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 allowing a user to browse product descriptions, the system comprising: 
 a processor; and    memory in communication with the processor, that stores: 
 operational instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to receive a user selection of one of a plurality of product descriptions for display;  
 operational instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to send data to display the one of the plurality of product descriptions in a display window;  
 operational instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to send data to display a plurality of selectors in a row above the display window regardless of the user selection of the one of the plurality of product descriptions, the plurality of selectors comprising one or more of the following selectors:  
   overview information selector, sales information selector, product availability information selector, ordering information selector, billing information selector, troubleshooting information selector, and product support information selector; 
 operational instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to send data to display a search string entry box; and  
 operational instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to send data to automatically 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.  
   
     
     
         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 plurality of selectors comprises a billing information selector.  
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of selectors comprises a sales information selector.  
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of selectors comprises an ordering information selector.  
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the memory further stores: 
 operational instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to receive a selection of one of the plurality of selectors.    
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the memory further stores: 
 operational instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to send data to display information associated with the one of the plurality of selectors.    
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the memory further stores: 
 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, information associated with the one of the plurality of selectors.    
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein a user selection of one of a plurality of product descriptions is received by: 
 sending data to display a second plurality of selectors, each selector of the second plurality of selectors being associated with a respective one of the plurality of product descriptions; and    receiving a user selection of one of the second plurality of selectors.    
     
     
         10 . A method for allowing a user to browse product descriptions, the method comprising: 
 receiving a user selection of one of a plurality of product descriptions for display;    sending data to display the one of the plurality of product descriptions in a display window;    sending data to display a plurality of selectors in a row above the display window regardless of the user selection of the one of the plurality of product descriptions, the plurality of selectors comprising one or more of the following selectors: overview information selector, sales information selector, product availability information selector, ordering information selector, billing information selector, troubleshooting information selector, and product support information selector;    sending data to display a search string entry box; and    sending data to automatically 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.    
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein at least one of the data to display the one of the plurality of product descriptions and the data to display the plurality of selectors is sent over a network.  
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the plurality of selectors comprises a billing information selector.  
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the plurality of selectors comprises a sales information selector.  
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the plurality of selectors comprises an ordering information selector.  
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 10  further comprising: 
 receiving a selection of one of the plurality of selectors.    
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15  further comprising: 
 sending data to display information associated with the one of the plurality of selectors.    
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15  further comprising: 
 sending data to display, at a same time as the plurality of selectors, information associated with the one of the plurality of selectors.    
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein a user selection of one of a plurality of product descriptions is received by: 
 sending data to display a second plurality of selectors, each selector of the second plurality of selectors being associated with a respective one of the plurality of product descriptions; and    receiving a user selection of one of the second plurality of selectors.    
     
     
         19 . A computer-readable storage medium comprising: 
 operational instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause a processor to receive a user selection of one of a plurality of product descriptions for display;    operational instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to send data to display the one of the plurality of product descriptions in a display window;    operational instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to send data to display a plurality of selectors in a row above the display window regardless of the user selection of the one of the plurality of product descriptions, the plurality of selectors comprising one or more of the following selectors: overview information selector, sales information selector, product availability information selector, ordering information selector, billing information selector, troubleshooting information selector, and product support information selector;    operational instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to send data to display a search string entry box; and    operational instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to send data to automatically 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.    
     
     
         20 . The computer-readable storage medium of  claim 19  further comprising: 
 operational instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to send, over a network, at least one of the data to display the one of the plurality of product descriptions and the data to display the plurality of selectors.    
     
     
         21 . The computer-readable storage medium of  claim 19 , wherein the plurality of selectors comprises a billing information selector.  
     
     
         22 . The computer-readable storage medium of  claim 19 , wherein the plurality of selectors comprises a sales information selector.  
     
     
         23 . The computer-readable storage medium of  claim 19 , wherein the plurality of selectors comprises an ordering information selector.  
     
     
         24 . The computer-readable storage medium of  claim 19  further comprising: 
 operational instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to receive a selection of one of the plurality of selectors.    
     
     
         25 . The computer-readable storage medium of  claim 24  further comprising: 
 operational instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to send data to display information associated with the one of the plurality of selectors.    
     
     
         26 . The computer-readable storage medium of  claim 24  further comprising: 
 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, information associated with the one of the plurality of selectors.    
     
     
         27 . The computer-readable storage medium of  claim 19 , wherein a user selection of one of a plurality of product descriptions is received by: 
 sending data to display a second plurality of selectors, each selector of the second plurality of selectors being associated with a respective one of the plurality of product descriptions; and    receiving a user selection of one of the second plurality of selectors.