Integrated client help viewer for internet-based and local help content
First Claim
1. A method of managing content retrieval and display from offline and online content sources, comprising:
- retrieving online help content from the online help content source responsive to a request for help content;
displaying the retrieved online help content in a help content user interface;
if a connection to the online help content source is lost while online help content is being retrieved for display in the help content user interface, providing a notification in the help content user interface that the connection to the online help content source has been lost;
automatically retrieving offline help content responsive to the request for help content from the offline help content source; and
displaying the retrieved offline help content in the help content user interface.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An integrated help content viewer (user interface) is provided that gives a consistent user interface across multiple applications and that smoothly transitions between offline and online help content sources. A single client-side help content viewer is provided that is displayed over or adjacent to a given application user interface (e.g., word processor work space) for allowing a query of offline or online help content associated with a given topic. The help content viewer may be pinned to a user interface associated with a given application so that the help content viewer remains in a position above the user interface even if a user interface of a different application is launched.
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Citations
43 Claims
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1. A method of managing content retrieval and display from offline and online content sources, comprising:
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retrieving online help content from the online help content source responsive to a request for help content;
displaying the retrieved online help content in a help content user interface;
if a connection to the online help content source is lost while online help content is being retrieved for display in the help content user interface, providing a notification in the help content user interface that the connection to the online help content source has been lost;
automatically retrieving offline help content responsive to the request for help content from the offline help content source; and
displaying the retrieved offline help content in the help content user interface. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A method of managing content retrieval and display from offline and online content sources, comprising:
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launching a help content user interface;
receiving a help content request in the help content user interface;
monitoring a connection to an online help content source;
if a connection to an online help content source is established, passing the request for help content to the online help content source;
retrieving online help content from the online help content source responsive to the request for help content;
displaying the retrieved online help content in the help content user interface; and
providing a notification in the help content user interface that the help content user interface is connected to the online help content source. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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26. A computer-readable medium containing computer-executable instructions which when executed by a computer perform a method of managing content retrieval and display from offline and online content sources, comprising:
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retrieving online help content from the online help content source responsive to a request for help content;
displaying the retrieved online help content in a help content user interface;
if a connection to the online help content source is lost while online help content is being retrieved for display in the help content user interface, providing a notification in the help content user interface that the connection to the online help content source has been lost;
automatically retrieving offline help content responsive to the request for help content from the offline help content source; and
displaying the retrieved offline help content in the help content user interface. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37)
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38. A method of managing content retrieval and display from offline and online content sources, comprising:
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launching a help content user interface in association with a deployed software application user interface;
selectively pinning the launched help content user interface to the deployed software application user interface so that the launched help content user interface remains positioned on top of the deployed software application user interface until the launched help content user interface is unpinned from the deployed software application user interface. - View Dependent Claims (39, 40)
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41. A computer-readable medium containing computer-executable instructions which when executed by a computer perform a method of managing content retrieval and display from offline and online content sources, comprising:
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launching a help content user interface in association with a deployed software application user interface;
selectively pinning the launched help content user interface to the deployed software application user interface so that the launched help content user interface remains positioned on top of the deployed software application user interface until the launched help content user interface is unpinned from the deployed software application user interface. - View Dependent Claims (42, 43)
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Specification