Navigational interface for ERP system

Abstract

The present invention comprises a software system having a user-friendly navigational interface utilizing an hierarchical display of business documents based upon a dominant-subordinate relationship between the documents. In one embodiment, the documents are related through the use of keys, which define a relationship between the dominant and the subordinate documents. In conjunction with the selection of a specific document, the invention displays information related to that document. The information to be displayed can be custom defined by the user. In one embodiment, each user can define a unique set of data to be displayed. The invention further provides a means by which the underlying data can be easily edited from the hierarchical display. The present invention also allows the creation of expressions that will alert the user to predetermined conditions. The alert is displayed in conjunction with the hierarchical display of a document, but the expression may be defined by data not normally contained within the document. In one embodiment, each user can define a unique set of alerts for various documents based on conditions of particular interest to the user. The present invention further comprises a visual rendering of predefined expressions describing the progress of work related to a document. This rendering may be based on data not normally contained within the given document. In one embodiment, each user can define a unique set of progress expressions for various documents based on conditions of particular interest to the user.

Description

RELATED PATENT APPLICATION[0001] This patent application is a divisional application of Ser. No. 09 / 743,152, which was filed Jan. 5, 2001 as a U.S. national filing of PCT / US99 / 24859 under 35 U.S.C. § 371, which was filed Oct. 22, 1999 and claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60 / 105,287 filed Oct. 22, 1998.FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0002] The present invention relates to software interface systems, and in particular, to methods for providing quick and intuitive navigation to stored information normally available in different business documents. BACKGROUND [0003] Computer technology, related to both hardware and software, has revolutionized the way business is conducted. At one time, the scarcity of information was a major hurdle for various businesses to overcome. As a result of advancements in computers and information technology, businesses are frequently faced with information overload, since virtually every piece of information related to an enterprise is ca...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0007] The present invention comprises a software system having a user-friendly navigational interface utilizing an hierarchical display of business documents based upon a dominant-subordinate relationship between the documents. In one embodiment, the documents are related through the use of keys, which define a relationship between the dominant and the subordinate documents. In conjunction with the selection of a specific document, the invention displays information related to that document. The information to be displayed can be custom defined by the user. In one embodiment, each user can define a unique set of data to be displayed. The invention further provides a means by which the underlying data can be easily edited from the hierarchical display.

Problems solved by technology

At one time, the scarcity of information was a major hurdle for various businesses to overcome.

Information overload is further exacerbated by the need to rapidly consolidate and assess information.

The resultant interface is confusing to all but those familiar with the particular discipline.

Information overload can thus be described as a problem of too much information and less time to rely on interface with another human being confounded by a foreign computer interface.

While these individual departments can achieve improved operational efficiency through software, the business as a whole would not realize the potential afforded by information technology because the individual software applications may not smoothly interface with each other, and there could be significant duplication of data across the individual systems.

However, because ERP systems provide such comprehensive access to a business' data, they suffer from having an end user interface that is difficult to learn.

This tends to make ERP user interfaces inherently complicated, particularly for end users that need to access information outside of the end user's normal area of expertise.

For example, while a sales person may become proficient in accessing quotation or sales order information in an ERP system, if customer asks the sales person a question about the shipment or invoice for a particular order, the ERP user interface will usually make it difficult for the sales person find the information, because the user interface for shippers and invoices is likely to be unfamiliar to the sales person.

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