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US 9,317,189 B1Granted
Method to input content in a structured manner with real-time assistance and validation
AssigneeEMC Corporation
InventorsKai Chen, Ping Chen, Michael John Dutch, Bo Chen, Christopher Hercules Claudatos, Feng Shao
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A user-defined, structured input is received via an element included in a user interface. In real time, an active input from the user-defined, structured input is selected based at least in part on context associated with the user interface. A context-sensitive rule that applies to the active input is determined. Guidance associated with the active input and the context-sensitive rule is provided in real time via the user interface.
Claims12
A method, comprising:
- receiving, via an element included in a user interface, a user-defined, structured input;
- selecting, in real time, an active input from the user-defined, structured input based at least in part on context associated with the user interface;
- using a processor to determine a context-sensitive rule that applies to the active input, wherein:
- the context-sensitive rule requires that the active input be a specific data type;
- and
- using the processor to determine the context-sensitive rule includes:
- setting one or more of the following:
- a permitted values bit or a permitted formats bit;
- dividing, based at least in part on the active input, inactive inputs from the user-defined, structured input into two groups:
- (1) those inactive inputs that affect the active input with respect to a format or content limitation and (2) those inactive inputs that do not affect the active input with respect to a format or content limitation;
- determining if any inactive inputs affect the active input with respect to a format or content limitation;
- and
- in the event it is determined none of the inactive inputs affect the active input with respect to a format or content limitation:
- determining, without taking into consideration any of the inactive inputs, if the active input is limited to certain permitted values;
- and
- determining, without taking into consideration any of the inactive inputs, if the active input is limited to certain permitted formats;
- and
- providing, in real time via the user interface, guidance associated with the active input and the context-sensitive rule, including by performing the following:
- displaying, in the user interface, format assistance which includes one or more of the following:
- (1) identification of the specific data type that satisfies the context-sensitive rule or (2) automatic configuration of the user interface so that the active input has a data type which matches the specific data type that satisfies the context-sensitive rule;
- and
- displaying, in the user interface, format validation which indicates whether the context-sensitive rule is satisfied based at least in part on a current data type of the active input.
19 more elements
A method, comprising:
- receiving, via an element included in a user interface, a user-defined, structured input;
- selecting, in real time, an active input from the user-defined, structured input based at least in part on context associated with the user interface;
- using a processor to determine a context-sensitive rule that applies to the active input, wherein:
- the context-sensitive rule requires that the active input be a specific data type;
- and
- using the processor to determine the context-sensitive rule includes:
- setting one or more of the following:
- a permitted values bit or a permitted formats bit;
- dividing, based at least in part on the active input, inactive inputs from the user-defined, structured input into two groups:
- (1) those inactive inputs that affect the active input with respect to a format or content limitation and (2) those inactive inputs that do not affect the active input with respect to a format or content limitation;
- determining if any inactive inputs affect the active input with respect to a format or content limitation;
- and
- in the event it is determined at least one of the inactive inputs affects the active input with respect to a format or content limitation:
- obtaining already-specified values for those inactive inputs that affect the active input with respect to a format or content limitation;
- determining, based on the already-specified values, if the active input is limited to certain permitted values;
- and
- determining, based on the already-specified values, if the active input is limited to certain permitted formats;
- and
- providing, in real time via the user interface, guidance associated with the active input and the context-sensitive rule, including by performing the following:
- displaying, in the user interface, format assistance which includes one or more of the following:
- (1) identification of the specific data type that satisfies the context-sensitive rule or (2) automatic configuration of the user interface so that the active input has a data type which matches the specific data type that satisfies the context-sensitive rule;
- and
- displaying, in the user interface, format validation which indicates whether the context-sensitive rule is satisfied based at least in part on a current data type of the active input.
20 more elements
A system, comprising:
- a processor;
- and
- a memory coupled with the processor, wherein the memory is configured to provide the processor with instructions which when executed cause the processor to:
- receive, via an element included in a user interface, a user-defined, structured input;
- select, in real time, an active input from the user-defined, structured input based at least in part on context associated with the user interface;
- determine a context-sensitive rule that applies to the active input, wherein:
- the context-sensitive rule requires that the active input be a specific data type;
- and
- the instructions for determining the context-sensitive rule include instructions which when executed cause the processor to:
- set one or more of the following:
- a permitted values bit or a permitted formats bit;
- divide, based at least in part on the active input, inactive inputs from the user-defined, structured input into two groups:
- (1) those inactive inputs that affect the active input with respect to a format or content limitation and (2) those inactive inputs that do not affect the active input with respect to a format or content limitation;
- determine if any inactive inputs affect the active input with respect to a format or content limitation;
- and
- in the event it is determined none of the inactive inputs affect the active input with respect to a format or content limitation:
- determine, without taking into consideration any of the inactive inputs, if the active input is limited to certain permitted values;
- and
- determine, without taking into consideration any of the inactive inputs, if the active input is limited to certain permitted formats;
- and
- provide, in real time via the user interface, guidance associated with the active input and the context-sensitive rule, including by performing the following:
- displaying, in the user interface, format assistance which includes one or more of the following:
- (1) identification of the specific data type that satisfies the context-sensitive rule or (2) automatic configuration of the user interface so that the active input has a data type which matches the specific data type that satisfies the context-sensitive rule;
- and
- displaying, in the user interface, format validation which indicates whether the context-sensitive rule is satisfied based at least in part on a current data type of the active input.
