Patent Document

BACKGROUND 
       [0001]    The present invention relates to user interfaces for generating reports and accepting user input in financial software applications. 
         [0002]    Financial software applications include functionality for inputting and/or editing transaction data and viewing reports based on the input data. For example, a user can enter and/or edit transactions in a transaction register, and can then see a report showing spending in various categories over some period of time. In some cases, such reports can be quite sophisticated, including various types of categorization, filtering, subtotaling, and the like. 
         [0003]    Typically, however, such reports constitute an output mechanism only. The user cannot generally edit the contents of such reports and thereby cause underlying transaction data to be changed. For example, if a report is generated showing a set of transactions categorized as “dining”, the user determines, from examining the report, that one or more transactions have been incorrectly categorized, the user cannot change the category a transaction by direct interaction with the report itself. Rather, the user must return to a register (or other input interface) to edit the transaction and thereby change its category. The user can then return to the report (and in some cases may have to refresh the report) to see the results of the change. 
         [0004]    Accordingly, in most financial software applications, transaction input/edit operations are performed as a separate step from report generation and display. A user attempting to perform an input or edit operation in response to information he or she sees in a report is required to switch between these two separate parts of the software application. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0005]    In various embodiments, the present invention provides methods and systems for accepting user input within a displayed report, for inputting and/or editing transactions in a financial software application. An input area is displayed within or alongside a displayed report; the user can interact with this input area to change amounts, categories, dates, payees, and/or other information for one or more transactions. In one aspect of the invention, the user can also add new transactions and/or delete transactions from the report screen as well. All such changes, additions, and deletions are reflected in the displayed report, so that the user can obtain virtually immediate feedback showing the effects of his or her actions. 
         [0006]    In one aspect of the present invention, the user can select, or highlight, certain report elements. The input area is updated accordingly to show transactions corresponding to the selected report element(s). In this way, the report itself can be used as a tool to filter and navigate among transactions for input purposes. For example, if a user selects a report element corresponding to a dining category, the input area provides access to dining transactions; if the user then selects a report element corresponding to an entertainment category, the input area provides access to entertainment transactions. 
         [0007]    The report elements can also be used as input elements for changing the characteristics of transactions. For example, a user can re-categorize a dining transaction into an entertainment transaction by dragging the transaction from the input area onto an entertainment report element. In this manner, the present invention provides full integration and interoperability among different areas of the report. 
         [0008]    The present invention can be implemented in connection with graphical reports such as bar graphs, pie charts, and the like. It can also be implemented in connection with tabular and/or text-based reports. 
     
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0009]      FIG. 1  is a flowchart depicting a method of the present invention according to one embodiment. 
           [0010]      FIG. 2  is a block diagram depicting an architecture for practicing the present invention according to one embodiment. 
           [0011]      FIG. 3  is an example of an interactive report including bar graphs, according to one embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0012]      FIG. 4  is an example of an interactive report including a pie chart showing spending by category, according to one embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0013]      FIG. 5  is an example of an interactive report including pie charts showing spending by payee, according to one embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0014]      FIG. 6  is an example of an interactive report including a table showing spending by category, according to one embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0015]      FIG. 7A  is an example of an interactive report in the process of accepting user input within an input area. 
           [0016]      FIG. 7B  is an example of the interactive report of  FIG. 7A , updated to reflect the user input. 
           [0017]      FIG. 8  is an example of an interactive report including fields and controls for adding a new transaction. 
       
    
    
       [0018]    One skilled in the art will readily recognize from the following discussion that alternative embodiments of the structures and methods illustrated herein may be employed without departing from the principles of the invention described herein. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS 
       [0019]    According to one embodiment, the present invention provides reports that can be used for input as well as output. A report is displayed. User input is received in connection with the displayed report. Based on the user input, transactions are added, deleted, and/or modified and the displayed report is updated accordingly. 
         [0020]    The invention is described herein in the context of a personal financial software application that includes the capability of generating reports based on transactions and other financial data. For example, the functionality described herein can be implemented as a feature of a software application such as Quicken, available from Intuit Inc. The transactions and other data can be user-entered or can be received from another source, or can be a combination of both. Although the invention is described in such a context, one skilled in the art will recognize that the techniques and principles described herein have wide applicability in other contexts as well. For example, the present invention can be implemented in web-based applications, websites, locally-run software applications, or any combination thereof. 
