Work Center Screen Link Navigation for ERP Systems
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Solution Overview
Problem
Large software systems, such as ERP and CRM systems, face challenges in efficiently presenting and navigating through voluminous information organized in semantically related groups, leading to complex user interfaces that can be overwhelming and difficult to navigate.
Innovation Solution
A computer-implemented method and system that identifies customizable work center screens and includes links for direct navigation to specific types of screens, such as search and create screens, allowing users to access related information without visiting the work center screen, with secondary links displayed upon hovering over primary links, enhancing user navigation and information grouping.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If work center screens are made customizable with role-specific information, then user relevance and information organization are improved, but system complexity and navigation difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The interface is segmented into multiple levels: work center screens containing role-specific information, and secondary screens for specific operations. The patent introduces first links to navigate to work center screens and second links (displayed on hover) to navigate directly to specific operation screens, dividing the navigation structure into manageable segments that reduce perceived complexity while maintaining customization.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a nested link structure where second links are embedded within or associated with first links. The second links are displayed upon hovering over the first links, creating a nested navigation pattern where detailed operation links are contained within the broader work center screen links, allowing users to access detailed functionality without expanding the overall interface structure.
2Productivity
If direct navigation links to specific screens are provided, then access speed and productivity are improved, but information completeness and contextual richness are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary action by pre-configuring the interface with role-specific work center screens that contain relevant information before the user needs it. The first links provide direct access to these pre-organized work centers, and the second links provide direct access to specific operation screens, allowing users to access information quickly without losing contextual richness because the work center screens themselves contain the necessary contextual information.
Solution Approach 2:
The work center screens serve as intermediaries between the user and the detailed operation screens. These intermediate screens contain role-specific information and contextual data, while the first and second links provide efficient navigation paths. The intermediary work center screens preserve contextual information while the link structure enables fast access to both general and specific functionality.
3Measurement precision
If secondary links are displayed on hover, then navigation precision and user control are improved, but interface simplicity and ease of access are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The interface transitions from a static display to a dynamic one where second links appear on hover over first links. This dynamic behavior allows the interface to adapt to user needs: when a user hovers over a work center link, the relevant operation links become available, providing precise navigation control while maintaining a simple, clean interface appearance when not in use.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality by making the second links visible only in the specific context where they are needed - upon hovering over the corresponding first link. This localized display of additional navigation options provides precise control exactly where and when the user needs it, without cluttering the overall interface or requiring constant display of all possible navigation paths.
Data Source
AI summary
Presenting links to a user includes: (i) identifying at least one of several work center screens to be made available to a user on a screen. Each work center screen is customizable and contains role-specific information associated with a topic in an enterprise resource computing system. (ii): for each identified work center screen, any screen of a particular type to which the user can directly navigate from the work center screen is identified. (iii): the screen includes: (A) for each identified work center screen, a first link providing navigation to the corresponding work center screen, and (B) for each first link, a second link to each screen of the particular type identified for the corresponding work center screen, providing navigation to the identified screen without visiting the work center screen, the second link displayed to indicate an association with the first link.