The present invention relates generally to computing systems and, more specifically, to a method for improving the efficiency of a graphical user interface associated with a computing system.
When computers were first invented, instructions, or programs, and data were entered manually via a series of switches. Soon, program and data entry was performed either by means of punch cards or keyboards coupled to the computing devices. Certainly, one of the primary advances in the computing arts has been the introduction of the graphical user interface (GUI). A GUI enables a user to enter data and commands and to execute programs by means of a keyboard and a computer mouse. Certainly, GUIs have become an indispensable part of the user/computer interface, particularly with the introduction of the Internet.
The Windows Explorer web browser, published by the Microsoft Corporation of Redmond, Wash., is one example of a GUI that enables users easy access to the Internet. In Windows Explorer, a display, or “desktop,” includes icons, or “buttons,” for programs that are either executing or may be executed and graphical displays, or “windows,” for programs that are active. Within individual windows, users typically access remote information sources via data entry templates, or “web forms.” A web form is presented to a user and the user inputs data into data entry fields. The browser converts the data in the data entry fields into a data query that is transmitted to an appropriate information repository, or “server.” The server executes the transmitted query and returns the requested information, which is then displayed to the user.
When multiple pieces of information are needed from a particular server, the data entry process becomes laborious because separate instantiations of the appropriate form must be filled in for each piece of information and each instantiation individually submitted. What is needed is a system and method for employing a single instantiation of a web form for multiple data requests, such that the user only needs to fill in a single form for multiple queries and the results are displayed in a user-defined manner.
Provided is a system and method for employing a single instantiation of a web form for multiple data requests, such that a user only needs to fill in a single form for multiple queries and the results are displayed in a user-defined manner. The claimed subject matter extends the input capabilities of a single web form by either modifying the form or providing a spreadsheet that corresponds to the specific input options of the web form.
A user displays a form that the user would like to submit for multiple data requests. The user then executes a form extension utility by clicking on a corresponding button or pressing a pre-defined sequence of keystrokes. The form extension utility then either modifies the form to enable the entry of multiple data requests or generates and displays a data entry spreadsheet corresponding to the web form.
Once the user has entered the required information, the form extension utility generates multiple queries, each query based upon one associated set of the multiple inputs to the web form. The user selects a format for the results to be results and the form extension utility submits the multiple requests to the appropriate server. The server is not necessarily aware that the multiple forms have been generated by the form extension utility rather. The server returns results for each request. Finally, the form extension utility receives the results transmitted from the server, collates the results, formats them according to the user-selected format and displays the results in the selected format.
This summary is not intended as a comprehensive description of the claimed subject matter but, rather, is intended to provide a brief overview of some of the functionality associated therewith. Other systems, methods, functionality, features and advantages of the invention will be or will become apparent to one with skill in the art upon examination of the following figures and detailed description.
A better understanding of the present invention can be obtained when the following detailed description of the disclosed embodiments is considered in conjunction with the following drawings, in which:
Although described with particular reference to a Microsoft Explorer, the claimed subject matter can be implemented in any information technology (IT) system and graphical user interface (GUI) in which efficiency in web form input is desirable. Those with skill in the computing arts will recognize that the disclosed embodiments have relevance to a wide variety of computing environments in addition to those described below. In addition, the methods of the disclosed invention can be implemented in software, hardware, or a combination of software and hardware. The hardware portion can be implemented using specialized logic; the software portion can be stored in a memory and executed by a suitable instruction execution system such as a microprocessor, personal computer (PC) or mainframe.
In the context of this document, a “memory” or “recording medium” can be any means that contains, stores, communicates, propagates, or transports the program and/or data for use by or in conjunction with an instruction execution system, apparatus or device. Memory and recording medium can be, but are not limited to, an electronic, magnetic, optical, electromagnetic, infrared or semiconductor system, apparatus or device. Memory an recording medium also includes, but is not limited to, for example the following: a portable computer diskette, a random access memory (RAM), a read-only memory (ROM), an erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM or flash memory), and a portable compact disk read-only memory or another suitable medium upon which a program and/or data may be stored.
One embodiment, in accordance with the claimed subject, is directed to a programmed method for employing a single web form for multiple data requests. The term “programmed method”, as used herein, is defined to mean one or more process steps that are presently performed; or, alternatively, one or more process steps that are enabled to be performed at a future point in time. The term programmed method anticipates three alternative forms. First, a programmed method comprises presently performed process steps. Second, a programmed method comprises a computer-readable medium embodying computer instructions, which when executed by a computer performs one or more process steps. Finally, a programmed method comprises a computer system that has been programmed by software, hardware, firmware, or any combination thereof, to perform one or more process steps. It is to be understood that the term “programmed method” is not to be construed as simultaneously having more than one alternative form, but rather is to be construed in the truest sense of an alternative form wherein, at any given point in time, only one of the plurality of alternative forms is present.
Attached to CPU 102 is a data storage component 112, which may either be incorporated into CPU 102 i.e. an internal device, or attached externally to CPU 102 by means of various, commonly available connection devices such as but not limited to, a universal serial bus (USB) port (not shown). Data storage 112 is illustrated storing an exemplary application, “App_1,” 114 and a web browser, or browser, 116, which in this example is Microsoft Explorer. Both App_1114 and browser 116 are used for the purpose of illustration only. It should be noted that a typical computing system may include many applications, but for the sake of simplicity only App_1114 is shown.
Also stored on data storage 112 is a Form Extension Utility (FXU) 118, which implements the disclosed technology, and an operating system (OS) 120. Although shown as a separate module, in an alternative embodiment, FXU 118 may be incorporated into app_1114, browser 116 or OS 120. In the following example, FXU 118 is initiated by a user of computing system 100 when the user displays a form that would benefit from multiple inputs. In this example, FXU 118 executes on CPU 102.
