Patent Publication Number: US-2007113168-A1

Title: Visual representation and navigation of erroneous fields in a document

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
      1. Field of the Invention  
      The present invention generally relates to user interfaces, and more specifically relates to the visual representation and navigation of erroneous fields in a document.  
      2. Related Art  
      When filling out fields in a form, wizard page, or other type of document on a computer, users often need to be notified about incorrect input. For example, as shown in  FIG. 1 , an error message  10  is often listed at the top of a document  12  and highlighted in some manner (e.g., using a colored icon  14  marked with an “X”). Although this strategy lets a user know that there is an error in the document  12 , it does not point the user to the corresponding erroneous field  16 . The user therefore needs to carefully read the error message  10  and then search the document  12  for the corresponding erroneous field  16  referred to by the error message  10 . Further, in cases where there are multiple errors in the document  12 , this strategy only lists one error at a time. Accordingly, an additional solution is needed to make the error notification process more user-responsive.  
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
      The present invention relates to the visual representation and navigation of erroneous fields in a document. In particular, a visual indicator and an error message associated with an erroneous field are displayed at the top of a document. The same visual indicator is displayed adjacent (i.e., close to) the corresponding erroneous field in the document, thereby pointing the user to the corresponding erroneous field. This allows the user to quickly scan the error message and move to the corresponding erroneous field in the document for correction. Further, in order to inform the user of the presence of more than one erroneous field in a document, all erroneous fields are highlighted in the document (e.g., by changing the color of the field name of all erroneous fields). When the input of an erroneous field currently in focus is corrected, the error message at the top of the document changes to reflect the next erroneous field in top-down order, and the visual indicator is moved such that it is displayed adjacent the next erroneous field.  
      A first aspect of the present invention is directed to a method for representing and navigating erroneous fields in a document, comprising: detecting erroneous fields in the document; highlighting each erroneous field in the document; displaying an error message on the document, wherein the error message corresponds to one of the erroneous fields; displaying a first visual indicator adjacent the error message; and displaying a second visual indicator adjacent the erroneous field corresponding to the error message.  
      A second aspect of the present invention is directed to a system for representing and navigating erroneous fields in a document, comprising: a system for detecting erroneous fields in the document; a system for highlighting each erroneous field in the document; a system for displaying an error message on the document, wherein the error message corresponds to one of the erroneous fields; a system for displaying a first visual indicator adjacent the error message; and a system for displaying a second visual indicator adjacent the erroneous field corresponding to the error message.  
      A third aspect of the present invention is directed to a program product stored on a computer readable medium for representing and navigating erroneous fields in a document, the computer readable medium comprising program code for performing the steps of: detecting erroneous fields in the document; highlighting each erroneous field in the document; displaying an error message on the document, wherein the error message corresponds to one of the erroneous fields; displaying a first visual indicator adjacent the error message; and displaying a second visual indicator adjacent the erroneous field corresponding to the error message. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
      These and other features of this invention will be more readily understood from the following detailed description of the various aspects of the invention taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:  
       FIG. 1  depicts an error message displayed in a document in accordance with the prior art.  
       FIG. 2  depicts a flow diagram of a method in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.  
       FIGS. 3-6  depict examples of the use of the present invention in a document.  
       FIG. 7  depicts an illustrative computer system for implementing embodiment(s) of the present invention.  
      The drawings are merely schematic representations, not intended to portray specific parameters of the invention. The drawings are intended to depict only typical embodiments of the invention, and therefore should not be considered as limiting the scope of the invention. In the drawings, like numbering represents like elements. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
      As indicated above, the present invention relates to the visual representation and navigation of erroneous fields in a document. In particular, a visual indicator and an error message associated with an erroneous field are displayed at the top of a document. The same visual indicator is displayed adjacent (i.e., close to) the corresponding erroneous field in the document, thereby pointing the user to the corresponding erroneous field. This allows the user to quickly scan the error message and move to the corresponding erroneous field in the document for correction. Further, in order to inform the user of the presence of more than one erroneous field in a document, all erroneous fields are highlighted in the document (e.g., by changing the color of the field name of all erroneous fields). When the input of an erroneous field currently in focus is corrected, the error message at the top of the document changes to reflect the next erroneous field in top-down order, and the visual indicator is moved such that it is displayed adjacent the next erroneous field.  
