Contextual Search Embedding in Business Process Steps
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Solution Overview
Problem
Complex business processes in software systems, such as ERP systems, are difficult to manage due to their complexity, with dozens or hundreds of steps and associated objects, making it challenging to provide effective search results that maintain context within the process structure.
Innovation Solution
A method is implemented to receive a search term and initiate a search within the business process, generating search results embedded within the context of the process steps, allowing users to navigate and understand the relevance of results within the process structure, using a user interface to select the search format and display results graphically adjacent to the relevant steps.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If search results are provided in a separate window or list format, then search functionality is achieved, but users lose context of where results are located in the business process
Solution Approach 1:
The patent embeds search results directly within the business process step displays, nesting the search result information inside the contextual framework of the process steps. This allows users to see search results in the context of where they apply within the process, eliminating the need to switch between separate search windows and process views.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines the search result display with the business process step display into a unified interface. Instead of presenting search results separately, the system merges them with the relevant process step information, allowing users to view both the search results and their contextual location within the process simultaneously.
2Loss of information
If complex business processes are displayed in detail, then complete process information is provided, but the interface becomes overwhelming and difficult to navigate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the business process information into discrete, manageable steps that can be individually displayed and navigated. Each process step is presented as a separate unit with its associated search results, allowing users to focus on one step at a time rather than being overwhelmed by the entire process at once.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality by providing detailed information specifically at the relevant process steps where search results are found, rather than uniformly displaying all process information. This allows the interface to be simple in most areas while providing detailed information locally where needed.
3Productivity
If users must navigate through multiple screens to find process steps, then comprehensive search is achieved, but user time and efficiency are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the search results display with the business process step display, eliminating the need for users to navigate to separate screens or windows to view search results. Both the process steps and search results are presented together in a single unified view, reducing navigation time and improving search efficiency.
Data Source
AI summary
In one aspect, there is provided a method. The method may include receiving, from a user interface, an indication and a search term to be identified in one or more steps of a business process, the indication being representative of a search result format for an embedded context search; initiating a search for the search term in one or more steps of a business process; receiving one or more search results including metadata describing where the one or more search results are located in the business process; and generating a first page including the one or more steps of the business process, the first page further including the one or more search results embedded within the one or more steps to provide a context, when the indication representative of the search result format comprises the embedded context search. Related systems, methods, and articles of manufacture are also disclosed.