Patent Application
20080028289
Various embodiments of the invention are disclosed in the following detailed description and the accompanying drawings:
Various embodiments of the invention may be implemented in numerous ways, including as a system, a process, an apparatus, or a series of program instructions on a computer readable medium such as a computer readable storage medium or a computer network where the program instructions are sent over optical or electronic communication links. In general, operations of disclosed processes may be performed in an arbitrary order, unless otherwise provided in the claims.
A detailed description of one or more embodiments is provided below along with accompanying figures. The detailed description is provided in connection with such embodiments, but is not limited to any particular example. The scope is limited only by the claims and numerous alternatives, modifications, and equivalents are encompassed. Numerous specific details are set forth in the following description in order to provide a thorough understanding. These details are provided for the purpose of example and the described techniques may be practiced according to the claims without some or all of these specific details. For the purpose of clarity, technical material that is known in the technical fields related to the embodiments has not been described in detail to avoid unnecessarily obscuring the description.
According to various embodiments, a lens for filling forms is described. A lens may be a visual element used to aid a user with filling and navigating a form. A form may include one or more fields for which data is requested. A lens may operate on one or more fields when the field is in focus. The lens may include a data entry area (separate from the field in focus) into which a user may enter the data requested for the field. The lens may further include controls for navigating about the form and instructions for filling the fields of the form. According to some embodiments, the data entry area remains in a constant position relative to a display to assist the user in filling the form.
The form filling software 100 includes a lens that may be used to enter data into the form. The lens also allows a user to navigate about a form, and provides information to the user about the requested data. The lens may also be used as a proxy to enter data into the form. In this respect, the lens is a central data entry point where a user may enter data, obtain information about the data to be entered, and receive help determining (e.g., finding or calculating) and entering the data.
In some embodiments, the form 104 may include one or more fields 106a-106d that may be used to input and contain individual data points (e.g., a social security number, a description of an expense, an amount of an expense, and others). A field may be any container used to store data input by a user or process. “Data,” as used herein, is any type of information that may be requested of a user and stored in a field. For example, data may include numbers, words, alphanumeric strings, tables, images or other media, or combinations thereof. A field may be used to store a single data point (e.g., a number or word) or a larger data structure (e.g., a string of words, a table of data, or an image).
The form 104 may further include metadata, which is not visible to the user and that describes the fields 106. For example, the metadata may indicate that the field 106a is configured to store a user's address using alphanumerical strings, or that the field 106b is to store a user's social security number using nine individual digits. The metadata may be used by the form filling software 100 for various purposes, some of which are described below.
The form filling software 100 further includes a lens 108. In some embodiments, a lens may be a visual element drawn over or near a form that may assist a user while inputting data into a form. Here, the lens 108 includes a data entry area 110, help information 112, a close button 114, and navigation arrows 116. The lens 108 may receive data from a user input and may include information to assist a user who is completing the form 104.
As shown here, the lens 108 is currently accepting data to input into the field 106b because the field 106b is in “focus”. In some embodiments, a field is in focus when it is currently active or when it has been selected by a user or other process. A user may select a field to bring it into focus by, for example, clicking on the field, tabbing into the field, or completing a previous field such that the form automatically advances to the current field. The field 106b (i.e., the field in focus) may be highlighted (as shown) to indicate the focus. Once the field is brought into focus, the lens 108 appears or is redrawn to indicate that a new field is in focus. The user may further determine whether the lens 108 appears upon focus, for example, toggling the lens 108 “on” or “off” using a menu option. In other embodiments, more than one field may be in focus simultaneously or substantially simultaneously, and the lens 108 may include multiple data entry areas for the multiple fields.
The lens 108, as described below, may also be used to aid navigation of the form 104. The form 104 may be navigated using features of the lens to allow the lens 108 to move to different fields of the form 104. For example, once a user has finished filling in the field 106b, the form 104 may advance to the field 106c. The lens 108 is then redrawn to display information for, and accept data for the next field 106c. The order of the fields may be determined by examining the metadata of the form 104 or by examining the relative position of fields within the form 104. Alternatively, the user may also navigate the form 104 by bringing any field into focus. When the user brings a field into focus, the lens 108 is redrawn for the field that the user has chosen.
A user may input data into the data entry area 110. For example, here the user has been prompted to enter her social security number. The user may type into the data entry area 110 in order to enter her social security number into the field 106b. The data entry area 110 may correspond to a data type of the field. For example, the field 106b may accept a numerical value, which may include nine digits. Therefore, the data entry area 110 may accept nine digits when the field 106b is in focus.
