Kathleen A Harper

US Patent:

6456303, Sep 24, 2002

Filed:

Feb 9, 1998

Appl. No.:

09/020259

Inventors:

Ralph E. Walden - Redmond WA
Kathleen K. Harper - Kent WA

Assignee:

Microsoft Corporation - Redmond WA

International Classification:

G06F 300

US Classification:

345705, 345712, 345760, 345788

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 users activities. Calculations are performed for automatically sizing window panes in response to the Hide/Show button.

US Patent:

20020054123, May 9, 2002

Filed:

Feb 9, 1998

Appl. No.:

09/020342

Inventors:

RALPH E. WALDEN - REDMOND WA, US
KATHLEEN K. HARPER - KENT WA, US

International Classification:

G06F013/00

US Classification:

345/781000

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. In addition, the navigational window pane can automatically hide when a user selects any item outside of the help window. Similarly, the navigational window pane is can be automatically restored when the user reselects the help window.