Patent ID: 7788590
Filing Date: 2010-08-31
Classification: G06F

Abstract:
1. A method of providing information associated with a selected item in an electronic document, comprising: receiving a selection of one of a text item, a display item, and a selectable object that is contained in an electronic document displayed in a first user interface of an application for processing the electronic document; passing data representing the selected item to an information source; at the information source, parsing a data source for information associated with the selection; returning the information associated with the selection, wherein the information is commonly presented by another application; if the information associated with the selection is received from more than one information source, displaying the information in a second lightweight user interface in a plurality of sections, where information from a first information source is displayed in a first section, and where information from a second information source is displayed in a second section; prioritizing the plurality of sections of information according to a preferred display orientation, where a most preferred section is displayed in a first orientation and a least preferred section is displayed in a second orientation, wherein the first orientation has a size that is larger than the second orientation and the second orientation comprises: displaying the second lightweight user interface over the first user interface in proximity to the selection; and displaying the information associated with the selection in the second lightweight user interface without activating a third user interface for the other application.