# US 8,543,943 B2 · Methods and systems for entering object assignments > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,543,943 B2 - Document ID: US8543943B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 11/100,515 - Filed: 2005-04-07 - Published: 2006-10-12 - Granted: 2013-09-24 - Earliest claimed: 2005-04-07 - Assignees: Sap SE - Applicants: Roman A. Rapp - Inventors: Roman A. Rapp - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8543943B2 ## CPC - G06F 3/0481: based on specific properties of the displayed interaction object or a metaphor-based environment, e.g. interaction with desktop elements like windows or icons, or assisted by a cursor's changing behaviour or appearance - G06F 9/451: Execution arrangements for user interfaces - G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N) ## Abstract Methods, systems and computer program products are provided for entering object assignments. In one implementation, a system is provided that comprises means for storing first and second object hierarchies, the second object hierarchy including a plurality of objects and at least one folder object being the root of a sub-hierarchy of objects, and each object of the first and second object hierarchies having an object type of a pre-defined set of object types. The system may further comprise a rule base for storage of object types and associated sub-sets, means for displaying the object hierarchies on a graphical user interface which enables a user's selection of the first object from the first object hierarchy and displays an indicator for the at least one folder object if the sub-hierarchy of the folder object contains at least one object having an object type of the sub-set associated with the first object and, in response, further displays an assignment symbol between the first object and the folder object and/or the at least one object of the sub-hierarchy. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method for creating an assignment between at least a first object of a first object hierarchy and at least a second object of a second object hierarchy, wherein at least the second object hierarchy includes a plurality of objects that are sub-objects of a root object and at least one folder represented by a folder object that is the root object for the plurality of sub-objects, and wherein a first subset of the plurality of sub-objects can be assigned to the first object, and a second subset of the plurality of sub-objects cannot be assigned to the first object, the method comprising: simultaneously displaying the first object in the first object hierarchy and the folder object in the second object hierarchy; selecting the displayed first object; in response to the selection, displaying an indicator symbol for the folder object, the indicator symbol indicating that at least one of the plurality of sub-objects can be assigned to the first object; and selecting the folder object to automatically create an assignment between the first object and each of the plurality of sub-objects in the first subset without creating an assignment between the first object and any of the plurality of sub-objects in the second subset. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising displaying the plurality of sub-objects of the folder object in response to a user input action and displaying assignment symbols between the first object and the folder object and between the first object and the plurality of sub-objects, the assignment symbols being representative of respective edges linking the first and second object hierarchies. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising displaying the sub-objects of the folder object and displaying a first assignment symbol and second assignment symbols, the first assignment symbol being representative of a defining edge between the first object and the folder object and the second assignment symbols being representative of respective dependent edges between the first object and the sub-objects. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The method of claim 3, further comprising: assigning a unique identifier to the defining edge; assigning a unique identifier to each of the dependent edges; and storing the defining and depending edges in a database table using the respective unique identifiers as keys, whereby the database table includes a column for storing the unique identifier of the defining edge for identification of the dependent edges that depend from the defining edge. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The method of claim 4, wherein deletion of the defining edge causes automatic deletion of the dependent edges. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The method of claim 5, wherein the deletion is performed by a selection of the first assignment symbol and entering a delete command. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising adding a new object as an additional sub-object of the folder object, and displaying an assignment symbol between the first object and the new object. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising performing a mode selection operation for selecting a first or second assignment entry mode, wherein in the first assignment entry mode a defining edge having dependent edges between the first object and second objects of the first subset of the plurality of sub-objects is entered, and wherein in the second assignment entry mode independent edges between the first object and user selected second objects of the first subset of the plurality of sub-objects are entered, whereby the independent edges may be erased individually. ### Claim 9 A computer program product for creating an assignment between at least a first object of a first object hierarchy and at least a second object of a second object hierarchy, wherein at least the second object hierarchy includes a plurality of objects that are sub-objects of a root object and at least one folder represented by a folder object that is the root object for the plurality of sub-objects, and wherein a first subset of the plurality of sub-objects can be assigned to the first object, and a second subset of the plurality of sub-objects cannot be assigned to the first object, the computer program product being stored on a computer-readable storage medium and comprising computer executable instructions for: simultaneously displaying the first object in the first object hierarchy and the folder object in the second object hierarchy; enabling a user's selection of the first displayed object from the first object hierarchy via a graphical user interface; in response to the selection, displaying an indicator symbol for the folder object, the indicator symbol indicating that at least one of the plurality of sub-objects can be assigned to the first object; and selecting the folder object to automatically create an assignment between the first object and each of the plurality of sub-objects in the first subset without creating an assignment between the first object and any of the plurality of sub-objects in the second subset. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The computer program product of claim 9, further comprising instructions for accessing a rule base, the rule base storing a set of object types associated with the first object, wherein the set of object types is used to determine that the first subset of the plurality of sub-objects can be assigned to the first object. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The computer program product of claim 9, further comprising computer executable instructions for assigning a unique identifier to a defining edge between the first object and the folder object, assigning a unique identifier to each dependent edge between the first object and the sub-objects, and storing the defining and depending edges in a database table using the respective unique identifiers as keys, whereby the database table includes a column for storing the unique identifier of the defining edge for identification of the dependent edges that depend from the defining edge. