User interface for a guided activity window

1 . A user interface for guiding a user through a sequential task requiring user interaction in a plurality of ordered steps, the user interface including a window on a computer screen comprising:

a first pane displaying an active roadmap of two or more of the ordered steps and for indicating a selected one of the two or more sequential steps;

a second pane for providing a user interface pattern, the user interface pattern corresponding to the selected one of the two or more sequential steps; and

a third pane for displaying one or more activities related to activities displayed in the user interface pattern.

2 . The user interface of claim 1 , wherein the user interface pattern is a form.

3 . The user interface of claim 2 , wherein the second pane is also for receiving user input into the form.

4 . The user interface of claim 1 , wherein the first pane is also for receiving a user selection of one of the two or more sequential steps.

5 . The user interface of claim 1 , wherein the third pane is also for receiving a user selection of one of the one or more related actions.

6 . The user interface of claim 5 , wherein the user interface initiates the associated secondary, related task upon receiving the user selection of one of the one or more related actions.

7 . The user interface of claim 1 , wherein the one or more related actions displayed is based on the indicated sequential step from the first pane.

8 . The user interface of claim 1 , further comprising a fourth pane displaying explanatory text.

9 . The user interface of claim 8 , wherein the explanatory text displayed is based on the indicated sequential step from the first pane.

10 . The user interface of claim 1 , further comprising a fifth pane displaying core functions.

11 . The user interface of claim 10 , wherein the core function displayed is based on the indicated sequential step from the first pane.

12 . The user interface of claim 10 , wherein one of the core functions is a command to proceed to the next sequential step.

13 . The user interface of claim 10 , wherein, upon receipt of the next sequential step command from the user in the fifth pane, the first pane indicates the next sequential step.

14 . A method of guiding a user through a sequential task requiring user interaction in a plurality of ordered steps, comprising:

displaying an active roadmap of two or more of the ordered steps in a first pane;

indicating a selected one of the two or more sequential steps;

providing a user interface pattern in a second pane, the user interface pattern corresponding to the selected one of the two or more sequential steps; and

displaying in a third pane one or more activities related to activities displayed in the user interface pattern.

15 . The method of claim 14 , wherein the user interface pattern is a form.

16 . The method of claim 15 , further comprising receiving user input into the form.

17 . The method of claim 14 , further comprising receiving a user selection of one of the two or more sequential steps.

18 . The method of claim 14 , further comprising receiving a user selection of one of the one or more related actions.

19 . The method of claim 18 , further comprising initiating the associated secondary, related task upon receiving the user selection of one of the one or more related actions.

20 . The method of claim 14 , further comprising displaying the one or more related actions based on the indicated sequential step.

21 . The method of claim 14 , further comprising displaying explanatory text.

22 . The method of claim 21 , further comprising displaying the explanatory text based on the indicated sequential step.

23 . The method of claim 14 , further comprising displaying core functions.

24 . The method of claim 23 , further comprising displaying the core function based on the indicated sequential step from the first pane.