Patent Application
20090327853
An interface for comparing and selecting form-based functionality is a process for presenting various options for implementing a function and enabling a user to compare and choose the right feature to complete their goal. In some situations, users may be unfamiliar with various options available to accomplish a particular task. For example, there are many ways to share a document, but users may not know which method best suits their needs. The conventional strategy is to present a menu of options, but this often causes problems because the conventional strategy does not convey the end user value, technical requirements, or setup investment time that will be needed. For example, opening up multiple dialog boxes, if the user is even aware of their existence, and trying to compare the features offered by each is a daunting and time consuming task.
Methods, systems, and apparatuses for comparing and selecting form-based functionality may be provided. This Summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified form that are further described below in the Detailed Description. This Summary is not intended to identify key features or essential features of the claimed subject matter. Nor is this Summary intended to be used to limit the claimed subject matter's scope.
Methods, systems, and apparatuses for comparing and selecting form-based functionality may be provided. A user may select a particular functionality of an application. Various options for providing the functionality, which may be sorted by category, may be presented to a user in a single interface. The user may select each option to see more information about how the option would accomplish the desired functionality. The additional information may also preview the effect of choosing each option. If all of the options do not fit on the user's display, the options may be scaled to allow the display of more options.
Both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description provide examples and are explanatory only. Accordingly, the foregoing general description and the following detailed description should not be considered to be restrictive. Further, features or variations may be provided in addition to those set forth herein. For example, embodiments may be directed to various feature combinations and sub-combinations described in the detailed description.
The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this disclosure, illustrate various embodiments of the present invention. In the drawings:
The following detailed description refers to the accompanying drawings. Wherever possible, the same reference numbers are used in the drawings and the following description to refer to the same or similar elements. While embodiments of the invention may be described, modifications, adaptations, and other implementations are possible. For example, substitutions, additions, or modifications may be made to the elements illustrated in the drawings, and the methods described herein may be modified by substituting, reordering, or adding stages to the disclosed methods. Accordingly, the following detailed description does not limit the invention. Instead, the proper scope of the invention is defined by the appended claims.
An interface for comparing and selecting form-based functionality may be provided. Consistent with embodiments of the present invention, a user may select a particular functionality of an application. Options for providing the functionality, which may be sorted by category, may be presented to a user in the interface. The user may select each option to see more information about how the option would accomplish the desired functionality. The additional information may also preview the effect of choosing each option. If all of the options do not fit on the user's display, the options may be scaled to allow the display of more options.
From stage 210, method 200 may advance to stage 215 where computing device 600 may determine at least one option for implementing the selected functionality. The at least one option may comprise a title, a label, an icon, an operation, and a description. The label and description of the at least one option may each provide different level of detail with respect to the at least one option. Consistent with embodiments of the invention, application 620 may use a statically defined option list associated with the selected functionality. Application 620 may also determine the at least one option dynamically, based on the document's properties. For example, a user may select a share function from function menu 120. Application 620 may determine options comprising sending the document via e-mail, sending the document as a PDF attachment, send a meeting request to discuss the document, publishing the document to a group workspace, send the document to another application, and printing the document from the statically defined list associated with the share function.
Application 620 may dynamically determine work flow options to publish the document when the document is seen on a collaborative server, depending on the work flows installed on the collaborative server. Application 620 may also dynamically determine options associated with other applications. For example, application 620 may determine an option to send the document to a presentation application to convert the document into a slide presentation. Application 620 may also restrict displayed options based on a policy defined for a plurality of users of application 620. For example, a network administrator may define a policy that restricts at least one option and/or at least one category from being displayed.
Method 200 may then advance to stage 220, where computing device 600 may categorize the option. For example, the options to send the document via e-mail and send the document as a PDF attachment may be associated with a send document category while the determined work flow options may be associated with a share point category. As a further example, an upload to web page option and a publish to blog option may be associated with a publish document category. Consistent with embodiments of the invention, application 620 may display all possible options for the application to accomplish the selected functionality. An aim consistent with embodiments of the invention is to create the impression with the user that button slab 140 displays an exhaustive list of all the ways for application 620 to accomplish the selected functionality.