22 more elements
A system, comprising:
- a processor;
- and
- a memory coupled with the processor, wherein the memory is configured to provide the processor with instructions which when executed cause the processor to:
- receive, via an element included in a user interface, a user-defined, structured input;
- select, in real time, an active input from the user-defined, structured input based at least in part on context associated with the user interface;
- determine a context-sensitive rule that applies to the active input, wherein:
- the context-sensitive rule requires that the active input be a specific data type;
- and
- the instructions for determining the context-sensitive rule include instructions which when executed cause the processor to:
- set one or more of the following:
- a permitted values bit or a permitted formats bit;
- divide, based at least in part on the active input, inactive inputs from the user-defined, structured input into two groups:
- (1) those inactive inputs that affect the active input with respect to a format or content limitation and (2) those inactive inputs that do not affect the active input with respect to a format or content limitation;
- and
- determine if any inactive inputs affect the active input with respect to a format or content limitation;
- and
- in the event it is determined at least one of the inactive inputs affects the active input with respect to a format or content limitation:
- obtain already-specified values for those inactive inputs that affect the active input with respect to a format or content limitation;
- determine, based on the already-specified values, if the active input is limited to certain permitted values;
- and
- determine, based on the already-specified values, if the active input is limited to certain permitted formats;
- and
- provide, in real time via the user interface, guidance associated with the active input and the context-sensitive rule, including by performing the following:
- displaying, in the user interface, format assistance which includes one or more of the following:
- (1) identification of the specific data type that satisfies the context-sensitive rule or (2) automatic configuration of the user interface so that the active input has a data type which matches the specific data type that satisfies the context-sensitive rule;
- and
- displaying, in the user interface, format validation which indicates whether the context-sensitive rule is satisfied based at least in part on a current data type of the active input.
24 more elements
A computer program product, the computer program product being embodied in a non-transitory computer readable storage medium and comprising computer instructions for:
- receiving, via an element included in a user interface, a user-defined, structured input;
- selecting, in real time, an active input from the user-defined, structured input based at least in part on context associated with the user interface;
- determining a context-sensitive rule that applies to the active input, wherein:
- the context-sensitive rule requires that the active input be a specific data type;
- and
- the computer instructions for determining the context-sensitive rule include computer instructions for:
- setting one or more of the following:
- a permitted values bit or a permitted formats bit:
- dividing, based at least in part on the active input, inactive inputs from the user-defined, structured input into two groups:
- (1) those inactive inputs that affect the active input with respect to a format or content limitation and (2) those inactive inputs that do not affect the active input with respect to a format or content limitation;
- determining if any inactive inputs affect the active input with respect to a format or content limitation;
- and
- in the event it is determined none of the inactive inputs affect the active input with respect to a format or content limitation:
- determining, without taking into consideration any of the inactive inputs, if the active input is limited to certain permitted values;
- and
- determining, without taking into consideration any of the inactive inputs, if the active input is limited to certain permitted formats;
- and
- providing, in real time via the user interface, guidance associated with the active input and the context-sensitive rule, including by performing the following:
- displaying, in the user interface, format assistance which includes one or more of the following:
- (1) identification of the specific data type that satisfies the context-sensitive rule or (2) automatic configuration of the user interface so that the active input has a data type which matches the specific data type that satisfies the context-sensitive rule;
- and
- displaying, in the user interface, format validation which indicates whether the context-sensitive rule is satisfied based at least in part on a current data type of the active input.
19 more elements
A computer program product, the computer program product being embodied in a non-transitory computer readable storage medium and comprising computer instructions for:
- receiving, via an element included in a user interface, a user-defined, structured input;
- selecting, in real time, an active input from the user-defined, structured input based at least in part on context associated with the user interface;
- determining a context-sensitive rule that applies to the active input, wherein:
- the context-sensitive rule requires that the active input be a specific data type;
- and
- the computer instructions for determining the context-sensitive rule include computer instructions for:
- setting one or more of the following:
- a permitted values bit or a permitted formats bit:
- dividing, based at least in part on the active input, inactive inputs from the user-defined, structured input into two groups:
- (1) those inactive inputs that affect the active input with respect to a format or content limitation and (2) those inactive inputs that do not affect the active input with respect to a format or content limitation;
- determining if any inactive inputs affect the active input with respect to a format or content limitation;
- and
- in the event it is determined at least one of the inactive inputs affects the active input with respect to a format or content limitation:
- obtaining already-specified values for those inactive inputs that affect the active input with respect to a format or content limitation;
- determining, based on the already-specified values, if the active input is limited to certain permitted values;
- and
- determining, based on the already-specified values, if the active input is limited to certain permitted formats;
- and
- providing, in real time via the user interface, guidance associated with the active input and the context-sensitive rule, including by performing the following:
- displaying, in the user interface, format assistance which includes one or more of the following:
- (1) identification of the specific data type that satisfies the context-sensitive rule or (2) automatic configuration of the user interface so that the active input has a data type which matches the specific data type that satisfies the context-sensitive rule;
- and
- displaying, in the user interface, format validation which indicates whether the context-sensitive rule is satisfied based at least in part on a current data type of the active input.
20 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.