Context-based user interface, search, and navigation

1. A computer-implemented method comprising:

identifying a process context associated with a business process, wherein the process context is represented by a process context data object including at least one variable representing values relevant to the business process, and wherein the at least one variable is linked to at least one data field displayed in a user interface;

determining the variable type of each variable of the at least one variable in the process context data object, wherein the determined variable type includes inherent semantic information reflecting the meaning of the variable or logical relationships associated with the variable;

selecting a particular variable of the at least one variable in the process context data object to use for searching a back-end repository for additional information associated with the business process;

dynamically determining, by operation of a computer, a suggested entry for the at least one data field in the user interface based on at least search results obtained from the search; and

presenting the suggested entry to a user through the user interface.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the process context data object is identified based on at least one of the business process, a user profile of the user, at least one user activity of the user, data entered by the user, or static text presented in the user interface.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein selecting the particular process context data object variable is based on a determination of a logical connection between the particular process context data object variable and the data field in the user interface.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the particular variable is selected based upon at least one of the type of the variable, a value in the variable, the relative importance of the variable in the business process, or the likelihood that a user will need guidance for particular steps in the business process.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 4 , wherein selecting a value in the variable is based on the inherent semantic information associated with the variable type.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein search results include an object graph depicting logical connections between data objects and the at least one variable associated with the particular process context data object.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 6 , wherein the suggested entry is determined based at least in part on the object graph.

8. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , further comprising applying a contextual tag to at least one selected word in the user interface, the contextual tag comprising a data structure that contains relevant information associated with the at least one selected word.

9. The computer-implemented method of claim 8 , wherein the contextual tag includes at least a suggested option for performing an auxiliary task associated with the business process.

10. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 further comprising maintaining historical data associated with previously presented suggested entries associated with the user or the business process.

11. The computer-implemented method of claim 10 , wherein the suggested entry is determined at least in part on the historical data associated with previously presented suggested entries.

12. The computer-implemented method of claim 10 , wherein the historical data associated with previously presented suggested entries is updated after receiving a selection from the user for the suggested entry.

13. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the suggested entry is further based on a predefined word list of terms relevant to the business process.

14. A computer-program product encoded on a tangible, non-transitory storage medium, the product comprising computer-readable instructions for causing one or more processors to perform operations to:

identify a process context associated with a business process, wherein the process context is represented by a process context data object including at least one variable representing values relevant to the business process, and wherein the at least one variable is linked to at least one data field displayed in a user interface;

determine the variable type of each variable of the at least one variable in the process context data object, wherein the determined variable type includes inherent semantic information reflecting the meaning of the variable or logical relationships associated with the variable;

select a particular variable of the at least one variable in the process context data object to use for searching a back-end repository for additional information associated with the business process;

dynamically determine a suggested entry for the at least one data field in the user interface based on at least search results obtained from the search; and

present the suggested entry to a user through the user interface.

15. The computer-program product of claim 14 , wherein the process context data object is identified based on at least one of the business process, a user profile of the user, at least one user activity of the user, data entered by the user, or static text presented in the user interface.

16. The computer-program product of claim 14 , wherein selecting the particular process context data object variable is based on a determination of a logical connection between the particular process context data object variable and the data field in the user interface.

17. The computer-program product of claim 14 , wherein the particular variable is selected based upon at least one of the type of the variable, a value in the variable, the relative importance of the variable in the business process, or the likelihood that a user will need guidance for particular steps in the business process.

18. The computer-program product of claim 17 , wherein selecting a value in the variable is based on the inherent semantic information associated with the variable type.

19. The computer-program product of claim 14 , wherein search results include an object graph depicting logical connections between data objects and the at least one variable associated with the particular process context data object.

20. The computer-program product of claim 19 , wherein the suggested entry is determined based at least in part on the object graph.

21. The computer-program product of claim 14 , further comprising applying a contextual tag to at least one selected word in the user interface, the contextual tag comprising a data structure that contains relevant information associated with the at least one selected word.

22. A system, comprising:

memory operable to store information associated with a context of a business process; and

one or more processors operable to:

identify a process context associated with a business process, wherein the process context is represented by a process context data object including at least one variable representing values relevant to the business process, and wherein the at least one variable is linked to at least one data field displayed in a user interface;

determine the variable type of each variable of the at least one variable in the process context data object, wherein the determined variable type includes inherent semantic information reflecting the meaning of the variable or logical relationships associated with the variable;

select a particular variable of the at least one variable in the process context data object to use for searching a back-end repository for additional information associated with the business process;

dynamically determine a suggested entry for the at least one data field in the user interface based on at least search results obtained from the search; and

present the suggested entry to a user through the user interface.