公开(公告)号：US5828374A

公开(公告)日：1998-10-27

申请号：US818288

申请日：1997-03-14

申请人： Patricia J. Coleman ,  James Edward Palmer ,  Matthew Justin Powers ,  Jeffrey Alan Herman ,  Eli Cochran ,  John Richard Powers, III

发明人： Patricia J. Coleman ,  James Edward Palmer ,  Matthew Justin Powers ,  Jeffrey Alan Herman ,  Eli Cochran ,  John Richard Powers, III

IPC分类号： G06F3/033 ,  G06F3/048 ,  G06F9/44 ,  G06F3/00

CPC分类号： G06F3/04855 ,  G06F3/04847 ,  G06F9/4446 ,  Y10S715/973 ,  Y10S715/974

摘要： An object oriented graphic user interface having overlapping windows and an access window having topics, index and look for button functions may be selected by the user. Through the use of the topics, index, or look for functions, a help inquiry is defined. The access window includes an alpha scroll bar horizontally spanning a defined area of the access window. Characters are displayed along the length of the alpha scroll bar and a slider is provided which may be selectively positioned over a character displayed on the alpha scroll bar. The placement of the slider over a character on the alpha scroll bar results in the CPU displaying help data entries corresponding to the selected character.

摘要翻译： 具有重叠窗口的面向对象的图形用户界面和具有按钮功能的主题，索引和外观的访问窗口可由用户选择。 通过使用主题，索引或查找功能，定义帮助查询。 访问窗口包括水平跨越访问窗口的定义区域的字母滚动条。 字符沿着阿尔法滚动条的长度显示，并且提供了可以选择性地定位在字母滚动条上显示的字符上的滑块。 滑块在Alpha滚动条上的一个字符上的放置导致CPU显示与所选字符相对应的帮助数据条目。

公开(公告)号：US5859638A

公开(公告)日：1999-01-12

申请号：US794480

申请日：1997-02-04

申请人： Patricia J. Coleman ,  James Edward Palmer ,  Matthew Justin Powers ,  Jeffrey Alan Herman ,  Eli Cochran ,  John Richard Powers, III

发明人： Patricia J. Coleman ,  James Edward Palmer ,  Matthew Justin Powers ,  Jeffrey Alan Herman ,  Eli Cochran ,  John Richard Powers, III

IPC分类号： G06F3/033 ,  G06F3/048 ,  G06F9/44 ,  G09G5/08

CPC分类号： G06F3/04855 ,  G06F3/04847 ,  G06F9/4446 ,  Y10S715/973 ,  Y10S715/974

摘要： A user interface includes an object oriented graphic user interface having overlapping windows and provides an access window having topics, index and look for button functions for selection by a user. Through the use of the topics, index or look for functions, a help inquiry is defined. The access window includes an alpha scroll bar horizontally spanning a defined area of the access window. A plurality of alpha-numeric, symbolic or other characters (collectively "characters") are displayed along the length of the alpha scroll bar. A slider is provided which may be selectively positioned over a character displayed on the alpha scroll bar. The slider may be positioned through user manipulation of a cursor control device. The placement of the slider over a character on the alpha scroll bar results in a central processing unit (CPU) displaying data corresponding to the character selected. Entries are displayed in the defined area beginning alphabetically with the letter over which the slider has been placed.

摘要翻译： 用户接口包括具有重叠窗口的面向对象的图形用户界面，并提供具有用户选择的按钮功能的主题，索引和查找的访问窗口。 通过使用主题，索引或查找功能，定义帮助查询。 访问窗口包括水平跨越访问窗口的定义区域的字母滚动条。 沿着阿尔法滚动条的长度显示多个字母数字，符号或其它字符（统称为“字符”）。 提供了可以选择性地定位在所述α滚动条上显示的字符上的滑块。 可以通过用户操纵光标控制装置来定位滑块。 滑块在阿尔法滚动条上的字符上的放置导致显示与所选字符相对应的数据的中央处理单元（CPU）。 条目显示在按字母顺序开始放置滑块的字母的定义区域中。

公开(公告)号：US5825355A

公开(公告)日：1998-10-20

申请号：US10063

申请日：1993-01-27

申请人： James Edward Palmer ,  Patricia J. Coleman ,  Jeffrey Alan Herman ,  Eli Cochran ,  John Richard Powers, III

发明人： James Edward Palmer ,  Patricia J. Coleman ,  Jeffrey Alan Herman ,  Eli Cochran ,  John Richard Powers, III

