Hybrid widget/layout user interface for structured information

A help system comprising:

• (a) structured information whereupon the information is dynamically partitioned into at least three groups:
• (i) selected
• (ii) non-selected
• (iii) help;
• and
• (b) two or more window panes:
• (i) exactly one window pane where some or all of the information in the help partition can be displayed and interacted with (“help pane”);
• and
• (ii) exactly one window pane comprising one or more user interface widgets used to enter or modify the portion of the information in the selected partition (“focus panel”);
• and
• (c) a mechanism for placing the help panel along a line directly adjacent to the focus panel such that the focus panel does not contain the help panel;
• and
• (d) a mechanism to show and hide the help panel where
• (i) the show mechanism can displace or hide the focus panel to make room for the help panel
• (ii) the hide mechanism returns the focus panel to its relative position prior to the help panel being invoked by the show mechanism
• (e) a mechanism by which the contents of the help panel dynamically change based on the context of the widget within the focus panel
• (f) a mechanism by which the contents of the help panel dynamically change based on interaction within the help panel itself

A user interface for a computerized system comprising:

• (a) a memory which is able to store structured information partitioned into three categories:
• prior, current, and hidden;
• and
• (b) a display operatively connected to said memory for presenting said information to a human operator, said display comprising a plurality of regions or window panes;
• and
• (c) a focus region of said display area which maintains a relatively constant size and position within the display area and which provides a means for said operator to add additional information or modify/delete said information from said current partition of said memory;
• and
• (c) a layout region of said display, adjacent to the focus region, which provides a means for viewing a representation of a portion of said information from said prior partition;
• and
• (d) a selection means whereby said operator can cause said information to be re-partitioned;
• whereby a programmer can design said layout region to maximize presentation clarity and can design said focus to maximilze editing functionality;
• and whereby said information is created from or moves into said focus region for editing by said operator and said layout region provides contextual feedback to the operator.

The user interface of claim C10, further including:

• (a) an additional memory partition:
• subsequent;
• and
• (b) an additional region, bottom, adjacent to said focus region, for displaying a represenation of said information from the subsequent partition;
• whereby the user's context is enhanced by showing information from both said prior and said subsequent partitions while editing information from said current partition.

The user interface of claim C10, further including:

• (a) an additional memory partition for storing help information pertaining to information stored in said prior, hidden, and current paritions;
• and
• (b) an additional region, adjacent to said focus region;
• where said help is displayed in a manner sensitive to the content of said current partition;
• whereby the user is provided with both a display of said prior information and also said help information relevant to said current information in said focus region.

The user interface of claim C11, further including:

• (a) an additional memory partition for storing help information pertaining to information stored in said prior, hidden, and current paritions;
• and
• (b) a switching means where by said bottom region can alternatively display said help information sensitive to the content of said current partition in lieu of displaying a representation of information from said subsequent partition;
• whereby the user is provided with both a display of said prior information and either said subsequent information or said help information while editing information said current information in said focus region.

The user interface in claim C10, restricted so that:

• (a) said prior, hidden, and subsequent partitions are stored in a manner consistent with XML data;
• and
• (b) said layout partition is displayed using an HTML layout tool or browser;
• (c) said focus partition consists of one or more standard user interface widgets such as list boxes, text edit areas, radio buttons;