CPU 102 is controlled by operating system (OS) 120, which in this example includes a graphical user interface (GUI), illustrated below in conjunction with
In
Data entry fields 152 include a “Departing” field 154, illustrated filled in with the airport code for Austin, Tex. (AUS). Departing field 154 is employed to enter a particular city from which the user wishes to depart. A “Destination” field 156 is employed to enter information relating to a destination city or airport, which in this example includes a reference to Dulles Airport (DCA) in Washington, D.C. A “Ret.?” field 158 is employed to indicate whether or not the user desires a return flight corresponding to the particular airplane ticket or, in other words, whether or not the requested information relates to a round-trip ticket or a one-way ticket. In this example, field 158, indicates that the user needs information for a round-trip ticket.
A “Departure (DEP.) Time” field 160 and a “Dep. Date” field 162 enable the user to enter a particular departure time and date. A “Return Time” field 164 and a “Return Date” field 166 enable the user to enter a particular time and date for a return flight. Of course, although an actual web page for retrieving information on airline flights would typically include more fields, for the sake of simplicity only data entry fields 154, 156, 158, 160, 162, 164 and 166 are illustrated. Finally, form_0150 includes a “Submit” button 168, which the user clicks once data entry fields 152 are filled to transmit the completed information request to a server such as server 124 (
Like data entry fields 152 (
A “Departure (DEP.) Time” field 180 and a “Dep. Date” field 182 enable the user to enter a particular departure time and date. A “Return Time” field 184 and a “Return Date” field 186 enable the user to enter a particular time and date for a return flight. Note that because Ret? field 178, line #2 indicates that the requested information corresponds to a one-way trip, Return Time field 184, line #2 and Return Date field 186, line #2 do not include any information. Of course, although an actual web page for retrieving information on airline flights would typically include more fields, for the sake of simplicity only fields 174, 176, 178, 180, 182, 184 and 186 are illustrated. Further, it should be noted that data in each specific line of fields 174, 176, 178, 180, 182, 184 and 186 are related to a single information request.
At the bottom of form_1146 is a return option box 188 that includes three (3) possible formatting options for the response to a request for information. An option_1 check box 190 indicates that the user would like to see the retrieved information in a tabbed format; an option_2 check box 192 indicates a desire to see the information in a cascaded format; and an option_3 check box 194 indicates a desire to see the information in a spreadsheet format. In this example, the user has indicated a desire to see the information in a tabbed format as indicated by the check mark in option_1 check box 190 (see
Like form_1146 (
A “Req_1” row 222 of spreadsheet 200 corresponds to the first line, i.e. line #1, of data entry fields 174, 176, 178, 180, 182, 184 and 186 of form_1146. In a similar fashion, a “Req_2” row 224 corresponds to the second line, i.e. line #2, of data entry fields 174, 176, 178, 180, 182, 184 and 186; and a “Req_3” row 226 corresponds to the third line, i.e. line #3, of data entry fields 174, 176, 178, 180, 182, 184 and 186. A fourth row, i.e. “Req_4” row 228, does not have a corresponding line in form_1146, although there is no reason that form_1146 could not display additional data entry lines or that spreadsheet_1200 could not display fewer rows. Like the sets of data entry fields that correspond to each line of data entry fields 174, 176, 178, 180, 182, 184 and 186, each row 222, 224, 226 and 228 corresponds to an associated set of data entry fields. The specific number of lines in form_1146 and rows in spreadsheet_1200 depends upon configuration options and the data entry needs of the user. For the sake of comparison, spreadsheet_1200 is illustrated with the same information in rows and columns as that shown in the corresponding data entry fields of form_1146.
Spreadsheet_1200 does not include data entry fields corresponding to return option box 188 (
During a “Complete Forms” block 258, the user fills in data entry fields 148 of form_1146 (or the rows and columns of spreadsheet_1200 if so configured) with information corresponding to, in this example, the flights in which the user is interested in obtaining information. Once form_1146 (or spreadsheet_1200) is completed, during a “Select Format” block 260, the user clicks on one of option_1190, option_2192 or option_3194 of return option box 188 to select a particular format for the display of the results of the generated queries. As explained above, a typical embodiment of the disclosed subject matter may include additional choices corresponding to the format of the display of the results.
Once data is entered during block 258 and a return format selected during block 260, the user initiates a “Transmit Forms” block 262 by clicking on Submit button 196 (
During a “Receive Results” block 264, FXU 118 receives the results of the data queries generated during block 262. From the view of server 124, each data query and the corresponding result is a separate query and result. During a “Format Results” block 266, FXU 118 formats and displays on desktop 106 the results received during block 264 in accordance with the formatting requests selected during block 260. One example of formatted results corresponding to the data illustrated as entered in
Process 280 starts in a “Begin Convert Form” block 282 and proceeds immediately to a “Scan Form” block 284. During block 284, process 280 scans form_0150 (
During a “More Fields?” block 290, process 280 determines whether or not form_0150 has unprocessed data entry fields 152. If so, process 280 returns to block 286, retrieves the next unprocessed data entry filed, such as data entry field 156, and processing continues as described above. If during block 290 process 280 determines that all data entry fields 154, 156, 158, 160, 162, 164 and 166 have been processed, i.e. converted to data fields 174, 176, 178, 180, 182, 184 and 186 (
During a “Display Form” block 294, process 280 displays the converted form_0150, i.e. form_1146, on desktop 106 (
The tabbed format of form_2300 is dictated by the selection of option_1190 (
While the invention has been shown and described with reference to particular embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that the foregoing and other changes in form and detail may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, including but not limited to additional, less or modified elements and/or additional, less or modified blocks performed in the same or a different order.