User interface for searching referenced information
AssigneeNavigate Surgical Technologies, Inc.
InventorEhud (Udi) DAON
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The present invention involves a method and associated software program and computing system that employ a user interface for searching information referenced on a display of the computing system. When the computing system displays on a display device an on-display reference to a body of information accessible to the computing system, then, when an on-display indicator of an input device to the computing system coincides with at least a first portion of the on display reference, a least a second portion of the on display reference is automatically replaced by a search box configured for searching the body of information. The method is directed to the sparing use and decluttering of precious on-display screen area of display devices.
Claims31
A computing system, comprising:
- at least one memory device, at least one of the at least one memory device storing a body of information;
- at least one processor in communication with the at least one memory device and having access to the body of information;
- a display device in communication with the at least one processor;
- a first user input means for interfacing with the display device and being in communication with the at least one processor;
- a computer-readable storage medium storing a plurality of software instructions;
- and
- a first retrieval means in communication with the at least one processor and configured for retrieving at least one of the plurality of software instructions from the computer-readable storage medium,
- wherein the at least one processor is configured for retrieving the at least one of the plurality of software instructions from the computer-readable storage medium via the first retrieval means and storing the software instructions in the at least one memory device;
- and
- wherein the software instructions when executed by the at least one processor cause the computing system to:
- display on the display device an on-display reference to the body of information and an on-display indicator representing the first input means;
- and
- replace at least a first portion of the on-display reference with a search box configured for receiving alphanumeric search information when an on-display indicator of the at least a first user input means to the computing system designates the on-display reference on the display device.
A computer-readable storage medium, with software instructions stored thereon, which when executed by at least one processor of a computing system with access to a body of information, cause the computing system to:
- display on a display device in communication with the computing system an on-display reference to the body of information;
- and
- replace at least a first portion of the on-display reference with a search box configured for receiving alphanumeric search information when an on-display indicator of a first user input means to the computing system designates the on-display reference.
A method for searching a body of information accessible to a computing system, the method comprising:
- operating the computing system to display on a display device in communication with the computing device an on-display reference to the body of information;
- operating a first user input means to the computing system to cause an on-display indicator of the first input means to designate the on-display reference;
- and
- automatically replacing at least a portion of the on-display reference with a search box configured for receiving alphanumeric search information when the on-display indicator designates the on-display reference.
A graphic user interface for searching a body of information by means of a computing system having a display device and a first user input means, the graphic user interface displayed on the display device and comprising:
- an on-display reference to the body of information;
- an on-display indicator of the first user input means;
- and
- a search box for receiving alphanumeric search input,
- wherein the computing system is configured for replacing the on-display reference at least in part by the search box when the on-display indicator designates the on-display reference on the display device.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.