Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for displaying information to a user on a display device of a computer system. In one general aspect, a first view is displayed on the display device, where the first view has at least a first work area. In response to the receipt of a first input received by the computer system, a second view is displayed on the display device. The second view includes the first work area and a temporary communication area, or “pop-in window,” included within the first work area. The temporary communication area has a defined function associated therewith requiring input from a user. The temporary communication area may close after the user provides the necessary input and the defined function is performed.

Abstract: A method or system may search and display search hits as a hierarchy of objects in a computed-based environment. For example, the method may include performing a search on the objects based on search criteria entered by the user, and identifying search hits based on the search performed on the objects, each search hit corresponding to an object matching the search criteria. Further, the method may include providing a display including a hierarchy of objects and indicating the search hits identified from the search to the user, and providing a set of control buttons to permit the user to navigate the display and view the search hits.

Abstract: Systems and techniques to provide control center pages in a portal. In general, in one implementation, the technique includes enabling a user of a portal to navigate between control level pages and execution level pages without losing work performed in the execution level pages. The control level includes user-centric control center page(s) that provide the user with personal resources and serve as an anchor, or “home”, page.

Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for displaying information to a user on a display device of a computer system. In one general aspect, a first view is displayed on the display device, where the first view has at least a first work area. In response to the receipt of a first input received by the computer system, a second view is displayed on the display device. The second view includes the first work area and a temporary communication area, or “pop-in window,” included within the first work area. The temporary communication area has a defined function associated therewith requiring input from a user. The temporary communication area may close after the user provides the necessary input and the defined function is performed.

Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for displaying information to a user on a display device of a computer system. In one general aspect, a first view is displayed on the display device, where the first view has at least a first work area. In response to the receipt of a first input received by the computer system, a second view is displayed on the display device. The second view includes the first work area and a temporary communication area, or “pop-in window,” included within the first work area. The temporary communication area has a defined function associated therewith requiring input from a user. The temporary communication area may close after the user provides the necessary input and the defined function is performed.

Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for interacting with a user entering information for a computer application. In one general aspect, the invention provides for displaying a pane as a user interface for a user to enter information in a sequence of steps. The pane includes an information entry area, an interactive first step symbol capable of initiating a first step in the sequence, and a first indicator placed after the first step symbol. The first indicator indicates that a selection of a step to follow the first step depends on information received in the first step. A second step is selected to follow the first step using information received in the first step, and the first indicator is removed. An interactive second step symbol capable of initiating the second step is placed after the first step symbol.

Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for displaying information to a user on a display device of a computer system. In one general aspect, a first view is displayed on the display device, where the first view has a plurality of objects in a first format and a first object control mechanism. An input is received to minimize the first view, and in response thereto a second view is displayed on the display device. The second view includes a second object control mechanism and one or more objects that are a subset of the plurality of objects in a second format. The second view may include, from the objects displayed in the first view, only those objects contained in the subset of the plurality of objects.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to providing access to database objects. A first view displays first and second database access mechanisms. The first database access mechanism includes at least one database access pattern including a predefined search of the database. The second database access mechanism includes at least one selection function and an input function, for searching a selected subset of the database for objects having an input value. The second database access mechanism is also capable of adding a database access pattern to the first database access mechanism. A third database access mechanism comprises an attribute choice and an input field to search for database objects having the input value associated with a chosen attribute.

Abstract: A user interface for guiding a user through a sequential task requiring user interaction in a plurality of ordered steps. The user interface includes a window on a computer screen comprising: a first pane displaying an active roadmap of two or more of the ordered steps and for indicating a selected one of the two or more sequential steps; a second pane for providing a user interface pattern, the user interface pattern corresponding to the selected one of the two or more sequential steps; and a third pane for displaying one or more activities related to activities displayed in the user interface pattern.

Abstract: A user interface template for generating a computer user interface through which a user may perform a task. The user interface template includes a window on a computer screen comprising: a first pane displaying two or more view selection links, the first pane having one of the two or more view selection links selected at any point in time; a second pane displaying one content pattern selected from two or more content patterns, wherein the two or more content patterns are associated with the respective two or more view selection links and wherein the one content pattern selected is selected based on the selected one of the two or more view selection links; and a third pane displaying one or more links to activities that are directly related to the one content pattern selected from the two or more content patterns but that are not directly related to the task.