IPC分类号： G06F3/023 ,  G06F3/0481 ,  G06F3/0485 ,  G06F3/0489 ,  G06F9/44 ,  G06F3/00

CPC分类号： G06F3/04895 ,  G06F3/0481 ,  G06F3/04855 ,  G06F9/4446 ,  Y10S715/968 ,  Y10S715/973 ,  Y10S715/974

摘要： The system includes at least one central processing unit (CPU) which is coupled through appropriate input/output (I/O) circuitry to input devices, such as a keyboard, digital pad, mouse and/or track ball. The CPU is coupled to a hard disk drive for the storage of programs and data, and may also be coupled to a network through which the CPU may communicate with a variety of other system resources and devices. The CPU is further coupled to a display device such as a CRT or liquid crystal display, on which the present invention is displayed. The user interface of the present invention includes an object oriented graphic user interface having overlapping windows. The present invention includes an access window having topics, index and look for button functions for selection by a user. Through the use of the topics, index or look for functions, a help inquiry is defined. The selection of one of the button functions results in the CPU generating and displaying entries in a predefined area of the access window. Upon the selection of one of the entries by a user, the CPU displays phrases related to the selected entry in a working area of the access window. The selection of one of the phrases results in the CPU displaying a presentation window on the display, which includes help instruction data to guide the user in the particular help task specified by the entry and phrase selection.

摘要翻译： 该系统包括至少一个中央处理单元（CPU），其通过适当的输入/输出（I / O）电路耦合到诸如键盘，数字键盘，鼠标和/或轨迹球之类的输入设备。 CPU耦合到硬盘驱动器以用于存储程序和数据，并且还可以耦合到网络，CPU可以通过该网络与各种其他系统资源和设备进行通信。 CPU还耦合到显示本发明的诸如CRT或液晶显示器的显示装置。 本发明的用户界面包括具有重叠窗口的面向对象的图形用户界面。 本发明包括一个访问窗口，其具有用于用户选择的按钮功能的主题，索引和查找。 通过使用主题，索引或查找功能，定义帮助查询。 选择一个按钮功能导致CPU在访问窗口的预定义区域中生成和显示条目。 在用户选择一个条目时，CPU在访问窗口的工作区域中显示与所选条目相关的短语。 选择其中一个短语导致CPU在显示屏上显示演示窗口，其中包括帮助指令数据，以指导用户在由条目和短语选择指定的特定帮助任务中。

公开(公告)号：US5600779A

公开(公告)日：1997-02-04

申请号：US483300

申请日：1995-06-07

申请人： James E. Palmer ,  John R. Powers, III ,  Patricia J. Coleman ,  Gregory S. Brewer ,  Jeffrey A. Herman ,  Eli Cochran

发明人： James E. Palmer ,  John R. Powers, III ,  Patricia J. Coleman ,  Gregory S. Brewer ,  Jeffrey A. Herman ,  Eli Cochran

IPC分类号： G06F3/023 ,  G06F3/0481 ,  G06F3/0485 ,  G06F3/0489 ,  G06F9/44 ,  G06F3/10

CPC分类号： G06F3/04895 ,  G06F3/0481 ,  G06F3/04855 ,  G06F9/4446 ,  Y10S715/973

摘要： A user interface includes an object oriented graphic user interface having overlapping windows and provides an access window having topics, index and look for button functions for selection by a user. Through the use of the topics, index or look for functions, a help inquiry is defined. The selection of one of the button functions results in the generation and display of entries in a predefined area of the access window. Upon the selection of one of the entries by a user, phrases related to the selected entry are displayed in a working area of the access window. The selection of one of the phrases results in the display of a presentation window containing help instruction data to guide the user in the particular help task specified by the entry and phrase selection. To further assist the user, visual cues in the form of coach marks are generated for identifying features on the display which relate to the information disposed within the presentation window, but may identify any feature on the display. The coach marks are displayed generally concurrently with the display of the presentation window. The coach marks are displayed such that they appear animated as if drawn by hand and appear to approximate a geometric object, such as an arrow, a circle, an X, and the like. The coach marks encircle, point to, and/or underline objects, features, icons, folders and other display elements to assist the user in operating the computer system.

