Patent ID: 7240297
Filing Date: 2007-07-03
Classification: G06F

Abstract:
1. A user assistance system for providing user assistance in connection with selectable steps associated with the operation of a computer program running on a computer system, each of said selectable steps capable of being active or inactive, and each implementing one or more substeps when selected, with one of the selectable steps being a currently-selected step, said user assistance system comprising: a client work area displaying information pertaining to the currently-selected step; and a navigator bar adjacent to said client work area, said navigator bar continuously displaying a visual representation of said selectable steps, said visual representation including a display of steps that are active and steps that are inactive, said displayed steps comprising the most likely steps to be traversed in connection with the currently selected step; wherein said visual representation of said selectable steps displayed by said navigator bar further includes: past steps already performed by said computer program; and the currently-selected step; wherein said navigator bar is scrollable to allow viewing of selectable steps preceding the currently selected step, wherein the action of scrolling said navigation bar does not change the information being displayed in said client work area.