System and method for data-driven web page navigation control

Abstract

A system and method for web application navigation control includes updating navigation data models used in navigation constraints with received data from an end-user or system. Without needing a centralized application-specific controller, from a collection of extensible navigation rules associated with each page of a plurality of pages, the extensible navigation rules are automatically selected which depend on changed data values and need re-evaluation. The navigation constraints associated only with the pages potentially changing their ready state to execute from among the plurality of pages in an entire application are evaluated to determine which pages are ready to run based on updated data from the navigation data models. A preferred page to be actually navigated to next is selected from among a set of all available and ready pages by execution of a set of second and separate navigation constraints using results of the navigation constraints of the evaluating step.

1 . A computer readable storage medium comprising a computer readable program for web application navigation control, wherein the computer readable program when executed on a computer causes the computer to perform the steps of:
 updating navigation data models used in navigation constraints with received data from an end-user or system, the data models being stored on a computer storage medium;   without needing a centralized application-specific controller, automatically selecting from a collection of extensible navigation rules associated with each page of a plurality of pages the extensible navigation rules which depend on changed data values and need re-evaluation;   evaluating the navigation constraints associated only with the pages potentially changing their ready state to execute from among the plurality of pages in an entire application to determine which pages are ready to run based on updated data from the navigation data models; and   selecting a preferred page to be actually navigated to next from among a set of all available and ready pages by execution of a set of second and separate navigation constraints using results of the navigation constraints of the evaluating step.   
     
     
         2 . The computer readable storage medium as recited in  claim 1 , wherein selecting includes tie-breaking between pages based on the navigation constraints to select a next qualified page from the set of all available and ready pages. 
     
     
         3 . The computer readable storage medium as recited in  claim 1 , wherein tie-breaking is customized by a non-developer end-user. 
     
     
         4 . The computer readable storage medium as recited in  claim 1 , wherein selecting includes controlling navigation in accordance with a presence or absence of data values or conditions over those values. 
     
     
         5 . The computer readable storage medium as recited in  claim 4 , wherein controlling navigation includes controlling a web page navigation sequence. 
     
     
         6 . The computer readable storage medium as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising triggering a return to earlier pages based upon changes to data values without need for explicit error or exception handling logic provided by an application author. 
     
     
         7 . The computer readable storage medium as recited in  claim 6 , further comprising resuming execution of the earlier page without reprompting for intermediate steps but with reprompting for data values made invalid by new user inputs. 
     
     
         8 . The computer readable storage medium as recited in  claim 1 , wherein with received data from an end-user or system includes a presence of data provided by one of a user and memory storage independent of the user. 
     
     
         9 . The computer readable storage medium as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising adding data dependency constraints including bind statements without need for pre-determined extension points to customize navigation behavior. 
     
     
         10 . A computer readable storage medium comprising a computer readable program for web application navigation control, wherein the computer readable program when executed on a computer causes the computer to perform the steps of:
 relating data entry fields in a page stored in computer readable storage memory with non-procedural computed dependency constraints that provide navigation control when a condition is met;   checking a presence of user-side information to determine if the condition is met and the indicated navigation control is to be invoked; and   if the condition is met, evoking a trigger event to navigate to a new page based on at least one of a set of entry fields where data was entered in and a type of data content entered in the entry fields without guidance from procedural navigation code.   
     
     
         11 . A system for web application navigation control, comprising:
 a server including a dependency graph relating data entry fields in a page with a navigation instruction that provides navigation control when a condition is met;   an interaction module configured to be sensitive to at least one of user-side information entry and known information to determine if the navigation instruction is to be invoked; and   a processor configured to execute the navigation instruction in accordance with a presence or absence of data values or conditions over those values to navigate to a new page based on at least one of a set of entry fields data was entered in and a type of data content entered in the entry fields without guidance from procedural navigation code.   
     
     
         12 . The system as recited in  claim 11 , wherein the navigation instruction controls a sequence of steps between web pages. 
     
     
         13 . The system as recited in  claim 11 , wherein the system is independent of an application platform on which it is executed. 
     
     
         14 . The system as recited in  claim 11 , further comprising at least one tie-breaking mechanism to select from qualified pages from a set of all available and ready pages. 
     
     
         15 . The system as recited in  claim 14 , wherein at least one tie-breaking mechanism is customizable by a non-developer end-user.