         [0021]    Accordingly, the specifics of the exemplary embodiments described herein are intended to be illustrative and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. 
         [0022]    Furthermore, the particular arrangements of elements in screen shots and reports shown here are illustrative of one embodiment and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention. 
       Architecture 
       [0023]      FIG. 2  is a block diagram illustrating the architecture of one embodiment of a system  200  useful for supporting a software application  220  for generating interactive reports. In such a system  200 , there is provided at least one user computer  205 , which may be a stand-alone device or may be communicatively coupled to a network (not shown) and/or one or more third party computers (not shown). 
         [0024]    The user computer  205  is of conventional design, and includes a processor, an addressable memory, and other conventional features (not illustrated) such as a display, local memory, input/output ports, and a network interface. In other embodiments one or more of the components of the user computer  205  may be located remotely and accessed via a network. The network may be a wired or wireless network. Examples of the network include public networks, private networks, Internet, an intranet, a cellular network, or a combination thereof, or other system or method enabling digital communication between two or more computing systems. 
         [0025]    The network interface and a network communication protocol provide access to a network and other computers, such as other user computers or third party computers, along with access to the Internet, via a TCP/IP type connection, or to other network embodiments, such as a LAN, a WAN, a MAN, a wired or wireless network, a private network, a virtual private network, or other networks. In various embodiments the user computer  205  may be implemented on a computer running a Microsoft operating system, Mac OS, various flavors of Linux, UNIX, Palm OS, and/or other operating systems. 
         [0026]    The third party computers, if present, also may be computer systems, similar to the user computer described above. For example, one embodiment of a third party computer is a financial institution computer system, which provides transactions processing and clearing functionality for user software. The financial institution could be a securities brokerage company, a bank or credit union, a credit card company, or financial institutions. In this embodiment, the user software application  220  described herein may be a financial management software package capable of communicating with the financial institution computer system to access information from pre-existing user accounts (e.g., obtain account balances to determine available funds), and provide payment instructions for making payments to vendors. 
         [0027]    The user computer  205  includes a software application  220 , data store  225 , and data cache  230 . The software application  220  includes a number of executable code portions and data files. These include code for creating and supporting a user interface  240  according to one embodiment of the present invention, as well a report module  245  for generating interactive reports according to the techniques described herein. In other embodiments, the software application  220  can also be implemented as a stand-alone application outside of a financial management software package. 
         [0028]    Data store  225  includes stored transactions  226 . In one embodiment, transactions  226  are stored locally at user computer  205 . In another embodiment, transactions  226  are stored at some other location, such as for example a remote server associated with a financial institution or other entity. In such an embodiment, report module  245  retrieves transaction data from the remote source as needed for generating reports  229 , and transmits modified transaction data back to the remote source when appropriate. Such communications can take place using known network communication protocols across any known communication medium. 
         [0029]    The software application  220  is responsible for orchestrating the processes performed according to the methods of the present invention. The software application  220  includes report module  245  for generating interactive reports  229  according to one embodiment of the present invention. 
         [0030]    The report module  245  enables the system  200  to generate and present interactive reports  229  that are presented to user  232  via output device  228 . In one embodiment, report module  245  operates within the context of user interface  240 . The report module  245  is one means for generating interactive reports according to the present invention. 
         [0031]    The above-described software portions need not be discrete software modules. The software configuration shown is meant only by way of example; other configurations are contemplated by and within the scope of the present invention. 
         [0032]    The software application  220  may be provided to the user computer  205  on a computer readable media, such as a CD-ROM, diskette, or by electronic communication over a network from a third party computer or other distributors of software, for installation and execution thereon. Alternatively, the software application  220 , data store  225 , and data cache  230  can be hosted on a server computer, and accessed over a network, using for example a browser interface to the software application  220 . 
         [0033]    The data store  225  may be a relational database or any other type of database that stores the data used by the software application  220 , for example account information in the financial management application embodiment referenced above. The data store  225  may be accessible by the software application  220  through the user interface  240 . Some data from the data store  225  may be added to the data cache  230  upon initialization of the software application  220 . The software application  220  and the data store  225  may be stored and operated on a single computer or on separate computer systems communicating with each other through a network. 
