TECHNICAL FIELD

The described embodiments relate to methods and systems associated with providing an electronic form, and in particular, to providing an electronic form in an electronic learning system.

INTRODUCTION

Many web-based systems, whether internal or external, provide user interfaces for receiving inputs from users. Electronic learning (also known as “e-Learning” or “eLearning”) systems, for example, can include such user interfaces.

Electronic learning generally refers to education or learning where users engage in education related activities using computers and other computing devices. For example, users may enroll or participate in a course or program of study offered by an educational institution (e.g., a college, university or grade school) through a web interface that is accessible over the Internet. Users may receive assignments electronically, participate in group work and projects by collaborating over the Internet, and be graded based on assignments and examinations that are submitted, for example, using an electronic submission tool.

Electronic learning is not limited to use by educational institutions. Electronic learning may be used in other environments, such as government and corporations. For example, employees at a regional branch office of a corporation may use electronic learning to participate in a training course offered by another office, or even a third-party provider. As a result, the employees at the regional branch office can participate in the training course without having to travel to the site providing the training course. Travel time and costs can be reduced and conserved.

Generally, for web-based systems, the user interfaces can be provided via a browser application or other applications. The user interfaces can include electronic forms.

Electronic forms generally include various different control and data fields for receiving inputs from users. Some of the control fields include control buttons for receiving an input that initiates communication with the web-based system. Example control buttons include a control button for submitting the data in the data fields to the web-based system to complete the electronic form, or a control button for simply saving the data in the data fields. The control buttons generally appear near an end of the electronic form.

Oftentimes, the electronic form can be longer than a display region of the browser application or other applications so that scrolling is required to view the other portions of the electronic form. As a result, the control buttons may not be easily accessible, or even initially visible to the user, without requiring the user to repeatedly scroll through the electronic form.

SUMMARY OF SOME EMBODIMENTS

The various embodiments described herein generally relate to methods (and associated systems configured to implement the methods) for providing an electronic form.

In accordance with one embodiment, there is provided a method of providing an electronic form for a display. The method includes identifying a visible portion of the electronic form, the electronic form including a control component at a component location of the electronic form and the control component being operable to receive an input from a user; determining whether to provide a transient control component within the visible portion, the transient control component being a version of the control component and the determining whether to provide the transient control component including: identifying whether the component location is within the visible portion; assessing whether the transient control component is usable based on at least one of a display property of the display and the component location; and indicating the transient control component is to be provided within the visible portion when the component location is at least partially beyond the visible portion and the transient control component is usable; and displaying the transient control component within the visible portion when the transient control component determined to be provided.

In some embodiments, assessing whether the transient control component is usable based on at least one of the display property of the display and the component location includes determining a component distance between the component location and an edge of the visible portion; determining if the component distance is less than a transient threshold, the transient threshold being a minimum distance between the visible portion and the component location before the transient control component is usable; and indicating the transient control component is usable when the component distance is greater than the transient threshold.

In some embodiments, the display property comprises a device type of the display; and the method further comprises: determining the device type is a mobile display type, the mobile display type indicating the display is provided on a mobile device; and indicating the transient control component is unusable when the device type is the mobile display type.

In some embodiments, the display property comprises a viewing size of the display; and the method includes determining if the viewing size is less than a size threshold, the size threshold being a minimum view area required for the transient control component to be usable; and indicating the transient control component is usable when the viewing size corresponds to at least the size threshold.

In accordance with another embodiment, there is provided a system for providing an electronic form for a display. The system includes a processor configured to identify a visible portion of the electronic form, the electronic form including a control component at a component location of the electronic form and the control component being operable to receive an input from a user; determine whether to provide a transient control component within the visible portion, the transient control component being a version of the control component and the determining whether to provide the transient control component including: identifying whether the component location is within the visible portion; assessing whether the transient control component is usable based on at least one of a display property of the display and the component location; and indicating the transient control component is to be provided within the visible portion when the component location is at least partially beyond the visible portion and the transient control component is usable; and display the transient control component within the visible portion when the transient control component determined to be provided.

In some embodiments, the processor is configured to: determine a component distance between the component location and an edge of the visible portion; determine if the component distance is less than a transient threshold, the transient threshold being a minimum distance between the visible portion and the component location before the transient control component is usable; and indicate the transient control component is usable when the component distance is greater than the transient threshold.

In some embodiments, the display property comprises a device type of the display; and the processor is configured to: determine the device type is a mobile display type, the mobile display type indicating the display is provided on a mobile device; and indicate the transient control component is unusable when the device type is the mobile display type.

