Hierarchical User Interface for Enterprise System Navigation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Employees in enterprises face difficulties navigating multiple separate interfaces for different systems, leading to inefficiencies and increased training costs due to the complexity and frequent updates of these interfaces.
Innovation Solution
A hierarchical user interface system that categorizes operations into three main categories (updating, configuring, and extracting) and maps options to these categories, allowing users to access and perform operations through a minimal number of intuitive windows, bypassing the complexity of existing interfaces.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If employees use separate interfaces for different systems, then each system can be accessed independently, but employees must master multiple complex interfaces and their idiosyncrasies
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple separate system interfaces into a single unified interface that provides access to various back office systems. This unified interface consolidates navigation, search, and operation capabilities across different systems (HR, finance, inventory, etc.) into one consistent environment, eliminating the need for employees to learn multiple separate interfaces while maintaining access to all required systems
2Productivity
If employees are trained on specific enterprise interfaces, then they can perform tasks efficiently, but the training time is wasted when interfaces are updated or new employees join
Solution Approach 1:
The unified interface is designed with universal principles that remain consistent across different systems and updates. By establishing a standardized navigation structure, consistent search functionality, and uniform operation patterns that work across all back office systems, the interface becomes universally applicable regardless of system changes or employee turnover, eliminating the need for repeated training on interface-specific idiosyncrasies
3Adaptability or versatility
If interfaces are updated with new versions, then new features and improvements are introduced, but controls are moved to different locations requiring relearning
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of moving controls around during updates, the patent inverts the traditional approach by maintaining fixed, consistent control locations across all systems and updates. The unified interface establishes a stable navigation framework where key controls remain in predictable positions, and new features are integrated without disrupting the established layout, allowing updates without requiring users to relearn control locations
4Adaptability or versatility
If multiple separate interfaces are used for different systems, then each system's specific functionality is accessible, but the number of interface screens increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the unified interface into organized categories and modules that provide logical access to different back office systems. Instead of creating separate interfaces for each system, the unified interface divides functionality into structured segments (HR, finance, inventory, etc.) that can be accessed through consistent navigation paths, reducing the total number of screens while maintaining systematic organization of all system functionalities
Data Source
AI summary
Operations to existing interfaces are mapped to categories. Options associated with each operation are mapped. A front-end hierarchical interface is generated from the mappings. An initial window is rendered for operation selection from the categories. A second window is generated based on user operation selection for user option selections. Once user option selections are made, and API is processed to cause an existing interface to generate a third window that places the user within the existing interface with a context/state defined by the user through the initial window and the second window with the operation and options selections.