Pop-up definitions with hyperlinked terms within a non-internet and non-specifically-designed-for-help program

• US 6,209,006 B1
• Filed: 10/21/1997
• Issued: 03/27/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 10/21/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Chang, Jingwoan, Bennion, Lindsay Richard, Medl, Robert E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Feild, Joseph H.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Kindred, Alford W.
• Application Number:
  US08/954,850
• Time in Patent Office: 1,253 Days
• Field of Search: 707/501, 707/500, 707/513, 707/104, 707/532, 707/526, 345/146, 345/352-353, 345/347, 345/336-337, 345/302, 345/326
• US Class Current: 715/205
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/94 Hypermedia Hyperlinking G06F40/134
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/453 Help systems

Abstract

Hyperlinks within an application program interface enable selective, non-intrusive, recall of help functions, such as definitions of critical terms located within a textual or graphical interface panel. Elements of a user interface for an application program are predefined as help functions by the programmer or developer. These predefined help functions are then hyperlinked to the specified predefined element. When a user traverses the interface, highlighted elements corresponding to the predefined help functions may be selected by a mouse or mouse-type function. Upon selection of a highlighted hyperlinked element, a help window appears providing definitions, functional instructions, etc.

Claims

1. A computer-based method of embedding help functions directly into a program interface comprising:

selecting one or more elements within a program interface, said one or more elements including any of alphanumeric or interface objects visually appearing within one or more windows of said program interface;

providing one or more help functions for each of said selected elements, said help functions including any of definitions for alphanumeric text or descriptions of use for selected interface objects within said program interface;

storing said provided help functions in computer storage;

providing a hyperlink between said selected one or more elements and said associated help function located in said computer storage;

highlighting said one or more selected elements to visually indicate said available help functions;

creating a display window to retain said help function for each of said selected elements, and

wherein, upon selection of a highlighted element, said hyperlink retrieves said associated help function from said storage for display within said display window.

2. A computer-based method of extracting embedded help functions directly from a program interface as per claim 1, wherein said interface program is a data mining interface.

3. A computer-based method of extracting embedded help functions directly from a program interface as per claim 1, wherein said interface program contains embedded help functions for multiple windows.

4. A computer-based method of extracting embedded help functions directly from a program interface as per claim 3, wherein said multiple windows comprise a first instructional level window and a second data object level window.

5. A computer-based method of extracting embedded help functions directly from a program interface as per claim 4, wherein said help functions for each level windows are displayed separately.

6. A computer-based method of extracting embedded help functions directly from a program interface as per claim 3, wherein said program interface comprises a data mining interface.

7. A computer-based graphical user interface with an embedded help function comprising:

a plurality of development templates including one or more windows;

one or more alphanumeric sequences or graphical objects located within at least one of

said one or more windows;

highlighted selections located within said one or more alphanumeric sequences or graphical objects, said highlighted sections visually indicating that preselected additional information is available;

a hyperlink to said highlighted selections;

said preselected additional information comprising a help function definition associated with said highlighted sections, said help function definition stored in computer storage and accessible by said hyperlink, and

wherein said hyperlink enables retrieval of said help function definition by interactive selection of said highlighted sections.

8. A computer-based graphical user interface with embedded help function as per claim 7, wherein said graphical user interface is a data mining interface.

9. A computer-based graphical user interface with embedded help function as per claim 7, wherein said retrieved help function definitions for said highlighted selections in each of said one or more windows are displayed separately.

10. A computer-based graphical user interface with embedded help function as per claim 7, wherein said graphical user interface is not a direct Internet application.

11. A data mining computer-based product including a user interface with embedded help function comprising:

a plurality of data mining object development templates including one or more windows;

one or more alphanumeric sequences located within at least one of said one or more windows;

highlighted selections located within said one or more alphanumeric sequences;

a hyperlink to said highlighted selections;

a help function definition associated with said highlighted sections, and

wherein said hyperlink enables retrieval of said help function definition by interactive selection of said highlighted text.

12. A computer program product for use with a graphics display device, said computer program product comprising:

a computer usable medium having computer readable program code means included in said medium;

said computer readable program code means embodying;

a plurality of development templates including one or more windows;

one or more alphanumeric sequences located within at least one of said one or more windows;

highlighted selections located within said one or more alphanumeric sequences;

a hyperlink to said highlighted selections;

a help function definition associated with said highlighted sections, and

wherein said hyperlink enables retrieval of said help function definition by interactive selection of said highlighted text.

13. A computer program product for use with a graphics display device as per claim 12, wherein said graphical user interface is a data mining interface.

14. A computer program product for use with a graphics display device as per claim 12, wherein said graphical user interface is not a direct Internet application.