From stage 220, method 200 may advance to stage 225 where computing device 600 may display the categories and associated options. Consistent with embodiments of the invention, the at least one category may be displayed as category display 145 in button slab 140. For example, application 620 may display a category name, such as send document, as category header 146. The at least one option associated with category header 146, e.g., send the document via e-mail, may be displayed as option button 147. Option button 147 may display icon 149 and description 150. Consistent with embodiments of the invention, a user may select a different function from function menu 120, which may cause method 200 to return to stage 215.
From stage 225, method 200 may advance to stage 230 where computing device 600 may adjust the display size of button slab 140 elements. Computing device 600 may display each category in at least one row and/or at least one column. Consistent with embodiments of the invention, options in a category may be laid out from right to left, left to right, top to bottom, and/or bottom to top order. Options and categories may be sorted according to at least one of alphabetical and most often used order. Further details regarding stage 230 will be described in more detail below with respect to
From stage 230, method 200 may advance to stage 235 where computing device 600 may receive a selection of the at least one option. Consistent with embodiments of the invention, a user may use an input device 612 to select option button 147. For example, the selection may comprise at least one of a single click of a mouse, hovering over option button 147 with the mouse, and highlighting option button 147 using a keyboard.
From stage 235, method 200 may advance to stage 240, may display a description of the selected option. Consistent with embodiments of the invention, the description of the selected option may be displayed in button form slab 160 and provide additional information to the user to aid in selecting the option that best suits their needs. For example, the description may comprise an image, additional text information, a document formatting option, and a form to aid in implementing the selected option. The additional text information may comprise multiple paragraphs to provide greater details regarding the selected option. The image may also comprise a series of step-by-step instructional images. The description of the selected option may also be displayed in a tooltip adjacent to the selected option.
Consistent with embodiments of the invention, the form may comprise a series of labels and a form input area to aid the user in quickly implementing the selected option. For example, a send meeting request option may be associated with a form comprising a date selector and a time selector. The send meeting request option form may have access to the user's calendar and at least one recipient's calendar in order to help the user make a decision by suggesting a possible meeting time. Computing device 600 may then receive input to the form.
From stage 240, method 200 may advance to stage 245 where computing device 600 may determine whether any modifications may be made to a document based on the selected option. For example, a publish to web page option may comprise generating web links in the document.
From stage 245, method 200 may advance to stage 250 where computing device 600 may determine whether the selected option is associated with a preview display. Computing device 600 may then generate the preview display comprising at least one portion of the electronic document modified in accordance with the selected option. Generating the preview display may comprise modifying the electronic document according to input received by a form associated with the selected option and displayed in button form slab 160. The preview display may further comprise at least one user interface element associated with the selected option and at least one instructional description. After computing device 600 generates the preview, computing device 600 may display the associated preview in button form slab 160. Consistent with embodiments of the invention, option buttons 147,148 in button slab 140 may comprise the preview display.
From stage 250, method 200 may advance to stage 255 where computing device 600 may receive a decision from a user to use the selected option. In response to the user's decision, computing device 600 may implement the modifications to the electronic document associated with the operation associated with the selected option. Consistent with embodiments of the invention, receiving the decision to use the selected option may comprise receiving an input from input device 612. For example, the user may select a commit button displayed in button form slab, double click the selected option, or press a key on a keyboard associated with using the selected option.
Once computing device 600 implements the modifications associated with the selected option to the electronic document in stage 255, method 200 may then end at stage 260.
