Apple Inc.

John Richard Powers, Iii

Patricia J Coleman

Jeffrey A Herman

James E Palmer

Eli Cochran

Gregory S Brewer

Matthew Justin Powers

A system and method is described which provides for context checking of an operating environment. A context manager controls the execution of context checks requested by applications or processes. In one embodiment, the context check modules are defined as self-contained modules located in a database. When the data base is opened, these modules are loaded and registered with the context manager. Upon occurrence of certain user actions, the context manager will issue an event to cause the appropriate modules to perform a context check of certain context of the environment. The resulting context information is stored in memory by the context manager and provided to the applications by the context manager when needed. One advantage is that the context checks performed can be changed simply by adding or deleting modules from the database. In other embodiments, context checking functions can also be provided by providing context files, which are loaded at initiation of the context manager and are independent of the database utilized, and by providing certain highly repeatable functions within the function of the context manager itself.

System and method for performing context checks

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.

Method and apparatus for displaying and scrolling data in a window-based

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.

Method and apparatus for selecting characters along a scroll bar with a

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.

Method and apparatus for providing a help based window system using

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.

Method and apparatus for determining window order when one of multiple

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.

Method and apparatus for providing visual cues in a graphic user

Method and apparatus for generating and displaying multiple

An engine for the interactive delivery and presentation of multimedia data. The delivery mechanism is premised on a topic and panel metaphor. A topic is comprised of a series of panels. Each panel further defines the multimedia data which will be used when the panel is displayed. Each panel may also contain control and qualifier elements which are used to determine the next panel to be displayed. Control elements are used to solicit information from the user. The information is then used by the qualifier elements in determining the next panel to be displayed. Each element is stored in a database as a discrete object. This allows sharing of objects amongst different panels or topics. Prior to delivery and presentation of the data, the topic must be set-up. Set-up occurs by retrieving all the necessary panel, control qualifier and data descriptor objects. The actual data associated with multimedia data objects is only retrieved when the data is to be displayed. The various qualifier objects are evaluated while panels are being viewed to determine the next panel to be displayed.

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Monte Sereno, CA, United States of America

John Richard Powers, Iii