VISUAL BUSINESS OBJECTS

1 . A computer-implemented method comprising:

reading a mapping between a business object and a corresponding visual representation of the business object, wherein the mapping includes a relationship between the business object's attributes and the visual representation's visual attributes, and the mapping includes a relationship between the business object's attribute values and the visual representation's visual attribute values;

displaying the visual representation on a graphical user interface based on the mapping, wherein the visual representation is displayed relative to a visual context displayed on the graphical user interface; and

displaying, in response to an activation of the visual representation, additional visual attributes of the visual representation.

2 . A computer-implemented method comprising:

reading a mapping between a business object and a corresponding visual representation of the business object, wherein the mapping includes a relationship between the business object's attributes and the visual representation's visual attributes, and the mapping includes a relationship between the business object's attribute values and the visual representation's visual attribute values; and

displaying the visual representation on a graphical user interface based on the mapping.

3 . The computer-implemented method of claim 2 , wherein the visual representation is displayed relative to a visual context displayed on the graphical user interface.

4 . The computer-implemented method of claim 2 , further comprising:

displaying, in response to an activation of the visual representation, a magnified view of the visual representation.

5 . The computer-implemented method of claim 4 , further comprising:

displaying, in response to the activation, additional visual attributes of the visual representation.

6 . The computer-implemented method of claim 4 , further comprising:

modifying, in response to a user action performed on the magnified view, information associated with the business object.

7 . The computer-implemented method of claim 4 , further comprising:

initiating, in response to a user action performed on the magnified view, an electronic communication with a person associated with the business object.

8 . The computer-implemented method of claim 2 , further comprising:

modifying, in response to a user action performed on the visual representation, information associated with the business object.

9 . The computer-implemented method of claim 2 , further comprising:

initiating, in response to a user action performed on the visual representation, an electronic communication with a person associated with the business object.

10 . An apparatus comprising:

a processor to:

read a mapping between a business object and a corresponding visual representation of the business object, wherein the mapping includes a relationship between the business object's attributes and the visual representation's visual attributes, and the mapping includes a relationship between the business object's attribute values and the visual representation's visual attribute values; and

a display to:

display the visual representation on a graphical user interface based on the mapping.

11 . The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the visual representation is displayed relative to a visual context displayed on the graphical user interface.

12 . The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the display is further configured to:

display, in response to an activation of the visual representation, a magnified view of the visual representation.

13 . The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the display is further configured to:

display, in response to the activation, additional visual attributes of the visual representation.

14 . The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the processor is further configured to:

modify, in response to a user action performed on the visual representation, information associated with the business object.

15 . The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the processor is further configured to:

initiate, in response to a user action performed on the visual representation, an electronic communication with a person associated with the business object.

16 . A non-transitory computer-readable medium embodied with computer-executable instructions for causing a computer to execute instructions, the computer instructions comprising:

reading a mapping between a business object and a corresponding visual representation of the business object, wherein the mapping includes a relationship between the business object's attributes and the visual representation's visual attributes, and the mapping includes a relationship between the business object's attribute values and the visual representation's visual attribute values; and

displaying the visual representation on a graphical user interface based on the mapping.

17 . The computer-readable medium of claim 16 , wherein the visual representation is displayed relative to a visual context displayed on the graphical user interface.

18 . The computer-readable medium of claim 16 , wherein the computer instructions further comprise:

displaying, in response to an activation of the visual representation, a magnified view of the visual representation.

19 . The computer-readable medium of claim 18 , wherein the computer instructions further comprise:

displaying, in response to the activation, additional visual attributes of the visual representation.

20 . The computer-readable medium of claim 16 , wherein the computer instructions further comprise:

modifying, in response to a user action performed on the visual representation, information associated with the business object.