Methods And Apparatus For Using Annotated User Interface Widgets In Search Operations

• US 20090043799A1
• Filed: 08/06/2007
• Published: 02/12/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 08/06/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Scenera Technologies LLC (Scenera Research LLC)
• Original Assignee: Scenera Technologies LLC (Scenera Research LLC)
• Inventors: Morris, Robert P.
• Application Number:
  US11/834,280
• Publication Number:
  US 20090043799A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/453 Help systems

Abstract

Methods and apparatus are disclosed for using annotated user interface widgets in search operations. According to an exemplary embodiment, a method is described for using annotated user interface widgets in search operations including receiving a search phrase related to a user-defined annotation previously associated with a user interface widget of an application. An application-defined attribute of the user interface widget associated with the annotation is determined based on the search phrase. A query, including the determined attribute, is performed for retrieving information associated with the user interface widget. The information associated with the user interface widget is provided in response to performing the query.

Claims

1. A method for using annotated user interface widgets in search operations, the method comprising:

receiving a search phrase related to a user-defined annotation previously associated with a user interface widget of an application;

determining an application-defined attribute of the user interface widget associated with the annotation based on the search phrase;

performing a query, including the determined attribute, for retrieving information associated with the user interface widget; and

providing the information associated with the user interface widget in response to performing the query.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving a search phrase related to a user-defined annotation comprises presenting a search user interface widget in response to an activation of a user interface control via a user interface input device, the search user interface widget including at least a first widget for receiving the search phrase and a second widget for presenting the information associated with the user interface widget provided in response to performing the query.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the attribute of the user interface widget includes content included in the user interface widget, and the information provided in response to performing the query includes at least a portion of the content included in the user interface widget.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein determining an application-defined attribute of the user interface widget comprises:

accessing a data store including an annotation-attribute association that includes annotation information for matching the search phrase related to the user-defined annotation and the application-defined attribute of the first user interface widget; and

determining the attribute forming the annotation-attribute association as the application-defined attribute of the first user interface widget when the search phrase matches the annotation information forming the annotation-attribute association.

5. The method of claim 4, comprising:

determining a second user-defined annotation associated with the user interface widget based on the annotation information when the search phrase matches the annotation information forming the annotation-attribute association; and

including the second user-defined annotation in the information provided in response to performing the query.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the second user-defined annotation includes at least one of user-defined help text and an identifier of a second user interface widget related to the user interface widget of the application.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein performing a query comprises:

accessing an index of searchable information provided by the application;

determining a portion of the searchable information included in the index that matches the determined attribute included in the query; and

determining at least one of the portion of the searchable information and information indexed by the portion of searchable information as the information associated with the user interface widget.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the index of searchable information is associated with at least one of a help function for providing information related to use of the user interface widget and a find function for providing information related to content included in the user interface widget.

9. The method of claim 7, comprising:

determining at least one of a second application-defined attribute of the user interface widget and a second user-defined annotation previously associated with a user interface widget based on the determined at least one of the portion of the searchable information and information indexed by the portion of searchable information; and

performing a second query, including at least one of the second determined attribute and the second user-defined annotation, for retrieving additional information associated with the user interface widget;

wherein the additional information is included in the information provided in response to performing the query.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein providing the information associated with the user interface widget comprises presenting a search user interface widget including at least one of a link to and a displayable representation of one or more of:

the determined attribute of the user interface widget;

annotation information associated with the determined attribute;

at least one of a portion of searchable information included in an index provided by the application and information indexed by the portion of searchable information;

user-defined help text;

an identifier of a second user interface widget related to the user interface widget of the application; and

content included in the user interface widget.

11. A device for using annotated user interface widgets in search operations, the device comprising:

an annotation user interface component configured to receive a search phrase related to a user-defined annotation previously associated with a user interface widget of an application; and

a search/index manager component configured to determine an application-defined attribute of the user interface widget associated with the annotation based on the search phrase and to perform a query, including the determined attribute, for retrieving information associated with the user interface widget;

wherein the annotation user interface component is further configured to provide the information associated with the user interface widget in response to performing the query.