According to some embodiments, when the user inputs the data into the data entry area 110, the inputted data is simultaneously inputted into the field that is currently in focus (e.g., the field 106b). According to other embodiments, the user may input data into the data entry area 110, and the lens 108 may enter the data into the current field (e.g., the field 106b), after the user has indicated that she is finished (e.g., by performing a carriage return). According to further embodiments, the data entry area 110 is separate from the field into which data is input (e.g., the field in focus, or as shown, the field 106b) so that the data entry area 110 and the current field 106b are both visible.
The lens 108 may further include help information 112, which describes the type of data that may be input into the data entry area 110. The help information may include, for example, a title 112a and a description 112b. The title 112a may generally describe the contents of the field 106b (e.g., “Social Security Number”), while the description 112b may include a longer explanation of the type of data to be input. For example, the description 112b may include information about where to find or how to determine the data to input into the data entry area 110 (and therefore the field 106b).
The lens 108 further includes a button 114 that a user may select (e.g., using a pointing device such as a mouse) to disable the lens 108, and two arrows 116a and 116b that allow a user to navigate about the fields 106 of the form 104. For example, a user may select the arrow 116b to advance from the current field (i.e., the field in focus) 106b to the next field 106c. The arrow 116a may be selected to return to the previous field 106a. When the arrows 116 are used, the focus changes to the selected field, and the lens 108 changes to accommodate the selected field (e.g., a new data entry area 110, and new help information 112). The order of the fields 106 may be determined using various techniques such as examining metadata of the form 104 or by following the general layout of the form 104.
The form filling software 100 may advance to the next field 106c in response to one of several occurrences. First, a user may select the arrow 116b to manually advance the form 104. Secondly, the form 104 may be automatically advanced once the requested data has been input into the area 110. For example, once a user has input the final digit of their social security number into the area 110, the form 104 automatically advances to the field 106b. According to other embodiments, the form 104 may advance in response to another input, such as a carriage return, after the user has finished inputting the requested data, or after a predetermined amount of time has elapsed (e.g., ten seconds) without input (i.e., typing) from the user.
The lens 108 may further have a reduced opacity to give it a translucent or transparent appearance. The reduced opacity may allow the form filling software 100 to locate the lens 108 over the form 104 to keep the lens 108 and the field 106a in close proximity while still allowing a user to see the portion of the form 104 covered by the lens 108.
The form filling software 100 may also perform error checking after receiving an input to enter the data into the data entry area 110 and before entering the data into the field in focus. For example, the form filling software 100 may determine that a numerical value is outside an allowed range, or that textual data is of the wrong format. The form filling software 100 may also inform the user of the error, and advise a course of action.
According to some embodiments, the lens 108 may maintain an approximately constant position relative to the display of the form filling software 100, while the form 104 may or may not move. Maintaining a constant position of the lens 108 may assist a user of the form filling software 100; however, it is understood that the lens 108 may take any position and may move (i.e., be redrawn in a different position) as desired.
The field 106c is highlighted to indicate that focus has been applied to the field 106c; accordingly, highlighting has been removed from the field 106b. The field 106c, as shown here, may receive data including text to describe an expense. The field 106d may receive data concerning a corresponding dollar value for the expense described in the field 106c.
Here, the contents of the lens 108 have been redrawn to indicate the change from the field 106b to the field 106c. The title 112a now reflects the title of the field 106c, and the description 112b includes information for filling out the field 106c. For example, the field 106c may be used to describe an expense listed on an expense form. As above, a user may enter the requested data into the data entry area 110. The data entry area 110 may be redrawn to correspond to a data type of the field 106c (e.g., to receive a textual input). Once the data has been entered in the data entry area 110, the data is entered in the field 106c in the form 104.
The form 104 may again be advanced once the requested data has been entered in the field 106c. As described above, the form 104 may be advanced either automatically, in response to a user input selecting the arrow 116b, or in response to a user selecting another field (e.g., by clicking on another field). For example, the form 104 may be automatically advanced after a pause (e.g., five seconds after the user has finished typing) or in response to a carriage return.
In some embodiments, the lens 108 may also include a widget 118, which may be drawn either externally or internally to the lens 108. According to an embodiment, the widget 118 is drawn adjacent to the lens 108. A widget 118 is a device that a user may use to help determine the data requested for the current field. For example, the widget 118 as shown here is a calculator. Other types of widgets may include calendars, mortgage calculators, or address books. According to an embodiment, a widget may appear when a corresponding field is brought into focus. For example, the widget 118 may appear when the field 106d is brought into focus.
Here, a calculator is used since the data requested for the field 106d is a value that may be calculated. For example, a user may have a number of receipts, the total of which may be determined using the widget 118. The value shown in the widget 118 may be automatically transferred to the data entry area 110 (and thus, the field 106c), or in response to a user input (e.g., clicking a button).
