Patent Abstract:
A graphical user interface (GUI) tool for maintaining categorization schemes includes a categorization area that displays user-input fields which may be used to define a number of categories and a number of links that form a categorization scheme. The categorization scheme is organized to enable the computer-executed process to categorize the data. The categorization causes the selection of categories that correspond to the data. The selection is made by making a category determination beginning at the top level and proceeding to the children of categories that correspond to the data.

Full Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD  
       [0001]     This invention relates to graphical user interfaces for defining categorization schemes that are used by computer-executed processes to categorize content.  
       BACKGROUND  
       [0002]     This document describes the use of graphical user interfaces (GUIs) to develop categorization schemes that computer-executed processes can use to categorize information, especially information contained in electronic messages. Exemplary processes that use categorization schemes may be designed to be executed on enterprise computing systems. One such enterprise computing system involves software for performing business processes that include responding to large volumes of inbound communications from customers. Such inbound communications are typically in the form of email messages, but they may also include other forms of inbound data, such as information entered by a customer over the Internet directly into a form located on an enterprise&#39;s website.  
         [0003]     The productivity of an individual agent who is responsible for responding to large volumes of inbound communications affects the cost of performing that particular business process. However, in controlling the cost, the quality of the responses should be maintained so that the customer is well served. Thus, systems used to respond to inbound communications should provide high quality responses in an efficient manner.  
         [0004]     Systems that respond to high volumes of inbound emails may be called Email Response Management Systems (ERMS). By using an enterprise computing system to automate some of the steps of an ERMS, the process of responding to a large volume of inbound e-mails can be made more efficient and cost-effective. As such, an enterprise can use ERMS software to enhance productivity.  
         [0005]     To realize maximum productivity gains in the run-time environment, an enterprise usually must first customize the ERMS software in the design-time environment. Specifically, the ERMS software must be configured to perform the particular business process steps required by a particular enterprise. In addition, the enterprise must be able to reconfigure the ERMS software to reflect changes in the enterprise&#39;s business process steps over time. Thus, an enterprise should be able to customize and to maintain ERMS software so that productivity gains can be maximized.  
         [0006]     When an enterprise uses ERMS software to handle a large volume of inbound email messages, for example, it is important for the enterprise to quickly and accurately determine how to respond to received messages. For one message, an appropriate response may be to ship a product to a customer. For other messages, an appropriate response may be to provide a map of driving directions, or to contact a subject matter expert who can answer detailed technical questions. Accordingly, some ERMS systems make classification decisions to determine how to respond to each received message.  
         [0007]     That classification decision can be partially or wholly automated by using computer-executed processes to rapidly review the received messages and to determine how each should be classified so that the enterprise can take appropriate steps to respond to each message. The classification decision may be used, for example, to retrieve stored information from a database. The stored information may then be automatically suggested to an agent who is responsible for responding to the message. Because the content of the message has already been classified, only stored information that has predefined associations to the content of the message are suggested to the agent. As such, the agent does not need to manually search for the stored information, which would take more of the agent&#39;s time. In enterprises in which an agent is responsible for responding to many hundreds of messages each day, reducing the time required for an agent to respond to each message can significantly improve productivity and reduce the overall cost of responding to received messages.  
       SUMMARY  
       [0008]     This document describes a graphical user interface (GUI) tool for maintaining categorization schemes in enterprise computing systems. Categorization is used to automate the process of categorizing business documents and business objects. Categorization may be used to improve productivity achieved by enterprise computing software that performs steps in a business process (or in multiple business processes). In order to take full advantage of categorization, an enterprise needs a cost-effective tool for developing and maintaining categorization schemes.  
         [0009]     In one aspect, a computer program product tangibly embodied in an information carrier includes instructions that, when executed, generate on a display device a GUI. The GUI is for editing a data structure to be used by a computer-executed process that categorizes data. The GUI includes a categorization area that displays user-input fields which may be used to define a number of categories and a number of links that form a categorization scheme. Each category corresponds to certain content associated with that category. Each category is defined to be at one of a series of levels between a top level and a bottom level. At each level below the top level, each category is linked by one of the number of defined links as a child category to a corresponding parent category. The parent category is one of the categories defined in the level immediately above the child category. Each child category corresponds to certain content that is a sub-set of the content that corresponds to the corresponding parent category. The categorization scheme is organized to enable the computer-executed process to categorize the data. The categorization causes the selection of categories that correspond to the data. The selection is made by making a category determination beginning at the top level and proceeding to the children of categories that correspond to the data.  
         [0010]     In another aspect, a system for responding to a received message includes an information repository and a software program. The information repository includes a number of categories and a number of links that form a categorization scheme. Each category corresponds to certain content associated with that category, and each category is defined to be at one of a series of levels between a top level and a bottom level. Each category at a level below the top level is linked by one of the number of defined links as a child category to a corresponding parent category. The parent category is one of the categories defined in the level immediately above the child category. Each child category corresponds to certain content that is a sub-set of the content that corresponds to the corresponding parent category. The categorization scheme is organized to enable a categorization of the content of the received message. The categorization causes categories that correspond to the content of the received message to be selected. The selection is made by making a category determination beginning at the top level and proceeding to the children of categories that correspond to the content of the received message. The software program is tangibly embodied in an information carrier and includes instructions. When executed, these instructions categorize the content of the received message into at least one of the categories in the categorization scheme. Subsequent processing resulting from the received message depends on the categorization.  
         [0011]     In another aspect, a method defines a data structure to be used by a computer-executed process to categorize content of a received message into at least one of a number of defined categories. The method includes a step of inputting categorization scheme information into user-input fields displayed in a categorization area of a GUI. The categorization scheme information includes a number of categories and a number of links. Each category corresponds to certain content associated with that category. Each category is defined to be at one of a series of levels between a top level and a bottom level. Each category at a level below the top level is linked by one of the number of defined links as a child category to a corresponding parent category. The parent category is one of the categories defined in the level immediately above the child category. Each child category corresponds to certain content that is a sub-set of the content that corresponds to the corresponding parent category. The categorization scheme is organized to enable the computer-executed process to categorize the content of the received message. The categorization causes categories that correspond to the content of the received message to be selected. This selection is made by making a category determination beginning at the top level and proceeding to the children of categories that correspond to the content of the received message.  
         [0012]     In modifications, the method may further include the step of defining links using a linking area displayed in the GUI. These links define associations between categories defined in the categorization area and stored information. The computer-executed process, when executed, uses the stored information that is linked to the selected categories to perform subsequent processing of the received message.  
