Providing contextually sensitive tools and help content in computer-generated documents

• US 8,706,708 B2
• Filed: 10/26/2007
• Issued: 04/22/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 06/06/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Reynar, Jeff, Broman, Paul, Yap, Joe Keng
• Primary Examiner(s): Boccio, Vincent F
• Application Number:
  US11/924,856
• Publication Number:
  US 20080046812A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,370 Days
• Field of Search: 707/803, 707/805, 707/705, 715/234, 715/762, 715/760, 715/779
• US Class Current: 707/705
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/45512 Command shells
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99943 Generating database or data structure, e.g. via user interface

Abstract

A method and system are provided for creation, implementation, and use of computer-generated “smart” documents to which functionality is attached for providing contextually sensitive tools, controls and help content to users of those documents. Portions of documents are annotated with Extensible Markup Language (XML) tags and structure so that when a user enters those portions, such as by placing a computer cursor in those portions, the user is provided contextually sensitive tools, controls and/or help content. A document tools pane may open on the user'"'"'s computer screen adjacent to the document being edited for providing the document tools, controls or help content related to the context of the text or data in which the cursor is located. If the user moves the cursor to another portion of the document, the user may obtain information associated with the context of the new portion of the document in which the cursor is located.

Claims

1. A method for providing contextually sensitive functionality to a computer-generated document, the method comprising:

attaching an Extensible Markup Language (XML) schema to the document defining at least one of the following;

permissible data content, data type and data structure for the document;

annotating particular portions of the document with XML elements;

associating a solution with a portion of the document, wherein the solution comprises at least one of the following;

a document control and a document action associated with content of the document;

assembling a plurality of software components for providing the solution to the document; and

providing a contextually sensitive user interface upon a user selecting the portion of the document for editing document content within the portion of the document, the contextually sensitive user interface providing at least one of the following;

the document control and the document action configured to be employed in editing the document content, wherein providing the contextually sensitive user interface comprises providing a contextual sensitive user interface having editable elements, the editable elements enabling a user to edit textual content within the document.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein providing the contextually sensitive user interface comprises:

providing the contextually sensitive user interface for displaying the solution, and

displaying the solution in the contextually sensitive user interface.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein assembling the plurality of software components comprises retrieving a software component from a remote location in a distributed computing environment.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein annotating portions of the document with the XML elements comprises annotating the XML elements so as to be with one of a plurality of text strings and a plurality of data elements within the document.

5. A method for providing contextually sensitive functionality to a computer-generated document, the method comprising:

attaching an Extensible Markup Language (XML) schema to the document defining data structure for the document;

structuring the document to associate the document with the XML schema;

associating a solution with the document structure, wherein the solution comprises at least one of the following;

a document control and a document action associated with editing document content;

assembling a plurality of software components for providing the solution to the document;

receiving a request for the solution; and

providing the solution in a contextually sensitive user interface for the document, the contextually sensitive user interface providing the solution to assist a user in editing the document content, wherein providing the contextually sensitive user interface comprises providing a contextual sensitive user interface having editable elements, the editable elements enabling a user to edit textual content within the document.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein receiving the request for the solution comprises receiving a selection of a portion of the document.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein assembling the plurality of software components comprises retrieving a software component from a remote location in a distributed computing environment.

8. The method of claim 5, wherein attaching the XML schema to the document comprises attaching the XML schema to the document wherein the XML elements are associated with one of a plurality of text strings and a plurality of data elements within the document.

9. A computer-readable storage device that stores a set of instructions which when executed perform a method for providing contextually sensitive functionality to a computer-generated document, the method executed by the set of instructions comprising:

attaching an Extensible Markup Language (XML) schema to the document defining permissible data content to be edited within the document;

structuring the document to associate the document with the XML schema by annotating particular portions of the document with XML elements;

associating a solution with the document structure, wherein the solution comprises at least one of the following;

at least one document control and at least one document action associated with editing the data content of the document within the permissible data content definition;

assembling a plurality of software components for providing the solution to the document; and

providing a contextually sensitive user interface upon a user selecting a portion of the document, the contextually sensitive user interface being configured to provide the solution to assist a user in editing the data content of the document with the solution, wherein providing the contextually sensitive user interface comprises providing a contextual sensitive user interface having editable elements, the editable elements enabling a user to edit textual content within the document.

10. The computer-readable storage device of claim 9, further comprising:

launching the contextually sensitive user interface for displaying each document action obtained for use by the document; and

displaying each document action in the contextually sensitive user interface.

11. The computer-readable storage device of claim 9, wherein assembling the plurality of software components comprises retrieving a software component from a remote location in a distributed computing environment.

12. The computer-readable storage device of claim 9, wherein attaching the XML schema to the document comprises attaching the XML schema to the document wherein the XML elements are associated with one of a plurality of text strings and a plurality of data elements within the document.