Abstract: An intuitive and natural menu selection pattern is provided that allows a user to quickly and easily navigate though a hierarchical menu while mitigating errors associated with making a menu selection. The hierarchical menu can be presented as a flower-like design whereby a main menu item is a central item and lower level menu items are gathered around or near its corresponding upper level menu item. As a menu item is selected, its appearance can change indicating that such item has been selected.

Abstract: User devices may have connectivity with a backend server only occasionally. Provided is a communication means for such user devices to operate offline, when connectivity is unavailable, and to seamlessly transition to online connectivity when it is available. At least a subset of information from the backend server is communicated to the user device to enable the user to perform functions with the device regardless if the device is online or offline. The information from the user device can be communicated to the backend server when connectivity is established and/or can be communicated based on a cost verses value analysis.

Abstract: Applications are provided in as usable and intuitive tasks or subtasks that can be integrated with business solutions. The tasks or subtasks can be reutilized in a code or definition of the application, mitigating the amount of code and memory needed to be installed on a user device. In addition, the tasks or subtasks can be utilized across applications, further conserving device resources. The user can be presented with the tasks or subtasks in a logical flow or progression, allowing for ease of completion of the tasks.

Abstract: To improve upon existing ERP and other business logic handling system implementations, the claimed system and method provides direct customer access to functionality and data available in a merchant's business logic handling system. The claimed method and system includes installing functions of the business logic handling system at a portable computing device provided by the merchant or owned by a customer, and downloading data corresponding to functions installed at the portable computing device. The customer inputs requests to perform functions of the business logic handling system, and the functions are performed at the portable computing device and/or a system server, and the output of the function is displayed to the custom at the device.