Method and system for calling/executing an action from an outside application within an existing open application

Abstract

Systems and methods for executing a second application within a primary application window are provided, thereby improving the usability of graphical user interfaces (GUI). An exemplary method comprises executing a first application on the primary application window. The primary application window displays a plurality of GUI elements associated with the first application. The first application is configured to execute a second application upon processing an event invoked on the primary application window. Thereafter, the first application and the primary application window are suspended and a secondary application window is displayed within the primary application window. The second application window displays a plurality of GUI elements associated with the secondary application. The first application and primary application window automatically resume after closing the secondary application window.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for executing a second software application within a first software application, the method including the steps of:
 executing a first software application comprising code fragments for implementing quick actions, for utilizing call back functions, executed on the computer;   displaying a plurality of first graphical user interface (GUI) elements on a primary application window;   receiving an input from the primary application window;   utilizing the call back function for suspending the first software application and the primary application window in response to an event from the primary application window;   utilizing the call back function for displaying a secondary application window in response to the first software application executing a second software application comprising code fragments storing a reference to the first software application currently suspended; and   closing the secondary application window and resuming the first software application and the primary application window.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein suspending the first software application and the primary application window in response to an event from the primary application window comprises the steps of:
 preventing the primary application window from changing; and   preventing additional events from executing.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising executable instructions to configure the computer to perform a method, the method comprising the steps of:
 defining at least one callback function, configuring at least one first GUI element; and   configuring a click event, wherein the click event of the at least one first GUI element invokes the at least one callback function, wherein displaying a secondary application window in response to the first software application executing a second software application comprises the step of displaying a plurality of second graphical user interface (GUI) elements on the second application window.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , further comprising executable instructions to configure the computer to perform a method, the method comprising the steps of:
 receiving a user input, comparing the user input to a plurality of events; and   selecting an event associated with the user input, wherein displaying a plurality of first GUI elements on primary application window comprises displaying a modal window.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , further comprising executable instructions to configure the computer to perform a method, the method comprising the step of configuring at least one second GUI element with a click event configured to invoke a second callback function, wherein executing a first software application comprises the step of executing a reporting application of a customer relationship management (CRM) application. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , further comprising executable instructions to configure the computer to perform a method, the method comprising the steps of:
 configuring the secondary application window to move within the primary application window;   utilizing the at least one callback function for suspending the second software application and the secondary application window in response to the click event configured to invoke a second callback function;   executing a third software application; and   utilizing the at least one callback function for resuming the second software application after completion of the third software application.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein suspending the second software application and the secondary application window in response to the click event configured to invoke a second callback function comprises the steps of:
 preventing the secondary application window from changing; and   preventing additional events from executing on the secondary application window.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , the method further comprising the steps of:
 displaying the plurality of first GUI elements corresponding to the first software application on the primary application window;   receiving an event from the primary application window;   utilizing the at least one callback function for suspending the first software application and the primary application window;   utilizing the at least one callback function for invoking the first software application to execute a the second software application;   utilizing the at least one callback function for displaying the plurality of second GUI elements corresponding to the second software application on the secondary application window; and   utilizing the at least one callback function for resuming the first software application and the primary application window automatically after closing the second application window, wherein the quick actions are defined in a global context in order to be called from any software application within the first software application.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , the method further comprising the steps of:
 comparing the received input by a search engine of the first software application;   returning a list of user selectable quick actions;   receiving an input for selecting a quick action, optionally from the list of user selectable quick actions;   triggering an event, by an event handler of the first software application; and   suspending the internal state of the first software application.   
     
     
         10 . A computer device for executing an at least second software application within an at least first software application, the computer device configured to perform a method including the steps of:
 defining a plurality of global functions comprising at least one callback function, wherein the at least first and second software applications are configured to execute the at least one callback function;   executing the at least first software application comprising code fragments for implementing quick actions, for utilizing the at least one call back function, executed on the computer;   displaying a plurality of first graphical user interface (GUI) elements on a primary application window;   receiving an input from the primary application window;   utilizing the at least one callback function for suspending the at least first software application and the primary application window in response to an event from the primary application window;   utilizing the at least one callback function for displaying a secondary application window in response to the at least first software application executing the at least second software application comprising code fragments storing a reference to the at least first software application currently suspended;   utilizing an event handler to pass parameters to the second application window;   configuring the at least second application to return data to the at least one callback function; and   closing the secondary application window and resuming the at least first software application and the primary application window.   
     
     
         11 . The computer device of  claim 10 , wherein suspending the at least first software application and the primary application window in response to an event from the primary application window comprises the steps of:
 preventing the primary application window from changing; and   preventing additional events from executing.   
     
     
         12 . The computer device of  claim 11 , further comprising executable instructions to configure the computer to perform a method, the method comprises the steps of:
 defining at least one callback function;   configuring at least one first GUI element; and   configuring a click event, wherein the click event of the at least one first GUI element invokes the at least one callback function, wherein displaying a secondary application window in response to the at least first software application executing the at least second software application comprises the step of displaying a plurality of second graphical user interface (GUI) elements on the second application window.   
     
     
         13 . The computer device of  claim 12 , further comprising executable instructions to configure the computer to perform a method, the method comprises the steps of:
 receiving a user input;   comparing the user input to a plurality of events; and   selecting an event associated with the user input, wherein displaying a plurality of first GUI elements on primary application window comprises the step of displaying a modal window.   
     
     
         14 . The computer device of  claim 13 , further comprising executable instructions to configure the computer to perform a method, the method comprises the step of configuring at least one second GUI element with a click event configured to invoke a second callback function, wherein executing a at least first software application comprises the step of executing a reporting application of a customer relationship management (CRM) application. 
     
     
         15 . The computer device of  claim 14 , further comprising executable instructions to configure the computer to perform a method, the method comprises the step of configuring the secondary application window to move within the primary application window. 
     
     
         16 . The computer device of  claim 15 , further comprising executable instructions to configure the computer to perform a method, the method comprises the steps of:
 utilizing the at least one callback function for suspending the at least second software application and the secondary application window in response to the click event configured to invoke a second callback function;   utilizing the at least one callback function for executing an at least third software application; and   utilizing the at least one callback function for resuming the at least second software application after completion of the at least third software application.   
     
     
         17 . The computer device of  claim 16 , wherein suspending the at least second software application and the secondary application window in response to the click event configured to invoke a second callback function comprises the steps of:
 preventing the secondary application window from changing; and   preventing additional events from executing on the secondary application window.   
     
     
         18 . The computer device of  claim 17 , the method further comprising the steps of:
 displaying the plurality of first GUI elements corresponding to the at least first software application on the primary application window;   receiving an event from the primary application window;   utilizing the at least one callback function for suspending the at least first software application and the primary application window;   utilizing the at least one callback function for invoking the at least first software application to execute a the at least second software application;   utilizing the at least one callback function for displaying the plurality of second GUI elements corresponding to the at least second software application on the secondary application window; and   utilizing the at least one callback function for resuming the at least first software application and the primary application window automatically after closing the second application window.   
     
     
         19 . The computer device of  claim 18 , wherein the quick actions are defined in a global context in order to be called from any software application within the at least first software application. 
     
     
         20 . The computer device of  claim 19 , the method further comprising the steps of:
 comparing the received input by a search engine of the at least first software application and returning a list of user selectable quick actions;   receiving an input for selecting a quick action;   triggering an event, by an event handler of the at least first software application; and   suspending the internal state of the at least first software application.