      A flow diagram  20  of a method in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention is depicted in  FIG. 2 . In step S 1 , the fields within a document are examined for errors. Such errors can include, for example, an empty field where data is required, a field in which data has been input in an incorrect format, or a field containing an invalid entry. Many other types of errors, which are generally application/document specific, are also possible. Any suitable methodology for examining the fields within a document for errors can be used in the practice of the present invention.  
      In step S 2 , each field containing an error (i.e., each erroneous field) in the document is highlighted in some manner. For example, the label of an erroneous field can be displayed in a highly visible color (e.g., red or orange), using a larger-size font, using a different font, and/or using a distinctive font effect (bold, italics, etc.). Alternatively, or in addition, the background color of an erroneous field can be displayed in a color that is different than that used for fields that do not contain errors. Other now known or later developed highlighting techniques can also be used in the practice of the present invention. Advantageously, by highlighting each erroneous field in the document, a user can easily determine the number and location of all erroneous fields in the document that require correction.  
      An example of the highlighting of an erroneous field is illustrated in  FIG. 3 . In particular, in the document  30  “Form Template Wizard,” the field  32 A with the field label  34 A “Field Label” is highlighted as being an erroneous field. In this case, the field label  34 A “Field Label” is displayed using a bolded and italicized font having a bright red font color. Another field  32 B in the document  30 , with the field label  34 B “Data Entry Error Message,” is not highlighted, indicating that that field does not contain an error.  
      An example of the highlighting of multiple erroneous fields in a document is illustrated in  FIG. 4 . In this example, two fields in the document  30  “Form Template Wizard” contain errors and are highlighted as such using a bolded and italicized font having a bright red font color: the field  32 A with the field label  34 A “Field Label” and the field  32 B with the field label  34 B “Data Entry Error Message.” To this extent, a user examining the document  30  shown in  FIG. 4  can easily determine based on the highlighting the number and location of all fields in the document  30  that require correction.  
      Returning to the flow diagram  20  depicted in  FIG. 2 , in step S 3 , an error message associated with an erroneous field is displayed at the top of the document along with a visual indicator. By default, the error message is associated with the top-most erroneous field in the document (i.e., the top-most erroneous field has focus). A plurality of different error messages can be provided and stored in a database or the like and selected as needed for display in the document. In step S 4 , the same visual indicator that is displayed adjacent the error message is displayed in the body of the document adjacent the erroneous field referenced by the error message. In general, the visual indicators can be identical or substantially similar to one another. As such, using the visual indicator as a guide, a user can easily determine which field in the document corresponds to the error message displayed at the top of the document. If it is determined in step S 5  that the field has been corrected by the user, then in step S 6 , the highlighting of the corrected field, the error message, and the visual indicators are removed from the document. If it is determined in step S 7  that another erroneous field in present in the document, then flow passes back to step S 3 , where the process is repeated for the top-most remaining erroneous field in the document. It should be noted that if the user shifts focus to a different erroneous field at any time (e.g., by clicking on the field), then the above-described process is performed for that selected field. Once the user-selected erroneous field has been corrected, then flow passes back to step S 3 , where the process is repeated for the top-most erroneous field in the document.  
      A first example of the use of a visual indicator in accordance with the present invention is illustrated in  FIG. 3 . As shown, an error message  36  (“A value must be specified for the field label”) is displayed at the top of the document  30  and a visual indicator  38  is displayed adjacent the error message  36 . In this example, the visual indicator  38  comprises a colored icon marked with an “X,” although almost any type of visual indicator  38  can be used in the practice of the present invention. The same visual indicator  38  is also displayed adjacent the field  32 A with the field label  34 A “Field Label” in the document  30 . This indicates that the field  32 A with the field label  34 A “Field Label” contains the error described in the error message  36 . By using the same visual indicator  38 , a user can easily determine (as indicated by the phantom arrow  40 ) that the field  32 A with the field label  34 A “Field Label” corresponds to the displayed error message  36  and requires corrective action.  
      Another example of the use of a visual indicator in accordance with the present invention is illustrated in  FIG. 4 . In this example, as detailed above, multiple erroneous fields are present in the document  30 . By default, working top-down through the document  30 , the error message  36  displayed at the top of the document  30  is associated with the top-most erroneous field, namely the field  32 A with the field label  34 A “Field Label.” In addition, the same visual indicator  38  is displayed adjacent the error message  36  and adjacent the field  32 A with the field label  34 A “Field Label.” 
