Use of touch and gestures related to tasks and business workflow

Abstract

A business data system generates a user interface display showing a business data record. The business data system receives a touch gesture user input to manipulate the business data record to perform an operation, a task or a workflow within the business data system. The business data system performs the operation, task or workflow based on the touch gesture user input.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A computing device, comprising:
 a touch sensitive display screen;   a user interface component displaying a user interface display from a business data system on the touch sensitive display screen and receiving a user touch gesture through the user interface display;   a business data component manipulating the business data system to perform an operation in the business data system based on the touch gesture; and   a computer processor, being a functional part of the computing device and activated by the user interface component and the business data component to facilitate displaying, receiving the user touch gesture, and performing the operation.   
     
     
         2 . The computing device of  claim 1  wherein the touch gesture comprises a search input touch gesture and wherein the business data component comprises a search component that searches for information based on the search input touch gesture. 
     
     
         3 . The computing device of  claim 2  wherein the search component searches one or more data stores external to the business data system based on the search input touch gesture and displays search results along with a user input mechanism corresponding to each result. 
     
     
         4 . The computing device of  claim 3  wherein the business data component receives a user selection touch gesture actuating a given user input mechanism corresponding to a given search result. 
     
     
         5 . The computing device of  claim 4  wherein the business data component adds a link, in a business data record, to the given search result based on receiving the user selection touch gesture, the link being actuatable to navigate to the given search result, with a user actuation touch gesture. 
     
     
         6 . The computing device of  claim 1  wherein the user touch gesture comprises a decision maker touch gesture and wherein the business data component comprises:
 a decision maker selection component that identifies a decision maker in an organization external to the business data system based on the decision maker touch gesture. 
 
     
     
         7 . The computing device of  claim 6  wherein the decision maker selection component includes a search component that receives a decision maker search user touch gesture and searches for possible decision makers based on the decision maker search user touch gesture, and wherein the decision maker selection component displays the possible decision makers along with a user input mechanism corresponding to each possible decision maker. 
     
     
         8 . The computing device of  claim 7  wherein the decision maker selection component receives a decision maker selection touch gesture actuating a given user input mechanism corresponding to a given possible decision maker. 
     
     
         9 . The computing device of  claim 8  wherein the decision maker selection component adds the given possible decision maker to the business data record based on the decision maker selection touch gesture. 
     
     
         10 . The computing device of  claim 8  wherein the decision maker selection component displays profile information for the given possible decision maker based on the decision maker selection touch gesture. 
     
     
         11 . The computing device of  claim 8  wherein the decision maker selection component displays a connection graph indicating a connection between the user and the given possible decision maker based on the decision maker selection touch gesture. 
     
     
         12 . A computer-implemented method of manipulating a business data system, comprising:
 displaying a user interface display showing business information from the business data system;   receiving a touch gesture on the user interface display, to perform a given task, operation or workflow in the business data system; and   performing the given task, operation or workflow in the business data system based on the received touch gesture.   
     
     
         13 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 12  wherein receiving the user touch gesture comprises receiving a partial information touch gesture partially identifying an item of interest, and further comprising:
 displaying suggestions identifying suggested items of interest based on the partial information touch gesture, and displaying a touch actuatable input mechanism corresponding to each suggested item of interest. 
 
     
     
         14 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 12  wherein receiving the user touch gesture comprises receiving a follow up touch gesture identifying an item to receive a follow-up message, received on a display of a wall corresponding to a business data record, and further comprising:
 displaying the follow-up message on a display indicative of the business data record based on the follow-up touch gesture. 
 
     
     
         15 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 12  wherein receiving the user touch gesture comprises receiving a document management touch gesture identifying a document, received on a display of a wall corresponding to a business data record, and further comprising:
 displaying the identified document and performing a document management step on the identified document based on the document management touch gesture. 
 
     
     
         16 . A business data system, comprising:
 a user interface component;   a business data component generating a user interface display, using the user interface component, showing a business data record with a user input mechanism used to perform a task, operation or workflow on the business data record, receiving a touch gesture through the user input mechanism to perform the task, operation or workflow, and performing the task, operation or workflow on the business data record in the business data system based on the touch gesture; and   a computer processor being a functional part of the business data system and activated by the user interface component and the business data component to facilitate generating the user interface display, receiving the touch gesture and performing the task, operation or workflow.   
     
     
         17 . The business data system of  claim 16  wherein the touch gesture comprises a team selection touch gesture and wherein the business data component comprises:
 a team selection component that identifies and assigns team members to a team corresponding to a business data record in the business data system based on the team selection touch gesture. 
 
     
     
         18 . The business data system of  claim 17  wherein the team selection component includes a search component that receives a team search user touch gesture and searches for possible team members based on the team search user touch gesture, and wherein the team selection component displays the possible team members along with a user input mechanism corresponding to each possible team member. 
     
     
         19 . The business data system of  claim 18  wherein the team selection component receives a team selection touch gesture actuating a given user input mechanism corresponding to a given possible team member. 
     
     
         20 . The business data system of  claim 19  wherein the team selection component adds the given possible team member to the team corresponding to the business data record based on the team selection touch gesture.