Structured document browser

Abstract

A structured document browser includes a constant user interface for displaying and viewing sections of a document that is organized according to a pre-defined structure. The structured document browser displays documents that have been marked with embedded codes that specify the structure of the document. The tags are mapped to correspond to a set of icons. When the icon is selected while browsing a document, the browser will display the section of the structure corresponding to the icon selected, while preserving the constant user interface.

1 . A system for displaying product information, the system comprising: 
 a processor;    memory, in communication with the processor, that stores: 
 operational instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to send data to display a plurality of selectors in a row in a region of a user interface of a browser, each of the plurality of selectors configured to correspond to a respective portion of product information;  
 operational instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to send data to display a menu selector in the row in the region of the user interface, wherein selection of the menu selector results in a display of a menu of selection choices, and wherein the menu selector is not one of the plurality of selectors;  
 operational instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to send data to display a fly-by help message indicating a function of a selector of the plurality of selectors after a screen pointer is positioned over the selector of the plurality of selectors;  
 operational instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to receive a selection of one of the plurality of selectors; and  
 operational instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to send data to display, at a same time as the plurality of selectors, a portion of the product information that corresponds to the one of the plurality of selectors, wherein the portion of the product information is displayed in a display window outside of the region of the user interface.  
   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the system is part of a computing environment that includes communication over a network, and wherein the processor is in communication with the network.  
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the memory further stores: 
 operational instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to send, over a network, the data to display the plurality of selectors.    
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the memory further stores: 
 operational instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to send data to display at least one additional selector in response to receiving the selection of the one of the plurality of selectors.    
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of selectors are chosen from a larger set of selectors.  
     
     
         6 . A method for displaying product information, the method comprising: 
 displaying a plurality of selectors in a row in a region of a user interface of a browser, each of the plurality of selectors configured to correspond to a respective portion of product information;    displaying a menu selector in the row in the region of the user interface, wherein selection of the menu selector results in a display of a menu of selection choices, and wherein the menu selector is not one of the plurality of selectors;    displaying a fly-by help message indicating a function of a selector of the plurality of selectors after a screen pointer is positioned over the selector of the plurality of selectors;    receiving a selection of one of the plurality of selectors; and    displaying, at a same time as the plurality of selectors, a portion of the product information that corresponds to the one of the plurality of selectors, wherein the portion of the product information is displayed in a display window outside of the region of the user interface.    
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the data to display the plurality of selectors is sent over a network.  
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 6  further comprising: 
 displaying at least one additional selector in response to receiving the selection of the one of the plurality of selectors.    
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the plurality of selectors are chosen from a larger set of selectors.  
     
     
         10 . A computer-readable storage medium comprising: 
 operational instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause a processor to send data to display a plurality of selectors in a row in a region of a user interface of a browser, each of the plurality of selectors configured to correspond to a respective portion of product information;    operational instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to send data to display a menu selector in the row in the region of the user interface, wherein selection of the menu selector results in a display of a menu of selection choices, and wherein the menu selector is not one of the plurality of selectors;    operational instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to send data to display a fly-by help message indicating a function of a selector of the plurality of selectors after a screen pointer is positioned over the selector of the plurality of selectors;    operational instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to receive a selection of one of the plurality of selectors; and    operational instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to send data to display, at a same time as the plurality of selectors, a portion of the product information that corresponds to the one of the plurality of selectors, wherein the portion of the product information is displayed in a display window outside of the region of the user interface.    
     
     
         11 . The computer-readable storage medium of  claim 10  further comprising: 
 operational instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to send, over a network, the data to display the plurality of selectors.    
     
     
         12 . The computer-readable storage medium of  claim 10  further comprising: 
 operational instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to send data to display at least one additional selector in response to receiving the selection of the one of the plurality of selectors.    
     
     
         13 . The computer-readable storage medium of  claim 10 , wherein the plurality of selectors are chosen from a larger set of selectors.