         [0013]     In another aspect, a computer program product tangibly embodied in an information carrier includes instructions that, when executed, generate on a display device a GUI for editing a data structure to be used by a computer-executed process that categorizes content of a received message. The GUI includes a categorization area and a linking area. The categorization area displays user-input fields which may be used to define a number of categories and a number of links that form a categorization scheme. Each category corresponds to certain content associated with that category, and is defined to be at one of a series of levels between a top level and a bottom level. Each category at a level below the top level is linked by one of the number of defined links as a child category to a corresponding parent category. The parent category is one of the categories defined in the level immediately above the child category. Each child category corresponds to certain content that is a sub-set of the content that corresponds to the corresponding parent category. The categorization scheme is organized to enable the computer-executed process to categorize the content of the received message. This categorization causes categories that correspond to the content of the received message to be selected. This selection is made by making a category determination beginning at the top level and proceeding to the children of categories that correspond to the content of the received message. The linking area displays user-input fields which may be used to define associations between categories defined in the categorization area and stored information. The computer-executed process, when executed, uses the stored information that is linked to the selected categories to perform subsequent processing of the received message.  
         [0014]     Various modifications to the foregoing aspects are possible. For example, the computer program product may further include a linking area that displays user-input fields which may be used to define associations between categories defined in the categorization area and stored information. In addition, the computer-executed process, when executed, uses the stored information that is linked to the selected categories to perform subsequent processing of the data.  
         [0015]     In some modifications, the linking area may further display a number of user-selectable links. Each such link corresponds to a viewset that displays user-input fields which may be used to define associations between categories defined in the categorization area and stored information. One of such user-selectable links may correspond to a viewset that displays user-input fields which may be used to define associations between categories defined in the categorization area and any of documents, experts, or response templates. One of the user-selectable links may also correspond to a viewset that displays either a query input area for entering criteria that defines the content that corresponds to each category, or a preview area for viewing selected stored information. The GUI may also display in the categorization area user-selectable buttons that, when selected, enable information in the user-input fields to be edited using cut and paste functionality.  
         [0016]     The linking area may further display an application area which may be used to define associations between categorization schemes that have been defined in the categorization area and pre-defined business processes that categorize the data. In that case, the linking area may be used to associate a number of business processes with a categorization scheme. Furthermore, at least two of the number of associated business processes can be executed using stored information determined to be linked to categories selected during a single categorization of the data. The categorization area may further display selectable buttons which may be used to change the level at which a category is defined.  
         [0017]     The categorization area may further display selectable buttons associated with each parent category, wherein each parent category may be selectively displayed in an expanded form in which all child categories are graphically displayed, and selectively displayed in a collapsed form such that no child categories are graphically displayed.  
         [0018]     In other modifications, the stored information may be stored in a number of memory locations in an enterprise computing system. The data may comprise content of a received message or comprise business objects. Such business objects may include stored documents or stored response templates.  
         [0019]     In the foregoing examples, categorization schemes may be defined and maintained by an enterprise to obtain operational efficiencies provided by categorization schemes generally, and coherent categorization schemes in particular. The described graphical user interface provides a convenient, integrated tool for designing and maintaining hierarchical categorization schemes, and for defining links from categories to stored business objects. Use of this tool promotes effective utilization of categorization schemes by providing an easy-to-use interface that an enterprise can self-maintain and adapt over time as business processes evolve.  
         [0020]     The details of one or more examples are set forth in the accompanying drawings and the description below. Other features, objects, and advantages will be apparent from the description and drawings, and from the claims.  
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS  
       [0021]      FIG. 1  is an enterprise computing system.  
         [0022]      FIGS. 2A-2B  are run-time flow diagrams of a business application using a coherent categorization scheme.  
         [0023]      FIG. 3A  is a categorization scheme.  
         [0024]      FIG. 3B  is a portion of the categorization scheme of  FIG. 3A  with additional detail.  
         [0025]      FIG. 3C  is a conceptual diagram of the process steps performed when manually selecting a category in a categorization scheme in accordance with  FIG. 2B .  
         [0026]      FIG. 3D  is a user interface for manually selecting categories using the process of  FIG. 3C .  
         [0027]      FIGS. 4-10  are screenshots of a design-time user interface for defining categorization schemes according to  FIGS. 3A-3B .  
         [0028]      FIG. 11  is a flowchart of the steps to define a categorization scheme using the GUI of  FIGS. 4-10 . 
     
    
       [0029]     Like reference symbols in the various drawings indicate like elements.  
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0030]     This document describes a graphical user interface (GUI) that an enterprise can use to develop and maintain categorization schemes. First, it introduces a computing environment in which categorization schemes may be developed, maintained, and used. Then, for ease of understanding, it next describes categorization schemes themselves, including various run-time and structural aspects. Then, the document presents the GUI that an enterprise can use to develop and maintain the described categorization schemes.  
         [0031]     The introduction begins with an exemplary computing environment in which an enterprise may develop, maintain, and use categorization schemes for an exemplary business application, which could be an email response management system (ERMS). The enterprise computing system  10  that may be used to design and run (i.e., execute) the business application is shown in  FIG. 1 . The system  10  includes a design-time environment  12  in which a business application may be designed to meet the needs of a particular application. The system  10  also includes a run-time environment  14  in which the business application operates after its design has been completed. Stored information  22  relating to the business application is accessible by both the design-time and run-time environments  12 ,  14 .  
         [0032]     To design and execute a business application, information is moved, processed, and stored in the system  10 . The design-time environment  12  is connected to a network  16  by connection  18 , and the run-time environment  14  is connected to the network  16  by connection  20 . The network  16 , which may be, for example, an intranet, provides for communications within and between the design-time environment  12  and stored information contained in the repository  22 . The network  16  also provides for communication over connection  20  between the run-time environment  14  and the stored information repository  22 . The stored information container repository  22  may include knowledge bases, databases, application programs, and other information accessible by elements of the design environment  12  and the run-time environment  14 . A user in the design-time environment  12  may use a computer terminal  22  to enter, modify, and remove information that may include information stored on the stored information repository  22 . Similarly, a user in the run-time environment  14  uses a computer terminal  26  to perform run-time applications that can use access, modify, and delete information stored in the stored information repository  22 .  
         [0033]     In the design-time environment  12 , software developers, for example, use various tools, including editors, debuggers and compilers, in order to develop software modules, user interfaces, executable programs, and the like, for use in the run-time environment  14 . In developing such run-time environment applications, a user in the design-time environment  14  loads stored information from the stored information repository  22  through the network  16  and into the terminal  24  in order to manipulate that information. For example, the design-time environment  12  user may load application programs from the stored information repository  22  and use those application programs to create, for example, categorization schemes. These created categorization schemes can incorporate business objects and other data that is also loaded from the stored information repository  22  into terminal  24  in the design-time environment. The user can then store the modified categorization scheme, of this example, back into the stored information repository  22  where it may be accessed from the terminal  26  in the run-time environment  14 . Accordingly, the user in the design-time environment  12  can store data and programs in the stored information repository  22  that the user in the run-time environment can use to perform run-time applications. Moreover, the run-time environment user may also manipulate stored information in the stored information repository  22 . As such, the run-time environment  14  may affect the data in the stored information repository  22  that is subsequently used within the design-time environment  12 .  
