Methods and apparatuses for providing message information in graphical user interfaces based on user inputs

• US 20030210260A1
• Filed: 05/09/2002
• Published: 11/13/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 05/09/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Tolkov, Valery, Palmer, Steve
• Granted Patent: US 7,890,865 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/715
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0481 based on specific properties of the displayed interaction object or a metaphor-based environment, e.g. interaction with desktop elements like windows or icons, or assisted by a cursor's changing behaviour or appearance
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04895 Guidance during keyboard input operation, e.g. prompting
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/453 Help systems

Abstract

Improved methods and apparatuses are provided for determining when and how to display non-modal messages relating to user input portions of a graphical user interface (GUI). One method includes displaying at least one user input portion within a GUI and determining if the user input portion is in an invalid state by determining that valid user input associated with the user input portion has not been received. The method further includes displaying a non-modal message within the GUI. The non-modal message is visibly graphically associated with the user input portion. The method also includes automatically applying a focus of the GUI on the user input portion. As long as the focus of the GUI remains on the user input portion, the method includes displaying the non-modal message until the user input portion is determined to be in a valid state.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

displaying at least one user input portion within a graphical user interface (GUI);

determining if said user input portion is in an invalid state by determining that valid user input associated with said user input portion has not been received;

displaying a non-modal message within said GUI, said non-modal message being visibly graphically associated with said user input portion;

automatically applying a focus of said GUI on said user input portion; and

as long as said focus of said GUI remains on said user input portion, continue displaying said non-modal message until said user input portion is determined to be in a valid state.

2. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein determining that valid user input associated with said user input portion has not been received further includes:

receiving user input associated with said user input portion; and

comparing said received user input with validation information associated with said user input portion.

3. The method as recited in claim 2, wherein said validation information includes at least one validation parameter.

4. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein said user input portion includes at least one user input field.

5. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein said focus of said GUI places a cursor in said user input portion.

6. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein said focus of said GUI can be moved from said user input portion through focus moving user input.

7. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein said non-modal message includes non-modal information regarding at least one invalidity error associated with said user input portion.

8. The method as recited in claim 7, wherein said non-modal information includes at least one form of identifying information selected from a group of different forms of identifying information comprising a graphical icon, an identifier, and message information.

9. The method as recited in claim 8, wherein said message information includes validation information associated with said user input portion.

10. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein said non-modal message includes a balloon message.

11. A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions for performing acts comprising:

causing a graphical user interface (GUI) to be displayed, said GUI having at least one user input portion visibly graphically provided therein;

selectively causing a focus of said GUI to be applied on said user input portion if valid user input associated with said user input portion has not been received; and

displaying a non-modal message within said GUI that is visibly graphically connected to said user input portion until said user input portion is determined to be in a valid state, as long as said focus of said GUI remains on said user input portion.

12. The computer-readable medium as recited in claim 11, wherein selectively causing said focus of said GUI to be applied on said user input portion if valid user input associated with said user input portion has not been received further includes:

receiving user input associated with said user input portion; and

comparing said received user input with validation information associated with said user input portion.

13. The computer-readable medium as recited in claim 12, wherein said validation information includes at least one validation parameter.

14. The computer-readable medium as recited in claim 11, wherein said user input portion includes at least one user input field.

16. The computer-readable medium as recited in claim 11, wherein said focus of said GUI can be moved from said user input portion through focus moving user input.

17. The computer-readable medium as recited in claim 11, wherein said non-modal message includes non-modal information regarding at least one invalidity error associated with said user input portion.

18. The computer-readable medium as recited in claim 17, wherein said non-modal information includes at least one form of identifying information selected from a group of different forms of identifying information comprising a graphical icon, an identifier, and message information.

19. The computer-readable medium as recited in claim 18, wherein said message information includes validation information associated with said user input portion.

20. The computer-readable medium as recited in claim 11, wherein said non-modal message includes a balloon message.

15. The computer-readable medium as recited in claim wherein said focus of said GUI places a cursor in said user input portion.

21. An apparatus comprising:

memory;

a display device;

a user input device; and

logic operatively coupled to said memory, said display device and said user input device, said logic being configured to;

cause a graphical user interface (GUI) to be visibly presented via said display device, said GUI including at least one user input portion,

determine if said user input portion is in an invalid state by determining that valid user input associated with said user input portion has not been received,

cause a non-modal message to be presented within said GUI, said non-modal message being visibly associated with said user input portion;

automatically apply a user input focus of said GUI on said user input portion, and

while said focus of said GUI remains on said user input portion, continue presenting said non-modal message until said user input portion is determined to be in a valid state.

22. The apparatus as recited in claim 21, wherein said logic is further configured to:

compare user inputs received from said user input device with validation information within said memory, said validation information being associated with said user input portion.

23. The apparatus as recited in claim 22, wherein said validation information includes at least one validation parameter.

24. The apparatus as recited in claim 21, wherein said user input portion includes at least one user input field.

25. The apparatus as recited in claim 21, wherein said user input focus of said GUI causes said logic to visibly associate at least one graphical user input indicator with said user input portion.

26. The apparatus as recited in claim 21, wherein said logic is configured to allow user input focus of said GUI to be removed from said user input portion based on user inputs from said user input device.

27. The apparatus as recited in claim 21, wherein said non-modal message includes non-modal information regarding at least one invalidity error associated with said user input portion.

28. The apparatus as recited in claim 27, wherein said non-modal information includes at least one form of identifying information selected from a group of different forms of identifying information comprising a graphical icon, an identifier, and message information.

29. The apparatus as recited in claim 28, wherein said message information includes validation information associated with said user input portion.

30. The apparatus as recited in claim 21, wherein said non-modal message includes a balloon message.