Data processing: database and file management or data structures – Database design – Data structure types
Reexamination Certificate
2000-03-07
2004-07-06
Pardo, Thuy N. (Department: 2175)
Data processing: database and file management or data structures
Database design
Data structure types
C707S793000, C707S793000, C707S793000, C707S793000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06760735
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to a user configurable tree structure interface, generally as follows. A configurable user interface arrangement representing data elements of at least one data source according to the principles of the claimed invention comprises a dynamic tree structure monitoring area (TSMA) displaying at least one tree structure having at least one node (N), each tree having a root node (RN). Each node represents a data element or a set of data elements, and at least one node is user selectable. The configurable user interface also comprises a configuration editor comprising means for establishing a configuration code set, said configuration code set defining the structure of said tree structure(s). At least one node (N) in said tree structure(s) defines a set of reading commands to be executed when a node (N) is selected in the said tree structure monitoring area (TSMA). The configurable user interface also comprises a content monitoring area (CMA) monitoring the content or a part of the content of a selected node, said content being established by said set of reading commands.
Alternatively, a user configurable user interface arrangement representing data elements of a data source according to the principles of the claimed invention comprises a dynamic tree structure monitoring area (TSMA) displaying at least one tree structure having at least one node (N), each tree having a root node (RN). Each node represents a data element (or a set of data elements), and each node is user selectable. The configurable user interface also comprises a content monitoring area (CMA) for monitoring the content or a part of the content of a selected node, said content of data elements being established by said set of reading commands (RC). The configurable user interface also comprises a searching facility operating on established content of the content monitoring area (CMA) of a selected node (N) or non-established content of at least one selected node (N) itself. The said searching facility operates on at least one search criterion or combinations of search criteria, said criteria defining different types of information related to data elements of said content.
The invention also relates to a user interface. A user interface according to the principles of the claimed invention comprises a user interface arrangement as described above, wherein the search is established by an activation of a node (N) as a menu providing a search option on different types of information in the content monitoring area, or combinations of such.
The invention further relates to data processing systems. A data processing system for controlling a user interface of a computer according to the principles of the claimed invention comprises computer processor means for processing data, storage means for storing data in a data carrier, a monitoring unit for monitoring a user-interface, and a configurable user interface as described above.
Alternatively, a data processing system for controlling a user interface of a computer according to the principles of the claimed invention comprises computer processor means for processing data, storage means for storing data in a data carrier, a monitoring unit for monitoring a user-interface, and a configurable user interface as described above.
The invention also relates to a data carrier. A data carrier according to the principles of the claimed invention comprises data establishing a user-interface of a computer as described above.
Conventionally software data management systems are usually specialised to dedicated functions required for the specific application in the sense that use of such kinds of applications requires certain skills not available for personal working primarily with word processors, spreadsheets and simple graphic presentation programs. In particular, this may be the case in industrial computer systems usually including e.g. larger databases containing a very large amount of information being absolutely non-accessible to the above type of basic skill users.
This may e.g. materialise in that an immense amount of data actually present in a computer system is not available for persons having an actual need for accessing this data, as a look-up for this data requires vast knowledge about possible searching and operating features of the specific applications.
This has resulted in certain kinds of report generators being adapted for accessing a certain types of information, which may be printed out. A common feature of these conventional report generators is that they are dedicated for accessing data in intervals of e.g. one week, one day or the like, as the main purpose of such generators are statistics, budget controls or the like. Moreover, they are usually dedicated for use in one specific environment, e.g. a certain type of database.
Another example of systems adapted for providing information to basic skill users are file management systems adapted for managing data of different software applications. A serious disadvantage of such systems is that they provide a 1:1 overview of present data, thus leaving the user alone in a data jungle organised to fit the functional environments and certainly not to be accessed intuitively.
In some systems this problem has been addressed by reorganising the data in such a way that the data are split up or sub-divided in a more intuitively logical way. This reorganising of data is nevertheless costly, and will require very specialised programming and organising of a data source. Moreover, a physical reorganising of data is dangerous, as the risk of faults and breakdowns will exceed.
Moreover, such a reorganisation of data may likely be convenient to some groups of users, but counterproductive to other groups or users.
Another problem related to file management systems is that a user has no possibility to organise data contained in one library appropriate to his needs.
It is an object of the invention to provide a data management system, which may be intuitively accessed by a basic-skill user and which may run with existing system resources.
THE INVENTION
The invention relates to a configurable user interface arrangement representing data elements DE of a data source,
said user interface arrangement comprising
a dynamic tree structure monitoring area TSMA,
said tree structure monitoring area displaying at least one tree structure having at least one node N, each tree having a root node RN
each of said nodes N representing a data element or a set of data elements
each node being user selectable,
a configuration editor CE
comprising means for establishing a configuration code set,
said configuration code set defining the structure of said tree structure(s) and
for at least one node N in said tree structure(s) defining a set of reading commands to be executed when a node is selected in the said tree structure monitoring area TSMA, and
a content monitoring area CMA
monitoring the content or a part of the content of a selected node, said content being established by the said set of reading commands.
According to the invention, an advantageous and compact user friendly arranging of data has been obtained.
According to the invention, a user has the possibility of obtaining a personal adapted tree layout providing the user with the necessary information by means of a simple selection of a node in a tree structure. Thus, a user needs no special or expert knowledge about handling of different types of applications, such as data bases, CAD programs, etc., as a monitoring of a certain data element requires only a simple graphic operation.
It should be noted that, according to the invention, the pre-programming of the reading commands required for establishing the necessary monitoring may be performed by system experts or even only less specialised super users, having the specific knowledge about the certain data type and the possible reading methods.
If the configuration editor is operating in a simple and user friendly way it may be configured by one internal company super user or a number of programme
BSI Business Systems Integration AG
Pardo Thuy N.
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