         [0034]     The enterprise computing system  10  may be connected to additional networks, for example, the Internet. Although not shown in  FIG. 1 , the Internet may be connected to the design-time environment  12 , the run-time environment  14 , or the network  16  using standard communication interface hardware and software techniques.  
         [0035]     After a business application has been designed in the design-time environment  12 , the business application can be executed in the run-time environment  14 . Referring to  FIGS. 2A-2B , a run-time flow diagram illustrates execution of a business application that uses coherent categorization to perform multiple business process steps.  FIGS. 2A-2B  illustrate use of coherent categorization schemes in two exemplary versions of the business application, namely a manual categorization, and an automated categorization.  
         [0036]     In the manual version shown in  FIG. 2A , the business application  28  responds to an input signal  30  by producing an output signal  32 . A first business process module  34  executes instructions to perform one of the business application  28  business process steps. To perform that step, the module  34  categorizes the input signal  30 . As will be shown with respect to  FIG. 5B , a human user manually selects a category displayed on a user interface. The business process module  34  displays categories from a categorization scheme  36 , and may limit the displayed categories to those that are relevant to performing the business process step  34 . Moreover, because the business application is structured to use the categorization scheme  36 , the selected category  38  may be used by a subsequent business process module  40  in the presence of the input signal  30 .  
         [0037]     Linked to the selected category  38  are linked business objects (BO&#39;s)  44 . The linked BO&#39;s  44  may include information, such as, for example, experts  46 , quick solutions  48 , and response templates  50 . Collectively, these linked BO&#39;s  44  may be used in multiple business processes, including business processes  34 ,  40 . If the business application is an ERMS, for example, the input  30  may be an incoming e-mail message from a customer. In that case, the ERMS is used to respond to incoming e-mail messages by providing, for example, a reply e-mail message as the output signal  32 .  
         [0038]     The categorization scheme  36  is used in a coherent manner because it identifies a selected category  38  that provides relevant BO&#39;s  44  to more than one business process module, namely modules  34 ,  40 . As such, the same categorization of an input signal is used to perform more than one business process step. In other words, each business process does not perform its own categorization, as was the case in prior art systems.  
         [0039]     A categorization is performed in response to a particular input signal  30 , and business processes are performed in reaction to (or in the presence on a particular input signal. As such, the particular selected category  38  is relevant to a business process only with respect to the content of a particular input signal  30 . The selected category may be different for each new incoming input signal. Accordingly, the particular category that is selected within the categorization scheme  36  will depend upon the content of a particular input signal  30 .  
         [0040]     In the automated version of this example shown in  FIG. 2B , a categorization scheme is used to automatically suggest a category, but a user can override that suggestion by manually selecting a different category. For example, the business process module  34  uses the categorization scheme  36  to automatically propose suggested category  39  to subsequently-performed business process module  40 . In this example, the business process module  34  may include a content analysis engine for analyzing the content of the input signal  30 . In the process of performing the business process module  34 , the human user can choose to use the suggested category  39  to perform the business process module  40 , or the user can manually select a different category. Whichever category the user selects may be referred to as the selected category  38 . This selected category  38  is proposed to the subsequent business process step  42 . As such, business process module  42  may use the selected category  38 , or the user can override that choice and select a different category.  
         [0041]     To promote the efficient performance of the business process modules  40 ,  42 , linked business objects  44  may be filtered to provide only those business objects that are relevant to the business processes  40 ,  42 . A link  51  represents the link from the selected category  38  to the entire set of linked BO&#39;s  44 . A link  52  provides a subset of the linked BO&#39;s  44  to the business process  40 . A link  54  provides another subset of the linked BO&#39;s  44  to the second business process  42 . The business processes  40 ,  42  can each use the independent subsets of linked BO&#39;s  44  provided by respective links  52 ,  54  to perform their respective business processes within the business application  28 .  
         [0042]     The links  52 ,  54  may provide the same subset of linked BO&#39;s  44  to both business processes  40 ,  42 . On the other hand, the links  52 ,  54  may provide subsets of linked BO&#39;s  44  that are different. In the latter case, each of the links  52 ,  54  may be configured to provide BO&#39;s that are of a certain type. For example, if the business process  40  is performed to provide a standard e-mail response template, then the link  52  may be configured to provide only BO&#39;s that are of the response template  50  type. Similarly, if the business process  42  is performed to select documents for attachment to a reply e-mail, then the link  54  may be configured to provide only BO&#39;s that are of the quick solutions  48  type, or of the experts  46  type.  
         [0043]     Just as business objects are characterized by their type, each link between a category and a business object is characterized by a type. For example, a link from a category to a document of quick solution  48  type may be characterized as being of “is_solution” type. Similarly, links from categories to experts  46  and to response templates  50  may be characterized as being of “is_expert” and “is_response_template” types, respectively.  
         [0044]     The use of filtering may be illustrated, at least in part, in the context of an exemplary process of responding to an incoming email request that relates to printers. Initially, business process module  34  performs a content analysis of the input signal  30 , and it identifies the key word “printer” in the email. The categorization scheme has a category that corresponds to “printer,” so that category becomes the suggested category  39 . When the business process module  40  is performed, the suggested category  39  may be displayed to the user as a proposed category. If the user determines that the email relates specifically to “laser printers,” the user can override the suggested category by manually selecting a “laser printers” category that is a child of the “printers” category. Accordingly, the “laser printers” category becomes the selected category  38 . Having selected a category, business objects linked to the “laser printers” category may be provided to the business process module  40  by the link  52 . If, for example, the link  52  is configured to filter out business objects that are not of the response template  50  type, then only response templates  50  that are linked to the “laser printers” category are used.  
         [0045]     As will be shown in detail below, one exemplary run-time implementation of the coherent categorization scheme automatically displays only those business objects that are in the set of linked BO&#39;s  44  associated with the selected category  38 . In the exemplary business application  28 , BO&#39;s  44  that are not relevant to the business process being performed are, at least initially, filtered out. As such, they are not automatically provided to the business process. Instead, only those BO&#39;s most likely to be used are initially displayed to the user. Nevertheless, the user can choose to display business objects that are not linked to the selected category, if that is desired.  
         [0046]     By initially displaying only the linked BO&#39;s  44 , and by filtering out linked BO&#39;s that are not of the most relevant type to a business process, a categorization scheme reduces the time and effort the agent must spend performing a business process step. As such, the agent can realize productivity and efficiency improvements. If the categorization is also coherent, a single categorization can serve more than one business process step. By reducing the number of categorizations required to perform a number of business process steps, a coherently categorized system further reduces or eliminates unnecessary time and effort the agent must spend to perform multiple business process steps. As such, coherently categorized systems can yield further efficiency and productivity gains over systems that are not coherently categorized.  