摘要翻译： 用户接口包括具有重叠窗口的面向对象的图形用户界面，并提供具有用户选择的按钮功能的主题，索引和查找的访问窗口。 通过使用主题，索引或查找功能，定义帮助查询。 选择按钮功能之一导致在访问窗口的预定义区域中的条目的生成和显示。 当用户选择一个条目时，与所选条目相关的短语显示在访问窗口的工作区域中。 选择其中一个短语导致显示包含帮助指令数据的演示窗口，以引导用户在由条目和短语选择指定的特定帮助任务中。 为了进一步帮助用户，生成以教练标记形式的视觉提示，用于识别与显示窗口中设置的信息相关的显示器上的特征，但是可以识别显示器上的任何特征。 教练标记与演示窗口的显示大致同时显示。 显示教练标记，使得它们显示为动画，就像用手绘并似乎近似于几何对象，例如箭头，圆形，X等等。 教练标记环绕，指向和/或下划线的对象，特征，图标，文件夹和其他显示元素，以帮助用户操作计算机系统。

公开(公告)号：US5602996A

公开(公告)日：1997-02-11

申请号：US483994

申请日：1995-06-07

申请人： John R. Powers, III ,  James E. Palmer ,  Patricia J. Coleman ,  Jeffrey A. Herman ,  Eli Cochran

发明人： John R. Powers, III ,  James E. Palmer ,  Patricia J. Coleman ,  Jeffrey A. Herman ,  Eli Cochran

IPC分类号： G06F3/023 ,  G06F3/0481 ,  G06F3/0485 ,  G06F3/0489 ,  G06F9/44 ,  G06F3/00

CPC分类号： G06F3/04895 ,  G06F3/0481 ,  G06F3/04855 ,  G06F9/4446 ,  Y10S715/974

摘要： The display system includes at least one central processing unit (CPU) which is coupled through appropriate input/output (I/O) circuitry to input devices, such as a keyboard, digital pad, mouse and/or trackball. The CPU is coupled to a hard disk drive for the storage of programs and data, and may also be coupled to a network through which the CPU may communicate with a variety of other system resources and devices. The CPU is further coupled to a display device such as a CRT or liquid crystal display, on which the present invention is displayed. The windows include defined areas having window features such as menu bars, command options, text, icons and/or button functions to be executed by the CPU. The help system includes an access window having topics, index and look for button functions for selection by a user. Through the use of the topics, index or look for functions, a help inquiry is defined which results in the CPU generating and displaying a presentation window on the display. Both the access and presentation windows "float" above all other layered windows being displayed regardless of the application currently being executed by the user. Both the access and presentation windows remain active and may be operated upon by the user, as does the top most window immediately below the access or presentation windows being displayed. Other layered windows under the top most application window are inactive, and must be brought to the "top" of the stack immediately below the access or presentation window to be operated upon.

摘要翻译： 显示系统包括至少一个中央处理单元（CPU），其通过适当的输入/输出（I / O）电路耦合到诸如键盘，数字键盘，鼠标和/或轨迹球之类的输入设备。 CPU耦合到硬盘驱动器以用于存储程序和数据，并且还可以耦合到网络，CPU可以通过该网络与各种其他系统资源和设备进行通信。 CPU还耦合到显示本发明的诸如CRT或液晶显示器的显示装置。 窗口包括具有Windows要由CPU执行的窗口特征的定义区域，例如菜单栏，命令选项，文本，图标和/或按钮功能。 帮助系统包括具有主题，索引和查找用于用户选择的按钮功能的访问窗口。 通过使用主题，索引或查找功能，定义帮助查询，这将导致CPU在显示屏上生成和显示演示窗口。 无论用户当前正在执行的应用程序如何，访问和呈现窗口都将“浮动”在所有其他分层窗口之上。 访问和呈现窗口都保持活动状态，并且可以由用户操作，正如正在显示的访问或呈现窗口正下方的最上面的窗口。 在最上面的应用程序窗口下的其他分层窗口是不活动的，并且必须被带到正在操作的访问或演示窗口下方的堆栈的“顶部”。

公开(公告)号：US5488685A

公开(公告)日：1996-01-30

申请号：US10062

申请日：1993-01-27

申请人： James E. Palmer ,  John R. Powers, III ,  Patricia J. Coleman ,  Gregory S. Brewer ,  Jeffrey A. Herman ,  Eli Cochran

发明人： James E. Palmer ,  John R. Powers, III ,  Patricia J. Coleman ,  Gregory S. Brewer ,  Jeffrey A. Herman ,  Eli Cochran

IPC分类号： G06F3/023 ,  G06F3/0481 ,  G06F3/0485 ,  G06F3/0489 ,  G06F9/44 ,  G06F3/14

CPC分类号： G06F3/04895 ,  G06F3/0481 ,  G06F3/04855 ,  G06F9/4446 ,  Y10S715/973

摘要： A user interface includes an object oriented graphic user interface having overlapping windows and provides an access window having topics, index and look for button functions for selection by a user. Through the use of the topics, index or look for functions, a help inquiry is defined. The selection of one of the button functions results in the generation and display of entries in a predefined area of the access window. Upon the selection of one of the entries by a user, phrases related to the selected entry are displayed in a working area of the access window. The selection of one of the phrases results in the display of a presentation window containing help instruction data to guide the user in the particular help task specified by the entry and phrase selection. To further assist the user, visual cues in the form of coach marks are generated for identifying features on the display which relate to the information disposed within the presentation window, but may identify any feature on the display. The coach marks are displayed generally concurrently with the display of the presentation window. The coach marks are displayed such that they appear animated as if drawn by hand and appear to approximate a geometric object, such as an arrow, a circle, an X, and the like. The coach marks encircle, point to, and/or underline objects, features, icons, folders and other display elements to assist the user in operating the computer system.