In some embodiments, the display property comprises a viewing size of the display; and the processor is configured to: determine if the viewing size is less than a size threshold, the size threshold being a minimum view area required for the transient control component to be usable; and indicate the transient control component is usable when the viewing size corresponds to at least the size threshold.

In accordance with another embodiment, there is provided a method of providing an electronic form for a display. The method includes: identifying a visible portion of the electronic form, the electronic form including a control component at a component location of the electronic form and the control component being operable to receive an input from a user; determining an accessibility state of the control component based on the component location and at least one of a display property of the display and the visible portion, the accessibility state being a convenient state when the component location is suitable for the display and the accessibility state being an inconvenient state when the component location is not suitable for the display; and in response to determining that the accessibility state is the inconvenient state, displaying a transient control component on the display, the transient control component being a version of the control component.

In some embodiments, the display property comprises a viewing size of the display, the viewing size indicating an area available for displaying the electronic form; and identifying the visible portion of the electronic form includes: receiving a top display position of the electronic form, the top display position being a first location of the electronic form and the first location corresponding to a top edge of the display; determining, based on the top display position and the viewing size, a bottom display position of the electronic form, the bottom display position being a second location of the electronic form, the second location correspond to a bottom edge of the display and the bottom edge being opposite from the top edge; and defining the visible portion according to the top display position and the bottom display position.

In some embodiments, determining the accessibility state of the control component includes determining if the component location is within the visible portion; and in response to determining the component location is within the visible portion, setting the accessibility state as the convenient state and otherwise, setting the accessibility state as the inconvenient state.

In some embodiments, determining the accessibility state of the control component includes determining whether the transient control component is usable based on at least one of the component location, the display property and the visible portion; and setting the accessibility state as the convenient state when the transient control component is unusable.

In some embodiments, the method further includes: determining if the component location is within the visible portion; in response to determining the component location is outside the visible portion, determining a component distance between the component location and an edge of the visible portion; determining if the component distance is less than a transient threshold, the transient threshold being a minimum distance between the visible portion and the component location before the transient control component is usable; and indicating the transient control component is usable when the component distance is greater than the transient threshold.

In some embodiments, displaying the transient control component on the display comprises: displaying the transient control component in at least one of a colour, pattern and size different from the respective colour, pattern and size of the control component.

In some embodiments, the control component comprises: at least one push button control configured for receiving the input for submitting any one of a request to save data provided on the electronic form, a request to remove any data provided on the electronic form, and a request to proceed to a subsequent page of the electronic form.

In some embodiments, the component location is at a substantially end portion of the electronic form.

In accordance with another embodiment, there is provided a system for providing an electronic form for a display. The system includes a processor configured to: identify a visible portion of the electronic form, the electronic form including a control component at a component location of the electronic form and the control component being operable to receive an input from a user; determine an accessibility state of the control component based on the component location and at least one of a display property of the display and the visible portion, the accessibility state being a convenient state when the component location is suitable for the display and the accessibility state being an inconvenient state when the component location is not suitable for the display; and in response to determining that the accessibility state is the inconvenient state, display a transient control component on the display, the transient control component being a version of the control component.

In some embodiments, the display property comprises a viewing size of the display, the viewing size indicating an area available for displaying the electronic form; and the processor is configured to: receive a top display position of the electronic form, the top display position being a first location of the electronic form and the first location corresponding to a top edge of the display; determine, based on the top display position and the viewing size, a bottom display position of the electronic form, the bottom display position being a second location of the electronic form, the second location correspond to a bottom edge of the display and the bottom edge being opposite from the top edge; and define the visible portion according to the top display position and the bottom display position.

In some embodiments, the processor is configured to: determine if the component location is within the visible portion; and in response to determining the component location is within the visible portion, set the accessibility state as the convenient state and otherwise, set the accessibility state as the inconvenient state.

In some embodiments, the processor is configured to: determine whether the transient control component is usable based on at least one of the component location, the display property and the visible portion; and set the accessibility state as the convenient state when the transient control component is unusable.

In some embodiments, the processor is configured to: determine if the component location is within the visible portion; in response to determining the component location is outside the visible portion, determine a component distance between the component location and an edge of the visible portion; determine if the component distance is less than a transient threshold, the transient threshold being a minimum distance between the visible portion and the component location before the transient control component is usable; and indicate the transient control component is usable when the component distance is greater than the transient threshold.

In some embodiments, the processor is configured to: display the transient control component in at least one of a colour, pattern and size different from the respective colour, pattern and size of the control component.