         [0047]     The selection of categories to perform the foregoing exemplary business process steps depends on the structural details of the categorization scheme itself. The structures of two exemplary categorization schemes that may be used in the ERMS  28  of  FIGS. 2A-2B  are illustrated in  FIGS. 3A-3B . In general,  FIGS. 3A-3B  illustrate how categorization schemes can be used to relate business process steps to relevant business objects, as well as how categorization schemes define relationships between categories.  
         [0048]     Referring to  FIG. 3A , a set of business process steps  100  may be performed, either automatically or in response to user input, during the run-time execution of a business application. The steps in the set of business process steps  100  are linked to a set of categorization schemes  105 . Each categorization scheme in the set of categorization schemes  105  is linked, directly or indirectly, to multiple categories  110 . The categories may be distributed across any number of levels. For example, the categories may be arranged in a hierarchical structure having several levels, or they may be arranged in a flat structure in a single level. In hierarchically structured categories, each category below a top level is linked to one parent in the next higher level, and may be linked to any number of child categories in the next lower level. Parent/child categories may also be referred to as categories/sub-categories. Any of the categories  110  may be linked to one or more business objects  115 .  
         [0049]     Accordingly, the categorization schemes  105  relate business objects  115  to the business process steps  100 . By defining these associations, categorization schemes reflect relationships between business processes and resources (i.e., business objects), especially stored information, in the enterprise computing system  10 . Moreover, if a categorization scheme  105  identifies a selected category from among the categories  110  that subsequently provides relevant BO&#39;s  115  to more than one business process step  100 , then that categorization scheme  105  may be referred to as a “coherent” categorization scheme. In business application that includes coherent categorization, a single categorization may be used to provide business objects to multiple ERMS business process steps. As such, the categorization schemes  105  may reflect relationships across multiple business processes.  
         [0050]     For example,  FIG. 3A  shows an interaction record business process step  120  and an ERMS business process step  125 . The interaction record business process step  120  is linked by a link  130  to an interaction reason categorization scheme  135 . The ERMS business process step  125  is linked by a link  145  to the interaction reason categorization scheme  135 , and it is linked by a link  150  to the product categorization scheme  140 . Each of the categorization schemes  125  and  140  are linked to a number of categories. The interaction reason categorization scheme  135  is shown as having a hierarchical structure, while the product categorization scheme  140  is shown as having a flat structure. Under the interaction reason categorization scheme  135 , there is a link  155  to a LEGOLAND® category  160 , a link  165  to a Lego® club category  170 , and a link  175  to a Lego® products category  180 . The categories  160 , 180  have further sub-categories. The LEGOLAND® category  160  has a link  185  to an entry fee category  190 , a link  195  to an events category  200 , and a link  205  to a driving directions category  210 . Similarly, the Lego® products category  180  has a link  215  to a building instructions category  220 . Other links and categories may be added or removed from the interaction reason categorization scheme  135  to provide different responses for the business process steps  120 ,  125 .  
         [0051]     By way of example, each of the categories  200 ,  210  and  220  is linked to relevant business objects within the business objects  115 . For example, the events category  200  has a link  225  to a set of business objects  230 . As will be described with reference to  FIG. 4 , the link  225  represents a set of links, whereby each business object in the set of business objects  230  has a uniquely defined link between each business object in the events category  200 . Similarly, the driving directions category  210  has a link  235  to a set of business objects  240 , and the building instructions category  220  has a link  245  to a set of business objects  250 . The sets of business objects  230 ,  240 ,  250  each include experts  46 , quick solutions  48 , and response templates  50 .  
         [0052]     As has been previously suggested, the sets  230 ,  240 ,  250  of business objects are selected from available business objects as being relevant to the categories to which they are linked. As such, the number of business objects of a particular type that are included within the particular set of business objects linked to a category can vary based on the number of business objects that are available. For example, the number of experts that are included in the set of linked business objects  230 ,  240 ,  250  depends upon the availability of subject matter experts who have knowledge relevant to the appropriate category. Similarly, the numbers of quick solutions  48  and response templates  50  that are included in a set of linked business objects  230 ,  240 ,  250 , depend upon the stored contents of, for example, a knowledge base within the stored information repository  22  ( FIG. 1 ).  
         [0053]     Accordingly, if the interaction record business step  120  is being performed in the presence of an input signal  30  (not shown), then content of the input signal  30  will determine how the categorization scheme  135  is navigated. If the content of the input signal  30  relates to driving directions to LEGOLAND®, then the categorization scheme would be navigated through the link  155  to the LEGOLAND® category  160 , and through the link  205  to the driving directions category  210 . If the ERMS business process step  125  is subsequently performed while responding to the same input signal  30 , then the business process step  125  will automatically receive business objects that relate to the chosen driving directions category  210  from the set of business objects  240 .  
         [0054]     Thus, in the foregoing example, the performance of the interaction record business process step  120  categorizes the input signal  30  to select and use the driving directions category  210 . The selected category may subsequently be used by a later business process step, in this example, the ERMS process step  125 . Accordingly, the exemplary categorization scheme just described exhibits coherency because a selected category identified in one step of a business process can be used to perform a subsequent business process step.  
         [0055]     Although the  FIG. 3A  represents only business object being linked to categories that exist at a lowest level (children) categories in the hierarchy, business objects may be also be linked to any category that is a parent category. As such, a categorization scheme may be defined such that any category that is selected may be linked to a set of business objects  44 .  
         [0056]     Additional structural detail of a categorization scheme in accordance with the categorization schemes of  FIG. 3A  is shown in  FIG. 3B . In one example,  FIG. 3B  illustrates the selected category  38  in a magnified portion of a hierarchical categorization scheme  300 . The selected category  38  is linked by a link  305  to a parent category (not shown) above it. The selected category  38  is also linked to the linked business objects  44 . The selected category may exist at any level in the hierarchical categorization scheme  300 . Each of the linked business objects  44  are selected from among all available business objects that are stored, for example, in a database (not shown) in the enterprise computing system  10 . The linked business objects  44  may include experts  46 , quick solutions  48 , and/or response templates  50 .  
         [0057]     Each of the linked business objects  44  is linked to the selected category  38  by a unique link. Individual experts  46   a ,  46   b , and  46   c  are linked to the selected category  38  by links  47   a ,  47   b , and  47   c , respectively, of the “is_expert” type. Individual quick solutions  48   a ,  48   b  are linked to the selected category  38  by links  49   a ,  49   b , respectively, of the “is_solution” type. Individual response templates  50   a ,  50   b , and  50   c  are linked to the selected category  38  by links  51   a ,  51   b , and  51   c , respectively, of the “is_response_template” type. Accordingly, one way to modify the categorization scheme is to modify the links  47 ,  49 , or  51 .  
         [0058]     Use of the categorization schemes of  FIG. 3A  in, for example, the manually performed category selection in the business application  28  ( FIG. 2B ) involves the identification of one or more appropriate categories from within a categorization scheme  36 . An exemplary process for manually identifying a selected category  38  is conceptually illustrated in  FIG. 3C . An exemplary user interface suitable for manually selecting a category is presented in  FIG. 3D .  