Abstract: A method of modifying a user interface for displaying structured database information in two or more ordered steps in work panes of a window. The method comprises: displaying a first work pane having a first user interface pattern associated with a first of the two or more sequential steps; displaying a second work pane after display of the first work pane, the second work pane having a second user interface pattern associated with a second of the two or more sequential steps; receiving a command from a user to display the first work pane and the second work pane simultaneously; and displaying the first work pane and the second work pane in the window.

Abstract: A user interface for providing an entry point to processing a business activity. The user interface includes a window on a computer screen comprising: a first pane in the window for displaying one or more links to actions related to the business activity and for receiving a selection from a user of one of the one or more links, wherein one or more respective miniviews are associated with the one or more respective links, wherein each miniview displays structured and unstructured data corresponding to the respective link's actions; and a second pane for displaying one of the one or more miniviews associated with the selected link.

Abstract: A user interface for assisting the user in performing a task and shielding the user from complex data. The user interface includes a window on a computer screen comprising: a first pane for displaying instructions to a user regarding the task; a second pane for displaying a content form and receiving the user's input into the content form, wherein the content form displays only a subset of the available data objects relating to the task; and a third pane for displaying actions related to the task. A method for providing a user interface for performing a task is provided. The method provides a user interface including a window having: a first pane for displaying instructions to a user regarding the task; a second pane for displaying a content form and receiving the user's input into the content form; and a third pane for displaying activities related to the task.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for searching and displaying search hits in a hierarchy of objects. In one implementation, a method is provided for searching and displaying search hits as a hierarchy of objects in a computed-based environment. The method may include performing a search on the objects based on search criteria entered by the user, and identifying search hits based on the search performed on the objects, each search hit corresponding to an object matching the search criteria. Further, the method may include providing a display including a hierarchy of objects and indicating the search hits identified from the search to the user, and providing a set of control buttons to permit the user to navigate the display and view the search hits.

Abstract: A user interface for displaying view sets of an object for data input. The user interface includes a first pane for receiving search criteria for a search among objects, for displaying results of the search and for receiving a selection of an object in the results. The user interface includes a second pane for selecting a view set for the object selected in the first pane. The second pane includes first and second selection mechanisms. The first selection mechanism may be used for selecting between categories of view sets. The second selection mechanism may be used for selecting one of the view sets of the category selected with the first selection mechanism. The user interface includes a third pane for displaying the view set selected in the second pane and for receiving user input of data for the selected object.

Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for interacting with a user entering information for a computer application. In one general aspect, the invention provides for displaying a pane as a user interface for a user to enter information in a sequence of steps. The pane includes an information entry area, an interactive first step symbol capable of initiating a first step in the sequence, and a first indicator placed after the first step symbol. The first indicator indicates that a selection of a step to follow the first step depends on information received in the first step. A second step is selected to follow the first step using information received in the first step, and the first indicator is removed. An interactive second step symbol capable of initiating the second step is placed after the first step symbol.

Abstract: Systems and techniques to provide control center pages in a portal. In general, in one implementation, the technique includes enabling a user of a portal to navigate between control level pages and execution level pages without losing work performed in the execution level pages. The control level includes user-centric control center page(s) that provide the user with personal resources and serve as an anchor, or “home”, page.

Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for displaying information to a user on a display device of a computer system. In one general aspect, a first view is displayed on the display device, where the first view has at least a first work area. In response to the receipt of a first input received by the computer system, a second view is displayed on the display device. The second view includes the first work area and a temporary communication area, or “pop-in window,” included within the first work area. The temporary communication area has a defined function associated therewith requiring input from a user. The temporary communication area may close after the user provides the necessary input and the defined function is performed.

Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for displaying information to a user on a display device of a computer system. In one general aspect, a first view is displayed on the display device, where the first view has a plurality of objects in a first format and a first object control mechanism. An input is received to minimize the first view, and in response thereto a second view is displayed on the display device. The second view includes a second object control mechanism and one or more objects that are a subset of the plurality of objects in a second format. The second view may include, from the objects displayed in the first view, only those objects contained in the subset of the plurality of objects.

Abstract: Creating user interfaces by identifying specific tasks to be carried out by users, matching the specific tasks with generic tasks, and creating the user interface from generic user-interface components associated with the generic tasks. The generic user-interface components are specified with the details of the specific tasks. The generic user-interface components may be assembled in a generic floor plan. The specific and/or generic tasks may be identified by a reverse-engineering process including the analysis of a number of existing user interfaces.