US6407761B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
System and method for the visual customization of business object interfaces
Assignee: SAP SE
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Filing: 1999-05-10
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Granted: 2002-06-18
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Expires: 2019-05-10
Abstract
Abstract A system and method for customizing an interface, or the set of methods, of a business object by pre-defining a number of parameters and fields available to the methods of the business object using a visual customization tool is provided. The interface of the business object consists of the set of methods available to it. The interface is customized such that only the necessary methods, parameters and fields are made available for programming. The set of methods is displayed in a menu-driven format through a graphical user interface. The user selects the method to customize, and the set of parameters available to that method is displayed. Then the user selects the parameters that are intended to be used, and the fields available to those parameters are displayed. The user can preset certain static fields to constant values. After customization, the underlying code of the method is generated automatically and saved.
Inventors
- 👤 Pong Ching
- 👤 Martin Stein
- 👤 Larry Chiang
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 20:12
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F8/00; G06F8/30; G06F8/34
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 26
Claim 1
Independent Claim
226 words
A system for visually customizing methods of a business object by creating a configuration comprising: means for providing a plurality of graphical icons representing a plurality of methods belonging to said business object; means for selecting one of said plurality of graphical icons representing one of said plurality of methods; means for providing a plurality of graphical icons representing a plurality of parameters belonging to said one of said plurality of methods; means for selecting one of said plurality of graphical icons representing one of said plurality of parameters; means for providing a plurality of graphical icons representing a plurality of fields belonging to said one of said plurality of parameters; means for selecting one of said plurality of graphical icons representing one of said plurality of fields; means for inputting a constant text value for said one of said plurality of graphical icons representing one of said plurality of fields; and means for saving said configuration based on said selecting of one of said plurality of graphical icons representing one of said plurality of methods belonging to said business object, said selecting of one of said plurality of graphical icons representing one of said plurality of parameters belonging to said one of said plurality of methods, and said selecting of one of said plurality of fields belonging to said one of said plurality of parameters.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
226 words
A system for visually customizing methods of a business object by creating a configuration comprising: means for providing a plurality of graphical icons representing a plurality of methods belonging to said business object; means for selecting one of said plurality of graphical icons representing one of said plurality of methods; means for providing a plurality of graphical icons representing a plurality of parameters belonging to said one of said plurality of methods; means for selecting one of said plurality of graphical icons representing one of said plurality of parameters; means for providing a plurality of graphical icons representing a plurality of fields belonging to said one of said plurality of parameters; means for selecting one of said plurality of graphical icons representing one of said plurality of fields; means for inputting a constant text value for said one of said plurality of graphical icons representing one of said plurality of fields; and means for saving said configuration based on said selecting of one of said plurality of graphical icons representing one of said plurality of methods belonging to said business object, said selecting of one of said plurality of graphical icons representing one of said plurality of parameters belonging to said one of said plurality of methods, and said selecting of one of said plurality of fields belonging to said one of said plurality of parameters.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
43 words
The system of claim 1 further comprising: means for storing said business object and a set of associated metadata in a business object repository; and means for transferring said set of associated metadata from said business object repository to a data storage mechanism.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
48 words
The system of claim 2 wherein said metadata comprises a hierarchical structure representing said plurality of methods belonging to said business object, said plurality of parameters belonging said one of said plurality of methods, and said plurality of fields belonging to said one of said plurality of parameters.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
22 words
The system of claim 3 wherein said metadata further comprises a set of code for each one of said plurality of methods.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
94 words
The system of claim 4 further comprising: means for extracting said hierarchical structure from said metadata; means for mapping said hierarchical structure into a menu-driven graphical interface; and means for generating said plurality of graphical icons representing a plurality of methods which belong to said business object, said plurality of graphical icons representing a plurality of parameters belonging to said one of said plurality of methods, and said plurality of graphical icons representing a plurality of fields belonging to said one of said plurality of methods, based on said mapping of said hierarchical structure.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
62 words
The system of claim 4 further comprising: means for providing a subset of said set of code for said each one of said plurality of methods based on said selecting of one of said plurality of parameters, said selecting of one of said plurality of fields, and said inputting of said constant text value for said one of said plurality of fields.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
28 words
The system of claim 2 wherein a copy of said business object and a copy of said set of associated metadata are stored in said database storage mechanism.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
213 words