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The computer program product of claim 10, further comprising computer executable instructions for assigning a unique identifier to a defining edge between the first object and the folder object, assigning a unique identifier to each dependent edge between the first object and the sub-objects, and storing the defining and depending edges in a database table using the respective unique identifiers as keys, whereby the database table includes a column for storing the unique identifier of the defining edge for identification of the dependent edges that depend from the defining edge. ### Claim 13 (depends on 9) The computer program product of claim 9, further comprising computer executable instructions to enable a user's entry of a mode selection to select a first or a second assignment entry mode, wherein in the first assignment entry mode a defining edge having dependent edges between the first object and second objects of the first subset of the plurality of sub-objects is entered and wherein in the second assignment entry mode independent edges between the first object and user selected second objects of the first subset of the plurality of sub-objects are entered, whereby the independent edges may be erased individually. ### Claim 14 (depends on 10) The computer program product of claim 10, further comprising computer executable instructions to enable a user's entry of a mode selection to select a first or a second assignment entry mode, wherein in the first assignment entry mode a defining edge having dependent edges between the first object and second objects of the first subset of the plurality of sub-objects is entered and wherein in the second assignment entry mode independent edges between the first object and user selected second objects of the first subset of the plurality of sub-objects are entered, whereby the independent edges may be erased individually. ### Claim 15 (depends on 11) The computer program product of claim 11, further comprising computer executable instructions to enable a user's entry of a mode selection to select a first or a second assignment entry mode, wherein in the first assignment entry mode a defining edge having dependent edges between the first object and second objects of the first subset of the plurality of sub-objects is entered and wherein in the second assignment entry mode independent edges between the first object and user selected second objects of the first subset of the plurality of sub-objects are entered, whereby the independent edges may be erased individually. ### Claim 16 A data processing system, comprising: means for storing first and second object hierarchies, wherein the first object hierarchy includes a first object and at least the second object hierarchy includes a plurality of objects that are sub-objects of a root object and at least one folder represented by a folder object that is the root object for the plurality of sub-objects, each object of the first and second object hierarchies having an object type of a pre-defined set of object types, wherein a first subset of the plurality of sub-objects can be assigned to the first object, and a second subset of the plurality of sub-objects cannot be assigned to the first object; and means for simultaneously displaying the first object in the first object hierarchy and the folder object in the second object hierarchy on a graphical user interface, wherein the graphical user interface is adapted to enable a user's selection of the displayed first object from the first object hierarchy and, in response to the user's selection of the displayed first object, display, an indicator symbol for the folder object, and in response to a user's selection of the folder object when the indicator symbol is displayed, automatically create an assignment between the first object and each of the plurality of sub-objects in the first subset. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The data processing system of claim 16, further comprising means for displaying the sub-objects in response to a user input action and displaying assignment symbols between the first object and the folder object and between the first object and at least one of the sub-objects, the assignment symbols being representative of respective edges linking the first and second object hierarchies. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) The data processing system of claim 16, further comprising means for displaying the sub-objects of the folder object and displaying a first assignment symbol and second assignment symbols, the first assignment symbol being representative of a defining edge between the first object and the folder object and the second assignment symbols being representative of respective dependent edges between the first object and the sub-objects. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The data processing system of claim 18, further comprising means for assigning a unique identifier to the defining edge, means for assigning a unique identifier to each of the dependent edges, and means for storing the defining and depending edges in a database table using the respective unique identifiers as keys, whereby the database table includes a column for storing the unique identifier of the defining edge for identification of the dependent edges that depend from the defining edge. ### Claim 20 (depends on 16) The data processing system of claim 16, the graphical user interface being adapted for a user's entry of a mode selection to select a first or second assignment entry mode, wherein in the first assignment entry mode a defining edge having dependent edges between the first object and second objects of the first subset of the plurality of sub-objects is entered, and wherein in the second assignment entry mode independent edges between the first object and user selected second objects of the first subset of the plurality of sub-objects are entered, whereby the independent edges may be erased individually. ### Claim 21 (depends on 17) The data processing system of claim 17, the graphical user interface being adapted for a user's entry of a mode selection to select a first or second assignment entry mode, wherein in the first assignment entry mode a defining edge having dependent edges between the first object and second objects of the first subset of the plurality of sub-objects is entered, and wherein in the second assignment entry mode independent edges between the first object and user selected second objects of the first subset of the plurality of sub-objects are entered, whereby the independent edges may be erased individually. ### Claim 22 (depends on 18) The data processing system of claim 18, the graphical user interface being adapted for a user's entry of a mode selection to select a first or second assignment entry mode, wherein in the first assignment entry mode a defining edge having dependent edges between the first object and second objects of the first subset of the plurality of sub-objects is entered, and wherein in the second assignment entry mode independent edges between the first object and user selected second objects of the first subset of the plurality of sub-objects are entered, whereby the independent edges may be erased individually. ### Claim 23 (depends on 19) The data processing system of claim 19, the graphical user interface being adapted for a user's entry of a mode selection to select a first or second assignment entry mode, wherein in the first assignment entry mode a defining edge having dependent edges between the first object and second objects of the first subset of the plurality of sub-objects is entered, and wherein in the second assignment entry mode independent edges between the first object and user selected second objects of the first subset of the plurality of sub-objects are entered, whereby the independent edges may be erased individually.