         [0034]    The data cache  230  is a standard cache of small, fast memory holding recently accessed data. The data cache  230  may include, for example, transaction data to be used by report module  245  according to one embodiment of the present invention. 
         [0035]    One skilled in the art will recognize that the system architecture illustrated in  FIG. 2  is merely exemplary, and that the invention may be practiced and implemented using many other architectures and environments. 
       Method 
       [0036]    Referring now to  FIG. 1 , there is shown a method for practicing the present invention according to one embodiment. In one embodiment, the steps of  FIG. 1  are performed by a system component such as report module  245  described above in connection with  FIG. 2 . In other embodiments, the steps of  FIG. 1  are performed by other components, entities, or software. For illustrative purposes, the method of  FIG. 1  will be described in the context of steps being performed by report module  245 . 
         [0037]    Report module  245  receives  101  a request for a report. For example, user  232  may activate a command that invokes a report request. Alternatively, a report may be generated automatically based on certain actions or transaction entries by the user. Parameters and characteristics for the report may be specified explicitly, or based on defaults, or they may be determined automatically based on the context in which the report was requested. 
         [0038]    Most reports present transaction data of some kind. Accordingly, upon receiving the report request, report module  245  retrieves  102  transaction data for the report. In some cases, such transaction data can be obtained from stored transactions  226  at data store  225  located locally or remotely with respect to user computer  205 . Transaction data may also be retrieved from cache  230  if it is available there. 
         [0039]    Based on the specified parameters and retrieved transaction data, report module  245  generates  103  a report. The report is displayed  104  for user  232 , for example via UI  240 . 
         [0040]    According to the techniques of the present invention, the displayed report is an interactive report  229 . Thus, in addition to providing information to user  232 , interactive report  229  provides a mechanism for receiving input from user  232  via input device  227 . Report module  245  receives  105  user input in connection with the displayed interactive report  229 . For example, the received input may indicate that the user would like to add a transaction, edit an existing transaction, or delete a transaction. 
         [0041]    Based on the user input, report module  245  modifies transaction data. The displayed interactive report  229  is updated  107  accordingly, and the modified transaction data is stored  108 , for example in stored transactions  226  area of data store  225 . 
         [0042]    Referring now to  FIG. 3 , there is shown an example of an interactive report  229 . A set of bar graphs  301  shows, in graphical form, an amount of spending in various categories. The user can click on any bar graph  301  to see detailed information in spending details section  302  of interactive report  229 . In the example, the user has clicked on bar graph  301 A representing a bills category. Accordingly, bar graph  301 A is highlighted, and spending details section  302  shows information about the bills category. Time-series bar graph  303  shows historical spending, and budget comparison  305  provides a comparison between a budgeted amount and an actual amount. Interactive report  229  also shows, in spending details section  302 , a list of transactions  306  having a bills category. If the user clicks on a different bar graph  301 , spending details section  302  lists transactions  306  having a category associated with the bar graph  301  selected by the user. 
         [0043]    The user can specify whether spending details section  302  should include transactions for all payees or some subset of payees by making the appropriate selection from payee menu  304 . One skilled in the art will recognize that other types of information can be provided in spending details section  302 . 
         [0044]    The user can select a transaction  306 A that is displayed in spending details section  302 , and can make changes to the selected transaction  306 A. For example, the user can change a date, payee, memo, or amount for transaction  306 A, by selecting the transaction  306 A, typing the changes, and pressing Enter or Return. The user can delete a selected transaction  306 A by hitting a delete key; in one embodiment the user can make multiple selections and delete all selected transactions  306  with one keystroke. In one embodiment, the user can add a new transaction  306  by interacting with spending details section  302 . 
         [0045]    Referring now to  FIG. 8 , there is shown an example of an interactive report  229  including fields and controls for adding a new transaction.  FIG. 8  is similar to  FIG. 3 , but also includes fields  801  for entry of a new transaction, and add transaction button  605 . The user can add a transaction by filling in fields  801  (including for example, date, amount, payee, and the like), and clicking on add transaction button  605 . In one embodiment, the new transaction has an initial category that matches the category currently displayed in spending details section  302 ; thus, in the example of  FIG. 8 , the new transaction would be assigned to the bills category. The user is able to change this default category if desired. 
