Patent Application
20050108333
This description relates to blocking user input and presenting a message to a user.
Applications in a client-server system often include software on the server side, referred to as a back end, and software on the client device(s), referred to as a front end. A front end typically can initiate a communication between the client device and the server device to share data, obtain data from the back end, or for other purposes. The initiation of the communication, its duration, and the conclusion is collectively known as a roundtrip between the front end and back end.
The response from the back end may be a confirmation that it received data from the front end. In other situations, however, the back end response may involve field contents being changed in the front end, or the back end may have changed from one state to another during the roundtrip, to name a few examples. The consequence of this may be that certain user-initiated events in the front end (such as pressing a button or editing a field) may no longer be permitted after the roundtrip. It is therefore important that the client device is blocked from receiving input during the roundtrip, or the system may have to deal with a potentially contradictory input being made.
With roundtrips that take relatively short time, the user may not notice that input is being blocked. Even if the user does notice the input-blocking, the inconvenience typically is marginal due to the short duration. A longer roundtrip, on the other hand, may be distracting and confusing to the user if there is no indication of why input is being blocked.
This problem is somewhat alleviated in systems that display a message during the roundtrip. That is, a message box may be displayed when input blocking begins and may remain visible throughout the roundtrip. One disadvantage with this approach is that it can cause uneven dynamic behavior of the front end. Another disadvantage is that the message is displayed regardless of how long the roundtrip lasts. For short roundtrips, the sudden display and then disappearance of the message box may not be helpful to the user, particularly if it flashes by in such a short time that the user cannot read the message.
It may be possible to implement a particular behavior in certain front end functions. It appears that in the Outlook 2000 program from Microsoft Corp., the function “Empty ‘Deleted Items’ Folder” delays display of a message to the user (with a conventional graphic “progress meter”) after the command is executed. Other functions in the Outlook 2000 program, however, do not display a message regardless of how long the client-server communication takes. This approach is associated with disadvantages. Implementing a delay functionality for a specific input function requires special programming and may call for extensive coordination in development of application programs. Moreover, if such functionality needs to be triggered by a message from the server that the roundtrip is not yet finished, a message will not be displayed if delay is due to slow network connection.
The invention relates to blocking input with delayed message. In a first general aspect, a method of informing a user about communications between a client device and a server device comprises providing executable code from a server device to a client device that is capable of communicating with the server device, which code when executed blocks the client device from receiving user input during communications between the client device and the server device. If any of the communications between the client device and the server device lasts longer than a specific time, the code causes a message to be presented to a user of the client device.
In selected embodiments, the executable code is client-side framework code provided from framework code in the server device that controls communications between the server device and client devices.
The specific time may be set based on one or more reference times, such as a measured roundtrip time, typical roundtrip times in the system, or a roundtrip time expected by the user(s).
In a second general aspect, a method of informing a user about communications between a client device and a server device comprises receiving executable code provided from a server device to a client device. Per the executable code, the client device is blocked from receiving user input during its communications with a server device. Per the executable code, a message is presented to a user of the client device if any of the communications lasts longer than a specific time.
In a third general aspect, a computer system comprises a server device with server-side framework code which when executed on the server device establishes a client-server framework for client-server communications. The computer system comprises a client device with client-side framework code provided from the server device. When executed on the client device, the client-side framework code blocks the client device from receiving user input during the client-server communications. If any of the client-server communications lasts longer than a specific time, the client-side framework code causes a message to be presented to a user of the client device.
The details of one or more embodiments of the invention are set forth in the accompanying drawings and the description below. Other features, objects, and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the description and drawings, and from the claims.
Like reference numerals in the various drawings indicate like elements.
The system 100 may have a framework 120 for communications between the server device 102 and the client device 104. The framework 120 may be established by execution of server-side framework code 122. On the client device 104 there may be server-provided framework code 124. The server device 102 may provide server-provided framework code 124 to the client device 104 in form of a copy of client-side framework code 125 on the server device 102. The server-provided framework code 124 may be transmitted to the client device 104 upon connecting the client device 104 to the server device 102. Table(s) 126 may contain application-independent information relating to settings or customization of the framework. The framework 120, including the server-provided framework code 124, facilitates communications between the devices. The application programs 114, 116 are configured so that the framework 120 lets the user interact with them from the client device 104. For example, the programs 114, 116 which include respective application codes 128, 130, may have framework-connecting codes 132 and 134 that make them compatible with the framework. The framework-connecting codes 132, 134 may be identical or different in different programs 114, 116.
