Sequence detection and automation for complex portal environments

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10877778-B2
Application number	US-94996907-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 4, 2007
Priority date	Dec 4, 2007
Publication date	Dec 29, 2020
Grant date	Dec 29, 2020

Abstract

Embodiments of the present invention address deficiencies of the art in respect to user interface interaction automation and provide a method, system and computer program product for user interface interaction sequence detection and recording for user interface interaction automation. In an embodiment of the invention, a method for user interface interaction sequence detection and recording for user interface interaction automation can be provided. The method can include comparing a contemporary sequence of user interface actions in a user interface to a pre-stored sequence, and prompting for an expected user interface action if the contemporary sequence matches the pre-stored sequence. The method also can include prompting to store the contemporary sequence as a pre-stored sequence, and storing the contemporary sequence as a pre-stored sequence if directed in response to the prompting.

First claim

We claim:

1. A method for user interface interaction sequence detection and recording for user interaction automation, the method comprising:
determining a first plurality of user interface interactions have been received over a duration of time;
submitting to a state machine a first contemporary sequence of different, separate user interface mouse clicks in different user interface controls of a user interface, wherein the first contemporary sequence comprises the received first plurality of user interface interactions, and the first contemporary sequence favorably matches a pre-stored sequence of different, separate user interface mouse clicksin different user interface controls;
detecting a lapse of a threshold duration of time during which no user interface interactions are received indicating a first user hesitancy in completing an expected sequence comprising the first contemporary sequence;
in response to detecting the first user hesitancy, identifying a partial listing of user interface actions in the pre-stored sequence and displaying a prompt in the user interface with the partial listing;
determining a second plurality of user interface interactions have been received over a duration of time;
submitting to the state machine a second contemporary sequence of different, separate user interface mouse clicks in different user interface controls of the user interface, wherein the second contemporary sequence comprises the received second plurality of user interface interactions, and the second contemporary sequence does not favorably match the pre-stored sequence of different, separate user interface mouse clicksin different user interface controls;
determining a completion of entry of the second contemporary sequence asa result of detecting a second user hesitancy in continuing the second contemporary sequence of user interface actions reflected by a lapse of a threshold value of time since a last user interface action in the user interface: and
in response to determining the completion of the entry of the second contemporary sequence, displaying a prompt in the user interface to add the completed second contemporary sequence to the state machine.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
on the condition that the first contemporary sequence favorably matchesthe pre-stored sequence of user interface interactions, identifying in the state machine a next action and prompting the end user to perform the next action in the user interface.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first contemporary sequence isdetermined to have favorably matched the pre-stored sequence when the first contemporary sequence exactly matches the pre-stored sequence.

4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising invoking the pre-stored sequence as a macro from a menu in the user interface.

5. A user interface data processing system comprising:
a processor;
a user interface;
a table of memorized sequences of user interface interactions; and
a detector-automator comprising program code enabled to:
determine a first plurality of user interface interactions have been received over a duration of time;
submit to a state machine a first contemporary sequence of different, separate user interface mouse clicks in different user interface controls of a user interface, wherein the first contemporary sequence comprises the received first plurality of user interface interactions, and the first contemporary sequence favorably matches a pre-stored sequence of different, separate user interface mouse clicks in different user interface controls;
detect a lapse of a threshold duration of time during which no user interface interactions are received indicating a first user hesitancy in completing an expected sequence comprising the first contemporary sequence;
in response to detecting the first user hesitancy, identify a partial listing of user interface actions in the pre-stored sequence and displaying a prompt in the user interface with the partial listing;
determine a second plurality of user interface interactions have been received over a duration of time;
submit to the state machine a second contemporary sequence of different, separate user interface mouse clicks in different user interface controls of the user interface, wherein the second contemporary sequence comprisesthe received second plurality of user interface interactions, and the second contemporary sequence does not favorably match the pre-stored sequence of different, separate user interface mouse clicksin different user interface controls;
determine a completion of entry of the second contemporary sequence as a result of detecting a second user hesitancy in continuing the second contemporary sequence of user interface actions reflected by a lapse of a threshold value of time since a last user interface action in the user interface; and
in response to determining the completion of the entry of the second contemporary sequence, display a prompt in the user interface to add the completed second contemporary sequence to the state machine.

6. A computer program product comprising a non-transitory computer usable storage memory device storing therein computer usable program code for user interface interaction sequence detection and recording for user interface interaction automation, the computer program product comprising:
computer usable program code for determining a first plurality of user interface interactions have been received over a duration of time;
computer usable program code for submitting to a state machine a first contemporary sequence of different, separate user interface mouse clicks in different user interface controls of a user interface, wherein the first contemporary sequence comprises the received first plurality of user interface interactions, and the first contemporary sequence favorably matches a pre-stored sequence of different, separate user interface mouse clicks in different user interface controls;
computer usable program code for detecting a lapse of a threshold duration of time during which no user interface interactions are received indicating a first user hesitancy in completing an expected sequence comprising the first contemporary sequence;
computer usable program code for, in response to detecting the first user hesitancy, identifying a partial listing of user interface actions in the pre-stored sequence and displaying a prompt in the user interface with the partial listing;
computer usable program code for determining a second plurality of user interface interactions have been received over a duration of time;
computer usable program code for submitting to the state machine a second contemporary sequence of different, separate user interface mouse clicks in different user interface controls of the user interface, wherein the second contemporary sequence comprises the received second plurality of user interface interactions, and the second contemporary sequence does not favorably match the pre-stored sequence of different, separate user interface mouse clicks in different user interface controls;
computer usable program code for determining a completion of entry of the second contemporary sequence as a result of detecting a second user hesitancy in continuing the second contemporary sequence of user interface actions reflected by a lapse of a threshold value of time since a last user interface action in the user interface; and
computer usable program code for, in response to determining the completion of the entry of the second contemporary sequence, displaying a prompt in the user interface to add the completed second contemporary sequence to the state machine.

7. The computer program product of claim 6 , further comprising computer usable program code for invoking the pre-stored seque

Assignees

• Muller Michael
• Ryan Corinne M
• Wu Michael C
• IBM

Inventors

• Muller Michael
• Ryan Corinne M
• Wu Michael C

Classifications

• G06F11/3466

  Performance evaluation by tracing or monitoring · CPC title

• G06F9/451 Primary

  Execution arrangements for user interfaces · CPC title

• G06F3/01

  Input arrangements or combined input and output arrangements for interaction between user and computer (G06F3/16 takes precedence) · CPC title