A method for visually customizing methods of a business object by creating a configuration comprising the steps of: providing a plurality of graphical icons representing a plurality of methods belonging to said business object; selecting one of said plurality of graphical icons representing one of said plurality of methods; providing a plurality of graphical icons representing a plurality of parameters belonging to said one of said plurality of methods; selecting one of said plurality of graphical icons representing one of said plurality of parameters; providing a plurality of graphical icons representing a plurality of fields belonging to said one of said plurality of parameters; selecting one of said plurality of graphical icons representing one of said plurality of fields; inputting a constant text value for said one of said plurality of graphical icons representing one of said plurality of fields; and saving said configuration based on said selecting of one of said plurality of graphical icons representing one of said plurality of methods belonging to said business object, said selecting of one of said plurality of graphical icons representing one of said plurality of parameters belonging to said one of said plurality of methods, and said selecting of one of said plurality of fields belonging to said one of said plurality of parameters.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
213 words
A method for visually customizing methods of a business object by creating a configuration comprising the steps of: providing a plurality of graphical icons representing a plurality of methods belonging to said business object; selecting one of said plurality of graphical icons representing one of said plurality of methods; providing a plurality of graphical icons representing a plurality of parameters belonging to said one of said plurality of methods; selecting one of said plurality of graphical icons representing one of said plurality of parameters; providing a plurality of graphical icons representing a plurality of fields belonging to said one of said plurality of parameters; selecting one of said plurality of graphical icons representing one of said plurality of fields; inputting a constant text value for said one of said plurality of graphical icons representing one of said plurality of fields; and saving said configuration based on said selecting of one of said plurality of graphical icons representing one of said plurality of methods belonging to said business object, said selecting of one of said plurality of graphical icons representing one of said plurality of parameters belonging to said one of said plurality of methods, and said selecting of one of said plurality of fields belonging to said one of said plurality of parameters.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
42 words
The method of claim 8 further comprising the steps of: storing said business object and a set of associated metadata in a business object repository; and transferring said set of associated metadata from said business object repository to a data storage mechanism.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
49 words
The method of claim 9 wherein said metadata comprises a hierarchical structure representing said plurality of methods belonging to said business object, said plurality of parameters belonging to said one of said plurality of methods, and said plurality of fields belonging to said one of said plurality of parameters.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 10 wherein said metadata further comprises a set of code for each one of said plurality of methods.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
90 words
The method of claim 11 further comprising the steps of: extracting said hierarchical structure from said metadata; mapping said hierarchical structure into a menu-driven graphical interface; and generating said plurality of graphical icons representing a plurality of methods belonging to said business object, said plurality of graphical icons representing a plurality of parameters belonging to said one of said plurality of methods, and said plurality of graphical icons representing a plurality of fields belonging to said one of said plurality of methods, based on said mapping of said hierarchical structure.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
63 words
The method of claim 11 further comprising the step of: providing a subset of said set of code for said each one of said plurality of methods based on said selecting of one of said plurality of parameters, said selecting of one of said plurality of fields, and said inputting of said constant text value for said one of said plurality of fields.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 9 wherein a copy of said business object and a copy of said set of associated metadata are stored in said database storage mechanism.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
225 words
A computer-readable medium having stored thereupon a plurality of instructions, said plurality of instructions including instructions which, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform the steps of: providing a plurality of graphical icons representing a plurality of methods belonging to said business object; selecting one of said plurality of graphical icons representing one of said plurality of methods; providing a plurality of graphical icons representing a plurality of parameters belonging to said one of said plurality of methods; selecting one of said plurality of graphical icons representing one of said plurality of parameters; providing a plurality of graphical icons representing a plurality of fields belonging to said one of said plurality of parameters; selecting one of said plurality of graphical icons representing one of said plurality of fields; inputting a constant text value for said one of said plurality of graphical icons representing one of said plurality of fields; and saving a configuration based on said selecting of one of said plurality of graphical icons representing one of said plurality of methods belonging to said business object, said selecting of one of said plurality of graphical icons representing one of said plurality of parameters belonging to said one of said plurality of methods, and said selecting of one of said plurality of fields belonging to said one of said plurality of parameters.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
225 words
