Patent · US Active

Help functionality and graphical user interface applications

US8001470B1 · kind B1 · utility

20Cited by
14References
18Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateApr 9, 2007
Grant dateAug 16, 2011
Priority date
Expiry dateMay 15, 2030

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG06F9/453
  • WIPO fieldComputer technology
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A computer system executes a host application that generates a graphical user interface for display on a respective user's display screen. In addition to executing the host application, the computer system (or other computer) provides an environment for executing a so-called help agent (e.g., a plug-in module) associated with the host application. The help agent can initiate display of a help window along with a graphical user interface displayed by the host application. Depending on the embodiment, the help agent can provide one or more functions such as retrieval and display of help information links in the help window to different types of help information, application of commands to the graphical user interface application via input with respect to the help window, and viewing of application hint information in the help window.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.