         [0059]     In the example shown in  FIG. 3C  (and with reference to  FIG. 2B ), the contents of the incoming message  30  is analyzed at  320  by, for example, a content analysis engine that searches the message for key words that match queries defined for the categories in the categorization scheme  36 . In various embodiments, the key word search can be performed either by a human user, or by a programmed computer. Attributes of a category include properties assigned at design-time, and a category&#39;s attributes determine whether a category matches the analyzed content of an incoming message. Content analysis may be performed on the textual content of an unstructured incoming email, for example, by performing query-based categorization, example-based classification (using, e.g., either a nearest neighbor, or a support vector machine algorithm on stored previous examples), a combination of both, or other effective method of content analysis.  
         [0060]     The content analysis engine  320  uses a categorization scheme  36  to automatically suggest an initial category  325 . This initial category suggestion becomes the current category  330 . If a category is found not to have attributes that match the analyzed content, then no category may be initially suggested.  
         [0061]     With the current category  330  initially determined, an interactive auto-suggest cycle begins. Business objects  335  that are linked to the current category  330  may be displayed and suggested to the user, thereby allowing the user to quickly access those business objects that are likely to be relevant to the business process step being performed. The user interface, in this example, displays the selected category to the user at  340 .  
         [0062]     With reference to the user&#39;s option to choose a different category  38  than the suggested category  39  in  FIG. 2B , the user can iterate as needed by selecting a different current category  330 . In turn, the user interface will again display the objects  335  that are linked to the updated current category  530 . In this manner, the user can choose to use the business objects that are linked either to the initially suggested category  325 , or to a manually selected- category.  
         [0063]     The foregoing manual selection process can be implemented in a graphical user interface that may be accessed while performing a business process step that involves categorization. An exemplary user interface  350  is illustrated in  FIG. 3D . The user interface  350  includes a number of fields that contain drop down list boxes (DDLBs). The user can select a category, for example, from a DDLB  355  labeled “Classification 1.” When selected, the DDLB  355  will display categories that are in a top-level a hierarchical categorization scheme. With reference to  FIG. 3A , a top-level category would correspond, for example, to categories at the level of the categories  160 , 170 ,  180 . The user can then select a category, for example, from a DDLB  360  labeled “Classification 2.” When selected, the DDLB  360  will display categories that are in a level just below those in the DDLB  355 . With reference to  FIG. 3A , these categories would correspond, for example, to categories at the level of the categories  190 ,  200 ,  210 . The user interface  350  would provide additional levels of categories as needed to permit the user to select any category within the categorization scheme.  
         [0064]     The user interface  350  can also provide the functionality that the selection of a category in the DDLB  355  will narrow the displayed alternative categories when the DDLB  360  is selected. This permits the user to quickly work down the categorization scheme from a top level to lower levels without the need to sort through unrelated categories. After the user has selected a category using the user interface  350 , the business process that is being performed can use the business objects that are linked to the selected category.  
         [0065]     In some circumstances, a run-time user may select any appropriate linked business objects to perform steps in a business process. In other examples, the run-time user may elect not to use any of the linked business objects, opting instead, for example, to use non-linked business objects, or to use no business objects at all. After all steps that require categorization of the incoming message have been performed, then the run-time use of the coherent categorization ends.  
         [0000]     Graphical User Interface (GUI)  
         [0066]     With the foregoing introductions to the computing environment and to categorization schemes, this document next describes the GUI that may be used to define categorization schemes. The above-described categorization schemes may be defined in the design-time environment  12  using an exemplary graphical user interface (GUI)  400  shown in  FIG. 4 . The user interface  400  includes a categorization area  410  and a linking area  420 . In the design-time environment  12 , a developer can enter, modify, and display information about categories in a categorization scheme. Specifically, the user can create a categorization scheme in the category area  410 , and can enter information associated with each category in the linking area  420 . The user interface  400  further includes one or more tabs such as, for example, the ERMS business process step tab  125 . In other implementations, tabs for other business process steps (not shown) may be included in the user interface  400 . When the user selects a desired business process step tab, then the user interface  400  will display the categorization schemes associated with that business process step in the categorization area  410 . In this example, the ERMS business process step tab  125  is selected. As such, the interaction reason categorization scheme  135  (shown in  FIG. 3A ) and the Lego® Org chart categorization scheme  440  (not shown in  FIG. 3A ) are displayed in the categorization area  410 .  
         [0067]     Using the user interface  400 , a user can arrange categories within the categorization area  410  to have hierarchical relationships within the categorization scheme. The categorization area  410  includes a name column  425  that displays the names of categorization schemes and categories in rows. The user can enter, modify, and display categories in the name column  425 . Adjacent to the name column  425  is a description column  430  that displays a description of the corresponding category in the name column  425 .  
         [0068]     Along a top area  435  of the categorization area  410  is a plurality of selectable buttons. Each of these selectable buttons can be used to create or modify categories in the categorization area  410 . The buttons in the top area  435  include a save button  436 , that saves the displayed categorization scheme to a data file or to files in a storage location, such as the stored information repository  22  ( FIG. 1 ). The top area  435  also includes a create sub-node button  437  that inserts a new row below a category that is highlighted (i.e. selected) by the user in the categorization area  410 . A new category may be entered into the categorization scheme by inserting it into the inserted new row, and the new category will be a child category of the highlighted category in the row above it.  
         [0069]     For example, and with reference to  FIG. 3A , the LEGOLAND® category  160  is linked to three child categories, namely driving directions  210 , entry fee  190 , and events  200 . Each of these categories  190 ,  200 ,  210  could have been entered as a (child) category into the categorization area  410  by pressing the create sub-node button  437  and entering the category name into a row below the row containing the (parent) LEGOLAND® category  160 . This is one example of how the categorization area  410  may be used to enter categories and sub-categories to create a hierarchical categorization scheme.  
         [0070]     The top area  435  also includes other editing buttons  438  for performing cut, copy and paste functions. The editing buttons  438  may be used, for example, to edit and/or move the location of categories within the categorization area  410 . Note that in some implementations, such a move or a copy would cause the text in the description column  430  to move or to copy the corresponding category to the adjacent name column  425 . As such, the text in the description column  430 , as will be described with respect to the linking area  420 , is a property of the corresponding category in the name of column  425 . In addition, the top area  435  may also include a delete button  439  that the user may select to modify the categorization scheme. By selecting the delete button  439 , the user can delete a highlighted row from the categorization scheme. Other features may optionally be incorporated, for example, in the top area  435 . Such optional features may include a button for printing  441 , and an “add to favorites” button  442 , each of which is familiar to web browser users.  
