Microsoft patented keyboard-navigation?

http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?Sect1=PTO1&Sect2=HITOFF&d=PALL&p=1&u=/netahtml/srchnum.htm&r=1&f=G&l=50&s1=6,785,865.WKU.&OS=PN/6,785,865&RS=PN/6,785,865

United States Patent 6,785,865
Cote ,   et al. August 31, 2004


Discoverability and navigation of hyperlinks via tabs

Abstract
A user may discover and navigate among hyperlinks through the use of a
keyboard. For example, a user may press a tab key to discover and
navigate to a first hyperlink that is part of a hypertext document. The
first hyperlink is, in response, given focus and a focus shape is drawn
around the text or graphics for the hot region of the hyperlink. If the
user again presses the tab key, the next hyperlink is given focus and a
focus shape (i.e., an outline that surrounds the next hyperlink) is
drawn around the next hyperlink. A user may also tab to a placeholder
for an image in order to make a decision whether the image should be
downloaded or not.

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How this will involve the WAI (WCAG, ATAG and UAAG) base requirement
that says that all the functionality must be accessible by keyboard,
coherent navigation by keyboard, etc. etc.?

Can any Microsoft rep. inform about this?

P.S. I've put W3C AC Forum in cc.

Thanks a lot!
Roberto Scano ([email protected])
IWA/HWG International Project Manager and EMEA Coordinator
International Webmasters Association / HTML Writers Guild
W3C Advisory Commitee Representative for IWA/HWG
W3C WCAG Working Group Member - W3C ATAG Working Group Member
http://www.iwanet.org - http://www.hwg.org
E-Mail: [email protected] - [email protected]
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