent to said first terminating input, receiving a plurality of user inputs in said browser unrelated to said first data cell or said first data cell group;

receiving a subsequent user selection of any of said first data cell or said first data cell group;

receiving a go-back command from the user; and

if said plurality of unrelated user inputs resulted in a page refresh prior to said go-back command, keeping said subsequently selected data cell at said first value;

if said plurality of unrelated user inputs did not result in a page refresh prior to said go-back command, retrieving the initial value corresponding to said subsequently selected data cell, resetting the value of said subsequently selected data cell to said initial value, and transferring said initial value to the web server, without requiring a page refresh of the browser, for storage in association with said subsequently selected data cell.

5. In an integrated business system having a web server and at least one database, a method for presenting and editing business data derived from the database, comprising:

at a user computer, receiving a web page from said web server and displaying a rendering thereof to a user in a browser window, said web page rendering including a table having data cells arranged in rows and columns, each row of data cells corresponding to a common record derived from said database, each column of data cells corresponding to a common data element type stored in said database for said records;

receiving at a first data cell in said table a single-click from a user to establish a selection of said first data cell;

responsive to said single-click and without requiring intervening user input, placing said first cell in an EDIT state and visually highlighting said first cell for editing;

receiving at a each of a plurality of other selected data cells in said table a bulk group addition input from the user, said subsequently selected data cells being in the same column of said table as said first data cell, and visually highlighting each of said plurality of other selected data cells as said bulk group addition input is received, said first data cell and said other selected data cells forming a first data cell group for bulk editing;

receiving editing commands from the user setting a value of said first data cell to a first value, said editing commands ending with a first terminating input comprising one of (i) a first click-off comprising a click within said browser window outside said first cell, or (ii) a first cell-committing keyboard input; and

responsive to said first terminating input, setting a value of each data cell in said first data cell group to said first value and transferring said first value to the web server, without requiring a page refresh of the browser, for association with each data cell in said first data cell group in the database.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein said bulk group addition input comprises a simultaneous combination of a keyboard CNTL and a single-click.

7. The method of claim 5, each data cell in said first data cell group comprising an initial value prior to said receiving editing commands, further comprising:

maintaining the initial value of each data cell in said first data cell group in a memory of said user computer associated with said browser;

receiving a subsequent user selection of any of said first data cell or said first data cell group;

receiving a go-back command from the user; and

responsive to said go-back command, retrieving the initial value corresponding to said subsequently selected data cell, resetting the value of said subsequently selected data cell to said initial value, and transferring said initial value to the web server, without requiring a page refresh of the browser, for storage in association with said subsequently selected data cell.

8. The method of claim 5, each data cell in said first data cell group comprising an initial value prior to said receiving editing commands, further comprising:

maintaining the initial value of each data cell in said first data cell group in a memory of said user computer associated with said browser;

subsequent to said first terminating input, receiving a plurality of user inputs in said browser unrelated to said first data cell or said first data cell group;

receiving a subsequent user selection of any of said first data cell or said first data cell group;

receiving a go-back command from the user; and

if said plurality of unrelated user inputs resulted in a page refresh prior to said go-back command, keeping said subsequently selected data cell at said first value;

if said plurality of unrelated user inputs did not result in a page refresh prior to said go-back command, retrieving the initial value corresponding to said subsequently selected data cell, resetting the value of said subsequently selected data cell to said initial value, and transferring said initial value to the web server, without requiring a page refresh of the browser, for storage in association with said subsequently selected data cell.