User interface for efficiently browsing an electronic document using data-driven tabs

• US 8,069,405 B1
• Filed: 11/19/2001
• Issued: 11/29/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 11/19/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Monterey Research, LLC (Vector Capital Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Cypress Semiconductor Corporation (Infineon Technologies AG)
• Inventors: Bartz, Manfred, Zhaksilikov, Marat, Anderson, Doug
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Maikhanh
• Application Number:
  US09/989,765
• Time in Patent Office: 3,662 Days
• Field of Search: 715/501.1, 715/764, 715/781, 715/503, 715200-201, 715203-204, 715/215, 715/234, 715/700, 715/728, 715/731, 715/750, 715/205, 715/212, 715/226, 715/244, 715/246, 715/273, 715/735, 715/738, 715/760, 715/762, 715/763, 715/765, 715/766, 715/767, 715/783, 715/784, 715/785, 715/786, 716 1- 3, 716/7, 716/17, 716/18
• US Class Current: 715/205
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 30/30 Circuit design

Abstract

A method and system for helping a user efficiently browse an electronic document using data-driven tabs. A datasheet providing technical details of a corresponding user module is scanned for indicators (e.g., embedded anchors), wherein a user module is a pre-configured circuit design operating on a microcontroller. The indicators are for indicating a predetermined location within the datasheet. The datasheet description is read and graphic elements (e.g., tabs) are automatically rendered for each corresponding indicator, wherein a graphic element is rendered according to information within the indicator. Interacting with one of the graphic elements allows a user to jump to a predetermined location within the datasheet. The graphic elements are operable for efficient navigation of the datasheet, allowing for a large datasheet to be easily viewed in a small area of a display.

Claims

1. A method for facilitating the display of information of an electronic document for a selected pre-configured function, said method comprising:

rendering a workspace in a graphical user interface, said workspace comprises a first window for displaying information of said electronic document, a second window for a catalog of available pre-configured functions operating on a microcontroller, and a third window for a histogram of available resources of said microcontroller;

after said rendering said workspace, receiving said selected pre-configured function;

after said receiving, automatically rendering said information of said electronic document in said first window of said workspace, said electronic document corresponding to said selected pre-configured function;

scanning for anchors embedded within said electronic document, said embedded anchors not displayed in the first window, wherein each of said embedded anchors specifies a predetermined location within said electronic document and each of said embedded anchors includes a predetermined descriptive label corresponding to information stored at the predetermined location;

in response to said scanning, automatically rendering, within said workspace a graphic element for each embedded anchor, wherein said graphic element is rendered with the descriptive label according to information within said embedded anchor; and

in response to the graphic element corresponding to the embedded anchor being selected, displaying in the first window the information stored at the predetermined location corresponding to the embedded anchor.

2. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein said workspace comprises a fourth window for a schematic of said selected pre-configured function.

3. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein said electronic document in a datasheet providing technical details of said selected pre-configured function.

4. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein said electronic document is an HTML document.

5. The method as recited in claim 4 wherein said embedded indicators are embedded HTML anchors.

6. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein said electronic document is an XML document.

7. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein said workspace comprises a fourth window for listing any pre-configured functions selected from said second window.

8. The method as recited in claim 7 wherein said workspace comprises a fifth window for a schematic of said selected pre-configures function.

9. The computer-readable storage medium as recited in claim 7 wherein said workspace comprises a fifth window for listing any pre-configured functions selected from said second window.

10. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein said graphic element is rendered adjacent to said electronic document.

11. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein an interaction with a scroll bar of said first window activates a graphic element upon passing a corresponding embedded indicator of said graphic element, such that current location on said electronic document is rendered.

