Computing system having delayed keyboard shortcut hints
First Claim
1. A computer implemented method for providing help information to a user of a computing system comprising the following steps performed by the computing system:
- (a) detecting when a special key sequence remains selected for a predetermined length of time;
(b) when it is detected in step (a) that the special key sequence has remained selected for the predetermined length of time, performing the following substep;
(b.1) displaying information on shortcuts available for key combinations which include the special key sequence; and
,(c) performing a first shortcut when it is detected that the special key sequence is selected and before expiration of the predetermined length of time another key has been selected simultaneous to the special key sequence remaining selected.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Information about shortcuts available from a keyboard is provided to a user of a computing system. When a user selects a special key sequence and the special key sequence remains selected for a predetermined length of time, information on shortcuts available for key combinations which include the special key sequence is displayed. While the special key sequence remains selected for the predetermined length of time and the user presses an additional key, forming a new key combination, a help note for the new key combination is displayed. When the user places a cursor over a button for a history stack, the history stack is displayed. When the user places the cursor over an entry within the history stack or over an entry within the information originally displayed on shortcuts, a help note for the entry is displayed. Thus an entry for a particular function can simultaneously be displayed in a help note, a history stack and/or within the information on shortcuts originally displayed. The function is executed when a cursor is placed over any entry for the function and the user clicks a button on a pointing device.
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Citations
31 Claims
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1. A computer implemented method for providing help information to a user of a computing system comprising the following steps performed by the computing system:
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(a) detecting when a special key sequence remains selected for a predetermined length of time; (b) when it is detected in step (a) that the special key sequence has remained selected for the predetermined length of time, performing the following substep; (b.1) displaying information on shortcuts available for key combinations which include the special key sequence; and
,(c) performing a first shortcut when it is detected that the special key sequence is selected and before expiration of the predetermined length of time another key has been selected simultaneous to the special key sequence remaining selected. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A computer implemented method for providing help information to a user of a computing system comprising the following steps performed by the computing system:
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(a) detecting when a special key sequence remains selected for a predetermined length of time; (b) when it is detected in step (a) that the special key sequence has remained selected for the predetermined length of time, performing the following substeps; (b.1) displaying information on shortcuts available for key combinations which include the special key sequence (b.2) detecting when the user presses an additional key in addition to the special key sequence remaining selected, the additional key plus the special key sequence forming a new key combination; and
,(b.3) when it is detected in substep (b.2) that the user has pressed the additional key in addition to the special key sequence remaining selected, displaying a help note for the new key combination. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A computing system comprising:
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a keyboard, having a plurality of keys; a pointing and selecting device, having a selection button; detecting means for detecting when a special key sequence remains selected for a predetermined length of time, the special key sequence including the selection button or at least one key from the plurality of keys; display means for displaying information on shortcuts available for key combinations which include the special key sequence, the display means displaying the information on shortcuts when the detecting means detects that the special key sequence has remained selected for the predetermined length of time; and
,execution means for performing a first shortcut when it is detected that the special key sequence is selected and before expiration of the predetermined length of time another key has been selected simultaneous to the special key sequence remaining selected. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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29. A computing system comprising:
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a keyboard, having a plurality of keys; a pointing and selecting device, having a selection button; detecting means for detecting when a special key sequence remains selected for a predetermined length of time, the special key sequence including the selection button or at least one key from the plurality of keys; and
,display means for displaying information on shortcuts available for key combinations which include the special key sequence, the display means displaying the information on shortcuts when the detecting means detects that the special key sequence has remained selected for the predetermined length of time; wherein the detecting means is additionally for detecting when the user presses an additional key in addition to the special key sequence remaining selected, the additional key plus the special key sequence forming a new key combination; and
,wherein the display means is additionally for displaying a help note for the new key combination, when the detecting means detects that the user has pressed the additional key in addition to the special key sequence remaining selected.
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30. A help system that provides information about shortcuts available from a keyboard comprising:
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detecting means for detecting when a special key sequence on the keyboard remains selected for a predetermined length of time; display means for displaying information on shortcuts available for key combinations which include the special key sequence, the display means displaying the information on shortcuts when the detecting means detects that the special key sequence has remained selected for a predetermined length of time; and
,execution means for performing a first shortcut when it is detected that the special key sequence is selected and before expiration of the predetermined length of time another key has been selected simultaneous to the special key sequence remaining selected.
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31. A help system that provides information about shortcuts available from a keyboard comprising:
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detecting means for detecting when a special key sequence on the keyboard remains selected for a predetermined length of time; display means for displaying information on shortcuts available for key combinations which include the special key sequence, the display means displaying the information on shortcuts when the detecting means detects that the special key sequence has remained selected for a predetermined length of time; wherein the detecting means is additionally for detecting when the user presses an additional key in addition to the special key sequence remaining selected, the additional key plus the special key sequence forming a new key combination; and
,wherein the display means is additionally for displaying a help note for the new key combination, when the detecting means detects that the user has pressed the additional key in addition to the special key sequence remaining selected.
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Specification