12. The device of claim 11, wherein the annotation user interface component is configured to present a search user interface widget in response to an activation of a user interface control via a user interface input device, the search user interface widget including at least a first widget for receiving the search phrase and a second widget for presenting the information associated with the user interface widget provided in response to performing the query.

13. The device of claim 11, wherein the attribute of the user interface widget includes content included in the user interface widget, and the information provided in response to performing the query includes at least a portion of the content included in the user interface widget.

14. The device of claim 11, wherein the search/index manager component is configured to:

access a data store including an annotation-attribute association that includes annotation information for matching the search phrase related to the user-defined annotation and the application-defined attribute of the first user interface widget; and

determine the attribute forming the annotation-attribute association as the application-defined attribute of the first user interface widget when the search phrase matches the annotation information forming the annotation-attribute association.

15. The device of claim 14, wherein the search/index manager component is configured to determine a second user-defined annotation associated with the user interface widget based on the annotation information when the search phrase matches the annotation information forming the annotation-attribute association and the second user-defined annotation is included in the information provided in response to performing the query.

16. The device of claim 15, wherein the second user-defined annotation includes at least one of user-defined help text and an identifier of a second user interface widget related to the user interface widget of the application.

17. The device of claim 11, comprising an application program interface (API) enabling the search/index manager component to access an index of searchable information provided by the application, wherein the search/index manager component is further configured to use the API to:

determine a portion of the searchable information included in the index that matches the determined attribute included in the query; and

determine at least one of the portion of the searchable information and information indexed by the portion of searchable information as the information associated with the user interface widget.

18. The device of claim 17, wherein the index of searchable information is associated with at least one of a help function for providing information related to use of the user interface widget and a find function for providing information related to content included in the user interface widget.

19. The device of claim 17, wherein the search/index manager component is configured to:

determine at least one of a second application-defined attribute of the user interface widget and a second user-defined annotation previously associated with a user interface widget based on the determined at least one of the portion of the searchable information and information indexed by the portion of searchable information; and

perform a second query, including at least one of the second determined attribute and the second user-defined annotation, for retrieving additional information associated with the user interface widget;

wherein the additional information is included in the information provided in response to performing the query.

20. The device of claim 11, wherein the annotation user interface component is configured to present a search user interface widget including at least one of a link to and a displayable representation of one or more of:

the determined attribute of the user interface widget;

annotation information associated with the determined attribute;

at least one of a portion of searchable information included in an index provided by the application and information indexed by the portion of searchable information;

user-defined help text;

an identifier of a second user interface widget related to the user interface widget of the application; and

content included in the user interface widget.

21. A server for using annotated user interface widgets in search operations, the device comprising:

an annotation event monitor component configured to receive a search phrase related to a user-defined annotation previously associated with a user interface widget of an application;

a search/index manager component configured to determine an application-defined attribute of the user interface widget associated with the annotation based on the search phrase and to perform a query, including the determined attribute, for retrieving information associated with the user interface widget; and

a share manager component configured to provide the information associated with the user interface widget in response to performing the query.

22. Apparatus for using annotated user interface widgets in search operations, the apparatus comprising:

means for receiving a search phrase related to a user-defined annotation previously associated with a user interface widget of an application;

means for determining an application-defined attribute of the user interface widget associated with the annotation based on the search phrase;

means for performing a query, including the determined attribute, for retrieving information associated with the user interface widget; and

means for providing the information associated with the user interface widget in response to performing the query.

23. A computer readable medium containing a computer program, executable by a machine, for using annotated user interface widgets in search operations, the computer program comprising executable instructions for:

receiving a search phrase related to a user-defined annotation previously associated with a user interface widget of an application;

determining an application-defined attribute of the user interface widget associated with the annotation based on the search phrase;

performing a query, including the determined attribute, for retrieving information associated with the user interface widget; and

providing the information associated with the user interface widget in response to performing the query.