12. A computer system comprising:

a bus;

a display device coupled to said bus;

a memory unit coupled to said bus, and

a processor coupled to said bus, said processor for executing a method for facilitating the display of information of an electronic document for a selected pre-configured function, said method comprising;

rendering a workspace in a graphical user interface, said workspace comprises a first window for displaying information of said electronic document, a second window for a catalog of available pre-configured functions operating on a microcontroller, and a third window for a histogram of available resources of said microcontroller;

after said rendering said workspace, receiving said selected pre-configured function;

after said receiving, automatically rendering said information of said electronic document in said first window of said workspace, said electronic document corresponding to said selected pre-configured function;

scanning for anchors embedded within said electronic document, said embedded anchors not displayed in the first window, wherein each of said embedded anchors specifies a predetermined location within said electronic document and each of said embedded anchors includes a predetermined descriptive label corresponding to information stored at the predetermined location;

in response to said scanning, automatically rendering within said workspace a graphic element for each embedded anchor, wherein said graphic element is rendered with the descriptive label according to information within said embedded anchor; and

in response to the graphic element corresponding to the embedded anchor being selected, displaying in the first window the information stored at the predetermined location corresponding to the embedded anchor.

13. The computer system as recited in claim 12 wherein said workspace comprises a fourth window for a schematic of said selected pre-configured function.

14. The computer system as recited in claim 12 wherein said electronic document is a datasheet providing technical details of said selected pre-configured function.

15. The computer system as recited in claim 12 wherein said electronic document is an HTML document.

16. The computer system as recited in claim 15 wherein said embedded indicators are embedded HTML anchors.

17. The computer system as recited in claim 12 wherein said electronic document is an XML document.

18. The computer system as recited in claim 12 wherein said workspace comprises a fourth window for listing any pre-configured functions selected from said second window.

19. The computer system as recited in claim 18 wherein said workspace comprises a fifth window for schematic of said selected pre-configured function.

20. The computer system as recited in claim 12 wherein said graphic element is rendered adjacent to said electronic document.

21. The computer system as recited in claim 12 wherein an interaction with a scroll bar for scrolling through said electronic document activates a graphic element upon passing a corresponding embedded indicator of said graphic element, such that a current location on said electronic document is rendered.

22. A computer readable storage medium having computer-readable program code embodied therein for causing a computer system to perform a method for facilitating the display of information of an electronic document for a selected pre-configured function, said method comprising:

rendering a workspace in a graphical user interface, said workspace comprises a first window for displaying information of said electronic document, a second window for a catalog of available pre-configured functions operating on a microcontroller, and a third window for a histogram of available resources of said microcontroller;

after said rendering said workspace, receiving said selected pre-configured function;

after said receiving, automatically rendering said information of said electronic document in said first window of said workspace, said electronic document corresponding to said selected pre-configured function;

scanning for anchors embedded within said electronic document, said embedded anchors not displayed in the first window, wherein each of said embedded anchors specifies a predetermined location within said electronic document and each of said embedded anchors includes a predetermined descriptive label corresponding to information stored at the predetermined location;

in response to said scanning, automatically rendering within said workspace a graphic element for each embedded anchor, wherein said graphic element is rendered with the descriptive label according to information within said embedded anchor; and

in response to the graphic element corresponding to the embedded anchor being selected, displaying in the first window the information stored at the predetermined location corresponding to the embedded anchor.

23. The computer-readable storage medium as recited in claim 22 wherein said workspace comprises a fourth window for listing any pre-configured functions selected from said second window.

24. The computer-readable storage medium as recited in claim 22 wherein said electronic document is a datasheet providing technical details of said selected pre-configured function.

25. The computer-readable storage medium as recited in claim 22 wherein said electronic document is an HTML document.

26. The computer-readable storage medium as recited in claim 22 wherein said embedded indicators are embedded HTML anchors.

27. The computer-readable storage medium as recited in claim 22 wherein said electronic document is an XML document.

28. The computer-readable storage medium as recited in claim 22 wherein said workspace comprises a fourth window for a schematic of said selected pre-configured function.

29. The computer-readable storage medium as recited in claim 22 wherein said graphic element is rendered adjacent to said electronic document.

30. The computer-readable storage medium as recited in claim 22 wherein an interaction with a scroll bar of said first window for scrolling through said electronic document activates a graphic element upon passing its corresponding embedded indicator, such that a current location on said electronic document is rendered.