Method and system for access of online information
First Claim
1. A computer system in which help information relating to a program is provided to a user, comprising:
- a user-selectable feature for requesting information; and
a window responsive to activation of said user-selectable feature, the window comprising a user-selectable device for controlling said information displayed in said window, a toolbar pane, a navigational pane, and an HTML pane for displaying help information for the program, the help information being contained in HTML files store separately from the program.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A system and method for providing improved access to online help information is provided in a computer system. A component of Internet browser software is used to implement improved help which can take advantage of HTML links to information via the Internet. A navigational window pane and a HTML window pane are provided in a single window. A Hide/Show button allows the user to delete the navigational window pane or to simultaneously display it along with the HTML window pane. Once a user selects a topic in the navigational window pane, the corresponding content information is displayed in the HTML window pane. A help tab is embedded in a program to facilitate easy switching between help and the program. In addition, a help button is used to provide a context-sensitive embedded help window which tracks the user'"'"'s activities. Calculations are performed for automatically sizing window panes in response to the Hide/Show button.
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Citations
37 Claims
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1. A computer system in which help information relating to a program is provided to a user, comprising:
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a user-selectable feature for requesting information; and
a window responsive to activation of said user-selectable feature, the window comprising a user-selectable device for controlling said information displayed in said window, a toolbar pane, a navigational pane, and an HTML pane for displaying help information for the program, the help information being contained in HTML files store separately from the program. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
upon activation of said hide function of said hide/show button, said toolbar pane is reformatted to fit directly over said HTML pane.
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11. A computer system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said HTML pane also displays HTML links and said separately stored HTML files are accessed via universal resource locators.
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12. A computer system as claimed in claim 1 wherein said HTML pane also displays HTML links.
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13. A computer system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said separately stored HTML files are accessed via universal resource locators.
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14. A computer system as claimed in claim 1, wherein an item selected in said navigational pane is synchronized to said help information displayed in said HTML pane.
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15. A computer system as claimed in claim 14 wherein selections made in said navigational pane by a user are stored and retrieved.
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16. A computer system as claimed in claim 14 wherein said help information displayed in said HTML pane is retrieved from the Internet.
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17. A computer system as claimed in claim 14 wherein said help information displayed in said HTML pane is retrieved from local storage.
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18. A computer system as claimed in claim 14 wherein said help information displayed in said HTML pane is retrieved from a CD-ROM.
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19. A computer system as claimed in claim 1 wherein said navigational pane is deleted when the HTML pane is activated by a user.
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20. A computer system as claimed in claim 1 wherein said window is embedded within the program.
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21. A computer system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the window further comprises a sizing pane.
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22. A computer system as claimed in claim 21 wherein said sizing pane is provided between said navigational pane and said HTML pane.
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23. A computer system as claimed in claim 1, wherein activation of said user-selectable device causes a first pane in said window to close and a second pane in said window to expand.
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24. A computer system as claimed in claim 23 wherein said first pane is the navigational pane and said second pane is the HTML pane.
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25. A computer system as claimed in claim 1 wherein a navigational expansion is maintained.
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26. A computer system as claimed in claim 1 wherein said information is embedded within a dialog box.
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27. A method for providing a user with help information relating to a program in a computer system, said method comprising:
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providing a button for accessing information;
providing a window responsive to activation of said button by said user, said window comprising a toolbar pane, the toolbar pane having a hide/show button for controlling information displayed in said window, a navigational pane, and an HTML pane for displaying help information relating to the program, the help information being contained in HTML files stored separately from the program.
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28. In a computer system having a graphical user interface comprising a display and a user interface selection device, a method of providing a user with help information comprising the steps of:
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opening a window in response to a use of said user interface selection device, said window comprising a navigational pane, an HTML pane for displaying help information for a program, the help information being contained in HTML files stored separately from the program, and a hide/show button;
closing said navigational pane in response to activation of a hide portion of said hide/show button by said user interface selection device; and
opening said navigational pane in response to activation of a show portion of said hide/show button by said user interface selection device.
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29. A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions for performing the following steps:
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creating a window for providing help information, said window comprising a toolbar pane, a navigational pane and an HTML pane for displaying help information for a software application that is contained in HTML files stored separately from the software application;
providing user-selectable means for controlling display of said help information; and
determining whether or not to display a navigational pane in said window for providing help information. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36)
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37. A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions for performing the following steps:
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creating a dialog template containing a plurality of tabs and a tab control;
creating a dialog procedure for at least one of said tabs;
creating a help window definition; and
embedding HTML information within said help window definition.
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Specification