Lightweight reference user interface
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method of providing information associated with a selected item in an electronic document, comprising:
- receiving a selection of one of a text item, a display item, and a selectable object that is contained in an electronic document displayed in a first user interface of an application for processing the electronic document;
passing data representing the selected item to an information source;
at the information source, parsing a data source for information associated with the selection;
returning the information associated with the selection, wherein the information is commonly presented by another application;
if the information associated with the selection is received from more than one information source, displaying the information in a second lightweight user interface in a plurality of sections, where information from a first information source is displayed in a first section, and where information from a second information source is displayed in a second section;
prioritizing the plurality of sections of information according to a preferred display orientation, where a most preferred section is displayed in a first orientation and a least preferred section is displayed in a second orientation, wherein the first orientation has a size that is larger than the second orientation and the second orientation comprises;
a full display orientation that displays all of the least preferred section when available display space in the second lightweight user interface allows for full display of both the most preferred section and the least preferred section;
a truncated display orientation that truncates a portion of the least preferred section so that only a portion of the information that will fit in the available display space provided in the second lightweight user interface is displayed if all of the information associated with the selection will not fit in an available display space provided in the second lightweight user interface; and
a collapsed orientation that prevents viewing of the least preferred section when available display space in the second lightweight user interface disallows for full display of both the most preferred section and the least preferred section, wherein selection of a selectable control of the collapsed section causes display of the least preferred information and simultaneously causes collapse of the presently displayed information to prevent viewing of the information of the most preferred section;
displaying the second lightweight user interface over the first user interface in proximity to the selection; and
displaying the information associated with the selection in the second lightweight user interface without activating a third user interface for the other application.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A lightweight information user interface is provided for displaying information about a selected text item, data item or other object in an electronic document that minimizes interruption of workflow with the electronic document. Upon selection of an item in an electronic document a quick look-up function may be invoked for retrieving information from a local or remote information source about the selected item. Retrieved information, for example, dictionary definitions, translations, contacts information and research information, is displayed in close proximity to the selected item in a lightweight user interface.
698 Citations
12 Claims
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1. A method of providing information associated with a selected item in an electronic document, comprising:
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receiving a selection of one of a text item, a display item, and a selectable object that is contained in an electronic document displayed in a first user interface of an application for processing the electronic document; passing data representing the selected item to an information source; at the information source, parsing a data source for information associated with the selection; returning the information associated with the selection, wherein the information is commonly presented by another application; if the information associated with the selection is received from more than one information source, displaying the information in a second lightweight user interface in a plurality of sections, where information from a first information source is displayed in a first section, and where information from a second information source is displayed in a second section; prioritizing the plurality of sections of information according to a preferred display orientation, where a most preferred section is displayed in a first orientation and a least preferred section is displayed in a second orientation, wherein the first orientation has a size that is larger than the second orientation and the second orientation comprises; a full display orientation that displays all of the least preferred section when available display space in the second lightweight user interface allows for full display of both the most preferred section and the least preferred section; a truncated display orientation that truncates a portion of the least preferred section so that only a portion of the information that will fit in the available display space provided in the second lightweight user interface is displayed if all of the information associated with the selection will not fit in an available display space provided in the second lightweight user interface; and a collapsed orientation that prevents viewing of the least preferred section when available display space in the second lightweight user interface disallows for full display of both the most preferred section and the least preferred section, wherein selection of a selectable control of the collapsed section causes display of the least preferred information and simultaneously causes collapse of the presently displayed information to prevent viewing of the information of the most preferred section; displaying the second lightweight user interface over the first user interface in proximity to the selection; and displaying the information associated with the selection in the second lightweight user interface without activating a third user interface for the other application. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A computer readable storage medium with computer executable instructions encoded thereon, which when executed by a computer perform a method of providing information associated with a selected item in an electronic document, the instructions comprising:
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receiving a selection of one of a text item, a display item, and a selectable object that is contained in an electronic document displayed in a first user interface of an application for processing the electronic document; passing data representing the selected item to a recognizer module for determining whether the selection corresponds to a given data type; if the selection corresponds to a given data type, passing the data representing the selection to an information source containing information associated with the given data type; at the information source, parsing a data source for information associated with the selection, wherein the information is commonly presented by another application; returning information associated with the selection that is further associated with the given data type; if the information associated with the selection is received from more than one information source, displaying the information in a second lightweight user interface in a plurality of sections, where information from a first information source is displayed in a first section, and where information from a second information source is displayed in a second section; prioritizing the plurality of sections of information according to a preferred display orientation, where a most preferred section is displayed in a first orientation and a least preferred section is displayed in a second orientation, wherein the first orientation has a size that is larger than the second orientation and the second orientation comprises; a full display orientation that displays all of the least preferred section when available display space in the second lightweight user interface allows for full display of both the most preferred section and the least preferred section; a truncated display orientation that truncates a portion of the least preferred section so that only a portion of the information that will fit in the available display space provided in the second lightweight user interface is displayed if all of the information associated with the selection will not fit in an available display space provided in the second lightweight user interface; and a collapsed orientation that prevents viewing of the least preferred section when available display space in the second lightweight user interface disallows for full display of both the most preferred section and the least preferred section, wherein selection of a selectable control of the collapsed section causes display of the least preferred information and simultaneously causes collapse of the presently displayed information to prevent viewing of the information of the most preferred section; displaying the second lightweight user interface about the first user interface in proximity to the selection through one of;
automatic deployment, user selection from a menu, and user selection through a keyboard accelerator combination; anddisplaying the information associated with the selected item in the second lightweight user interface without activating a third user interface for the other application.
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12. A computer readable storage medium with computer executable instructions encoded thereon, which when executed by a computer perform a method of providing information associated with a selected item in an electronic document, the instructions comprising:
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receiving a selection of one of a text item, a display item, and a selectable object that is contained in an electronic document displayed in a first user interface of an application for processing the electronic document, wherein the first user interface includes a toolbar comprising of a plurality of selectable controls for providing functionality in use with the selection, including a tools control, a buttons control, and controls control, and wherein the first user interface further includes a drop-down menu comprising of a plurality of selectable functions for application to the selection, including a cut function, a copy function, a paste function, and a lookup function that when selected presents a pop-up menu comprising a quick look function and a research function; querying a plurality of data sources for information associated with the selection, wherein the information is commonly presented by another application; activating an automatically expandable second lightweight user interface about the first user interface in proximity to the selection through one of;
automatic deployment, user selection from a menu, and user selection through a keyboard accelerator combination; andif the information associated with the selection is received from more than one source; displaying the information in the user interface in a plurality of sections without activating a third user interface for the other application, where information from a first data source is displayed in a first section and where information from a second data source is displayed in a second section; and prioritizing the plurality of sections of information according to a preferred display orientation, where a most preferred section is displayed in a first orientation and a least preferred section is displayed in a second orientation, wherein the first orientation has a size that is larger than the second orientation and the second orientation comprises;
second orientation comprises;a full display orientation that displays all of the least preferred section when available display space in the second lightweight user interface allows for full display of both the most preferred section and the least preferred section; a truncated display orientation that truncates a portion of the least preferred section so that only a portion of the information that will fit in the available display space provided in the second lightweight user interface is displayed if all of the information associated with the selection will not fit in an available display space provided in the second lightweight user interface; and a collapsed orientation that prevents viewing of the least preferred section when available display space in the second lightweight user interface disallows for full display of both the most preferred section and the least preferred section, wherein selection of a selectable control of the collapsed section causes display of the least preferred information and simultaneously causes collapse of the presently displayed information to prevent viewing of the information of the most preferred section.
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Specification