Facilitating direct access to live controls for features of a system or application via a keyword search

• US 20060155686A1
• Filed: 01/13/2005
• Published: 07/13/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 01/13/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Adobe Systems Incorporated (Adobe Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Adobe Systems Incorporated (Adobe Inc.)
• Inventors: Peterson, John W.
• Application Number:
  US11/035,624
• Publication Number:
  US 20060155686A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04812 Interaction techniques based on cursor appearance or behaviour, e.g. being affected by the presence of displayed objects
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/453 Help systems

Abstract

One embodiment of the present invention provides a system that provides access to features of a system or an application via a query. During operation, the system first obtains a query. Next, the system identifies features of the system or the application which are associated with results of the query. The system then presents live controls for the associated features to a user. This enables the user to activate the live controls to perform associated actions, without having to first navigate to a live control.

Claims

1. A method for providing access to features of a system or an application via a query, comprising:

obtaining the query;

identifying features of the system or the application which are associated with results of the query; and

presenting live controls for the associated features to a user, whereby the user can activate the live controls to trigger associated actions, thereby avoiding the need to first navigate to a live control.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein obtaining the query involves receiving a search request for a feature, wherein the search request includes the one or more key words.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein presenting live controls for associated features additionally involves presenting menu-path hyperlinks for the associated features to the user.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein presenting live controls for the associated features also involves providing access to help information for the associated features.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein if an associated feature is not presently available, the corresponding live control is presented to the user in a manner which indicates that the feature is disabled.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein presenting a live control for an associated feature involves presenting a preview of the result of an action associated with the live control.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein a live control for a feature is a user interface element, which can be activated to perform an associated action.

8. A computer-readable storage medium storing instructions that when executed by a computer cause the computer to perform a method for providing access to features of a system or an application via a query, the method comprising:

obtaining the query;

identifying features of the system or the application which are associated with results of the query; and

presenting live controls for the associated features to a user, whereby the user can activate the live controls to trigger associated actions, thereby avoiding the need to first navigate to a live control.

9. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 8, wherein obtaining the one or more keywords involves receiving a search request for a feature, wherein the search request includes the one or more key words.

10. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 8, wherein presenting live controls for associated features additionally involves presenting menu-path hyperlinks for associated features to the user.

11. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 8, wherein presenting live controls for the associated features also involves providing access to help information for the associated features.

12. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 8, wherein if an associated feature is not presently available, the corresponding live control is presented to the user in a manner which indicates that the feature is disabled.

13. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 8, wherein presenting a live control for an associated feature involves presenting a preview of the result of an action associated with the live control.

14. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 8, wherein a live control for a feature is a user interface element, which can be activated to perform an associated action.

15. A computer system that provides access to features of a system or an application via a query, comprising:

a processor;

a memory;

a receiving mechanism configured to receive the query;

a identification mechanism configured to identify features of the system or the application which are associated with results of the query; and

a presentation mechanism configured to present live controls for the associated features to a user, whereby the user can activate the live controls to trigger associated actions, thereby avoiding the need to first navigate to a live control.

16. The computer system of claim 15, wherein the receiving mechanism is configured to receive keywords as part of a search request for a feature, wherein the search request includes the one or more key words.

17. The computer system of claim 15, wherein while presenting live controls for associated features, the presentation mechanism is configured to present menu-path hyperlinks for the associated features to the user.

18. The computer system of claim 15, wherein while presenting live controls for the associated features, the presentation mechanism is configured to provide access to help information for the associated features.

19. The computer system of claim 15, wherein if an associated feature is not presently available, the presentation mechanism is configured to present the corresponding live control in a manner which indicates that the feature is disabled.

20. The computer system of claim 15, wherein while presenting a live control for an associated feature, the presentation mechanism is configured to present a preview of the result of an action associated with the live control.

21. The computer system of claim 15, wherein a live control for a feature is a user interface element, which can be activated to perform an associated action.