         [0046]    One skilled in the art will recognize that other mechanisms and user interfaces can be used for adding new transactions in the context of interactive report  229 . 
         [0047]    Referring now to  FIG. 4 , there is shown another example of an interactive report  229 . Here, a pie chart  401  is presented, with segments  402  indicating relative spending in various categories. In one embodiment, pie chart  401  is color-coded; legend  403  helps the user identify the categories. The user can click on any segment  402  to see detailed information in spending details section  302  of interactive report  229 . In the example, the user has clicked on segment  402 A representing a groceries category. Accordingly, segment  402 A is highlighted, and spending details section  302  shows information about the groceries category. Spending details section  302  operates in a manner similar to that described above in connection with  FIG. 3 , including the interactive features that allow a user to enter, change, or delete transactions directly within interactive report  229 . 
         [0048]    Referring now to  FIG. 5 , there is shown another example of an interactive report  229 . Here, a pie chart  501  is presented, with segments  502  indicating relative spending to various payees. In one embodiment, pie chart  501  is color-coded; legend  503  helps the user identify the payees. The user can click on any segment  502  to see detailed information in spending details section  302  of interactive report  229 . In the example, the user has clicked on segment  502 A representing Wal-Mart. Accordingly, spending details section  302  shows information about transactions where the payee is Wal-Mart. Spending details section  302  operates in a manner similar to that described above in connection with  FIG. 3 , including the interactive features that allow a user to enter, change, or delete transactions directly within interactive report  229 . 
         [0049]    Referring now to  FIG. 6 , there is shown another example of an interactive report  229 . Here, a table  601  is presented, with rows  602  indicating relative spending in various categories. The user can click on any row  602  to see detailed information in spending details section  302  of interactive report  229 . In the example, the user has clicked on segment  602 A representing bills. Line graph  606  summarizing bill spending over time. Budget comparison  305  is provided, as described above. Accordingly, spending details section  302  shows information about transactions where the category is bills. Interactive report  229  also shows, in spending details section  302 , a list of transactions  306  having a bills category. Spending details section  302  operates in a manner similar to that described above in connection with  FIG. 3 , including the interactive features that allow a user to enter, change, or delete transactions directly within interactive report  229 . In one embodiment, an add transaction button  605  is provided, which allows the user to add a new transaction directly within interactive report  229 . 
         [0050]    Referring now to  FIG. 7A , there is shown an example of an interactive report in the process of accepting user input within an input area. In the example, the user has clicked on bar graph  301 A representing a groceries category. Accordingly, bar graph  301 A is highlighted, and spending details section  302  shows information about the bills category. Time-series bar graph  303  shows historical spending, and budget comparison  305  provides a comparison between a budgeted amount and an actual amount. Interactive report  229  also shows, in spending details section  302 , a list of transactions  306  having a groceries category. 
         [0051]    In the example, the user wishes to change the category of transaction  306 A to a category other than groceries. One mechanism for doing so is to drag transaction  306 A to a bar graph  301  representing the desired category. In the context of an interactive report  229  as provided by the present invention, such a user action causes the dragged transaction  306 A to be recategorized. 
         [0052]    In  FIG. 7A , the user is dragging transaction  306 A to bar graph  301 B, which represents a category other than groceries. In one embodiment, pop-up box  701  appears while the cursor is positioned over bar graph  301 B, to show data relating to the category associated with bar graph  301 B. Such data includes, for example, total amount spend, budget, and remainder. 
         [0053]      FIG. 7B  is an example of the interactive report of  FIG. 7A , after the user has released the mouse button to complete the drag-and-drop operation that results in recategorization of transaction  306 A. In  FIG. 7A , interactive report  229  has been updated to reflect the fact that transaction  306 A is no longer categorized as a groceries transaction. Transaction  306 A no longer appears within spending details section  302 . Bar graph  303  and budget comparison  305  have been updated to reflect the removal of transaction  306 A from the groceries category. Similarly, bar graphs  301 A and  301 B have also been updated to reflect the recategorization of transaction  306 A. Also, pop-up box  701  has been updated to include the amount of transaction  306 A. 
         [0054]    Accordingly, as shown in  FIGS. 7A and 7B , interactive report  229  provides a mechanism for recategorizing transactions by performing drag-and-drop operations directly within report  229 . 
         [0055]    The techniques of the present invention can also be implemented in connection with other types of reports, including any other type of graphical and/or non-graphical (tabular and/or text-based) report. 
         [0056]    The present invention thus allows a user to make changes to transactions, and/or to add and delete transactions, directly from a displayed report. This saves time and effort, since the user does not have to return to a transaction register or other entry/edit screen and then re-run the report to see the results of his or her changes. The interactive report of the present invention thus provides an efficient mechanism for presenting transaction data to the user and receiving transaction input from the user. 
         [0057]    The present invention has been described in particular detail with respect to one possible embodiment. Those of skill in the art will appreciate that the invention may be practiced in other embodiments. First, the particular naming of the components, capitalization of terms, the attributes, data structures, or any other programming or structural aspect is not mandatory or significant, and the mechanisms that implement the invention or its features may have different names, formats, or protocols. Further, the system may be implemented via a combination of hardware and software, as described, or entirely in hardware elements. Also, the particular division of functionality between the various system components described herein is merely exemplary, and not mandatory; functions performed by a single system component may instead be performed by multiple components, and functions performed by multiple components may instead be performed by a single component. 
         [0058]    Some portions of above description present the features of the present invention in terms of algorithms and symbolic representations of operations on information. These algorithmic descriptions and representations are the means used by those skilled in the data processing arts to most effectively convey the substance of their work to others skilled in the art. These operations, while described functionally or logically, are understood to be implemented by computer programs. Furthermore, it has also proven convenient at times, to refer to these arrangements of operations as modules or by functional names, without loss of generality. 
         [0059]    Unless specifically stated otherwise as apparent from the above discussion, it is appreciated that throughout the description, discussions utilizing terms such as “determining” or “displaying” or the like, refer to the action and processes of a computer system, or similar electronic computing device, that manipulates and transforms data represented as physical (electronic) quantities within the computer system memories or registers or other such information storage, transmission or display devices. 
         [0060]    Certain aspects of the present invention include process steps and instructions described herein in the form of an algorithm. It should be noted that the process steps and instructions of the present invention could be embodied in software, firmware or hardware, and when embodied in software, could be downloaded to reside on and be operated from different platforms used by real time network operating systems. 
         [0061]    The present invention also relates to an apparatus for performing the operations herein. This apparatus may be specially constructed for the required purposes, or it may comprise a general-purpose computer selectively activated or reconfigured by a computer program stored on a computer readable medium that can be accessed by the computer. Such a computer program may be stored in a computer readable storage medium, such as, but is not limited to, any type of disk including floppy disks, optical disks, CD-ROMs, magnetic-optical disks, read-only memories (ROMs), random access memories (RAMs), EPROMs, EEPROMs, magnetic or optical cards, application specific integrated circuits (ASICs), or any type of media suitable for storing electronic instructions, and each coupled to a computer system bus. Furthermore, the computers referred to in the specification may include a single processor or may be architectures employing multiple processor designs for increased computing capability. 
         [0062]    The algorithms and operations presented herein are not inherently related to any particular computer or other apparatus. Various general-purpose systems may also be used with programs in accordance with the teachings herein, or it may prove convenient to construct more specialized apparatus to perform the required method steps. The required structure for a variety of these systems will be apparent to those of skill in the, along with equivalent variations. In addition, the present invention is not described with reference to any particular programming language. It is appreciated that a variety of programming languages may be used to implement the teachings of the present invention as described herein, and any references to specific languages are provided for invention of enablement and best mode of the present invention. 
         [0063]    The present invention is well suited to a wide variety of computer network systems over numerous topologies. Within this field, the configuration and management of large networks comprise storage devices and computers that are communicatively coupled to dissimilar computers and storage devices over a network, such as the Internet. 
         [0064]    Finally, it should be noted that the language used in the specification has been principally selected for readability and instructional purposes, and may not have been selected to delineate or circumscribe the inventive subject matter. Accordingly, the disclosure of the present invention is intended to be illustrative, but not limiting, of the scope of the invention, which is set forth in the following claims.

Technology Category: 3