According to some embodiments, forms may include multiple similar fields. For example, the form 104 includes several fields for inputting expense information when a user has multiple expenses. However, a user may not need to use every available field. Therefore, the lens 108 may include a button 120, which a user may select to indicate that the form 104 may advance past the remaining similar fields (e.g., to the signature field 106e). The button 120 may be selected if the user has no more expenses to enter, for example. The button 120, or other similar button, may be located in or near the lens 108, and may be used with any set of fields that contain similar information in a list style format such as lists of expenses, dependents, or employees.
According to another embodiment, widgets may be optionally activated using a button within the lens 108. For example, a button 122a may be included within the lens 108. The button 122a may be optionally added to the lens 108 by a designer of the form 104 or in response to a user request to add the button 122a. The button 122a may be selected to open or close an additional widget, such as a calendar or other widget. A user may toggle the additional widget on or off by selecting or deselcting the button 122a. When a user selects the button 122a to open an additional widget, the additional widget may be presented in place of or in addition to the existing widget 118. According to another embodiment, the button 122 may be included to activate a widget where no other widget is currently active (e.g., as shown in
Here, the form filling software 200 may be used with forms that do not contain metadata. Alternatively, the form filling software 200 may be used where a designer of the form wishes to enhance the display of certain elements of the form 208. For example, a user may want to see the field in which he is inputting data. Using the lens 202, the user can see multiple fields in the same location as those appearing on the form 208.
The form filling software 200 may copy the visual appearance of the field 206 into the data entry area 204. The data entry area 204 may function in a manner similar to the field 206. In other words, a user may enter data into the data entry area 204 as though the user is being entering data into the field 206. Using the lens 208 in this manner still allows the user to have a centralized entry point for filling the form 208. In other embodiments, the visual representation may be the same size or small than the field 206.
In block 302, a form is displayed. A displayed form may include a portion or a complete form, which may further include a field configured to receive data. The form may be, for example, a tax form, an application, or a purchase order. The field may receive data input by a user, for example into a data entry area.
In block 304, a first input is received. The first input may be an input to select a field to focus upon. For example, the first input may include a mouse click or keystroke. As described above, focus may indicate that a field has been selected using, for example, a keystroke or mouse click. In block 306, in response to the first input, focus is applied to a selected field. Applying focus to the field may, according to some embodiments, including highlighting the field. In other embodiments, one or more fields may be focused upon simultaneously.
In block 308, a lens is drawn in response to the focus being applied. Drawing the lens may include any technique to graphically render or display the lens. The lens may be, for example, a visual element drawn over or near portions of the form. The lens may include a data entry area into which requested data may be input by a user. In block 310, the data entry area may be drawn inside the lens and separated from the field. The data entry area, in some embodiments, may be separated from the field to allow a user to view the field while entering data into the area. The lens may further include help information such as a description of the type of data requested, as well as instructions about how to fill in the field.
In block 312, a second input is received. The second input may be received using the data entry area. For example, the second input may be an input from a user to enter data into the data entry area. In block 314, the data is entered into the field. The data may be transferred to the field from the data entry area as the data is being entered by the user (i.e., as each character of the second input is being received), or after the user has finished entering the data. Alternatively, the data may be entered once a user has completed entering the data (e.g., when all digits of a social security number have been entered), or when a user indicates that they are finished (e.g., by performing a carriage return).
In block 316, error checking is optionally performed. Error checking may include determining whether the second input conforms to a format of the field, whether the second input includes the correct type and amount of data, and whether the data falls within a predetermined range, for example. If an error is found, an alert notifying the user of the error may be initiated.
In block 318, it is determined whether the form should be advanced. The form may be advanced in response to one of several conditions. For example, the user may select one of the arrows 116, or the form may be configured to automatically advance once the requested data has been entered by the user. If the form is not advanced, the process returns to block 312, where more input for the current field is received. If the form is to advance, the process continues to block 320.
In block 320, it is determined whether there are other fields in the form. The determination may be based on whether there are other incomplete fields, or whether there are any more fields before the end of the form, for example. If there are no more fields, the process 300 finishes. If there are more fields, the process 300 continues to block 322, where the form advances to the next field (e.g., focus is applied to the next field).
According to some embodiments, the computer system 400 performs specific operations by processor 404 executing one or more sequences of one or more instructions stored in the system memory 406. Such instructions may be read into the system memory 406 from another computer readable medium, such as the static storage device 408 or the disk drive 410. In some embodiments, hard-wired circuitry may be used in place of or in combination with software instructions to implement various embodiments.
Although the foregoing examples have been described in some detail for purposes of clarity of understanding, the invention is not limited to the details provided. There are many alternative ways of implementing the invention. The disclosed examples are illustrative and not restrictive.