         [0071]     In the name column  425 , indicators that precede the name of each categorization scheme and category indicate the hierarchical relationships among categories. For example, bullets in the name column  425  precede the categories  190 ,  200  and  210 . These bullets indicate that these categories are terminal categories within the hierarchy of the interaction reason categorization scheme  135 . Within the name column  425 , the Lego® club category  170 , the LEGOLAND® category  160 , and the Lego® products category  180  are preceded by either a right-pointing or downward-pointing triangle marker within the name column  425 . A right-pointing marker, such as the markers that precede the Lego® club category  170  and the Lego® products category  180  in the name column  425 , indicate that no child categories are displayed. A downward-pointing marker, such as the one that precedes the LEGOLAND® category  160  in the name column  425 , indicates that any linked child categories are displayed in the rows immediately beneath that parent category. If a user clicks on the downward-pointing marker, then the marker will change state to a right-pointing marker, and no child categories will be displayed. Similarly, if a user clicks on the right-pointing marker, then the marker will change state to a downward-pointing marker, and existing child categories (if any) will be displayed. In this example, the LEGOLAND® category  160  has one level of child categories which are all terminal categories. Other implementations are also possible. For example, multiple levels of categories may be defined within a categorization scheme. Alternatively, a flat structure may be defined for a categorization scheme such that there are no child categories.  
         [0072]     Similar to categories, categorization schemes are also preceded by indicators. In the name column  425 , two categorization schemes, namely, the interaction reason categorization scheme  135 , and the Lego® Org Chart categorization scheme  440 , are displayed with preceding indicators. In this example, a downward-pointing arrow precedes the interaction reason categorization scheme  135 . Accordingly, the categories below the interaction reason categorization scheme  135  are displayed. In contrast, the Lego® Org Chart categorization scheme  440  is preceded by a right-pointing marker in the name column  425 . As such, no categories under that categorization scheme are displayed in the name column  45 .  
         [0073]     The number of categories displayed in the categorization area  410  is limited by the number of rows displayed. If the number of categories and categorization schemes to be displayed exceeds the number of displayable rows in the categorization area  410 , then non-displayed rows can be viewed by scrolling the displayed rows up or down using the scroll buttons  445 . In this way, the user can control which rows are displayed in the categorization area  410 .  
         [0074]     Accordingly, the categorization area  410  in the user interface  400  serves as a tool to enter, modify, and display categorization schemes in the design-time environment  12 . As can be appreciated, the categorization area  410  is used to define various links that structure the hierarchical relationships within the categorization scheme. With reference to  FIG. 3A , the categorization area  410  is used to define the links  155 ,  165 ,  175  between the categorization scheme  135  and the categories- 160 ,  170 ,  180 . Furthermore, the categorization area  410  is used to define the links  185 ,  195 ,  205  between the parent category  160  and the child categories  190 ,  200 ,  210 . However, the categorization area  410  in this example does not (by itself) define links between business process steps and categorization schemes, or between categories and business objects. In this example, those links are defined in conjunction with the linking area  420 .  
         [0075]     In the linking area  420 , a number of tabs are provided to display various fields related to a user-highlighted category in the categorization area  410 . In this example, the driving direction category  210  is the highlighted category in the categorization area  410 . The tabbed view sets in the linking area  420  include the details viewset tab  450 , the query viewset tab  455 , the example documents viewset tab  460 , the standard responses viewset tab  465 , and the knowledge entities viewset tab  470 . Each of these viewset tabs  450470  in the linking area  420  will now be described in turn.  
         [0076]     The details viewset tab  450  is selected in  FIG. 4 . The details viewset tab  450  includes a general area  472  for entering information about a selected category. In this example, the user interface  400  is used to enter and modify information about the selected driving directions category  210 . One field in the details viewset tab  450  is used to enter and modify the category name  475 , which, in this case, is “driving directions.” Another field is the category ID field  476 . The category ID is a language-independent internal (not displayed) identifier to facilitate matching. In contrast to the category ID, the category&#39;s name is a language-dependent label that is displayed on the user interface in association with the corresponding category. A parent category field  477  displays the name of the parent category, which, in this case, is “LEGOLAND®” corresponding to the LEGOLAND® category  160 .  
         [0077]     A description field  479  permits the user to enter a textual description of the category. This provides a description of the category&#39;s semantic meaning in addition to the meaning expressed by the “name” (or label). The textual description in the description field  479  is displayed in the description column  430  in the categorization area  410 , and specifically the highlighted row. Other auxiliary information, such as a creation date, identity of the author (i.e. “created by”), a last modified date, a last modified by, and a status field illustrate the exemplary configuration of the linking area  420 . Each of these fields may optionally be populated to further define the characteristics of the selected driving directions category  210 . For example, the parent category field  477  may be automatically populated based on the parent-child relationship already displayed in the categorization area  410  between the (parent) LEGOLAND® category  160  and the (child) driving directions category  210 .  
         [0078]     In  FIGS. 5A-5B , the query viewset tab  455  is selected. In this example, the user interface  400  is used to define a query for the highlighted category. The defined query can be evaluated to determine if the content of an e-mail corresponds to that category.  
         [0079]     In the query viewset tab  455 , two rows of query criteria are shown. Elements for defining a query may be entered into columnar fields defined in a first row  510  and a second row  520 . In the first row  510 , a match column  515  includes a leading “if” statement. In the second row  520 , the match column  515  includes a user-selectable drop-down list box (DDLB) into which the user can select various conditional conjunctions such as, for example, “and,” “or,” and “nor.” The conjunction provides the logical operation that connects queries in the rows  510 ,  520 . For example, if, in the run-time environment  14 , the row query  510  evaluates as “true,” and if the row query  520  evaluates as “false,” and if the conjunction  515  in the row  520  is “or,” then the complete query will evaluate as “true.” However, if the conjunction  515  in the row  520  is “and,” then the complete query will evaluate as “false.” If the complete query for a category evaluates as “true”, then the content of the e-mail “corresponds” to that category. On the other hand, if the complete query evaluates as “false”, then the content does not correspond to that category.  
         [0080]     The row queries for rows  510 ,  520  are defined by columnar fields in each row. An attributes column  525  provides a DDLB through which the user can identify attributes that are to be evaluated using the query defined in that row. For example, if the query of an e-mail relates to information contained in both the subject line and the body of the email, each row query can evaluate the content of the subject line, the body, or both. In this example, the row  510  will evaluate “subject and body”, while the row  520  query evaluates only the “subject”.  
         [0081]     An operator column  530  provides a DDLB through which the user can define the relational operator to be used to evaluate the query in that row. For example, the operator column  530  may include operators such as equality, inequality, greater than, less than, sounds like, or includes. A value column  535  provides a field in each of rows  510 ,  520  into which the user can enter values for each row query. If the attribute  525  and the value  535  in a row query have the relationship of the selected operator  530 , then that particular row will evaluate as “true.” If the attribute  525  and the value  535  do not have the relationship of the selected operator  530  for a particular row, then that particular row will evaluate as “false.” Each row is connected to the previous row or to the subsequent row through a logical match operator  515 , such as “and,” “or,” and “nor.” Although only two rows  510 ,  520  are shown in this example, other rows may be entered using the scroll keys  540 . A case column  545  provides a check box which, when checked, makes the query in that row case sensitive.  
