Integrated, context passing user display
Systems and methods are provided to facilitate an integrated display of information to a user. According to some embodiments, a first service and a second service may be registered with a registry. The information stored in the registry might include, for example, indications that the first and/or second services are to receive data from disparate remote sources. According to some embodiments, placement information is received from a user to lay out the first and second services within a pane of an application. Moreover, information from the remote sources may be displayed to the user within the pane.
1. A non-transitory computer-readable medium having instructions configured to be executed by a processor of a display management server to perform operations comprising:
storing, at the display management server, first registration information associated with a first service configured to receive first data from a first source, second registration information associated with a second service configured to receive second data from a second source distinct from the first source, and pane information corresponding to a plurality of panes, wherein each pane of the plurality of panes corresponds to a role of a user within an organization;
receiving layout information, at the display management server, from a user device of a plurality of user devices communicatively coupled to the display management server via a network, wherein the layout information is configured to position the first service in a first area of a graphical user interface (GUI) operating within an electronic mail application and displayed on the user device and to position the second service in a second area of the GUI distinct from the first area, and wherein the first source and the second source are communicatively coupled to the display management server via the network;
selecting, by the display management server, a pane, from the pane information stored at the display management server, the selecting based on the role of a user, the user associated with the user device; and
sending, by the display management server, the layout information to the user device, wherein, in response to receipt of the layout information, the user device is configured to render the first service at the first area and the second service at the second area.
2. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 1 , wherein the operations further comprise storing, at the display management server, information indicating a first role authorized to use the first service and a second role authorized to use the second service.
3. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 1 , wherein the first source corresponds to a first database, and wherein the second source corresponds to a second database distinct from the first database.
4. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 3 , wherein the first service corresponds to an applet, and wherein the second service corresponds to an Active X service.
5. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 1 , wherein the first registration information, the second registration information, and the pane information are stored in a registry of the display management server.
6. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 5 , wherein the organization comprises a business organization, and wherein the role of the user corresponds to a function of the user within the organization.
7. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 1 , wherein the sending the layout information occurs after receiving the layout information.
8. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 1 , further comprising dynamically determining context information based on data stored in the electronic mail application, wherein the data stored in the electronic mail application comprises an address of a business.
9. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 8 , wherein the first service is configured to generate data responsive to the context information.
10. A display management server configured to facilitate an integrated display of information to a user, the display management server comprising:
a communication port configured to exchange data via a network; and
a processor coupled to the communication port, wherein the processor is configured to:
store first registration information associated with a first service configured to receive first data from a first source, second registration information associated with a second service configured to receive second data from a second source distinct from the first source, and pane information corresponding to a plurality of panes, wherein each pane of the plurality of panes corresponds to a role of a user within an organization;
receive layout information from a user device of a plurality of user devices communicatively coupled to the display management server via a network, wherein the layout information is configured to position the first service in a first area of a graphical user interface (GUI) displayed on the user device and to position the second service in a second area of the GUI distinct from the first area, and wherein the first source and the second source are communicatively coupled to the display management server via the network;
select a pane, from a plurality of panes stored at the display management server, the selection based on a role of a user, the user associated with the user device, wherein the user device is configured to operate an electronic mail application, and wherein the first service and the second service are rendered within the electronic mail application; and
send the layout information to the user device, wherein, in response to receipt of the layout information, the user device is configured to render the first service at the first area and the second service at the second area.
11. The display management server of claim 10 , further comprising a registry, wherein the registry is configured to store the first registration information, the second registration information, and the pane information.
12. The display management server of claim 11 , wherein the registry is further configured to store data indicating the role of the user within the organization permitted to use at least one of the first service or the second service.
13. The display management server of claim 10 , wherein the processor is further configured to:
receive second layout information from a second user device of the plurality of user devices, wherein the second layout information is configured to position the first service in a third area of a second GUI displayed on the second user device and to position the second service in a fourth area of the second GUI distinct from the third area.
14. The display management server of claim 13 , wherein the processor is further configured to:
after receipt of the second layout information, send the second layout information to the second user device, wherein, in response to receipt of the second layout information, the second user device is configured to render the first service at the third area and the second service at the fourth area.
15. A system configured to provide an integrated information display, the system comprising:
a first data source associated with a first service;
a second data source associated with a second service;
an exchange server configured to store electronic forms associated with an electronic mail application in a database organized by a role of each user associated with a user device of a plurality of user devices;
a display management server comprising:
a communication port configured to exchange data via a network; and
a processor coupled to the communication port, wherein the processor is configured to:
store first registration information associated with a first service configured to receive first data from a first source, second registration information associated with a second service configured to receive second data from a second source distinct from the first source, and pane information corresponding to a plurality of panes, wherein each pane of the plurality of panes corresponds to a role of a user within an organization;
receive layout information from a user device of a plurality of user devices communicatively coupled to the display management server via a network, wherein the layout information is configured to position the first service in a first area of a graphical user interface (GUI) displayed on the user device and to position the second service in a second area of the GUI distinct from the first area, and wherein the first source and the second source are communicatively coupled to the display management server via the network;
after receipt of the layout information configured to position the first service in the first area and to position the second service in the second area, select a pane, from a plurality of panes stored at the display management server, the selection based on a role of a user, the user associated with the user device, wherein the user device is configured to operate the electronic mail application, and wherein the first service and the second service are rendered within the electronic mail application; and
send the layout information to the user device, wherein, in response to receipt of the layout information, the user device is configured to render the first service at the first area and the second service at the second area; and
a plurality of user devices configured to access a network, wherein the network is configured to communicatively couple the first data source, the second data source, the exchange server, and the display management server, wherein the user device of the plurality of user devices is configured to render the first service and the second service on a display of the user device in accordance with the layout information and within the electronic mail application operating on the user device.
16. The system of claim 15 , wherein the first source corresponds to a first database, and wherein the second source corresponds to a second database distinct from the first database.
17. The system of claim 16 , wherein the first service corresponds to an applet, and wherein the second service corresponds to an Active X service.
18. The system of claim 15 , further comprising the network.
19. The system of claim 18 , wherein the display management server further comprises a registry, wherein the registry is configured to store the first registration information, the second registration information, and the pane information.