If not all option buttons may be displayed, subroutine 230 may advance from decision block 305 to stage 310, where computing device 600 may choose a smaller display size for each option button. For example, icon 149 associated with option button 147 may be reduced from 64×64 pixels to 32×32 pixels. Further details regarding the size reductions implemented by computing device 600 on option button 147 may be described in more detail below with respect to
From stage 310, subroutine 230 may advance to decision block 315, where computing device 600 may determine whether the smaller size of each option button allows output device 614 to display all of the option buttons associated with the selected function. If all of the option buttons may be displayed, subroutine 230 may return to stage 235 of method 200.
From decision block 315, subroutine 320 may advance to stage 320, where computing device 600 may reduce the amount of information displayed in each option button. For example, button option description 150 may display a shortened label and/or description associated with the option, display only the label associated with the option, or be removed.
From stage 320, subroutine 230 may advance to decision block 325, where computing device 600 may determine whether the reduced amount of information allows output device 614 to display all of the option buttons associated with the selected function. If all of the option buttons may be displayed, subroutine 230 may return to stage 235 of method 200.
From decision block 325, subroutine 320 may advance to stage 330, where computing device 600 may display a scroll bar allowing a user to scroll through a list of each of the options associated with the selected functionality. Consistent with embodiments of the invention, stages 310, 320, and 325 may be used to adjust the display of button slab 140 at any time and in any order. Subroutine 230 may then return to method 200 at stage 335.
With respect to
With respect to
Consistent with embodiments of the invention, computing device 600 may display button slab 140 separately from button form slab 160. For example, computing device 600 may replace the display of button slab 140 with a display of button form slab 160 in response to receiving a user's selection of option button 147.
An embodiment consistent with the invention may comprise a system for providing a method for comparing features in an application. The system may comprise a memory storage and a processing unit coupled to the memory storage. The processing unit may be operative to provide a display of various options for accomplishing a functionality associated with the application.
Another embodiment consistent with the invention may comprise a system for providing feature comparison in an application. The system may comprise a memory storage and a processing unit coupled to the memory storage. The processing unit may be operative to receive a selected functionality of the application, categorize the options for implementing the selected functionality, and display the options to a user in a layout designed to aid the user in choosing which option best suits their needs.
Yet another embodiment consistent with the invention may comprise a computer-readable medium for providing instructions for comparing and selecting functionality in an application. The computer-readable medium may comprise instructions for categorizing options for implementing the selected functionality. The computer-readable medium may further comprise instructions for adjusting the option display to simultaneously display as many options as possible.
With reference to
Computing device 600 may have additional features or functionality. For example, computing device 600 may also include additional data storage devices (removable and/or non-removable) such as, for example, magnetic disks, optical disks, or tape. Such additional storage is illustrated in
Computing device 600 may also contain a communication connection 616 that may allow device 600 to communicate with other computing devices 618, such as over a network in a distributed computing environment, for example, an intranet or the Internet. Communication connection 616 is one example of communication media. Communication media may typically be embodied by computer readable instructions, data structures, program modules, or other data in a modulated data signal, such as a carrier wave or other transport mechanism, and includes any information delivery media. The term “modulated data signal” may describe a signal that has one or more characteristics set or changed in such a manner as to encode information in the signal. By way of example, and not limitation, communication media may include wired media such as a wired network or direct-wired connection, and wireless media such as acoustic, radio frequency (RF), infrared, and other wireless media. The term computer readable media as used herein may include both storage media and communication media.
As stated above, a number of program modules and data files may be stored in system memory 604, including operating system 605. While executing on processing unit 602, programming module 606 (e.g. document editing application 620) may perform processes including, for example, at least one of method 200's stages as described above. The aforementioned process is an example, and processing unit 602 may perform other processes. Other programming modules that may be used in accordance with embodiments of the present invention may include electronic mail and contacts applications, word processing applications, spreadsheet applications, database applications, slide presentation applications, drawing or computer-aided application programs, etc.