A computer-readable medium having stored thereupon a plurality of instructions, said plurality of instructions including instructions which, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform the steps of: providing a plurality of graphical icons representing a plurality of methods belonging to said business object; selecting one of said plurality of graphical icons representing one of said plurality of methods; providing a plurality of graphical icons representing a plurality of parameters belonging to said one of said plurality of methods; selecting one of said plurality of graphical icons representing one of said plurality of parameters; providing a plurality of graphical icons representing a plurality of fields belonging to said one of said plurality of parameters; selecting one of said plurality of graphical icons representing one of said plurality of fields; inputting a constant text value for said one of said plurality of graphical icons representing one of said plurality of fields; and saving a configuration based on said selecting of one of said plurality of graphical icons representing one of said plurality of methods belonging to said business object, said selecting of one of said plurality of graphical icons representing one of said plurality of parameters belonging to said one of said plurality of methods, and said selecting of one of said plurality of fields belonging to said one of said plurality of parameters.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
55 words
The computer-readable medium of claim 15 wherein said instructions, when executed by said processor, cause said processor to perform the further steps of: storing said business object and a set of associated metadata in a business object repository; and transferring said set of associated metadata from said business object repository to a data storage mechanism.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
50 words
The computer-readable medium of claim 16 wherein said metadata comprises a hierarchical structure representing said plurality of methods belonging to said business object, said plurality of parameters belonging to said one of said plurality of methods, and said plurality of fields belonging to said one of said plurality of parameters.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
23 words
The computer-readable medium of claim 17 wherein said metadata further comprises a set of code for each one of said plurality of methods.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
104 words
The computer-readable medium of claim 18 wherein said instructions, when executed by said processor, cause said processor to perform the further the steps of: extracting said hierarchical structure from said metadata; mapping said hierarchical structure into a menu-driven graphical interface; and generating said plurality of graphical icons representing a plurality of methods belonging to said business object, said plurality of graphical icons representing a plurality of parameters belonging to said one of said plurality of methods, and said plurality of graphical icons representing a plurality of fields belonging to said one of said plurality of methods, based on said mapping of said hierarchical structure.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
77 words
The computer-readable medium of claim 18 wherein said instructions, when executed by said processor, cause said processor to perform the further the step of: providing a subset of said set of code for said each one of said plurality of methods based on said selecting of one of said plurality of parameters, said selecting of one of said plurality of fields, and said inputting of said constant text value for said one of said plurality of fields.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
29 words
The computer-readable medium of claim 16 wherein a copy of said business object and a copy of said set of associated metadata are stored in said database storage mechanism.
Claim 25
Independent Claim
241 words
A system for visually customizing methods of a business object by creating a configuration comprising: a user interface for providing a plurality of graphical icons representing a plurality of methods belonging to said business object; a user interface for selecting one of said plurality of graphical icons representing one of said plurality of methods; a user interface for providing a plurality of graphical icons representing a plurality of parameters belonging to said one of said plurality of methods; a user interface for selecting one of said plurality of graphical icons representing one of said plurality of parameters; a user interface for providing a plurality of graphical icons representing a plurality of fields belonging to said one of said plurality of parameters; a user interface for selecting one of said plurality of graphical icons representing one of said plurality of fields; a user interface for inputting a constant text value for said one of said plurality of graphical icons representing one of said plurality of fields; and a subsystem for saving said configuration based on said selecting of one of said plurality of graphical icons representing one of said plurality of methods belonging to said business object, said selecting of one of said plurality of graphical icons representing one of said plurality of parameters belonging to said one of said plurality of methods, and said selecting of one of said plurality of fields belonging to said one of said plurality of parameters.
Claim 26
Independent Claim
241 words
A system for visually customizing methods of a business object by creating a configuration comprising: a user interface for providing a plurality of graphical icons representing a plurality of methods belonging to said business object; a user interface for selecting one of said plurality of graphical icons representing one of said plurality of methods; a user interface for providing a plurality of graphical icons representing a plurality of parameters belonging to said one of said plurality of methods; a user interface for selecting one of said plurality of graphical icons representing one of said plurality of parameters; a user interface for providing a plurality of graphical icons representing a plurality of fields belonging to said one of said plurality of parameters; a user interface for selecting one of said plurality of graphical icons representing one of said plurality of fields; a user interface for inputting a constant text value for said one of said plurality of graphical icons representing one of said plurality of fields; and a subsystem for saving said configuration based on said selecting of one of said plurality of graphical icons representing one of said plurality of methods belonging to said business object, said selecting of one of said plurality of graphical icons representing one of said plurality of parameters belonging to said one of said plurality of methods, and said selecting of one of said plurality of fields belonging to said one of said plurality of parameters.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
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| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2009-06-17 | 2009-12-17 | 2010-06-18 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2013-06-17 | 2013-12-17 | 2014-06-18 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |