Methods and systems for providing a user interface using forms stored in a form repository

Abstract

Systems and methods for providing a user interface. One system can include a server configured to provide a form repository including a plurality of form definitions defining a plurality of forms and to provide data to populate at least one of the plurality of forms and a browser-based application configured to obtain the form repository, to request data from the server based on at least one of the form definitions, and to use the data and at least one of the form definitions to generate a completed form.

1 . A system for providing a user interface comprising: 
 a server that provides a form repository including a plurality of form definitions defining a plurality of forms and provides data to populate at least one of the plurality of forms; and    a browser-based application that obtains the form repository, requests data from the server based on at least one of the form definitions, and uses the data and at least one of the form definitions to generate a completed form.    
   
   
       2 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the form repository includes an extensible markup language document object model.  
   
   
       3 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the plurality of forms includes at least one extensible markup language document.  
   
   
       4 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the browser-based application obtains at least one style sheet.  
   
   
       5 . The system of  claim 4  wherein the at least one style sheet includes an extensible stylesheet language style sheet.  
   
   
       6 . The system of  claim 4  wherein the browser-based application applies the at least one style sheet to the completed form in order to generate a displayable form.  
   
   
       7 . The system of  claim 6  wherein the displayable forms includes a hypertext markup language form.  
   
   
       8 . The system of  claim 6  wherein the displayable form includes instructions for providing a display control for reorganizing data displayed in the displayable form.  
   
   
       9 . The system of  claim 6  wherein the browser-based application displays the displayable form.  
   
   
       10 . The system of  claim 9  wherein the browser-based application obtains input data entered in the displayable form.  
   
   
       11 . The system of  claim 10  wherein the browser-based application formats the input data into a request form.  
   
   
       12 . The system of  claim 11  wherein the request form includes an extensible markup language form.  
   
   
       13 . The system of  claim 11  wherein the browser-based application transmits the request form to the server.  
   
   
       14 . A method of providing a user interface comprising: 
 providing a form repository including a plurality of form definitions defining a plurality of forms to a browser-based application;    requesting data from a server to populate at least one of the plurality of forms; and    generating a completed form based on the data and at least one of the plurality of forms.    
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 14  wherein providing a form repository including a plurality of form definitions defining a plurality of forms includes transmitting an extensible markup language document object model including a plurality of form definitions for a plurality of extensible markup language forms.  
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 14  further comprising providing at least one style sheet to the browser-based application.  
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 16  wherein providing at least one style sheet includes providing at least one extensible stylesheet language style sheet.  
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 16  further comprising generating a displayable form based on the at least one style sheet and the completed form.  
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 18  wherein generating a displayable form includes generating a hypertext markup language form.  
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 18  wherein generating a displayable form includes generating a displayable form that includes instructions for providing a display control for reorganizing data displayed in the displayable form.  
   
   
       21 . The method of  claim 18  further comprising displaying the displayable form with the browser-based application.  
   
   
       22 . The method of  claim 21  further comprising obtaining input data entered in the displayable form with the browser-based application.  
   
   
       23 . The method of  claim 22  further comprising formatting the input data into a request form with the browser-based application.  
   
   
       24 . The method of  claim 23  wherein formatting the input data into a request form includes formatting the input data into an extensible markup language form.  
   
   
       25 . The method of  claim 23  further comprising transmitting the request form from the browser-based application to a server.  
   
   
       26 . Computer readable medium including instructions for providing a user interface, the instructions comprising: 
 obtaining a form repository including a plurality of form definitions defining a plurality of forms;    requesting data from a server to populate at least one of the plurality of forms; and    generating a completed form based on the data and at least one of the plurality of forms.