Generally, consistent with embodiments of the invention, program modules may include routines, programs, components, data structures, and other types of structures that may perform particular tasks or that may implement particular abstract data types. Moreover, embodiments of the invention may be practiced with other computer system configurations, including hand-held devices, multiprocessor systems, microprocessor-based or programmable consumer electronics, minicomputers, mainframe computers, and the like. Embodiments of the invention may also be practiced in distributed computing environments where tasks are performed by remote processing devices that are linked through a communications network. In a distributed computing environment, program modules may be located in both local and remote memory storage devices.
Furthermore, embodiments of the invention may be practiced in an electrical circuit comprising discrete electronic elements, packaged or integrated electronic chips containing logic gates, a circuit utilizing a microprocessor, or on a single chip containing electronic elements or microprocessors. Embodiments of the invention may also be practiced using other technologies capable of performing logical operations such as, for example, AND, OR, and NOT, including but not limited to mechanical, optical, fluidic, and quantum technologies. In addition, embodiments of the invention may be practiced within a general purpose computer or in any other circuits or systems.
Embodiments of the invention, for example, may be implemented as a computer process (method), a computing system, or as an article of manufacture, such as a computer program product or computer readable media. The computer program product may be a computer storage media readable by a computer system and encoding a computer program of instructions for executing a computer process. The computer program product may also be a propagated signal on a carrier readable by a computing system and encoding a computer program of instructions for executing a computer process. Accordingly, the present invention may be embodied in hardware and/or in software (including firmware, resident software, micro-code, etc.). In other words, embodiments of the present invention may take the form of a computer program product on a computer-usable or computer-readable storage medium having computer-usable or computer-readable program code embodied in the medium for use by or in connection with an instruction execution system. A computer-usable or computer-readable medium may be any medium that can contain, store, communicate, propagate, or transport the program for use by or in connection with the instruction execution system, apparatus, or device.
The computer-usable or computer-readable medium may be, for example but not limited to, an electronic, magnetic, optical, electromagnetic, infrared, or semiconductor system, apparatus, device, or propagation medium. More specific computer-readable medium examples (a non-exhaustive list), the computer-readable medium may include the following: an electrical connection having one or more wires, a portable computer diskette, a random access memory (RAM), a read-only memory (ROM), an erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM or Flash memory), an optical fiber, and a portable compact disc read-only memory (CD-ROM). Note that the computer-usable or computer-readable medium could even be paper or another suitable medium upon which the program is printed, as the program can be electronically captured, via, for instance, optical scanning of the paper or other medium then compiled, interpreted, or otherwise processed in a suitable manner, if necessary, and then stored in a computer memory.
Embodiments of the present invention, for example, are described above with reference to block diagrams and/or operational illustrations of methods, systems, and computer program products according to embodiments of the invention. The functions/acts noted in the blocks may occur out of the order as shown in any flowchart. For example, two blocks shown in succession may in fact be executed substantially concurrently or the blocks may sometimes be executed in the reverse order, depending upon the functionality/acts involved.
While certain embodiments of the invention have been described, other embodiments may exist. Furthermore, although embodiments of the present invention have been described as being associated with data stored in memory and other storage mediums, data can also be stored on or read from other types of computer-readable media, such as secondary storage devices, like hard disks, floppy disks, or a CD-ROM, a carrier wave from the Internet, or other forms of RAM or ROM. Further, the disclosed methods stages may be modified in any manner, including by reordering stages and/or inserting or deleting stages, without departing from the invention.
All rights including copyrights in the code included herein are vested in and the property of the Applicants. The Applicants retain and reserve all rights in the code included herein, and grants permission to reproduce the material only in connection with reproduction of the granted patent and for no other purpose.
While the specification includes examples, the invention's scope is indicated by the following claims. Furthermore, while the specification has been described in language specific to structural features and/or methodological acts, the claims are not limited to the features or acts described above. Rather, the specific features and acts described above are disclosed as example for embodiments of the invention.
