Graphical user interface including hyperlinks in a help message dialog box

• US 6,628,311 B1
• Filed: 02/03/2000
• Issued: 09/30/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 02/03/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Ricoh Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Ricoh Company Limited
• Inventors: Fang, Chi
• Primary Examiner(s): Cabeca, John
• Assistant Examiner(s): BECKER, SHAWN M
• Application Number:
  US09/497,155
• Time in Patent Office: 1,335 Days
• Field of Search: 345/715, 345/708, 345/709, 345/710, 345/711, 345/712, 345/714, 345/771, 345/777, 345/804, 345/808
• US Class Current: 715/777
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/453 Help systems

Abstract

A graphical user interface including hyperlinked help messages embedded within a help dialog. When the hyperlink help message is selected, a computer program product which selects an appropriate tab is executed. The respective tab corresponds to a possible reason why the deactivated display control is deactivated. The computer program product also highlights a respective display control included in the selected tab, which corresponds to the possible reason why the deactivated display control is deactivated.

Claims

1. A graphical user interface, comprising:

a plurality of tabs contained within a same parent window, each tab including a plurality of display controls configured to provide a user with control options for controlling an auxiliary device, said plurality of display controls having interdependencies among different display controls; and

a help icon corresponding to a deactivated display control of the plurality of display controls and configured to display a help dialog including a plurality of hyperlink help messages,

wherein the plurality of hyperlink help messages are configured to execute a computer program product which selects a respective tab from the plurality of tabs contained with the same parent window when a corresponding hyperlink help message is selected, said respective tab including a display control corresponding to a possible reason why a deactivated display control is deactivated,

wherein the computer program product automatically highlights said respective display control included in said respective tab corresponding to the possible reason why the deactivated display control is deactivated, and

wherein the computer program product moves the respective tab including the respective display control in front of the other plurality of tabs when the respective tab including the respective display control is hidden from view by the other plurality of tabs such that the user may toggle between the plurality of tabs by selecting different hyperlink messages included in the plurality of hyperlink messages.

2. The graphical user interface according to claim 1, wherein the auxiliary device is one of a printer, a scanner, and a facsimile.

3. The graphical user interface according to claim 1, wherein the help dialog remains active until one of a CANCEL push button and an OK push button corresponding to the help dialog is selected.

4. The graphical user interface according to claim 1, wherein the help icon comprises a balloon-shape.

5. The graphical user interface according to claim 1, wherein the at least one hyperlink is at least one of 1) highlighted and 2) underlined.

6. The graphical user interface according to claim 1, wherein only the same parent window and the help dialog are displayed when each of the plurality of hyperlinks is selected.

7. A computer program product, comprising:

a driver configured to control an auxiliary device; and

a graphical user including;

a plurality of tabs contained within a same parent window, each tab including a plurality of display controls configured to provide a user with control options for controlling the auxiliary device, said plurality of display controls having interdependencies among different display controls; and

a help icon corresponding to a deactivated display control of the plurality of display controls and configured to display a help dialog including a plurality of hyperlink help messages,

wherein the plurality of hyperlink help messages are configured to execute computer instructions for selecting a respective tab from the plurality of tabs contained within the same parent window when a corresponding hyperlink help message is selected, said respective tab including a display control corresponding to a possible reason why a deactivated display control is deactivated,

wherein the corresponding hyperlink message is configured to execute computer instructions for automatically highlighting said respective display control included in the respective tab corresponding to the possible reason why the deactivated display control is deactivated, and

wherein the corresponding hyperlink message is configured to execute computer instructions to move the respective tab including the respective display control in front of the other plurality of tabs when the respective tab including the respective display control is hidden from view by the other plurality of tabs such that the user may toggle between the plurality of tabs by selecting different hyperlink messages included in the plurality of hyperlink messages.

8. The computer program product according to claim 7, wherein the auxiliary device is one of a printer, a scanner and a facsimile.

9. The computer program product according to claim 7, wherein the help dialog remains active until one of a CANCEL push button and an OK push button corresponding to the help dialog is selected.

10. The computer program product according to claim 7, wherein the help icon comprises a balloon-shape.

11. The computer program product according to claim 7, wherein the at least one hyperlink is at least one of 1) highlighted and 2) underlined.

12. The computer program product according to claim 8, wherein only the same parent window and the help dialog are displayed when each of the plurality of hyperlinks is selected.

13. A method of controlling an auxiliary device through a graphical user interface, comprising the steps of:

selecting a help icon corresponding to a deactivated display control of the graphical user interface, said graphical user interface including a plurality of tabs contained within a same parent window, each tab including a plurality of display controls configured to provide a user with control options for controlling an auxiliary device, said plurality of display controls having interdependencies among different display controls; and

selecting a corresponding hyperlink help message from a plurality of hyperlink messages included in a help dialog displayed when the help icon is selected,

wherein the plurality of hyperlink help messages are configured to execute a computer program product which selects a respective tab from the plurality of tabs contained within the same parent window, said respective tab including a display control corresponding to a possible reason why a deactivated display control is deactivated,

wherein the computer program product automatically highlights said respective display control included in the respective tab corresponding to the possible reason why the deactivated display control is deactivated, and

wherein the computer program product moves the respective tab including the respective display control in front of the other plurality of tabs when the respective tab including the respective display control is hidden from view by the other plurality of tabs such that the user may toggle between the plurality of tabs by selecting different hyperlink messages included in the plurality of hyperlink messages.

14. The method according to claim 13, wherein the auxiliary device is one of a printer, a scanner and a facsimile.

15. The method according to claim 13, wherein the help dialog remains active until one of a CANCEL push button and an OK push button corresponding to the help dialog is selected.

16. The method according to claim 13, wherein the at least one hyperlink is at least one of 1) highlighted and 2) underlined.

17. The method according to claim 15, wherein only the same parent window and the help dialog are displayed when each of the plurality of hyperlinks is selected.