The server device 102 provides 400 (see
An example of a client-server communication in system 100 will be described with reference to
The client device 104 then initiates a communication over the network 106 for the server device 102 to take some action. The server-provided framework code 124 begins blocking input to the client device 104. When the server device 102 is done, it will send a response to the client device and the server-provided framework code 124 will cease to block input to the client device. Preferably, the input blocking does not change the appearance of panel 200.
The time before a response is received from the server device 102 may depend on the amount of data being transmitted in the communication, a condition of the network 106 and on how quickly the server device finishes the action. If the communication is finished before a specific time, the input blocking ceases without a message being presented to the user. If the communication lasts longer than a specific time, the server-provided framework code 124 causes a message 300 to be presented to the user (see
In one implementation, a specific time of about 2.5 seconds has been found useful. The specific time may be selected based on one or more reference times. One exemplary reference is a time after which users on average expect a response from the system. This expectancy time can be determined by monitoring test persons working with a system that subjects them to roundtrip times of varying length.
Another exemplary reference is an average time for roundtrips in the system 100. This can be determined by measuring roundtrip times while the system is being used. Optionally, this may be a “learning” measurement that is updated over time. One or more roundtrip times can be monitored during runtime and corresponding adjustment(s) in the specific time used by the server-provided framework code 124 can be made. For example, the client device 104 can record the roundtrip time(s).
Blocking input with delayed message as described herein may have any of the following advantages. Applying this feature to all client-server communications improves the feedback to the user during the communications. The feature can be implemented such that it need not be specifically coded for every function that it should apply to, without having to coordinate development of several functions or several application programs. Implementing the feature does not require analysis of which input functions are likely to move large amounts of data between the client and server. The feature works whether the roundtrip takes longer due to the amount of data transferred, network capacity or the server's availability.
The invention can be implemented in digital electronic circuitry, or in computer hardware, firmware, software, or in combinations of them. Apparatus of the invention can be implemented in a computer program product tangibly embodied in an information carrier, e.g., in a machine-readable storage device or in a propagated signal, for execution by a programmable processor; and method steps of the invention can be performed by a programmable processor executing a program of instructions to perform functions of the invention by operating on input data and generating output. The invention can be implemented advantageously in one or more computer programs that are executable on a programmable system including at least one programmable processor coupled to receive data and instructions from, and to transmit data and instructions to, a data storage system, at least one input device, and at least one output device. A computer program is a set of instructions that can be used, directly or indirectly, in a computer to perform a certain activity or bring about a certain result. A computer program can be written in any form of programming language, including compiled or interpreted languages, and it can be deployed in any form, including as a stand-alone program or as a module, component, subroutine, or other unit suitable for use in a computing environment.
Suitable processors for the execution of a program of instructions include, by way of example, both general and special purpose microprocessors, and the sole processor or one of multiple processors of any kind of computer. Generally, a processor will receive instructions and data from a read-only memory or a random access memory or both. The essential elements of a computer are a processor for executing instructions and one or more memories for storing instructions and data. Generally, a computer will also include, or be operatively coupled to communicate with, one or more mass storage devices for storing data files; such devices include magnetic disks, such as internal hard disks and removable disks; magneto-optical disks; and optical disks. Storage devices suitable for tangibly embodying computer program instructions and data include all forms of non-volatile memory, including by way of example semiconductor memory devices, such as EPROM, EEPROM, and flash memory devices; magnetic disks such as internal hard disks and removable disks; magneto-optical disks; and CD-ROM and DVD-ROM disks. The processor and the memory can be supplemented by, or incorporated in, ASICs (application-specific integrated circuits).
To provide for interaction with a user, the invention can be implemented on a computer having a display device such as a CRT (cathode ray tube) or LCD (liquid crystal display) monitor for displaying information to the user and a keyboard and a pointing device such as a mouse or a trackball by which the user can provide input to the computer.
The invention can be implemented in a computer system that includes a back-end component, such as a data server, or that includes a middleware component, such as an application server or an Internet server, or that includes a front-end component, such as a client computer having a graphical user interface or an Internet browser, or any combination of them. The components of the system can be connected by any form or medium of digital data communication such as a communication network. Examples of communication networks include, e.g., a LAN, a WAN, and the computers and networks forming the Internet.
The computer system can include clients and servers. A client and server are generally remote from each other and typically interact through a network, such as the described one. The relationship of client and server arises by virtue of computer programs running on the respective computers and having a client-server relationship to each other.
A number of embodiments of the invention have been described. Nevertheless, it will be understood that various modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, other embodiments are within the scope of the following claims.
