The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
May. 12, 2009
Filed:
Oct. 08, 2004
Margaret G. Hudson, North Bend, WA (US);
Tuan Huynh, Seattle, WA (US);
Kent R. Lowry, Seattle, WA (US);
Justin M. Maguire, Iii, Seattle, WA (US);
Eric W. Patterson, Sammamish, WA (US);
Marcella Rader, Bellevue, WA (US);
Mariya Tikunova, Redmond, WA (US);
Margaret G. Hudson, North Bend, WA (US);
Tuan Huynh, Seattle, WA (US);
Kent R. Lowry, Seattle, WA (US);
Justin M. Maguire, III, Seattle, WA (US);
Eric W. Patterson, Sammamish, WA (US);
Marcella Rader, Bellevue, WA (US);
Mariya Tikunova, Redmond, WA (US);
Microsoft Corporation, Redmond, WA (US);
Abstract
An interactive tooltip provides access to help information and enhanced editing capabilities. The interactive tooltip may be useful for a user editing a function within a spreadsheet formula. The present invention may integrate HTML-like interactivity with a conventional tooltip to provide a new interface for working with the associated data. The interactivity of the tooltip may provide additional levels of help or documentation when requested and may provides additional editing navigation functionality within the associated data. Embodiments of the present invention may provide a tooltip in close proximity to the associated data, while the associated data is being edited. In the case of a spreadsheet, a tooltip may be provided when the user begins editing a function within a spreadsheet cell. The help facility may recognize that the user has begun entering a function.