         [0082]     An alternative example for displaying the linking area  420  when the query viewset tab  455  is selected is shown in  FIG. 5B . In this example, the scroll buttons  540  (of  FIG. 5A ) have been replaced with next and previous buttons  541 ,  542 . In this example, one row of a query can be entered using the match  515 , attribute  525 , operator  530 , value  535 , and case sensitive  545  fields.  
         [0083]     In  FIG. 6 , the example documents viewset tab  460  is selected. In this example, the user interface  400  is used to enter and modify example documents. In this context, example documents are prototypical documents for the given category. A document may be determined to be prototypical based upon historical usage statistics with regard to a particular category.  
         [0084]     In  FIG. 7 , the standard responses viewset tab  465  is selected, and the linking area  420  includes a response template area  705  and a response preview area  710 . In this example, the user interface  400  is used to enter and modify links between a selected category in the categorization area  410  and e-mail response templates  50  in the response template area  705 . In this example, the second row  715  of the response template area  705  is highlighted, and the response preview window  710  displays the text associated with the response template  50  that contains driving directions to LEGOLAND® California.  
         [0085]     In the response template area  705 , a first column  720  includes selectable boxes that serve as buttons for getting additional help screens. Specifically, selecting one of the buttons in the left margin of each row causes a value-help screen to pop-up. Once a value-help screen is popped-up, the user can perform searches, among other auxiliary functions. The pop-up is depicted in  FIG. 9B .  
         [0086]     A form name column  725  is used to enter, modify, and display the name of the response template  50  in each row. The user can delete a row by first selecting it and then selecting the delete entry button  730 . The user can add a new row by selecting the add entry button  735 . A description column  740  provides for entry, modification, and display of a description of the corresponding response template  50  in a selected row. A language column  745  provides an indication of the language used in the response template  50 . In this example, all four rows indicate that the four associated response templates  50  are in the English language. Although four rows of response templates are shown in this example, additional rows, if any, can be displayed by scrolling using the scroll keys  750 . Further details about each response template are illustrated by columns  755 ,  760 ,  765  and  770 , which indicate, respectively, who created the template, when the template was created, what format the template is in, and the text type that is used for the template.  
         [0087]     In the response preview window  710 , the user can review, enter, and modify the text of the response template  50  linked to the highlighted response template  50  form name column  725 . In this example, the selected response template  50  is “Directions-LEGOLAND® California”  715 .  
         [0088]     In  FIG. 8 , the knowledge entities viewset tab  470  is selected. In this example, user interface  400  is used to define links between the selected category  210  in the categorization area  410  and business objects, namely experts  46  and quick solutions  48 , in the linking area  420 . In alternative implementations, the linking area  420  could also provide a separate experts viewset tab (not shown) for defining links between a selected category and experts  46 . When the knowledge entities tab  470  is selected, the linking area  420  displays a row  810  for linking business objects to a selected category, and a response preview area  820  for entering, modifying, and displaying a response template for use with the business object displayed in the row  810 .  
         [0089]     In this example, the selected driving directions category  210  can be linked to a document (i.e. a quick solution  48 ) stored in a knowledge base by entering the name (e.g., filename) of the document in a title column  825  in the row  810 . In a “KB Name” column  830 , the user can enter the name of a knowledge base in which the document identified in the title column  825  can be found. Alternatively, the KB Name column  830  may be automatically filled in when the document in the title column  825  is entered. Although only one row, namely the row  810 , is shown in this example, a user can manipulate the scroll keys  840  to display other rows, if any. The user may also link additional documents to the driving directions category  210  by selecting the add entry button  845 . The user may also select the delete entry button  850  to delete a link between a document and the driving directions category  210 .  
         [0090]     The row  810  provides additional information about the selected document identified in the title column  825 . In this example, the additional information includes the language in which the document is written, the identity of the person who created the document, the date the document was created, the identity of the person who last changed the document, and the day on which they changed the document. The additional information about the selected document in column  825  may be entered either manually by the user, or automatically filled-in when the user selects a document. The additional information may be associated with the document in, for example, a database table defined in a knowledge base in which the document is stored.  
         [0091]     In the response preview area  820 , text for use in a response email may be prepared. The text of the response is associated with the document displayed in the row  810 . For example, if a document is entered in the row  810 , then when that document is attached to an email in the run-time environment  14 , the associated text in the response preview area  820  may automatically be inserted into the reply email. In some examples, each document linked to the selected driving direction category  210  may have a different response text that is displayed in the preview area  820 . For example, if the user selects the add entry button  845  and enters a second document in the title column  825 , then the user may use the response preview window  820  to enter or modify a second response text that is associated with the second document.  
         [0092]     Accordingly,  FIGS. 4-8  illustrate examples in which the linking area  420  is used to directly enter, modify, and display information about categories in the categorization area  410 . In  FIGS. 9A-9B , the user interface  400  incorporates a search feature to enable the user to search for stored information within the enterprise computing system  10 . In one example, the search features may be used to search for standard responses.  
         [0093]     In  FIG. 9A , the user interface  400  includes the categorization area  410 , the linking area  420  (with the detailed viewset tab  450  selected) and an advanced search window  910 . The user opens the advanced search window  910  by selecting the open advanced search button  490  (shown in  FIG. 4 ). The open advanced search button  490  automatically changes to a close advanced search button  920  while the advanced search window  910  is open. If the user selects the close advanced search button  920 , then the advanced search window  910  would be closed, and the user interface  400  would return to the configuration of  FIG. 4 .  
         [0094]     In  FIG. 9B , the user can search for standard responses using the “Smart Forms” pop-up screen.  
         [0095]     The foregoing examples of  FIGS. 4-9  illustrate functionality of the user interface  400  when a category in the categorization area  410  is selected. In  FIG. 10 , a categorization scheme is selected instead of a category. In this example, the interaction reason categorization scheme  135  is selected. When a categorization scheme is selected in the categorization area  410 , the linking area  420  displays a details viewset tab  450 . In this example, the details viewset tab  450  includes a general area  1005  and an application area  1010 . The application area  1010  is only displayed when a categorization scheme is selected in the categorization area  410 . With reference to  FIG. 4 , the general area  1005  provides the same information associating functions for a selected categorization scheme as the general area  472  ( FIG. 4 ) provides for a selected category.  
