Method and apparatus for providing a help based window system using multiple access methods

• US 5,825,355 A
• Filed: 01/27/1993
• Issued: 10/20/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 01/27/1993
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Computer Incorporated (Apple Inc.)
• Inventors: Powers, John Richard III, Coleman, Patricia J., Palmer, James Edward, Cochran, Eli, Herman, Jeffrey Alan
• Primary Examiner(s): Breene, John E.
• Application Number:
  US08/010,063
• Time in Patent Office: 2,092 Days
• Field of Search: 395/155-161, 345/117-120
• US Class Current: 715/712
• 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 3/04855 Interaction with scrollbars
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04895 Guidance during keyboard input operation, e.g. prompting
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/453 Help systems
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 715/968 interface for database querying and retrieval
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 715/973 Scroll tool, e.g. window scroll bar
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 715/974 Slider control as on-screen object in operator interface

Abstract

The system includes at least one central processing unit (CPU) which is coupled through appropriate input/output (I/O) circuitry to input devices, such as a keyboard, digital pad, mouse and/or track ball. The CPU is coupled to a hard disk drive for the storage of programs and data, and may also be coupled to a network through which the CPU may communicate with a variety of other system resources and devices. The CPU is further coupled to a display device such as a CRT or liquid crystal display, on which the present invention is displayed. The user interface of the present invention includes an object oriented graphic user interface having overlapping windows. The present invention includes an access window having topics, index and look for button functions for selection by a user. Through the use of the topics, index or look for functions, a help inquiry is defined. The selection of one of the button functions results in the CPU generating and displaying entries in a predefined area of the access window. Upon the selection of one of the entries by a user, the CPU displays phrases related to the selected entry in a working area of the access window. The selection of one of the phrases results in the CPU displaying a presentation window on the display, which includes help instruction data to guide the user in the particular help task specified by the entry and phrase selection.

Claims

1. In a computer display system having a central processing unit (CPU) coupled to a display such that data is displayed on said display in windows, a method for instructing a user on how to perform operations using said CPU, the method comprising the steps of:

A. generating and displaying an access window on said display;

B. generating and displaying within said access window a first access function, a second access function, and a third access function;

C. performing the following steps upon selection of said first access function by a user

1) displaying a plurality of headings on said display, wherein each heading of said plurality of headings corresponds to a set of operations;

2) displaying a plurality of phrases on said display responsive to said user selecting one of said headings, wherein said selected heading corresponds to a first set of operations, wherein each of said plurality of phrases corresponds to an operation in said first set of operations;

3) displaying at least one presentation window that contains instruction data related to a selected phrase on said display in response to said user selecting one of said displayed phrases, said instruction data indicating how to perform the operation that corresponds to said selected phrase;

D. performing the following steps upon selection of said second access function by said user

1) displaying a search subwindow on said display;

2) receiving through user input a search word into said search subwindow;

3) receiving though user input a first signal to search for said search word;

4) displaying in said access window a plurality of phrases related to said search word, wherein each of said plurality of phrases corresponds to an operation in a second set of operations;

5) displaying at least one presentation window that contains instruction data related to a selected phrase on said display in response to said user selecting one of said displayed phrases, said instruction data indicating how to perform the operation that corresponds to said selected phrase;

E. performing the following steps upon selection of said third access function by said user

1) displaying an index window on said display, said index window having a scroll bar including;

a plurality of characters displayed along said scroll bar;

a slider which may be selectively positioned over at least a portion of each of said characters using slider positioning means coupled to said CPU;

2) displaying a plurality of headings that correspond to a desired character in response to receiving user input that positions said slider over a portion of said desired character;

3) displaying a plurality of phrases on said display responsive to said user selecting one of said headings, wherein said selected heading corresponds to a third set of operations, wherein each of said plurality of phrases corresponds to an operation in said third set of operations;

4) displaying at least one presentation window that contains instruction data related to a selected phrase on said display in response to said user selecting one of said displayed phrases, said instruction data indicating how to perform the operation that corresponds to said selected phrase.