摘要翻译： 用户接口包括具有重叠窗口的面向对象的图形用户界面，并提供具有用户选择的按钮功能的主题，索引和查找的访问窗口。 通过使用主题，索引或查找功能，定义帮助查询。 选择按钮功能之一导致在访问窗口的预定义区域中的条目的生成和显示。 当用户选择一个条目时，与所选条目相关的短语显示在访问窗口的工作区域中。 选择其中一个短语导致显示包含帮助指令数据的演示窗口，以引导用户在由条目和短语选择指定的特定帮助任务中。 为了进一步帮助用户，生成以教练标记形式的视觉提示，用于识别与显示窗口中设置的信息相关的显示器上的特征，但是可以识别显示器上的任何特征。 教练标记与演示窗口的显示大致同时显示。 显示教练标记，使得它们显示为动画，就像用手绘并似乎近似于几何对象，例如箭头，圆形，X等等。 教练标记环绕，指向和/或下划线的对象，特征，图标，文件夹和其他显示元素，以帮助用户操作计算机系统。

公开(公告)号：US5469540A

公开(公告)日：1995-11-21

申请号：US10064

申请日：1993-01-27

申请人： John R. Powers, III ,  James E. Palmer ,  Patricia J. Coleman ,  Jeffrey A. Herman ,  Eli Cochran

发明人： John R. Powers, III ,  James E. Palmer ,  Patricia J. Coleman ,  Jeffrey A. Herman ,  Eli Cochran

IPC分类号： G06F3/023 ,  G06F3/0481 ,  G06F3/0485 ,  G06F3/0489 ,  G06F9/44 ,  G06F3/00

CPC分类号： G06F3/04895 ,  G06F3/0481 ,  G06F3/04855 ,  G06F9/4446 ,  Y10S715/974

摘要： The display system includes at least one central processing unit (CPU) which is coupled through appropriate input/output (I/O) circuitry to input devices, such as a keyboard, digital pad, mouse and/or trackball. The CPU is coupled to a hard disk drive for the storage of programs and data, and may also be coupled to a network through which the CPU may communicate with a variety of other system resources and devices. The CPU is further coupled to a display device such as a CRT or liquid crystal display, on which the present invention is displayed. The windows include defined areas having window features such as menu bars, command options, text, icons and/or button functions to be executed by the CPU. The help system includes an access window having topics, index and look for button functions for selection by a user. Through the use of the topics, index or look for functions, a help inquiry is defined which results in the CPU generating and displaying a presentation window on the display. Both the access and presentation windows "float" above all other layered windows being displayed regardless of the application currently being executed by the user. Both the access and presentation windows remain active and may be operated upon by the user, as does the top most window immediately below the access or presentation windows being displayed. Other layered windows under the top most application window are inactive, and must be brought to the "top" of the stack immediately below the access or presentation window to be operated upon.

摘要翻译： 显示系统包括至少一个中央处理单元（CPU），其通过适当的输入/输出（I / O）电路耦合到诸如键盘，数字键盘，鼠标和/或轨迹球之类的输入设备。 CPU耦合到硬盘驱动器以用于存储程序和数据，并且还可以耦合到网络，CPU可以通过该网络与各种其他系统资源和设备进行通信。 CPU还耦合到显示本发明的诸如CRT或液晶显示器的显示装置。 窗口包括具有Windows要由CPU执行的窗口特征的定义区域，例如菜单栏，命令选项，文本，图标和/或按钮功能。 帮助系统包括具有主题，索引和查找用于用户选择的按钮功能的访问窗口。 通过使用主题，索引或查找功能，定义帮助查询，这将导致CPU在显示屏上生成和显示演示窗口。 无论用户当前正在执行的应用程序如何，访问和呈现窗口都将“浮动”在所有其他分层窗口之上。 访问和呈现窗口都保持活动状态，并且可以由用户操作，正如正在显示的访问或呈现窗口正下方的最上面的窗口。 在最上面的应用程序窗口下的其他分层窗口是不活动的，并且必须被带到正在操作的访问或演示窗口下方的堆栈的“顶部”。