         [0096]     In the application area  1010 , the interaction reason categorization scheme  135  is associated with several business process steps (also referred to as application areas). The associations are indicated by a check-marked box adjacent to the name of an available application area. In this example, the checked application areas include the interaction record business process step  120 , more responses  1015 , knowledge search  1020 , and rules engines  1025 . These associations have the effect that when any of these applications  120 ,  1015 ,  1020 ,  1025  are executed to perform their respective business process steps, the interaction reason categorization scheme  135  (or its current result) can be used. With reference to  FIG. 3A , the interaction reason categorization scheme  135  is linked to the interaction record business process step  120  by the link  130 . The link  130  is established when the user checks the box adjacent to the interaction record categorization label within the application area  1010 .  
         [0097]     In accordance with the foregoing discussion, the above-described user interface  400  can be used in the design-time environment  12  to create categorization schemes for use in the run-time environment  14 . An exemplary procedure for using the user interface  400  to efficiently define a categorization scheme is presented in  FIG. 11 . The exemplary method will be described with reference to previous figures. Other implementations of the method may use different steps, or be performed in a different order to achieve similar results. The example of  FIG. 11  merely illustrates one representative implementation of the invention. However, the user interface  400  is capable of being used in many different orders and combinations of steps.  
         [0098]     A flow chart  1100  of the design-time procedure to create a categorization scheme starts at  1105 . The user selects a business process tab (e.g., ERMS tab  125  in  FIG. 4 ). At  1115 , the user enters a categorization scheme into the name column  425  of the categorization area  410  ( FIG. 4 ). With the categorization scheme highlighted, the user links at  1120  the categorization scheme to one or more application areas, the application area  1010  ( FIG. 10 ). At  1125 , the user selects a categorization scheme in the categorization area  410  ( FIG. 4 ). At  1130 , the user enters a category under the selected categorization scheme by, for example, selecting the create sub-node button  437  and entering a category into the name column  425  of the categorization area  410  ( FIG. 4 ). At  1135 , the user enters information about the selected category into general area  472  ( FIG. 4 ). At  1140 , the user defines a query under the query tab  455  that, if evaluated as true in the run-time environment  14 , causes the associated category to be selected. At  1145 , the user links a business object to the selected category by, for example, identifying a document for attachment using the row  810  in the linking area  420  ( FIG. 8 ).  
         [0099]     The types of business objects that may be linked to the selected category include: experts  46  in a business partners tabstrip (not shown); quick solutions  48  in the knowledge entities view set tab  470  ( FIG. 8 ); and, response templates  50  in the standard responses view set tab  465  ( FIG. 7 ). As one of skill in the art will appreciate, viewset tabs on the user interface  400  may be added or modified to accommodate new types and uses of business objects.  
         [0100]     At  1150 , if the user wishes to add another business object to the selected category, the user can repeat the step at  1145  by, for example, selecting the add entry button  845  ( FIG. 8 ). As another example at  1150 , the user can select the standard responses tab  465  and add or modify response templates (which are a type of business object) using the add entry button  735 , or by editing the response preview area  710 , respectively ( FIG. 7 ). If the user does not wish to add more business objects, then at  1155 , the user can choose to add another category under the current categorization scheme by looping back to step at  1130 . If no more categories need to be added, then the categorization creation process ends at  1160 .  
         [0101]     The foregoing exemplary method illustrates the entry of categories and the linking of business objects to create a categorization scheme. As can be appreciated, the method can be adapted as needed to use the user interface  400  to modify and to display the categorization scheme that has been entered. It can further be appreciated that the method can be used to enter, modify, and display more than one categorization scheme. Moreover, the method can be adapted so that the user interface  400  can be used to maintain existing categorization schemes over time. For example, the user interface  400  can be used to adapt the categories, linked business objects, and linked application areas to meet changing demands of the business processes as they evolve in the run-time environment  14 .  
         [0102]     Other Implementations  
         [0103]     Although various examples of the user interface have been described, other implementations are also within the scope of the invention. For example, the categorization area  410  of  FIG. 4  may be used to enter and modify a categorization scheme without a corresponding linking area  420 .  
         [0104]     Although  FIG. 1  illustrates the enterprise computing system  10  as having one terminal  24  in the design-time environment  12  and another terminal  26  in the run-time environment  14 , the two terminals  24 ,  26  may represent a single physical computer terminal or computer work station. Furthermore, the design-time environment  12  may include any number of terminals/work stations that can be used in combination to create run-time modules that use coherent categorization schemes. Similarly, the run-time environment  14  may include any number of terminals/work stations that can be used to perform business processes by executing run-time modules. As used in this document, terminals  24 ,  26  represent physical input/output devices for displaying and entering information in the enterprise computing system  10 .  
         [0105]     Other implementations may use configurations of the user interface  400  other than those provided in the above-described implementations. In  FIG. 4 , for example, the description text in the description column  430  may be provided in the name column  425  instead of being provided in an adjacent column.  
         [0106]     As another exemplary configuration, the functionality provided by the create sub-node button  437  ( FIG. 4 ), namely, creating a child category under a selected category, may be implemented using “promote” and “demote” buttons in the top area  435 . Promote and demote buttons could, for example, incrementally shift the level of a selected category within the categorization scheme. Accordingly, links to the adjacent rows above and below the selected category could be adjusted accordingly to match the hierarchy&#39;s visual representation in the categorization area  410 . Furthermore, “move up” and “move down” buttons could also be provided to further simplify the creation of a hierarchical categorization scheme by giving the developer the ability to move a selected item and re-position it within the name column  425 .  
         [0107]     The invention can also be implemented with digital electronic circuitry, or with computer hardware, firmware, software, or in combinations of them. Apparatus of the invention can be implemented in a computer program product tangibly embodied in a machine-readable storage device for execution by a programmable processor; and method steps of the invention can be performed by a programmable processor executing a program of instructions to perform functions of the invention by operating on input data and generating output. The invention can be implemented advantageously in one or more computer programs that are executable on a programmable system including at least one programmable processor coupled to receive data and instructions from, and to transmit data and instructions to, a data storage system, at least one input device, and at least one output device. Each computer program can be implemented in a high-level procedural or object-oriented programming language, or in assembly or machine language if desired; and in any case, the language can be a compiled or interpreted language. Suitable processors include, by way of example, both general and special purpose microprocessors. Generally, a processor will receive instructions and data from a read-only memory and/or a random access memory. The essential elements of a computer are a processor for executing instructions and a memory. Generally, a computer will include one or more mass storage devices for storing data files; such devices include magnetic disks, such as internal hard disks and removable disks; magneto-optical disks; and optical disks. Storage devices suitable for tangibly embodying computer program instructions and data include all forms of non-volatile memory, including by way of example semiconductor memory devices, such as EPROM, EEPROM, and flash memory devices; magnetic disks such as internal hard disks and removable disks; magneto-optical disks; and CD-ROM disks. Any of the foregoing can be supplemented by, or incorporated in, ASICs (application-specific integrated circuits).  
         [0108]     The invention has been described in terms of particular examples. Other examples are within the scope of the following claims.

Technology Classification (CPC): 8