International Business Machines Corporation

Erik Frederick Hennum

Mark Edward Molander

Sandra Darcy Kipp

Marie Louise Setnes

Eric Benjamin Munson

John Sebastian Warren

Michael F Priestley

Goss Franklin Nuzzo-Jones

Landon L Ott

Matthew Paul Laroche

The invention provides a method and system for hierarchical search retrieval. The method includes performing a text search on a hierarchy data structure of information. Forming a limited size hierarchy data structure using the search results. Assigning a location number for each search result in the hierarchy data structure. Sorting the hierarchy data structure. Clustering the sorted hierarchy data structure by categorizing the search results in the hierarchy data structure into groups that are related based on proximity. Limiting a hierarchical depth for each group in the clustered hierarchy data structure based on a configurable depth value to reduce hierarchical results for presentation. Providing the clustered hierarchical data structure as a list of search results as output.

Search using proximity for clustering information

A method of indicating expanded states and collapsed states of lower level expander/collapser items in a higher level visual control of a user interface display. The method includes providing, in the higher level visual control, a lower level expander/collapser indicator area; displaying a first display in the expander/collapser indicator area when all the lower level expander/collapser items are in a first state; displaying a second different display in the expander/collapser indicator area when all of the lower level expander/collapser items are in a second different state; and displaying a third different display in the expander/collapser indicator area when a first one of the lower level expander/collapser items is in the first state and a second one of the lower level expander/collapser items is not in the first state.

Button area having a mixed state button for collapsing and expanding user interface items

A method, apparatus and program storage device for delimiting words is provided and requires adding an extensible vocabulary markup to a plurality of markup languages, wherein the plurality of markup languages comprises a knowledge representation, and processing a provided term from one or more vocabularies for use in the knowledge representation.

Processing semantic subjects that occur as terms within document content

An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for enhancing help resource selection for a user that accesses a help function within a computer application. The method of enhancing the help resource selection comprises determining a list of help resources applicable to the current context of the user interaction with the computer application and the help feature. Then, the method ranks applicable help resources according to relevance criteria set by the practitioner of the invention. For example, the practitioner may wish to provide certain help resources based upon the skill level of the user and whether the user has accessed specific help resources in the past. The method would preferentially select those help resources that matched the user skill level and past access criteria set by the practitioner.

Apparatus, system, and method for enhancing help resource selection in a computer application

A method performed in a web-based environment on a computer system teaches a user to implement an application. The method includes providing predetermined applications and presenting an annotation page that includes one or more annotations descriptive of a predetermined application. Each annotation includes keyword links, annotation links, and detail of implementation of the application. The method includes permitting the user to select a link in an annotation. If the user selects a keyword link, reference documentation associated with that keyword is presented. If the user selects an annotation link, another annotation descriptive of another source file of a predetermined application is presented.

Web-based instruction

User interface expander and collapser

User instruction on a computer system involves performing an interactive example and providing, in synchronization with the interactive example, explanatory information corresponding to the example. The explanatory information presented explains what most recently occurred in the interactive example and is updated automatically to correspond with the current state of the interactive example.

Growing community of inventors

San Francisco, CA, United States of America

Erik Frederick Hennum