      After a user corrects the data in the field  32 A with the field label  34 A “Field Label,” the document  30  appears as shown in  FIG. 5 . In particular, comparing  FIGS. 4 and 5 , it can be seen that the field label  34 A “Field Label,” is no longer highlighted. In addition, it can be seen that the error message  36  (“A value must be specified for the field label”) and the visual indicator  38  adjacent the field  32 A with the field label  34 A “Field Label” have disappeared. Instead, a new error message  36  is displayed (“A value must be displayed for the error message”) with respect to the next erroneous field (top-down) in the document  30 . In addition, the same visual indicator  38  is displayed adjacent the error message  36  and adjacent the field  32 B with the field label  34 B “Data Entry Error Message.” By using the same visual indicator  38 , a user can easily determine (as indicated by the phantom arrow  42 ) that the field  32 B with the field label  34 B “Data Entry Error Message.” corresponds to the displayed error message  36  and requires corrective action.  
      If the user chooses not to correct the data in the field  32 A with the field label  34 A “Field Label,” ( FIG. 4 ), but instead clicks on the field  32 B with the field label  34 B “Data Entry Error Message,” the document  30  appears as shown in  FIG. 6 . In this case, the field  32 B with the field label  34 B “Data Entry Error Message” now has focus, rather than the field  32 A with the field label  34 A “Field Label.” However, because it has not yet been corrected, the field  32 A with the field label  34 A “Field Label” remains highlighted. The error message  36  (“A value must be displayed for the error message”) displayed at the tope of the document is associated with the field  32 B with the field label  34 B “Data Entry Error Message” (i.e., the field now in focus). In addition, as indicated by the phantom arrow  44 , the same visual indicator  38  is displayed adjacent the error message  36  and adjacent the field  32 B with the field label  34 B “Data Entry Error Message.” 
      A computer system  100  for the visual representation and navigation of erroneous fields in a document in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention is depicted in  FIG. 7 . Computer system  100  is provided in a computer infrastructure  102 . Computer system  100  is intended to represent any type of computer system capable of carrying out the teachings of the present invention. For example, computer system  100  can be a laptop computer, a desktop computer, a workstation, a handheld device, a server, a cluster of computers, etc. In addition, as will be further described below, computer system  100  can be deployed and/or operated by a service provider that provides for the visual representation and navigation of erroneous fields in a document in accordance with the present invention. It should be appreciated that a user  104  can access computer system  100  directly, or can operate a computer system that communicates with computer system  100  over a network  106  (e.g., the Internet, a wide area network (WAN), a local area network (LAN), a virtual private network (VPN), etc). In the case of the latter, communications between computer system  100  and a user-operated computer system can occur via any combination of various types of communications links. For example, the communication links can comprise addressable connections that can utilize any combination of wired and/or wireless transmission methods. Where communications occur via the Internet, connectivity can be provided by conventional TCP/IP sockets-based protocol, and an Internet service provider can be used to establish connectivity to the Internet. Computer system  100  is shown including a processing unit  108 , a memory  110 , a bus  112 , and input/output (I/O) interfaces  114 . Further, computer system  100  is shown in communication with external devices/resources  116  and one or more storage systems  118 . In general, processing unit  108  executes computer program code, such as error system  130 , that is stored in memory  110  and/or storage system(s)  118 . While executing computer program code, processing unit  108  can read and/or write data, to/from memory  110 , storage system(s)  118 , and/or I/O interfaces  114 . Bus  112  provides a communication link between each of the components in computer system  100 . External devices/resources  116  can comprise any devices (e.g., keyboard, pointing device, display (e.g., display  120 , printer, etc.) that enable a user to interact with computer system  100  and/or any devices (e.g., network card, modem, etc.) that enable computer system  100  to communicate with one or more other computing devices.  
      Computer infrastructure  102  is only illustrative of various types of computer infrastructures that can be used to implement the present invention. For example, in one embodiment, computer infrastructure  102  can comprise two or more computing devices (e.g., a server cluster) that communicate over a network (e.g., network  106 ) to perform the various process steps of the invention. Moreover, computer system  100  is only representative of the many types of computer systems that can be used in the practice of the present invention, each of which can include numerous combinations of hardware/software. For example, processing unit  108  can comprise a single processing unit, or can be distributed across one or more processing units in one or more locations, e.g., on a client and server. Similarly, memory  110  and/or storage system(s)  118  can comprise any combination of various types of data storage and/or transmission media that reside at one or more physical locations. Further, I/O interfaces  114  can comprise any system for exchanging information with one or more external devices/resources  116 . Still further, it is understood that one or more additional components (e.g., system software, communication systems, cache memory, etc.) not shown in  FIG. 7  can be included in computer system  100 . However, if computer system  100  comprises a handheld device or the like, it is understood that one or more external devices/resources  116  (e.g., a display) and/or one or more storage system(s)  118  can be contained within computer system  100 , and not externally as shown.  
      Storage system(s)  118  can be any type of system (e.g., a database) capable of providing storage for information under the present invention. To this extent, storage system(s)  118  can include one or more storage devices, such as a magnetic disk drive or an optical disk drive. In another embodiment, storage system(s)  118  can include data distributed across, for example, a local area network (LAN), wide area network (WAN) or a storage area network (SAN) (not shown). Moreover, although not shown, computer systems operated by user  104  can contain computerized components similar to those described above with regard to computer system  100 .  
      Shown in memory  110  (e.g., as a computer program product) is an error system  130  for the visual representation and navigation of erroneous fields in a document  132  in accordance with embodiments of the present invention. The error system  130  includes an error detecting system  134  for detecting erroneous fields in the document  132 , a highlighting system  136  for highlighting all erroneous fields in the document  132 , and an error message system  138  for determining which erroneous field is currently in focus and for displaying an error message on (e.g., at the top of) the document  132  that is associated with the erroneous field currently in focus. The error system  130  further includes a visual indicator system  140  for displaying a visual indicator adjacent the error message and adjacent the erroneous field currently in focus.  
      The present invention can be offered as a business method on a subscription or fee basis. For example, one or more components of the present invention can be created, maintained, supported, and/or deployed by a service provider that offers the functions described herein for customers. That is, a service provider can be used to provide for the visual representation and navigation of erroneous fields in a document, as described above.  
      It should also be understood that the present invention can be realized in hardware, software, or a combination thereof. Any kind of computer/server system(s)—or other apparatus adapted for carrying out the methods described herein—is suitable. A typical combination of hardware and software can include a general purpose computer system with a computer program that, when loaded and executed, carries out the respective methods described herein. Alternatively, a specific use computer, containing specialized hardware for carrying out one or more of the functional tasks of the invention, can be utilized.  
      The invention can take the form of an entirely hardware embodiment, an entirely software embodiment, or an embodiment containing both hardware and software elements. In a preferred embodiment, the invention is implemented in software, which includes but is not limited to firmware, resident software, microcode, etc.  
      The present invention can take the form of a computer program product accessible from a computer-usable or computer-readable medium providing program code for use by or in connection with a computer or any instruction execution system. For the purposes of this description, a computer-usable or computer-readable medium can be any apparatus that can contain, store, communicate, propagate, or transport the program for use by or in connection with the instruction execution system, apparatus, or device.  
      The medium can be an electronic, magnetic, optical, electromagnetic, infrared, or semiconductor system (or apparatus or device), or a propagation medium. Examples of a computer-readable medium include a semiconductor or solid state memory, magnetic tape, removable computer diskette, random access memory (RAM), read-only memory (ROM), rigid magnetic disk and optical disk. Current examples of optical disks include a compact disk—read only disk (CD-ROM), a compact disk—read/write disk (CD-R/W), and a digital versatile disk (DVD).  
      Computer program, software program, program, or software, in the present context mean any expression, in any language, code or notation, of a set of instructions intended to cause a system having an information processing capability to perform a particular function either directly or after either or both of the following: (a) conversion to another language, code or notation; and/or (b) reproduction in a different material form.  
      The foregoing description of the preferred embodiments of this invention has been presented for purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed, and obviously, many modifications and variations are possible. Such modifications and variations that may be apparent to a person skilled in the art are intended to be included within the scope of this invention as defined by the accompanying claims.